Blazers Upbeat as Camp Continues
posted: 10/4/2006 at 10:12 PM
The muscles may have been a bit sore, and the lungs still aching from the night before, but the second day of training camp started early on Wednesday for the Trail Blazers at the team's practice facility in Tualatin. Several of the coaches told me following day one, they were the best two practices they had been around in a long time. Wednesday, the returns were just as positive.
Like Tuesday, the morning practice was designated the "contact practice" and the coaching staff turned up the intensity knob on the full-court drills. One of the main points of emphasis in the first practice appeared to be footwork and screening. Anytime you have a workout with drills focusing on setting solid screens, you know it's definitely a contact practice. They worked in the half-court set, setting picks, and delivering crisp, timely passes.
The team also hired referees for the morning practice, and they called some five-on-five, live-action scrimmage situations. The teams got up and down the floor, and it was a high-energy workout.
One of the standouts during the full-court play, was Brandon Roy. As we watched from the sideline, Roy continued to impress with his knowledge of the offense, his passing, and his ability to knock down the outside shot from just about any range. As expected, Roy played several positions on the floor, and this much is certain- when the ball is in his hands, good things happen. He never seems to force anything, and he simply makes his teammates better. I spent some time with Brandon after the morning workout, and we talked about this experience so far.
"It's been fantastic, and everyone is in such good physical condition," Roy said. "With so many guys arriving weeks in advance, it really gave us a jump start on learning the offense and playing together. It's, of course, been challenge for me, because I'm learning the offense from three different positions. I've got to know exactly what the point guard does, what the off-guard does, and where the small forward is supposed to be. I know they're expecting me to be able to play all three positions. I'd just say so far, so good."
One of the other players who stood out in the morning workout was point guard Jarrett Jack. He had ankle surgery early in the summer, and it appears he's 100 percent. He told me as much following the early practice. Jarrett shot a respectable 44% from the field last season, but told me he expects that to be much higher this season.
Jack has reminded us that he was shooting on one healthy ankle last year, and wasn't able to explode and get his own shot very often. That has clearly changed here in training camp. He's surprised the coaches with his quickness, and his ability to hit the long-range shot. They knew he could bury the mid-range jumper, but with the ability to now push off with two healthy ankles, he's been hitting the three-pointer with ease. Jarrett has also been very pleased with the new game balls the NBA is using this season. It's been a hot topic around the league. The new ball is a big change, and according to him, a big improvement over the old basketballs (he's holding the new ball in the photo above). You can see the difference in the seam pattern, and the new balls are much easier to grip and control.
Another guy who has shown his shooting ability, particularly in the scrimmage situations, has been Dan Dickau. He's coming off Achilles surgery, which is a very difficult rehabilitation. Dickau has looked very sharp, and that's been despite nursing a sprained thumb that has required a heavy tape job.
I mentioned last week how much better Travis Outlaw looked in the August and September pick-up games, and he's continued to look very good so far in camp. Travis is in the best shape of his career, and truly has a shot to be the starting small forward on opening night. His shooting is improved, his timing is much better, and his court awareness is better than it has ever been.
Outlaw has always been able to get on the highlights with freakish finishes at the rim. But, Tuesday he had the defensive play of camp so far. He came over off the weak side on defense and rejected a Jamaal Magloire hook shot. It looked more like a volleyball spike, as the ball slammed off the wall of the building. His head was nearly at the rim, and the block drew oohs and ahhs from everyone watching. A Magloire hook is not the easiest thing to block. As expected, Travis has been seeing some time at the power forward spot. Many of you have called me crazy for suggesting Outlaw can play inside, but you will see it this season, mark my words. He adds to an already-impressive list of shot blockers this team possesses.
The night session was full of more conditioning, and lower-impact drills and exercises. Nate McMillan continued to add to the offense, and the team was challenged to execute it perfectly. They finished the last half of the evening practice with mostly shooting drills, and only went for about 90 minutes (all that they were allowed to go under league rules).
Thursday the team will just go with one practice, probably a little longer, in the morning. I did talk to Nate after the night session, and he said he's been very happy with training camp so far. He is not an easy guy to please, and he has had this hop to his step that we never saw last season. Coach is always guarded and conservative when it comes to expectations, but you can clearly see that he's been pleasantly surprised with training camp so far.
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WOOT! Go blazers, keep working hard! I saw some pics of miles...any updates on him mike?
Barrett,
I love the blogs, and I am VERY encouraged with what you have been saying about Outlaw. I love this kid, and I really want him to succeed here. Please, keep us informed on Travis, and let us know what you think of him and what you would expect from him this season, based on what you saw.
Keep up the great work.
Mike have you heard any discussion about if and when the team will hold an open practice?
wouldn't it be better if he swatted the ball to teammate to start a fastbreak and score then make a highlight reel?
There is excitement around the Blazers this year that has been gone for a long time. After a terrible year capping a decade of alienating publicity, a new beginning seems at hand. It would be great if the Blazers could find a truly new symbol to build around, a symbol that puts togetherness forward and links the Blazers back to the community. I have a suggestion. In Portland is the world's premier collection of Ujamaas.
The Ujamaa is an ebony sculpture of group of people linked together with supporting gestures and common tasks. The theme of the Ujamaa is that an individual maybe small alone but teamed together the group is strong. The people on top of the sculpture are held up by the support of those below them, and each member is essential to the whole. Each Ujamaa is carved from a single piece of ebony and may have hundreds of members.
There are some specific parallels between professional basketball and Ujamaa sculpture. A carver like a player begins his work with optimism.A carver approaches a new log like a player approaches a new season knowing generaly what to expect but never knowing exactly what challenges or oppurtunities will show up in the wood or the season. The carver, like a player, has extraordinary skills developed from unique talents. Both successful games and successful carvings require careful planning and technically complex execution. To sculpt a great carving takes at least as long as a baketball season.
The Ujamaa would be a great visual way for the Blazers to communicate to the community that attitudes are changing in a constructive way. A display of Ujamaas in Portland linked with the Blazers would communicate to the entire NBA that a new chapter has begun.
These blogs are great, Mike, really. I have a question about the new ball. Is it more or less like what is used for the international game? I think eventually using the same ball will be globally beneficial to the game, in general. I'm glad some of our players seem to like it.
Mike, just because we may see Travis at the PF some this year doesn't mean it isn't crazy. I have a feeling that our strategy come February will require getting TO minutes somewhere to maximize possibilities. With his contract expiring this year, he's a dead asset unless we find him some PT.
I think he's a good kid, and i hope the best for him. However, i still don't see any true future for Travis at the 4 spot. At least, not for the blazers. Eventually, our #2 pick will reign.
Hey MB,
are you allowed to take pictures? If so, you should sneak in a camera and snap away..
Also, you should tell Travis the greatness that was Bill Russel. On his blocks, he'd either grab the ball for himself to tap it to a teammate. That's almost more demeaning than just having your shot blocked into another time-zone.
tdawger89,
Check my blog on Friday (or late Thursday night) and I'll try and get an update on Darius.
thebeastboy,
Travis has been very good so far, and as I've said, he's got a real shot at the starting small-forward position. He's a great guy and we all want him to succeed.
westside erik,
Yes, there is an open practice, and it's on Sunday, October 15 at the Rose Garden. It's the Wells Fargo Fan Fest, and tickets are free. You can pick them up at any Oregon or SW Washington Wells Fargo store, or at the Rosequarter Box Office. Doors open at 3pm. Parking is free too. It's a real practice, followed by a scrimmage.
blazerbandit,
Point well taken, but with this particular blocked shot, Travis' only angle sent the ball immediately out of bounds. It was impressive.
Hap,
Where do you think these pictures on the blog come from? You know me better than to use someone else's stuff. I'm my own photographer. It's like my own little newspaper. I'm Max Mercy, Robert Duvall's character from "The Natural."
haha...thakns mike, i'll look for it. My main question is is he moving anytime soon or are we gonan give him a chance. also, do we NEED tickets to get into fanfest? last year my friends and i just walked in :P
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