Blazers Civil War Night Tickets

If you don't have your tickets yet for tomorrow night's game against the Miami Heat, you can snag some at a slightly discounted price for this special Civil War edition game.  Link and promo code at the bottom...

TRAIL BLAZERS TO HOST CIVIL WAR NIGHT TOMORROW

Rose Bowl on the line between the Ducks and Beavers

PORTLAND, Ore. – The Portland Trail Blazers are supporting Oregon’s biggest in-state rivalry, college football’s Civil War, Tuesday, December 1st vs. the Miami Heat.

Fans of the Oregon Ducks and Oregon State Beavers are eligible to receive discounted tickets. In-game activities will pit Ducks and Beavers fans together in contests and on big screen features. Following the game, all participating fans will be led down to the court to shoot a free throw. Fans are encouraged to wear their team’s school colors to the game.

With much more than bragging rights on the line, this year’s Civil War marks the first time in the game’s 113-year history that the winner is guaranteed a Rose Bowl berth.

Tickets for Civil War Night can be purchased by calling 503.963.3963 or going online at http://tickets.trailblazers.com/deals/ (promotion code: Civilwar).

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Opponents Giving Plenty of Thanks to the Blazers

In honor of the past holiday weekend, the NBA in general would like to take a moment and give thanks to the Portland Trail Blazers.  A thanks for playing some of the worst basketball in the history of Thanksgiving.  And a major thanks for being so unresponsive and lax in every aspect of the game.

A thanks for being so predictable offensively.  For continuing to run the pick-and-roll yet never...really...using...it.  For passing the ball once, maybe twice, each possession so that defensively, zero energy is expended.  For dumping the ball into LaMarcus Aldridge for his hundred thousandth fade-away.  For never actually running an offensive set which requires a single defensive rotation.  For calling "Ice!"again and again and again.  For letting Steve Blake throw up brick after brick after brick.  For benching your best point guard.

A thanks for being so soft defensively.  For continuing to not fight through picks and switch instead, creating wonderful mismatches.  For Aldridge to continue to allow every decent jump shooter in the game to shoot wide open jumper after jumper.  To the Blazers guards who hand out free passes to the basket which in turn puts Oden in perfect position to tack on first quarter fouls.  For letting the league average record setting numbers for points in the paint. 

A thanks to Nate McMillan for blaming his superstars.  Actually, for continuing to blame everyone but himself.  For continuing to say "work" in every sentence.  For wearing mustard suits.  For allowing his staff members to wear mock turtlenecks.

A thanks to Brandon Roy for admitting how tired he is and for never accepting Andre Miller even though the entire world realizes he is THE option.  For providing Canzano with garbage which he'll spin into some sort of controversy.  For starting to question his coach.

A thanks to LaMarcus Aldridge for signing a mega-contract and then disappearing.

Thank you Trail Blazers.

*Twitter Additions*

@bm120 - "thanks for forcing the team to play so slow, when they would be clearly more effective with a faster pace"

@bm120 - "thanks for giving rudy less mpg then his rookie year"

@michaelcusden - "thanks for god damn Steve Blake!"

Austin - "Thanks for continuously playing our third-best three-guard lineup."

Feel free to send more and I'll continue to update.

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No Pre-Funk: Blazers at Jazz 11/28

This is me failing at my obligations of bringing you the most random and sporadic Blazers game day coverage around.  I promise we'll be back in full swing tomorrow once this loooooooooooooooong holiday weekend comes to a close.

As a quick thought though, this game scares me even more than last night's.  If you thought I was nervous before last night's game, how do you think I'm feeling with a rejuvenated Jazz squad that's been terrorizing opponents ever since Deron Williams returned?  Back-to-back and on the road.  Yippee!

And if anyone is a Montana Grizzlies alum or fan, we'll be out and about watching some first round Division I Football Championship Subdivision playoff action!  Hit me up via Twitter!

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The Pre-Funk: Grizzlies vs. Blazers 11/27

The all day coverage you need to go into tonight's contest.  We're just making sure you're prepared to drop that extra knowledge on the brosephs to get you another smidgen of respect.

Party Attendees...

Something about Memphis just makes me nervous. With the number of offensive weapons on this team, and a lack of an ability to stop them from Portland, I just envision bad things.  We talk about the amount of talent on the Blazers roster, but you could argue that Memphis has just as much.  Young, athletic and gifted kids that haven't found a way to put it all together yet are always a threat. Fortunately for the Blazers, they have somewhat of a deep bench to give them an edge.

On Tap...

• Portland's newest villain is...wait for it...Brandon Roy?  [Bleacher Report]
  
• This week's Freemail talks Pryzbilla's favorite beer.  [Joe Freeman] 
• Greg Oden on the biggest tear of his life.  [HoopsWorld]
• Conversation with Jeff Pendergraph.  [Center Court]
  
• Nate McMillan learning to evolve?  [Brian T Smith]
  
• Full game preview from Dave.  [Blazers Edge]
• Enemy coverage #1.  [3 Shades of Blue]
  

Continue Reading...>>

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The Pre-Funk: Nets vs. Blazers 11/25

The all day coverage you need to go into tonight's contest.  We're just making sure you're prepared to drop that extra knowledge on the brosephs to get you another smidgen of respect.

Party Attendees...

The New Jersey Nets swing into Portland tonight and the Blazers should have one thing on their mind - not being "the" team.  Meaning, the team that gives up the Nets first win of the season.  And that's all I'm bringing up.  No need to breakdown match-ups, keys to the game, or anything over-analytical.  This team is the worst in the NBA and should be a guaranteed win in the Rose Garden.

What I do want to focus on is the fact that I get to take my Grandfather to his first ever Blazers game tonight!  I'm actually pretty damn excited about it even if he does only get an 0-14 Nets squad.  My grandparents were one of the most influential pieces of my life growing up as a basketball player and person.  They never missed a game even if it meant driving through massive winter storms.  They were always in the stands cussing at my coaches, refs, or opponents and even brought our entire team PowerAde so that we stayed extra hydrated throughout games.  During all those years though, there was one thing I didn't have the chance to do, and that was enjoy a game from the stands with them.  Well with the passing of my Grandmother a few years back, it might just be one of them tonight, but we'll make sure to do some extra cheering, cussing and fueling up for the action.  Can't wait.

On Tap...

• Ben corners Coach Nate for some defensive scheming chatter.  [Blazers Edge] 
• Blazers are leading the league in free throw shooting.  [Brian T Smith]
  
• Dante Cunningham is getting his shot.  [Joe Freeman]
  
• Full game preview from Dave.  [Blazers Edge]
• Enemy coverage #1.  [Nets Are Scorching]
• Enemy coverage #2.  [NetsDaily]
  

Continue Reading...>>

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The Afterparty: Bulls/Blazers Game 16

A party full of post-game links and coverage to give you every over-analyzed angle in hopes of making your Blazers IQ that much greater.

Andre Miller +30 in 26 minutes.  Recap over?

After the starting lineup change against Minnesota which saw Martell Webster have the 3rd quality game of his entire career, I wasn't about to jump on that unsteady bandwagon.  Last night you were treated once again to the real Martell Webster.  (Queue Eminem hook now.)  What you really should have taken from the last two games was the fact that the big 5 (yes big 5) are starting to play to their potential as a unit.  This team is known around the league as being one of the most talented and that has nothing to do with Martell Webster.  It has to do with Greg Oden, LaMarcus Aldridge, Brandon Roy, Rudy Fernandez and Andre Miller.  We've been waiting for these 5 to find a groove and after watching a couple of demolitions, we might be getting close.  When Webster has an out of the ordinary game like Saturday's, think of it as the Wendy's drive thru lady that had an extra crispy chicken nugget handy and tossed it in the bag because you gave her a twinkly smile at no cost.

Another nice treat was the excessive dominance inside.  With the quality of player upfront in Aldridge and Oden, there might be just a handful of teams who can compare and even put up somewhat of a fight when those two are going off like they did last night.

And yeah, Andre Miller +30 in 26 minutes.

Continue Reading...>>

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Maurice Lucas' Cancer Returns

Jason Quick broke the news today that Blazers' legend and current assistant coach, Maurice Lucas, has been hospitalized again.  His recurrence of bladder cancer has held him out of the first 15 games this season.

A few notes on his illness...

Last season, Lucas underwent a series of tests trying to find out why he was losing weight and was so fatigued. By the spring, he had been diagnosed with bladder cancer and in April, a month after his 57th birthday, he had surgery related to bladder cancer. Throughout April and the team’s playoff series, he maintained contact with the players through text messaging, often times relaying congratulations or advice immediately following games.

In September, Lucas announced that he was ready to return to the team, but said he was unsure if he would travel.

"I'm getting there, but it's a slow process,'' Lucas said at the time. "I'm feeling pretty good though. We will see. I will play it by ear.''

A sad time indeed.

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The Pre-Funk: Bulls vs. Blazers 11/23

The all day coverage you need to go into tonight's contest.  We're just making sure you're prepared to drop that extra knowledge on the brosephs to get you another smidgen of respect.

Party Attendees...

The Blazers stand at 10-5 right now and in reality, should be 12-3 if it weren't for a collapse in Atlanta and the embarrassment which just took place in Oakland on Friday.  Think about that?  Pretty impressive, eh?  Maybe.  Let's not forget that each of their wins aside from Houston in game 1, has been against teams that were struggling mightily or floating in the basement of the league.  (Ben pointed the percentages out this morning.)

I'd also like to point out that most of their home wins are against teams who have either stopped off in Portland during the middle of an incredibly difficult road trip or just got pounded by a solid team at home before taking off for a Rose City battle.  San Antonio came into town the night after getting crushed by the Jazz on the road.  Minnesota came to town on both occasions after losing to upper echelon squads at home against Houston and Milwaukee.  And Detroit cruised into Portland the night after a heartbreaking battle with the Lakers. 

Well tonight, is no different.  The Bulls have been on the road since the 17th of this month and are only halfway through their trip.  It all started with a much improved Kings team, Lakers, Nuggets, Portland tonight, Utah Thursday, and Milwaukee just a few days after that.  So not only are the Blazers taking down lower tier teams, they are beating teams on road trips against the elite guns of the west.

Where does this Blazers team really stand?  On paper, with the best of them.  In reality, Never Never Land?

On Tap...

• Time to just move forward with trading Dre Miller?  [Dwight Jaynes]
  
• McMillan uses Martell for the purpose of spacing?  [Brian T Smith] 
• And he got hot...for one game people. Chill.  [Joe Freeman]
  
• Bayless opens up about his background.  [JB's Blog]
• Jumptown plan gets key player.  [Wendell Maxey]
  
• Full game preview from Dave.  [Blazers Edge]
• Enemy coverage #1.  [Blog a Bull]
  

Continue Reading...>>

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The Bipolar Blazers

After performances like Friday night's, you have to wonder how this team isn't on pace with the Timberwolves for the gutter spot in the west.  And then after performances like Saturday night's, you wonder if this team isn't on pace to challenge the Lakers for the NBA Championship.  In just 15 games, we've already been through such extreme highs and lows that Lindsay Lohan just called to say, "Hi."

A basic season breakdown would look something like this:  multiple injuries, Dre Miller drama to Dre Miller laughter, the 3-guard lineup successes to 3-guard lineup embarrassments, Brandon Roy happiness to confusion, back to happiness and at least an extra case of wine on our end.  I'm just not sure how much more of this I can take.

This Trail Blazers team sits at 10-5.  That puts them (record-wise) with the elite teams in the entire NBA.  We're talking on par with the Celtics, Suns, Lakers, Cavs, Magic, Hawks and Mavs.  Does anyone actually feel like they belong in that category?  I sure as hell don't.  But then sometimes I do.

On Friday, I was on the road for the first half goodness and standing arms crossed in a living room for the second half god-awfulness.  On Saturday, I was on the road for the first half of uneasiness and finally sitting down during a second half of dominance.  You could almost sense the trap being set in Golden State, while at the same time guaranteeing a blowout against Minnesota the following day.  Is Portland starting to be come that predictable or are we just used to the ups and downs by now?

Someone get me a bottle of Lithium with a side of Lexapro.

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A Weekend Away Poem

Taking a break before the holidays begin with a quick trip away,
So we won't have an "Afterparty" or "Pre-Funk" today. 

There are many things to be upset about,
Especially after watching McMillan's mustard suit shout.

The Warriors as we all know are a dumpster fire,
But for some reason, Portland showed up to Oakland with no desire.

"Your" Blazers will hopefully rebound tonight,
Especially with no Kevin Love in sight.

Another loss  like that this city cannot take,
We don't need a return of the Jail Blazer clambake.

So hopefully when we return home tomorrow,
There'll be happiness and joy instead of sorrow.

Cheers.

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The Pre-Funk: Blazers at Warriors 11/20

The all day coverage you need to go into tonight's contest.  We're just making sure you're prepared to drop that extra knowledge on the brosephs to get you another smidgen of respect.

Party Attendees...

Life as a Golden State Warrior fan pretty much sucks these days.  Your best player hated life so much that he found himself a better situation...in Charlotte.  Yes, Charlotte.  Your new lottery pick and last remaining star absolutely hate each other.  Oh, and that same star despises your coach and expresses it publicly almost daily.  You just returned from an east coast swing where you let a rookie drop 55 on your face which was followed up with sucker punches at both Cleveland and Boston.  Now you've returned home and you get the 9-4 Blazers, then Mavericks, Spurs and Lakers.  Happy Thanksgiving!

On a positive note for Warriors' fans, you have beaten the Blazers in Oakland at least 15,689 times in a row.

On Tap...

• Blazers still waiting for Oden to "come into his own?"  [NBA.com]
  
• Juwan Howard is no longer "fabulous" and that's OK.  [Brian T Smith]
  
• Andre Miller really is a freakin' "iron man."  [Joe Freeman]
  
• This week's Jason Quick podcast.  [Oregon Live]
• Full game preview from Dave.  [Blazers Edge]
• Enemy coverage #1.  [Golden State of Mind]
  

Continue Reading...>>

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The Afterparty: Pistons/Blazers Game 13

A party full of post-game links and coverage to give you every over-analyzed angle in hopes of making your Blazers IQ that much greater.

It's too late in the day now to give you some deeply thought out recap as the next game is almost upon us, but what I will say is, "WTF STEVE BLAKE!?!"  How many times in a 3 minute stretch can someone defecate on their And One's?  (Yes, he is likely the only man left in the NBA sponsored by And One.)  At least he semi-redeemed himself with a huge three, but seriously...most frustrating stretch of basketball I think I've ever seen from a point guard.

• Media row report from Ben.  [Blazers Edge]
• "Squeeze" is definitely the correct term.  [Joe Freeman]
• Blake saved? After he almost blew it.  [Brian T Smith]
• Bullets were possibly dodged.  [Mike Barrett]
  

Continue Reading...>>

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Former Suns Dancer is Miss Arizona

We should clarify that title.  "Former Arizona State and Suns Dancer is Miss Arizona."  Yep, Brittany Bell, a one-time Sports Illustrated Cheerleader of the Week honoree took home an even bigger trophy this past weekend.  She will now move on to the Miss USA pageant which takes place on April 18, 2010 in Las Vegas.

A quote from Ms. Bell after winning:

“The Miss USA pageant, in my opinion, is about your personality, your success, the way you carry yourself, your poise, your ethics and pretty much everything about you being an all-around driven, classy and confident young woman,” Bell said. “I decided I wanted to try that before I stepped into a career and go full-force with it.”

And on to what you all really care about, pictures!

Continue Reading...>>

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Outlaw Surgery Successful - Out 3-5 Months

Whatever your view is on Travis Outlaw, it should be pushed aside right now.  Losing ANY player for 3-5 months hurts ANY team.  We're only 12 games deep and already as thin as Lindsey Lohan's hair line.  Possibly time for Kevin Pritchard to start looking at trade possibilities?  The problem is, who can he trade?

And if you ever wondered what a "5th metatarsal fracture" looks like, we've got you covered.

TRAVIS OUTLAW UNDERGOES FOOT SURGERY

PORTLAND, Ore. – Trail Blazers forward Travis Outlaw underwent successful surgery to repair a stress fracture of the fifth metatarsal bone in his left foot, the Portland Trail Blazers announced today. He is expected to be sidelined for three to five months.

In 11 games this season, Outlaw averaged 9.9 points (37.6% FG, 38.7% 3-PT, 87.5% FT), 3.5 rebounds and 0.7 assists in 21.0 minutes. He scored in double figures four times and led Portland’s bench in scoring on five occasions.

Dr. Jay Crary performed the surgery at Southwest Washington Regional Surgery Center in Vancouver, Wash

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The Pre-Funk: Pistons vs. Blazers 10/18

The all day coverage you need to go into tonight's contest.  We're just making sure you're prepared to drop that extra knowledge on the brosephs to get you another smidgen of respect.

Party Attendees...

Now that the Pistons have rid themselves of that last remaining scab (RAH-Sheed), it's hard to say too many negative things about them.  In fact, I like most of the players that throw down for the Motor City.  I've always been a huge UConn fan and nothing screams Huskies quite like Rip Hamilton, Ben Gordon, Charlie Villanueva and the pair of NCAA Championships between them.  Rodney Stuckey is a northwest kid and Austin Daye even went Bulldog on us for a single season up in Gonzaga.  Love it!  Love me some Pistons' roster!

And with that sloppy lovefest over with, let's move on to the actual game...

Although I'm sure Rudy and Blake would have loved chasing Rip Hamilton along the baseline all night it doesn't sound like they'll get their chance (ankle injury!).  And if Brandon was looking forward to getting posted every other possession by a much lengthier Tayshaun Prince, then he's dreams will also be crushed (back injury!).  Both players are out, but you can still expect some firepower from the Pistons' backcourt.  OK, who am I kidding, this should be a breeze for Portland if they play even close to the level of basketball they showed over their recent 5 game road trip.  Home crowd cookin' here we come!

Continue Reading...>>

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Travis Outlaw Scheduled for Surgery Tomorrow

Make it official...

TRAVIS OUTLAW TO UNDERGO LEFT FOOT SURGERY ON WEDNESDAY

PORTLAND, Ore. – Trail Blazers forward Travis Outlaw will undergo surgery Wednesday to repair a stress fracture of the fifth metatarsal bone in his left foot, the Trail Blazers announced today.

Dr. Jay Crary will perform the surgery at Southwest Washington Regional Surgery Center in Vancouver, Wash. A timetable for his return will be determined after the procedure.

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The Afterparty: Blazers/Hawks Game 12

A party full of post-game links and coverage to give you every over-analyzed angle in hopes of making your Blazers IQ that much greater.

Choke?  Collapse?  Fold?  Crumple?  Wilt?  Buckle?  Any other words to describe last night's Blazers loss to the Atlanta Hawks?  Sure there were a half dozen questionable calls or no calls down the stretch, but that's not really the storyline here is it?  Had Portland closed out a full four quarters, those calls or missed calls wouldn't have even been a factor.  One or two makes from a wide open Steve Blake, a few less bonehead fouls by Martell Webster, someone deciding to guard a guy that's going off for 20+ in a half, or actually putting a body on Josh Smith who's beasting anyone would have helped save this game.

On a side note...anyone miss Travis Outlaw last night?  I didn't.  I'm sure we have Outlaw fans out there preaching "Well he's 'Mr. 4th Quarter' and could have sparked a stagnant offense!"  OK, let's be real here.  The guy has a 4th quarter worthy of talking about probably 10 times a year yet the talking heads have dubbed him with such a catchy nickname.  Before you all get ahead of yourselves, here is a look at Outlaw's recent past.  The 5 previous games before the injury, Travis was 16 of 46 from the field which included rebounding efforts of 5, 0, 5, 1, and 3.  Outlaw was not a factor in the outcome of this game.

What I saw last night, was a team that looked as poised and confident for 3 quarters as any team in this league even with a shortened roster.  I saw the Rudy Fernandez we've been waiting for.  I saw the starters really starting to form one hell of a unit.  And Greg Oden at times transforming into a franchise center.

No worries about the game especially with the team returning home.  An 8-4 record and the attention of the nation is enough for now.

Continue Reading...>>

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The Pre-Funk: Blazers at Hawks 11/16

The all day coverage you need to go into tonight's contest.  We're just making sure you're prepared to drop that extra knowledge on the brosephs to get you another smidgen of respect.

Party Attendees...

You thought "your" Trail Blazers were hot right?  Well tonight they head down south to face a team equally as sizzling in the Atlanta Hawks.  You could actually argue the that Hawks are even hotter after crushing the Nuggets, Hornets, Knicks and Celtics (in Boston).  And it was just over a week ago that I called them the "poor man's Nuggets"...I'm standing by that by the way.  Even with a resurgence of talent over the last few years in Atlanta, I'm not buying them.  Josh Smith is a dumpster on the verge of flames, Bibby is so washed up that Vern Troyer's career looks respectable again, and Marvin Williams is so bad that we've all forgetten his 2nd overall pick status.  And once again, I'll argue with any east coaster for hours that Joe Johnson is the most overrated player in the entire NBA.  Should be a good one!

As far as the game goes, I'm concerned about one player:  Jamal Crawford.  Portland has never had an answer for a guard who's constantly on the ball and has no conscience.  He lit them up last time in Portland and I'm pretty much expecting the same result tonight.  To win this thing, it's all about slowing down everyone else including Joe Johnson and hammering the boards to cancel out any second chance bombs from Atlanta's plethora of guards.

On Tap...

• Overrated Joe Johnson vs. Underrated Brandon Roy.  [Jason Quick]
• The Hawks are also on quite the roll.  [Atlanta Journal Const]
• Andre Miller appears to be working out.  [Layup Drill]
  
• Semi-preview from Dave.  [Blazers Edge]
• Enemy cover on its way.  [Peachtree Hoops]
  

Continue Reading...>>

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Travis Outlaw is Not Winning You a Championship

As expected, today has been filled with Travis Outlaw arguments, speeches, and soapboxes.  Rather than jumping on board with that trend, we'll just cut to what really matters:  Is Travis Outlaw a Championship caliber bench player?  That answer is and always has been "no."

Here are the last five NBA Champions in order:  Lakers, Celtics, Spurs, Heat and Spurs again.  When you look at the rosters of all of them, you'll see one similarity, and that is no presence of a Travis Outlaw type of player.  What I mean by that is a guy who's unbelievably inconsistent performances all stem from an incredibly low basketball IQ.  Basically, championship killing attributes.

Continue Reading...>>

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Greg Oden's Pre-Halloween and Season Celebration

Always nice to see one of our Trail Blazers members out in the Portland nightlife livin' it up, right? Well, this public appearance from big GO, does raise a few reasonable questions.  You have one night to party before the season starts and he picks the Agency of all places? And what the hell is this costume of?  And wait a minute...why the hell is he dressed up a full week before Halloween?  One goofy 7 footer, that's for damn sure.

(Click images for big boy versions.)

(H/T Liquid Productions from 10/25/09)

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Travis Outlaw Breaks Foot - Out Indefinitely

Yep, another blow to an already injury plagued Trail Blazers team.  First Nicolas Batum and now Travis Outlaw.  Early x-rays show that he fractured the 5th metatarsal bone in his left foot (I'm pretty sure it was his right?) which just so happens to be the same bone that sidelined Martell Webster for the entire 2008-09 season.

If you want to read up on treatment options for Outlaw, check out this site which gives you a complete breakdown of every scenario.   Below is a picture of a 5th metatarsal fracture...

Now, as many of you know, I've never been the biggest Travis Outlaw supporter, but with a freak injury during a guy's contract year, I'm not about to throw a party.  Do I think he will be missed?  Obviously he will, as a veteran who has played during some pretty big moments in some pretty big games and also as a close friend to Roy.  Do I think this team's run will come to a screeching halt now?  Not likely.  We'll now see major upgrades in minutes for Martell and Rudy which I'll take any day over Travis.  Juwan Howard, you could argue, is not necessarily a downgrade either.

Like I said though, this isn't a time for all of the Outlaw haters to rejoice, but it is a time when both haters and lovers will find out if he really is a contributing factor to this team's success.

Oh, and watch out for Antonio Harvey...we all know that he and Outlaw are southern pals and it now appears that his Trout-goggles are clouding his tweets.

I'm not even going to respond to that.

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The Afterparty: Blazers/Hornets Game 10

A party full of post-game links and coverage to give you every over-analyzed angle in hopes of making your Blazers IQ that much greater. 

The 8 point difference in the box score doesn't necessarily represent the full gamut here.  The Blazers controlled this thing from the second quarter on and were never really threatened by the Hornets even with Chris Paul in the game.  When you talk about holding a superstar in check, you hope to just hold him under his averages, not completely shut him the hell down.  Not sure that one individual deserves the credit for this feat, but a huge hat tip to some team defense for once.

And yes, it was an overall ugly performance, but what I take from that, is this team can finally win and put teams away even on an off night.  We couldn't say that in years past.  On a night where the team shot 36% from the field, they still almost had a 5th straight 10+ point win.  Not bad right?  Things arrrrrrrrrrrrre a clickin'!

On a side note, Jess "The Body" Ventura new coach Jeff Bower received his first beatdown.  Welcome to coaching governor boss.

Continue Reading...>>

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The Pre-Funk: Blazers at Hornets 11/13

The all day coverage you need to go into tonight's contest.  We're just making sure you're prepared to drop that extra knowledge on the brosephs to get you another smidgen of respect.

Party Attendees...

Firing Byron Scott is sort of an odd decision.  I understand that the team underachieved last year while battling through injuries and appears to be underachieving this year, but when you actually look at their schedule, you could compare the Hornets to last year's Blazers team.  Other than a loss to the Knicks, they have only been beaten by the upper tier of NBA squads including Boston, Phoenix, L.A., and the Spurs.  I'm starting to wonder if this move actually came from the frustrations that Chris Paul has been expressing publicly?  Maybe he and Scott were just no longer on the same page and maybe his control over this team had come to an end.  Either way, we should all be a little shocked.

On a side note...Anyone else see a ton of similarities between McMillan and Scott?  Both are drill sergeants and both do that awesome power stance.  Should we all be concerned for Nate that someone as successful as Byron Scott can get the axe after just 9 games?   Not necessarily, but you have to consider it as Byron Scott once had the "up and coming" young squad.  Look at them now.

On Tap...

• Roy getting his number called a few more times now?  [Jason Quick]
• Brandon also remaining patient through changes.  [Brian T Smith]
• Oden should expect a real battle from Okafor?  [John Canzano]
  
• A look at new coaches' first games in New Orleans.  [At the Hive]
  
• Wrap-up of the Byron Scott news.  [Hornets 247]
• Game preview from Dave.  [Blazers Edge]

Continue Reading...>>

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The Afterparty: Blazers/TWolves Game 9

A party full of post-game links and coverage to give you every over-analyzed angle in hopes of making your Blazers IQ that much greater. 

Best start since the 1999-2000 season?  Weren't we all just freaking the hell out a week ago?  Everyone that kept screaming "Stop worrying!  It's only been 5 games!" can please stand up a take a bow and feel really good about yourself.  I'll just say this:  it's still early and this 3 guard lineup could look fantastic in the short term, but watch out in the long.

So what did we see tonight?  Balance.  Balance.  Balance.  And Oden.  Aside from just about everyone shooting the lights out, a ton of ball movement, and Dre Miller controlling just about everything, we saw Greg Oden as a complete force.  The force we've dreamed of.  The force that will make him the next All-Star.  The force that the Blazers will need if they really want to be a championship contender.

If there is one thing that I've heard talked about in a negative light during this winning streak, is the idea that Brandon Roy might be somewhat unhappy with a lack of involvement on offense.  To me, this new balance and ball control from Miller is exactly what Roy needs.  He'll learn to be a star without having the ball in his hands.  We all know how great of a player he is with the ball in his hands, but what if his off-ball game begins to evolve?  And who can't love the fact that he gets to take 4th quarters off when the team is blowing out opponents?  A healthy and rested Brandon Roy come playoff time has me drooling and we're only 9 games deep.

Oh, and the TWolves are awful.  Ricky Rubio just yawned on a beach in Spain.

Continue Reading...>>

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The Pre-Funk: Blazers at Timberwolves 11/11

The all day coverage you need to go into tonight's contest.  We're just making sure you're prepared to drop that extra knowledge on the brosephs to get you another smidgen of respect.

Party Attendees...

If you thought Minnesota looked D-League level against the Blazers on Sunday then you should have seen them the next night where they got more than fondled by 41 points at the expense of the Warriors.  Should we expect something else from them now that they've returned home?  Probably not.  Johnny Flynn remains their only bright spot through 8 games and will likely stay that way until Al Jefferson decides to wake up.  Still no Kevin Love, and a Ramon Sessions proving to be as overrated as Mike Conley, you should chalk up a 4th straight double digit cruise-fest for the Blazers.

And not a ton of coverage with the team and its slew of writers on the road for a back-to-back, so we'll turn to the blogs for some action.

On Tap...

• Game preview from Dave.  [Blazers Edge]
• Sheed's Shakedown.  [Bust a Bucket]
• Pre-thoughts.  [Rip City Project]
• Enemy coverage #1.  [Canis Hoopus]
• Enemy coverage #2.  [TWolves Blog]
  

Continue Reading...>>

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The Afterparty: Blazers/Grizzlies Game 8

A party full of post-game links and coverage to give you every over-analyzed angle in hopes of making your Blazers IQ that much greater. 

Just now watching the game as I was out replacing a broken laptop last night so I'll make this quick.  This first half has been ugly and Portland even appears to be falling back into bad habits of weeks past.  Fortunately, this Memphis team is showing why they've managed to grab just one win this season.  I'm still trying to figure out why they are so awful though, especially when you look at all of the young talent stacked on this roster.  Maybe it all comes back to coaching?  Should we start appreciating what Nate McMillan has done with this young group now?

With a back-to-back in progress, we'll jump right to the links and highlights.  We also tossed in Travis Outlaw's lone field goal and in case you missed it, you'll know exactly why.

• Anyone else like hearing "difference maker" and Oden together?  [Jason Quick]
• Nice to start to this first long road trip.  [Mike Barrett]
• Game recap from Dave.  [Blazers Edge]
• Enemy frustrations.  We feel you.  [3 Shades of Blue]
• And Hasheem Thabeet got KTFO.  [Fanhouse]
  

Continue Reading...>>

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The Pre-Funk: Blazers at Grizzlies 11/10

The all day coverage you need to go into tonight's contest.  We're just making sure you're prepared to drop that extra knowledge on the brosephs to get you another smidgen of respect.

Party Attendees...

If Nate McMillan really wants to use this new lineup to get the Blazers to run, then a match-up with tonight's opponent couldn't have come at a better time.  The Memphis Grizzlies are allowing an astounding 120 points per game all while mustering up a 5 game losing streak.  It's unlikely that the Grizzlies are a more pathetic basketball team than the Timberwolves, especially when you look at the talent on their roster, but they have zero control.  This may not be the blowout we saw on Sunday night, but it should be high flying and exciting as hell to watch.

As I'm sure you are all aware, our buddy Zach Randolph is putting up his exact career numbers for the Grizzlies:  20 points per game, 10 rebounds, 18 fadeaways, 0 defensive efforts, 4 pouting faces, and 3 swaggers.

Make sure to keep an eye on O.J. Mayo as this kid is the real deal.  He put up 40 on the Nuggets earlier this year and has completely lived up to the hype that's followed him around for the past 5-6 years.  Plus, no one can work 2 arm sleeves any better.  Take note Jerryd Bayless.

Lastly, tonight will also provide the opportunity for the Mike Conley lovers to bitch about Steve Blake, the acquisition of Dre Miller and pop off another dozen trade machine scenarios on how to steal him from Memphis.  "But he's Greg's best friend!"  Our fans are pretty fantastic, but the ones obsessed with Conley are complete fools.

And no, I'm not bringing up Allen Iverson. He's so 1996.

On Tap...

• Time to test this new lineup on the road.  [Joe Freeman]
• A lineup that is causing problems for opponents.  [Brian T Smith]
• Blazers hit the top 10 in these rankings.  [Sporting News]
• Interesting opinion on the PG situation.  [SLAM Online]
• Following the Blazers "model" to success.  [Canis Hoopus]
  
• Preview from Dave.  [Blazers Edge]
  
• Enemy preview #1.  [3 Shades of Blue]
  

Continue Reading...>>

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2010 NBA All-Star Ballot Unveiled Today!

Plenty of Trail Blazers to vote for including Dre Miller, Greg Oden, LaMarcus Aldridge and of course, Brandon Roy. 

Go Vote Now!

Details on how you can vote by text message start in paragraph 3...

2010 NBA All-Star Game ballot unveiled

By Official Release
Posted Nov 10 2009 12:41PM

DALLAS -- The 2010 NBA All-Star Ballot was unveiled today during a special tipoff event in Dallas, the official Host City of NBA All-Star 2010. NBA All-Star Balloting presented by T-Mobile will begin Tuesday at 12:30 p.m. ET. The 2010 NBA All-Star Game, which will air live on TNT and ESPN Radio in the U.S., and reach fans in more than 200 countries and territories in more than 40 languages, will be played at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, before an expected crowd of more than 80,000 -- the largest group ever to witness a live basketball game -- on Sunday, Feb. 14, 2010.

2010 NBA All-Star Balloting presented by T-Mobile, with associate partner 2K Sports, allows fans around the world to vote daily for their favorite players as starters for the 2010 NBA All-Star Game. For the first time in balloting history, fans can vote for All-Stars any time by texting a player's last name from their mobile phones. Fans can cast one SMS vote per day, per phone number.

There are several ways fans can cast their votes, including: at each NBA arena; in 20 languages on NBA.com; and through mobile phones by texting the player's last name to 6-9-6-2-2 ("MYNBA"), via Web2Go® on T-Mobile phones or wap.nba.com for any wireless carrier. A T-Mobile-branded All-Star Balloting widget will also be available on NBA.com so that fans can "grab" the widget and place it on their blogs, social network pages or personal Web sites allowing others to vote directly from the widget. Paper balloting will continue through January 10, while wireless balloting and voting on NBA.com will conclude January 18. Starters will be announced live on TNT on Thursday, Jan. 21, 2010.

The NBA All-Star ballot lists 120 players -- 60 each from the Eastern and Western conferences -- with 24 guards, 24 forwards, and 12 centers from each conference comprising the list. Voters select two guards, two forwards and one center from each conference. The 120 players on the ballot were selected by a panel of media who regularly cover the NBA: Mike Breen (ABC/ESPN), Eddie Sefko (Dallas Morning News), Doug Smith (The Toronto Star and President, Pro Basketball Writers Association) Marc Spears (Yahoo! Sports), Marc Stein (ESPN.com) and Ian Thomsen (Sports Illustrated).

NBA All-Star 2010 in Dallas will bring together some of the most talented and passionate players in the league's history for a global celebration of the game. The week leading up to the 59th NBA All-Star Game will feature a full slate of community-enhancing activities and fan festivals, including NBA All-Star Jam Session presented by adidas and the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge & Youth Jam. This will be the second NBA All-Star in Dallas. The city also hosted the event in 1986.

In conjunction with All-Star Balloting, 2K Sports will give fans the opportunity to experience Dallas and the best of basketball by entering the NBA® 2K10 Sweepstakes for a chance to win a trip to NBA All-Star 2010 and have their likeness as a digitized player incorporated in next year's game, NBA® 2K11.

Check out NBA.com for the full list of players.

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The Afterparty: TWolves/Blazers Game 7

A party full of post-game links and coverage to give you every over-analyzed angle in hopes of making your Blazers IQ that much greater. 

How about we just make this one quick?  Everybody stepped up showing that the Blazers can win without relying completely on Roy.  They also didn't need much from Oden.  Aldridge was where he needs to be.  This is the Andre Miller that blogs like ours have been raving about.  Calling Rudy Fernandez, calling Rudy Fernandez.  Cunningham's -2 just pisses me off (hah).  Who the hell wanted Ramon Sessions again?  Nice to see the bench get cleared out.  Hell, it was just nice to have a blowout for once.

• The media row report.  [Blazers Edge]
• Trouble in Rudy Fernandez land?  [Brian T Smith]
  
• "Race" is probably the word I'd use as well.  [Jason Quick]
  
• How can you not love a fast paced game like last night's?  [Mike Barrett]
• A recap of recaps from the enemy.  [Twolves Blog]
• Blazers showboating a little too much?  [Canis Hoopus]
  

Continue Reading...>>

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Celtics Dancers - Making Kilts Even Naughtier

Now if only these ladies had dropped these outfits before we released our NBA Dancer Rankings, they might have cracked the top 5.  Especially with Ms. Ashley up above.  Anyone else speechless?  Someone give her an award for...well anything.

Continue Reading...>>

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The Pre-Funk: Timberwolves vs. Blazers 11/8

The all day coverage you need to go into tonight's contest.  We're just making sure you're prepared to drop that extra knowledge on the brosephs to get you another smidgen of respect.

Party Attendees...

Let's be blunt here; the Minnesota Timberwolves are awful.  They drafted 18 point guards this offseason, signed another overrated one, and appear to be worse than the New Jersey Nets whom they somehow managed to beat on opening night.

Portland's new starting lineup should have a hell of a night against those 18 inexperienced guards and an Al Jefferson looking all sorts of sloppy.  I'm actually excited to see Johnny Flynn play as he appears to be the real deal.  However, I'm not looking forward to seeing the Blazers play down to their competition which they seem to do so frequently.

On Tap...

• A quick Q and A with Mr. Greg Oden.  [NewsOK]
• Keep an eye on Brandon Roy.  [SLAM Online]
  
• McMillan comfortable with Miller running the show.  [Joe Freeman]
• Results from the new starting lineup appear to be good.  [Brian T Smith]
  
• Game preview from Dave.  [Blazers Edge]
• Enemy coverage #1.  [TWolves Blog]
• Enemy coverage #2.  [Canis Hoopus]
  

Continue Reading...>>

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The Afterparty: Spurs/Blazers Game 6

A party full of post-game links and coverage to give you every over-analyzed angle in hopes of making your Blazers IQ that much greater. 

Can the Trail Blazers wear the "Rip City" Jerseys every night?  There was ball movement on offense.  There were fewer blown defensive assignments.  We actually saw proper defensive rotations.  There was energy for 3.5 quarters.  Roy was his usual self.  Outlaw was his usual self.  Andre Miller finally looked comfortable.  Blake shot well.  And did I mention that Greg Oden got the best of Tim Duncan?

Do we credit this type of performance to Nate McMillan's unconventional starting lineup change which featured both Blake and Miller?  Maybe.  It definitely helped.  It got this team off to a quick start and into a rhythm we had yet to see through the first 5 games.  And from Nate's post game comments, it sounds like he plans on sticking with this new starting 5 for the next few games at least.  The Blazers take on teams that are not necessarily impressive at the off guard and small forward positions so this lineup should continue to work.  For now that is.  I'm not ready to anoint this move as the genius moment of the century yet.  Just one game people, just one game.

A couple of downers last night:  LaMarcus Aldridge and Rudy Fernandez are becoming forgotten soldiers.  Aldridge was decent against the Hawks but has been a non-factor the rest of the time.  And Rudy, far worse.  Last night he saw a measly 11 minutes and really did nothing but throw one nice bounce pass to Aldridge and missed a buzzer beater that Martell cleaned up to end the 1st.  Not sure what it'll take to get these two back on track, but I hope something clicks soon as they are too important to this team to fizzle away.

• The media row report.  [Blazers Edge]
• Props to the new starting lineup.  [Mike Barrett]
• And the RG started getting nervous.  [Jason Quick]
• "Spark" sounds just about right for last night.  [Brian T Smith]
  
• Recap from the enemy side.  [Pounding the Rock]
  

Continue Reading...>>

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Rip City Jerseys Blow Up Google

The Blazers rocked out their "Rip City" jerseys tonight on a nationally televised game against the San Antonio Spurs and Google was officially dominated.

(click for big boy version)

It's nice to know that the phrase which has been with this city and franchise from the beginning is now recognized nationally.  Hats off to the person in the Blazers marketing department who made this call.  And somewhere Rip Hamilton weeps.  

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LaMarcus Aldridge New Contract Details

HoopsHype and ShamSports.com have provided us with the numbers for LaMarcus Aldridge's new contract...

2010/11 - $10,700,000
2011/12 - $11,800,000
2012/13 - $13,000,000
2013/14 - $14,100,000
2014/15 - $15,200,000

Damn that's a lot of money.

Speaking of contracts, we've finally updated our roster page which includes everyone's salary for the 2009-10 season.

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4 Reasons to be Concerned About the Blazers

Time for the supposed "experts" to stop berating anyone that shows concern for the current status of the Portland Trail Blazers.  Why shouldn't people be worried about a 2-3 team looking completely lost and on the verge of fulfilling a Bill Simmons' prophecy?  The people closest to the situation sure seem to be...

1.  Nate McMillan is.  Practice reports from this week suggest that McMillan is sick of the laughing, the excess talking, the secret meetings and the lacksadaisical performances.  It sounds like he put the entire team through the wind sprint ringer on Thursday to make sure they understood that changes are on the horizon.  Running your team to death the day before a game as huge as tonight's is not common practice, but Nate realizes it's time to take back control.

2.  Brandon Roy is.  Not only has Brandon Roy been noticeably troubled by the feel and look of this team, he's also admitted publicly that they need to "start all over" again.  Not exactly the words you want to hear from your superstar's mouth.  He did finally come out and admit that he doesn't care who he plays with in the starting lineup and that's exactly what this team needed.

Continue Reading...>>

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The Pre-Funk: Spurs/Blazers 11/6

The all day coverage you need to go into tonight's contest.  We're just making sure you're prepared to drop that extra knowledge on the brosephs to get you another smidgen of respect.

Party Attendees...

The Discovery Channel needs to call Manu Ginobili stat.  Why?  Because we've finally found someone that can give Bear Grylls a run for his money.  If you have been living in seclusion and have no idea what I'm talking about, check out the gif.  And I don't want anyone to even try bringing up that Les Stroud "Survivorman" guy.  His panties are on tighter than Aldridge's.

This obviously poses quite the threat to "your" Portland Trail Blazers who appear to be softer than a vegan arena bat.  Fortunately, the Spurs are coming off a bondage-esque beating from the Utah Jazz last night, followed by a late night flight into the semi-hurricane which almost ruined a good night of bar hopping for the Blaze of Love crew.

Did the Blazers fix anything over the last 2.5 days?  We'll find out tonight.  Did Nate McMillan run them into a sloppy melting mess to set a new tone in hopes of fixing it all?  You damn right he did.

On Tap...

• Yesterday's practice report from Ben.  [Blazers Edge]
• And Greg Oden is starting to use expletives.  Love it.  [Jason Quick]
• Blazers "starting over" is a scary thought.  [Brian T Smith]
• Offense also needs to be more than just Roy/Aldridge.  [Brian T Smith]
  
• Canzano 3 days late with his take on Miller/Roy.  [John Canzano]
• Fantastic enemy coverage plus a simulation.  [Pounding the Rock]
  
• More enemy coverage.  [Project Spurs]

Continue Reading...>>

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Blazers Rockin' Rip City Jerseys Tomorrow

"Your" Portland Trail Blazers will wear the white "Rip City" jerseys for tomorrow night's game against the San Antonio Spurs to show some love to the past. This will be the first opportunity to see the special editions jerseys for those of you who didn't make it to the exhibition at Memorial Coliseum.

COMMEMORATIVE JERSEYS PAY NOD TO FOUR DECADES OF SUPPORT

Trail Blazers to make first of two regular-season appearances in ‘Rip City’ gear

przy_ripcityPortland, Ore. – Tomorrow night, in front of a sold out crowd and a national television audience, the Portland Trail Blazers will wear commemorative “Rip City” jerseys, paying homage to the enduring 40-year bond between the team and its fans.

The jersey, designed in conjunction with the team’s 40th anniversary season, unofficially debuted during the October 14 preseason game vs. Phoenix. It will be worn twice during the regular season – Friday night vs. San Antonio and on Fan Appreciation Night, April 14 vs. Golden State.

“Since the day that Bill Schonely first uttered the words in 1971, ‘Rip City’ has become synonymous with Portland and Blazermania,” Chief Marketing Officer Sarah Mensah said. “These jerseys were our way of using the 40th anniversary platform to celebrate and recognize the role our fans have played in the success the Trail Blazers franchise.”

On February 18, 1971, Schonely yelled the first ‘Rip City!’ cry in response to a long-distance field goal by Trail Blazer Jim Barnett. The rest, as they say, is history.

Continue Reading...>>

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Blazer Dancers Work the New Silver Boy Shorts

The Blazer Dancers, as they do every year, dropped some fantastic new outfits that have the boys' hearts pumpin'. In fact, these new outfits are so on point, that I'm really starting to regret the ranking I gave them just a week or so ago.

For those of you not able to catch a game in person, here is a glimpse at what I'm talking about...


On another note, there are zero pictures of these silver boy shorts or the new black shorts outfits anywhere. If someone brings me some in decent quality, I'll buy you a Blazers t-shirt/hat/trinket, you name it(hah trinket). Seriously.

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Blazers In the Playoff Hunt. Hooray!

Yes, we can all sit back and breath now.  Through 5 games, the Blazers are still in the Playoff hunt.  Go team!

Obviously take that as complete sarcasm, but I find it interesting that these are the teams many projected to make the Playoffs. Some were skeptical on Phoenix and Oklahoma City, but neither would completely surprise us if they were to sneak in. Are we starting to see the decline of the Western Conference? Power shift back to the East?

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The Afterparty: Hawks/Blazers Game 5

A party full of post-game links and coverage to give you every over-analyzed angle in hopes of making your Blazers IQ that much greater. 

I already vented about Nate McMillan last night, so I'll spare you a second one on the disappointing performance.  You can only complain about a lack of on-ball defense, too many jump shots, and Travis Outlaw so many times. 

And to all the Outlaw supporters out there, I could care less that the guy had 9 points down the stretch to keep the game close.  Close isn't a win.  His plus/minus on the game was -8 and he was out of position at least a half dozen times in the second half which turned into uncontested layups for Atlanta.  Obviously, he's not the only guy at fault, but you could put him at the top of the list.

• The media row report.  [Blazers Edge]
• McMillan looking for Miller to start taking over.  [Blazer Banter]
• And a ton of quotes from Roy and Blake.  [Blazer Banter]
  
• Atlanta does more than break through MB.  [Mike Barrett]
  
• Blazers going in the wrong direction?  [Jason Quick]
  
• Also not fairing well in chemistry.  [Bust a Bucket]
• That enemy recap which stings.  [Peachtree Hoops]
  

Continue Reading...>>

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Frustration. Setting. In. Nate McMillan.

The Atlanta Hawks put on an absolute offensive clinic tonight at the expense of the Portland Trail Blazers.   A complete embarrassment to the city of Portland. It's been years since I've seen a team do just about whatever they set out to do on every single offensive possession.  Their offense was in such a rhythm, that the Blazers looked like a JV Division II squad on their way to a second home loss in just 3 home games.  Can we start pointing fingers yet?  I'm about to, Nate McMillan.

I'm sick of the talking with no results, the lack of emotion from the bench and your apparent confusion in the middle of games.  I'm sick of seeing zero growth.  I'm sick of seeing zero toughness, one-on-one isolations for Roy, and the pick and roll.  I'm sick of seeing zero pick and roll defense, missing defensive assignments and rotations.  I'm sick of seeing your players looking completely lost in an offensive set, in a defensive set, and in their general role with this team.  You are not getting through to them.

Continue Reading...>>

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Blazer Dancer Melissa Snags Free Ford Fusion?

Damn.  That's all I have to say after seeing this video of Blazer Dancer Melissa rolling up in her brand new Ford Fusion.  I'm still deciding if I believe that Ford actually gave this to her or if it is a part of her job as a Blazer Dancer.  As you'll see from her Ford Dancer Tour, she was set up to promote the Fusion.  Either way, it sure pays to be a BD.


And if they did give her a new ride for promoting the Ford, I feel bad for Cristi, who got stuck with the Ford Focus while the other girls landed a Ford Edge and a big ol' Truck.

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The Pre-Funk: Hawks vs. Blazers 11/3

The all day coverage you need to go into tonight's contest.  We're just making sure you're prepared to drop that extra knowledge on the brosephs to get you another smidgen of respect.

Party Attendees...

Do the Atlanta Hawks have the most overrated roster in the entire NBA?  They are the poor man's east coast version of the Denver Nuggets.  They come with a ton of swagger, but fail to back just about any of it up.  Joe Johnson gets east coast press.  Josh Smith is the amateur version of LaMarcus Aldridge.  Jamal Crawford...wait he still plays?  Mike Bibby's brain melted back in the 2002 Playoffs.  They play less defense than Memphis yet can't score like the Suns.  And that should be just about enough to get Hawks fans fired up I'd say.

On Tap...

• Brandon Roy as the next unstoppable force.  [HoopWorld]
• Blazers "defense" vs. Hawks offense.  [Blazer Banter]
  
• Game day preview from Dave.  [Blazers Edge]
• Sheed's Shakedown goin' Blazers.  [Bust a Bucket]
• Nice to see some enemy coverage this early.  [Peachtree Hoops]
• Rose Quarter vision takes off.  [JumpTown]
  

Continue Reading...>>

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Nuggets Dancers Go White After Labor Day

In a recent trip to China and Taiwan, the Denver Nuggets Dancers put on a little show during exhibitions featuring their Nuggets, the Indiana Pacers, and the Utah Jazz.  And look, even Larry Bird approves!  Of course, we are having trouble acknowledging the hotness since we NBA bloggers adhere to all fashion rules and understand that you just don't wear white after Labor Day.  Come on girlfriends...

Continue Reading...>>

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Andre Miller Meet and Greet at Dick's Sporting Goods

See people, he's all about the fans!

Portland basketball fans are invited to meet Trail Blazers’ guard Andre Miller this weekend at the grand opening celebration of the new DICK’s Sporting Goods at Lake Oswego’s Meridian Square.

The newest member of the Blazers will sign autographs, meet and greet fans and take photographs. Fans can win prizes including signed Trail Blazers adidas jerseys and game tickets by trying on and testing out the new adidas Commander TS basketball shoe.

We thought your readers would be very interested attending this event and winning Blazers prizes. Please see below for full details.

WHAT:
Meet and greet with Andre Miller
Trail Blazers tickets giveaway
Hourly raffle prizes

WHEN:
Saturday, November 7
2 pm – Andre Miller autograph session
4 pm – Trail Blazers ticket giveaway

WHERE:
DICK’s Sporting Goods
Meridian Square
17799 Lower Boones Ferry Road
Lake Oswego, OR 97035

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Aldridge Got Paid, Went Soft...er?

Putting $65 million franchise type players on blast is not necessarily my favorite thing to do.  In fact, the last thing I want do is write something negative about one of the cornerstones of this franchise, but through 4 games of uninspired performances, I just can't help myself.  With the ink yet to dry on LaMarcus Aldridge's shiny new contract, and even though it seems a little premature, why not start questioning whether or not he's worth it?

For years, players have been known to get paid and then slide down into some lower level of performance.  I'd hate to assume that a guy who seems to genuinely love this game and play it with passion would travel down that road, but nothing should surprise any of us.  In fact, after last night's battle in Oklahoma City, I'd almost start to question it all.

It was late in the 1st quarter when a limping Aldridge came out of the game after banging knees with an OKC player.  His knee was wrapped, given the "OK" to test it, and we never saw him again.  Just 24 hours prior, we saw the exact same incident happen with Steve Blake.  The difference?  Blake returned in the 4th quarter to finish what he and his teammates started.

For a guy who seems to get visibly angry when the words "lack of toughness" are tossed into a sentence with his name, he continues to fail to prove anything different.  And to make it all worse, he plays alongside one of the toughest guys in the league in Brandon Roy.  Through 3 years now, we've seen Roy play through it all and never once has his lack of toughness been a talking point, yet with Aldridge, it seems to be a weekly occurrence.

Continue Reading...>>

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The Afterparty: Blazers/Rockets/Thunder Game 3 and 4

A party full of post-game links and coverage to give you every over-analyzed angle in hopes of making your Blazers IQ that much greater. 

Quite a weekend I'd say.  I'll admit upfront that I was extremely nervous about last night's game with the Thunder after watching one of the worst defensive performances ever against the Rockets on Saturday.  (The team had dressed early for Halloween as Kyle Korver.)  It sounds like Greg Oden stepped up in the "Rah! Rah!" category.  Aldridge banged knees and could not return when the night before Blake found a way to.  Roy went off in Houston, then couldn't buy a bucket in OKC.  Travis Outlaw remains the worst player on this team.  Dre Miller is struggling, really struggling.  Martell Webster got torched and then was fortunate to find the coldest Kevin Durant in history.  Rudy Fernandez has been non-existent.  And now back home to take on the wildcard Hawks!

• A vocal Oden is a great sign.  [Jason Quick]
  
• Good to grab an early road win.  [Mike Barrett]
• Blazers exhale after this one.  [Joe Freeman]
  
• Houston recap from Dave.  [Blazers Edge]
  
• Oklahoma City recap from Dave.  [Blazers Edge]
• Enemy Houston recap.  [The Dream Shake]
• Look for enemy Thunder coverage in a bit.  [Welcome to Loud City]
• An odd night indeed for Durant.  [News OK]
  
• Average tickets prices fall...everywhere else.  [Reuters]
  

Continue Reading...>>

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Martell Webster - Dunks on Etan Thomas

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2009-10 NBA Preview Series: Pacific Division

Each season the NBA blog-o-sphere comes together to run the greatest season preview series of any sport.  This is the time when all you basketball junkies get truly unique information from some of the most passionate and knowledgeable writers on the planet.  As each division is released, we'll have them for you in one big blast.  Please enjoy!

Pacific Division Previews:

Golden State Warriors: Golden State of Mind 
Los Angeles Clippers: Clips Nation
Los Angeles Lakers: Silver Screen and Roll | With Malice | NBAtipoff | Hoops Addict
                                     Forum Blue and Gold
Phoenix Suns: Bright Side of the Sun | Binary Basketball
Sacramento Kings: Sactown Royalty | Basketball Fiend | Cowbell Kingdom 

Bonus Links: See full schedule here | Also see SBNation preview storystream

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