Hype #9

"Z-Bo has turned around tremendously,'' Webster said. "He really wants to win. I can see it in the workouts - he wants to be better and a superstar, but in order to be a superstar he knows he has to be on a winning team. And I can tell now he wants it as much as anybody on this team.''

I asked Martell how he could tell Randolph wants to win.

"He's gotten back in the gym early and has been working out with (new Blazers assistant) Bill Bayno,'' Webster said. "He has lost weight, he's in better shape ... he's just showing the attitude of a winner and somebody who wants to change. If we have everyone on the same page like that, it will make it easier.''

For more, click here: http://behindblazersbeat.blogs.orego...sp?item=194045

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b-07-r

roY.

ebott

That is awesome!!!

Samuel

Some random Zach stats:

2003-04 Season

When Zach Shoots 50%+: 26-18
When Zach Scores 20 and 10: 11-13

2004-05 Season (pre-injury)

When Zach Shoots 50%+: 6-11
When Zach Scores 20 and 10: 8-7

-2005-06 Season (post-surgery)

-When Zach Shoots 50%+: 6-14
When Zach Scores 20 and 10: 8-5

I guess the moral of this story is that Zach needs to elevate his game a bit. As a power forward, he only shot above 50% 20 times last season (out of 74). Those numbers need to go up for him to have any success within the context of the team. Otherwise his 20 shots are a waste, and on this team, possessions are scarce as it is.

The biggest thing I want to see from Zach is some sort of intelligence on the court with his teammates.

- If he's being hosed down low, pop out and open the lane up for dribble penetration
- Shoot that outside jumper, but don't rely on it. Only bust it out when open.
- And most importantly, he must move the ball to open teammates.

zagsfan20

Thats nice and all, and I hope that its true.

But, I hear that same song and dance every year about a different player. I wan't to see it on the court, not read it from the paper anymore.

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"I condemn remarks that are, in any way, viewed as anti-anything".
- John McCain

Rodney Stuckey is the future of the league.

Yega1979

One thing going in Zach's favor, is that the blazers have a lot of good jump shooters now. So he has no excuse to not pass the ball out of the double team, or hang out in the perimeter.

hasoos

One of the biggest things that launched Elton Brands career was when he dropped about 25 pounds of weight. Last year he vaulted being one of the top players in the league just by dropping that weight, way more active, able to defend better.

Zbo could do much the same, although he never will be the defender Brand is, maybe with being in shape he might at least get his defense to average.

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Hasoos

TheBlueDoggy

Zach IS looking to be in amazing shape compared to previous seasons. In theory that should improve the physical aspect of his game. Doubt it will change much of the mental aspect, but one can always hope...

#10

Hell, it isn't even a different player this time. It seems like every season Zach has lost some new weight and is motivated to be a new team guy.

GOD

Last year Przybilla came in after dropping weight and being in great shape, but that did not do much to help him since he still got hurt.

When Kemp was on the team everyone here would pour over his pictures during the summer and after reading articles and say that he would improve big time since he was finally losing weight. But when the season would begin, Kemp did not lose much weight and most likely was still snorting.

Every year there are players on the team that are supposed to be in great shape, but when the season starts, for one reason or another, they don't perform very well.

Zach may be in better shape, and he may be in a better frame of mind, but who knows if that is enough once the losing begins.

losing causes losing and winning causes winning. Unfortunately, the Blazers are not experienced enough at the moment and are also light on talent. losing is going to happen and I don't see Zach as someone who can maintain a positive frame of mind and remain determined once the losses start piling up.

Hopefully Roy is the kind of leader who can help get the team to focus and strive towards winning, but he is new to the league and doubtful to gain the respect of Zach and many of the players who have been around longer.

I think the Blazers will be good in a year or three, but not yet. They need to learn to win but aren't good enough to rely on skill.

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