Storyline: Damian Lillard broke out into an All-Star in very short time. Is there another player in Portland that can replicate his success? Is it possibly another point guard?
This seems to be the slow time of the NBA season when sports writers fill it by picking the breakout player for the coming season for their respective teams. My definition of breakout may vary somewhat from the typical sports beat writer. I would probably go for C.J. McCollum or Meyers Leonard. However, I have already acknowledged C.J. as my Blazers numerical player of the future, so it would be redundant to pick him again. Both he and Meyers pretty much showed what they can do in the play offs last season, and in a sense, have already had a break out.
Courtesy: csnnw.com
The other acquired players mostly have some experience in the league and show promise of potential break out make up. That leaves Cliff Alexander and Pat Connaughton as the two fresh faces with the largest element for potential surprise, seeing as both are rookies with no previous pro experience. I have already picked Pat as my sleeper of the 2015 NBA draft.
His numerical pedigree suggests a Wesley Matthews like similarity in his career progress and personal approach to the game. He was a second round pick and has much to prove to make it in the big leagues.
This year may not be overwhelmingly obvious in terms of making the starting five, or even becoming a steady rotation player this season. However, his dogged determination and willingness to develop his best skills in order to compensate for other weaknesses will earn him a respected and productive slot in the Blazers’ rotation.
While I’m at it, I might as well go for broke and say that, contrary to almost all doom and gloom demise of the Blazers projections for the coming year, my prediction is that the team will have a breakout year. This is a risky prediction, since the coming year 2016 is a number 9 universal year (2+0+1+6=9). The number 9 traditionally brings things to an end and accentuates getting rid of the aspects of life that are not working well. It is also the number of dreams, ideals and vision. If you clear out the garbage, you allow the best and purest to prosper and rise to the surface.
Courtesy: deseretnews.com
After the loss of LaMarcus Aldridge and three other starters from last season, Damian Lillard has been designated the new team leader. One of his prime numbers is a 9, which also happens to be a prime number of the organization. It is only numerically fitting that he has inherited the throne from the departing king. Unlike the reticent Aldridge, Damian takes his roll willingly and with enthusiasm. His focused attention to the goal of winning a championship will be very significant in bringing this team together and inspiring the best from each of his teammates.
Terry Scotts also has a 9 with a couple of 5’s to go with it. This means he will have a chance to thrive with his own coaching vision (9) and get to display more of his adaptability and diversity (5) with this new group of talent. I say he thrives sooner than later and flourishes with the opportunity.
My pick of the most likely to succeed, C.J. McCollum, also has a prominent 9. He and Lillard share a friendship and a passion to be the best. C.J. will be an important compliment in the process of the Trail Blazers attaining success this year. Chris Kaman has a 99 (9) prime number and may prove why the Blazers decided to keep him this year. This could prove to be a superb year of his late tenure in the league.
Mason Plumlee comes in with a 9 personality number. This can mean that his career starts to jell in Portland, and his youthful passion adds to the chorus line of success. Noah Vonleh brings a 9 soul number into the mix. So, too, with Allen Crabbe and Ed Davis . That’s a lot of 9’s, and it bodes well for the development of a highly competitive team.
Do not take this as me saying the Blazers will win a championship at the end of the 2016 season. I am saying that they will be far better and more exciting than the gloom-and-doom preseason Blazers team. From a numerical perspective, they play far better after the first half of the year. Therefore, their early season may look a little rough.
When the new year starts in January, they will begin to turn potential into results, and this suggest that their record after the all-star break will be one of the best in the league. If the above analysis holds up, the total success for the season will depend upon how well they perform early in the season. Admittedly, that can be as rough a time as many predict.
In summary with all of the 9’s in a 9 year, things can be very good, or very good. The pundits of Blazers doom for this season have their case, and it easily could go that way. I have previously stated my Blazers bias, which can twist my numerical interpretation. However, my twisted predictions for the Blazers have run about 85% or better. Therefore I will go with bias.
I say they reach the high side of the 9 vibration this season and produce a year of surprises, unexpected superlatives and multiple reasons for the Blazers fans to get excited.
