The Afterparty: Clippers/Blazers Game 34

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.

This post was one click away from being about the Blazers defensive performance last night and how it instantly changed for the better when LaMarcus Aldridge left the game with an ankle injury.  And then I stopped myself and decided the focus needed to switch onto a more positive note as the real story over the last few weeks has been the coaching job of Nate McMillan (and Monty Williams).

"Your" Portland Trail Blazers are now tied for 1st in the Northwest and have won 7 of their last 10 including a 4 game winning streak against the Heat, Mavs, Spurs and Nuggets.  Absolutely ridiculous.  At full strength with Oden, Przybilla, Rudy, Batum, and Outlaw, I'd still be laughing had they swept through those teams.  And the one constant they've had during their recent hot streak has been the coaching staff.  With a guy going down almost nightly, McMillan and Williams have been tossing everything in the bag at opponents.  Zones, gimmicks, lineups, and rookies have all been featured during a month that should make all Portlanders proud.  Cheers Nate.  Cheers Monty.

OK, I couldn't help myself.  Back onto Aldridge.  With him out of the game, we no longer saw half-assed rotations, half-assed double teams and gaps the size of the Grand Canyon in the lane.  We saw a physical presence from rookies (Yes, rookies.) and savvy play from a former Fab Fiver.  It was actually pretty refreshing.  I didn't have to spend my night yelling "LaMarcus! WTF was that!?!?"

And on a semi-related note, I completely understand his importance.  Please hurry back.

Recap. Box Score...

Continue Reading...>>

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LaMarcus Aldridge Leaves Game with Foot Injury

With 5:40 left in the first quarter, LaMarcus Aldridge scored and put on a mini-1-man press which resulted in an apparent foot or ankle injury.  The replays show a tweaked foot similar to that of Travis Outlaw's injury back in November which resulted in a 5th metatarsal fracture.

He left the game and has not returned.

Update 1:

In-game reports have ruled it a sprained left ankle.  His return tonight is unlikely.

Stay tuned for more updates.

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Make it Official: Trail Blazers Sign Shavlik Randolph

Yep...

TRAIL BLAZERS SIGN FORWARD SHAVLIK RANDOLPH

Portland utilizes second NBA hardship exemption

PORTLAND, Ore. – The Portland Trail Blazers have signed forward Shavlik Randolph, it was announced today by General Manager Kevin Pritchard.

Randolph, 26, rejoins the Trail Blazers after averaging 1.8 points, 1.8 rebounds and 3.7 minutes in 10 games with Portland last season.

Portland was allowed to sign Randolph and bring its roster to 16 players after the NBA awarded the team its second hardship exemption of the season on Tuesday.

The Duke University product has career averages of 2.4 points, 2.5 rebounds and 8.3 minutes in 91 games (seven starts) with Philadelphia, Portland and Miami.

Randolph (6-10, 240) appeared in two games for Miami this season, netting two points, seven rebounds and a blocked shot in 23 minutes before being waived on Dec. 14.

He will wear No. 42 with the Trail Blazers.

Update 1:

If you want a ton of info on the hardship exemption check out Ben's guaranteed contract talk.

Also an interview with Tom Penn from the Columbian's Brian T. Smith.

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The Pre-Funk: Clippers vs. Blazers 12/30

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...

Whenever Portland plays the Clippers, I get all worried, flustered and bewildered.  Why?  You got me.  The Blazers have owned them over the last 2 years with their only loss coming at home in a double overtime stunner that Steve Blake should have stapled to the back of his locker.  Maybe it's memories of Baron Davis as an 8th seed singlehandedly taking down the Mavs or maybe it's just the thought of meeting Chris Kaman in Mexico after slurping a tequila worm in the back alley of a red light she-male district.  (Not that that has happened...)

This other Los Angeles team rolls into town tonight after having shocked the Celtics at the buzzer 3 nights ago.  So yeah, they are flying in on a solid 2.5 day rest with puffy chests and loaded pillow cases.  (Bassy!)

On a positive note for Portland, the Clippers, as you might expect, are pretty lowsy in just about every statistical category hence their bottom feeding record.  They shoot the ball at 30.7% from deep, 73.4% from the line, and post rebound totals better than just 10 other NBA teams.  What do they do well?  Pound the ball to Kaman over and over again.  And actually, that has proven to be somewhat of an Achilles heel. (OK, bad McMillan joke.)  Sure, his points and boards look All-Star-esque, but aside from Baron Davis, he's got everyone else on the team doubled in turnovers.  Solid.

Avoid a miracle shooting night by the Clipshow and this should be a breeeeeeeeze.  Gimme a throwback double head pound for Darius and Q.

Continue Reading...>>

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Brandon Roy to Host New Years Eve Party at Agency Ultra Sports Lounge

For those of you looking to take on the Portland Police Department this Thursday night, you might as well do so at a party hosted by your favorite Portland Trail Blazers player.

Brandon Roy slapped his name atop the Agency Ultra Sports Lounge for a New Years Eve shindig that starts at 8:30PM and costs $35 at the door.

Check it...

Rip City NYE Party Hosted by Brandon Roy!

December 31st, 2009 - 8:30PM to 3:00AM

Brandon Roy and more of your favorite athletes will be hosting the craziest New Years Eve party in town. The Rip City New Years Eve Party has Pre-sales tickets available for $25 and it is $35 at the door. This includes a gourmet buffet style dinner and a New Years toast!

Buy tickets or tables at the Agency, call us at 503-548-2921 or you can go online at http://tinyurl.com/RipCityNYE.

More info:

• Party is 21 and over.
  
• Other Blazers in attendance:  Aldridge, Bayless and Martell Webster.  
• Presale tickets are sold out already.
• Dress extra classy.
  
• Free champagne toast at midnight.
• More info here.
• And the Agency's website here.

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Breaking News: Blazers to Sign Shavlik Randolph

Update 1:  Blazers made this official today.

The news just dropped from the Columbian's Brian T. Smith via Twitter...

Details to follow as we have them from the team.

In the mean time, here is the article from Smith...

Portland, OR — The Portland Trail Blazers are expected to sign forward Shavlik Randolph on Wednesday, according to a source.

Randolph is expected to arrive in Portland on Wednesday and could sign with the team the same day.

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Blazers Waive Anthony Tolliver - Assign Patty Mills to D-League

Breaking news from the team via Twitter...

And now via press release...

PORTLAND, Ore. – In a pair of roster moves, the Portland Trail Blazers waived forward Anthony Tolliver and assigned guard Patty Mills to the NBA Development League’s Idaho Stampede, it was announced today by General Manager Kevin Pritchard.

Tolliver appeared in two games for the Trail Blazers, grabbing a rebound in four minutes. He was called up from the Stampede on Dec. 17 after the NBA awarded Portland a hardship exemption.

Mills, selected by the Trail Blazers with the 55th overall pick in the second round of the 2009 NBA Draft, will join the Stampede on Wednesday. The Australian national fractured the fifth metatarsal in his right foot during an NBA Summer League practice session July 9. He underwent surgery on July 13 and recently completed a successful rehabilitation.

The Trail Blazers’ roster now stands at 15.

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Chad Ford Ranks Oden 9th Worst Pick of Decade

I'm not sure this comes as much of a surprise, but NBA insiders in general feel that Oden can now be considered a bust. He hasn't played but one of his three NBA seasons and everything surrounding his career remains filled with major questions.

As someone who vehemently expressed support for the "Draft Durant" brigade, I'll just keep my comments to myself.

Here is the clip from Ford via ESPN Insider...

9. Greg Oden, Portland Trail Blazers, No. 1 overall in 2007 -- over Kevin Durant

This may be very premature, but after Oden went down with his second season-ending injury, the question has to be asked: Did the Blazers blow it when they drafted Oden over Kevin Durant?

The short-term answer is a definitive yes. Durant has turned into one of the most dominating scorers in the game. Oden, by the time the season is over, will have missed two of his first three seasons with injuries.

The long-term answer is a little harder to ascertain. Oden was beginning to look worthy of that No. 1 pick early this season before the injury. If he can find a way to stay healthy, he still has the size and defensive instincts to be a great NBA center. But with so many questions swirling around his long-term health, it's becoming impossible to justify picking Oden over Durant.

And Darko Milicic ranked in as the worst pick of the decade for those of you without an Insider account.

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The Afterparty: Sixers/Blazers Game 33

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.

Box scores usually don't tell the entire story, but last night's does completely.  LaMarcus Aldridge and his -18 were completely worked by quite possibly the slowest and oldest 30 year old in the NBA.  In fact, Elton Brand looked like the Brand of old thanks to the newest Criss Angel-esque disappearing act from LA.  I hate to point fingers, (OK that's a lie) but the defensive performance last night ranks up there with his all-time worst.  His job with Greg and Joel around has not always been to "protect the paint" and now is probably a good time for Nate to sit him down for that fatherly chat.

Other notes?  Iverson, after one of his teammates hit a key basket in their 4th quarter run, let out his version of a William Wallace battle cry.  Unfortunately for him, it came out more like a washed up 33-year old NBA player with an arthritic knee and bad corn rows who is 1 benching away from a 15th tear-jerking presser.  Wah.

No big 3's from Blake.  No big anything from Martell.  No energy magic-ness from Bayless.  Game over.

Recap. Box Score...

Continue Reading...>>

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And We're Back...

Just in time to see one of the most lackadaisical performances of the year! Comments, coverage and randomness will continue as usual starting tomorrow morning.

Hope everyone had a fantastic holiday weekend!

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Make it Official: Przybilla has Surgery and is Done for the Year

PRZYBILLA UNDERGOES RIGHT PATELLA TENDON SURGERY

Trail Blazers center to miss the remainder of 2009-10 season

PORTLAND, Ore. – Portland Trail Blazers center Joel Przybilla underwent successful surgery today to repair a ruptured right patella tendon and will be out for the remainder of the 2009-10 season, it was announced by General Manager Kevin Pritchard.

The two-hour surgery was performed by Dr. Don Roberts at Southwest Washington Surgery Center in Vancouver, Wash. Przybilla is expected to make a full recovery and be ready for the Trail Blazers Fall Training Camp.

"Joel has been a pillar of our team and he is now on the road to recovery," said Pritchard. "We believe very strongly in Joel and look forward to his return next season.

“We are also grateful and appreciative, especially here during the holidays, that we have such talented and caring doctors associated with our team. Dr. Roberts and Dr. Tom Reis have done an impeccable job of caring for our team during these challenging times."

The injury occurred at the 3:12 mark of the first quarter in Tuesday’s 85-81 win at Dallas.

Przybilla, 30, averaged 4.1 points, 7.9 rebounds and 1.43 blocked shots in 30 games (nine starts) this season. He ranks among NBA leaders in rebounds and blocked shots per game, and places second on the team in both categories. Przybilla recently put together a stretch of six straight games with 10-plus rebounds from Dec. 11-20.


He ranks sixth all-time in Trail Blazers history with 593 blocked shots.

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Breaking News: Joel Przybilla Down with Apparent Knee Injury

And just when we're about to step out the door and head off on X-mas adventures, we get another major injury to another key player on this Portland Trail Blazers roster.  Przybilla went up for a rebound late in the 1st quarter and came down awkwardly on his right knee.  He immediately fell to the floor in agony, pounding his fists in obvious anger and frustrations.  Teammates helped him off the court and into the locker room where we now await what we can all expect to be dreadful news.

I don't even know what to say anymore...

As we have details, we'll update this post.

Update 1: Video footage of the injury.


Update 2:  News now that Joel has a ruptured patella tendon and a dislocated patella.

I'm no doctor, but this injury appears to be worse than Oden's and will likely mean his season is over.  Wow.

Update 3:  Photos now coming out of Joel's knee. 

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Happy Holidays Blazers Fans

Times tend to a get a little crazy around the holidays for us and we'll be out for the next few days celebrating life with family and friends.  I hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable holiday weekend; we'll be seeing you all again soon.  And who knows, if we sneak away for a few minutes, you may even get a couple of winter wonderland photos or updates.

And to the Blazers...at least win on X-mas Day.

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The Afterparty: Blazers/Magic/Heat Games 28 and 29

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.

A tale of two completely different 4th quarters?  On Saturday night, we saw one of the oddest coaching moves in recent history.  On Sunday afternoon, we saw an MVP.  I have no idea what the hell McMillan was thinking against the Magic by going with a 4 guard lineup against the best rebounder in basketball to close out a game, but he can thank Brandon Roy for doing everything possible to avoid another coaching blunder like that, yesterday.

The Blazers went 3-1 last week against a set of incredibly talented rosters.  We saw Roy put up player of the week type of numbers.  Przybilla cementing his name as the most underrated center in the league.  We saw LaMarcus Aldridge put up one of the worst games in NBA history.  Jerryd Bayless' official arrival one night while going 5 of 19 in the next two.  We saw peaks and valleys from Webster, Blake and Miller.  A franchise low in assists.  Rarely saw Cunningham or Howard.  We saw inefficiency and efficiency.  And a D-leaguer ruin his chance of making an NBA roster in one minute flat.

That bipolar medication I spoke of a few weeks ago has been in full effect.  We'll just have to expect that we'll never know what to expect from game to game.  Lights on one night and a blackout the next.  Lakers challengers tonight and Bobcat challengers tomorrow.  Can we now call this the season of dissonance?

Magic Recap. Heat Recap. Box Scores...

Magic Game

Heat Game

Continue Reading...>>

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The Afterparty: Suns/Blazers Game 27

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.

Last night, Jerryd Bayless pulled off things that few Blazers have ever done.  He was so remarkable, that the socialite fans weren't rushing to "beat traffic" with 5 minutes left when I've seen them racing for exits in double overtime battles.  He had fans so excited that even the "SIT DOWN!" 60 year old guy was on his feet telling people to stand up.  He was so explosive...he broke Twitter.  Congrats playa.

The major positive you can see from this game though, is the power of role players.  Blake stepped up.  Martell might have been as clutch as anyone on the court.  Przybilla had another 10 boards.  They need these types of performances if they ever want to win on a consistent basis.  We all talk about how important these guys are right now because of injuries, but realistically, they are just as important with a team at full strength.  In fact, if your role players play anywhere near the level that we saw last night, Portland might be unbeatable.  Laugh at that for a minute and then sit on it.

Side note...What up Channing!  Peace.

Recap. Box Score...

Continue Reading...>>

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The Pre-Funk: Suns vs. Blazers 12/17

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...

I seriously have nothing to write about this game.  After 26 games, I feel like we've been through 126 with all the drama that we get on a daily basis.  Dre Miller, Bayless and Blake trade rumors, thousands of injuries, everyone and their dog questioning McMillan, me calling out Aldridge, Martell disappearing as expected, and now some random D-Leaguer joins our lives.  I guess this is better than covering a team like the Timberwolves?

Anyways, Phoenix is in town and we all get to see Channing Frye's smile again, Steve Nash torch 3 different point guards, and Amare Stoudemire pimpslap Aldridge.  Should be a fun one!  By the way, once this nasty head-cold releases itself from my head, the negativity will quiet down for a bit.  Maybe.

Continue Reading...>>

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Greg Oden Addresses Media for First Time

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Blazers to Call Up Anthony Tolliver

The Trail Blazers were awarded a "hardship exception" yesterday and it appears that they will use it immediately on D-Leaguer Anthony Tolliver.  The coverage started late last night or early this morning, whichever you prefer...

HoopsHype.com reports...

The Trail Blazers, who were awarded yesterday the option to sign a 16th player to their roster, will give a contract today to Anthony Tolliver, sources told HoopsHype.com. Tolliver, a 6-foot-9 forward with good shooting skills, played with the San Antonio Spurs for two months last season and also had a 10-day stint with the New Orleans Hornets. He was currently playing in the NBDL with the Idaho Stampede, where he was averaging 20.7 ppg and 9.9 rebounds and shooting 43 percent from three-point land.

Tolliver is expected to be in uniform Thursday night against Phoenix.

Wendell Maxey with a scouting report...

Tolliver, a 6-foot-9 forward who went undrafted out of Creighton University in 2007, was playing for the Idaho Stampede, Portland’s affiliate in the NBDL. He was averaging 20.7 points and 9.9 rebounds per game, while shooting 43% from beyond the arc.

A solid shooter that showed off his skills playing overseas in Germany, Tolliver spent two months with the San Antonio Spurs, saw time with the Austin Toros and Iowa Energy of the D-League before landing a 10-day contract with the New Orleans Hornets. After that, it was back overseas where Tolliver played in the Turkish League before signing with the Stampede this season.

You can check out his D-League stat sheet here and at first glance, appears to be the the real deal...in the D-League anyway.

Who knows how much he'll play or how long he'll even be around, but at least the team can have full practices now.  Yay!

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Trail Blazers Granted Hardship Exception

Thanks to the NBA, the Blazers now have the opportunity to sign a 16th player to their roster after some very trying times.  They will be allowed to sign this player until one of their other players returns which will likely be Rudy Fernandez or Nicolas Batum.

Joe Freeman has the word...

The NBA has awarded the Blazers a hardship exception, giving them the option of signing  a 16th player to the roster for a short-term basis. Teams are eligible for the exception after four players on a roster miss at least three games and are expected to miss two additional weeks.

The Blazers became eligible after their game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday, when Greg Oden missed his third consecutive game because of a fractured patella in his left knee, and were awarded the exception by the NBA on Sunday.

“We’re surveying our options,” said Tom Penn, the Blazers’ vice president of basketball operations. “We’ve been looking at free agents that are out there and available ... and we’re going to keep our options open. We may or may not ultimately sign a player.”

And the free agent list you are all probably wondering about is right here.  Its last update was 10/22/09, but it should give you a pretty good idea of Portland's options.

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Greg Oden Addresses Fans for First Time Since Latest Knee Injury

Today's video entry from Greg Oden came as a nice surprise.  The big man gave a little shout out to fans by thanking them for their support and also reminding everyone that he'll be OK and that he's not worried about this latest setback...

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The Afterparty: Kings/Blazers Game 26

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'm officially taking credit for the re-emergence of LaMarcus Aldridge.  You damn right I am.  After writing this post following the loss to the Cavs, he's turned into a $70 million player.  And to tell you the truth, I'm also taking some credit for Bayless' performance last night.  We opened up our new poll on 12/13 and look what happens!  Wow, patting ourselves on the back is quite fun.

Even though this game was against the Sacramento Kings, we'll all take it.  A much needed win against a team who doesn't even resemble last year's NBA worst.  Portland struggled at times, and looked stellar at others.  Inserting Andre Miller into the starting lineup really got things moving.  Sure, his stats aren't jumping out, but the pace of play with him in the game was so important.

And Steve Blake hit his first 2 jumpers of the year which will allow toolboxes across the interwebs to continue to shout "Trade Miller!" Fools.

Recap. Box Score...

Continue Reading...>>

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Steve Blake Possibly on the Move Now?

The move that makes the absolute most sense for the Blazers has always been to get rid of Steve Blake rather than their new and semi-elite point guard, Andre Miller.  For some reason though, the NBA writers of the world deemed it necessary to start the rumor of Dre's signing as something purely for trading power down the road.   Today is "Andre Miller Day!"  Spare me.

Chad Ford dropped some meaningful words today going with Blake as the man on the move...

One reason is that he’s struggled to get the offense going smoothly. This problem is compounded by the fact that Blazers coach Nate McMillan has felt pressure to play Blake because Roy prefers to play with Blake instead of Miller. If Blake were traded, that pressure would disappear.

Two, Blake is easier to move and may have more trade value. While Miller is the more talented player, Blake makes less money and has an expiring contract, while Miller has a fairly expensive three-year deal.

Couldn't agree more CF.  Now pull the trigger KP.

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The Pre-Funk: Kings vs. Blazers 12/15

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 fact that the Blazers don't even have enough guys to run through 5-on-5 drills in practice has me giggling with bewilderment at this point.  As the injuries have built up, the team's flaws seem even more evident and the lofty expectations of the 2009-10 season have disappeared.  Unlike last year, no one is shooting the ball consistently, each week has another half dozen rumors of unhappiness and rotation questions, and I even went on the record admitting that I'd rather have Travis Outlaw than Martell Webster.  It's a season of frustrations for everyone involved on every level.

And tonight, Portland welcomes the Sacramento Kings to town who happen to be one of the unexpected bright spots in the NBA and are no longer a push-over.  This marks the return of Sergio Rodriguez, Tyreke Evans' Rose Garden cherry popping, and the only weak team the Blazers will face for the rest of the month.

We're not going "must win" with this one, but it's easily in the "you better win or else" category.

Continue Reading...>>

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Fixing the Point Guard Situation?

Our friends over at Dime have weighed in with their theory on the Blazers point guard situation...

If they are able to get rid of Miller (preferably for a big man), there will be more stability at the point guard spot. Coach Nate McMillan or interim coach Dean Demopoulos won’t have to worry about micro-managing their minutes or trying to play them simultaneously. Blake would start to look comfortable again and they can hopefully rekindle the same chemistry they enjoyed in 2008-09.

Getting rid of Miller would open up an opportunity for Bayless, who could resume Sergio Rodriguez’s role from a season ago. Although Bayless is an explosive offensive player, he plays more like a shooting guard and needs time to hone his point guard skills. Playing behind Blake for a season or two will allow him to develop before taking over as the starting point guard.

It's pretty hard for me to agree with that take.  Getting rid of your best point guard to allow your worst point guard to feel more comfortable just doesn't make a ton of sense to me.  If this team really wants to move forward and make changes that should lead to future successes, it comes down to playing Miller and Bayless.  The Blake experiment was a nice one last year and he took this team as far as he is capable of taking them.  

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The Afterparty: Blazers/Cavaliers Game 24

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.

Let's just go ahead and pin this game on LaMarcus Aldridge.  Critiquing and blasting Aldridge is likely to become a trending topic on this blog very soon if he keeps up this...well whatever it is he's attempting to do on the basketball court.  Last night he gave Anderson Varajao his 2nd 20 point game ever.  Let me type that one more time.  2nd 20 point game ever.  Again?

2nd 20 point game ever.

Here is your basic LaMarcus Aldridge performance.  Show up in the first quarter, have your numbered called a ton to establish an inside presence.  Shoot 5-10 fadeaways.  If they drop, "Yay! My stats will look awesome at the end of the game."  If they don't drop, "Oh well, no one will blame me since Brandon has the ball at the end of the game anyway."  Second quarter starts, and number stops being called so let's just grab a couple of defensive rebounds here or there.  We'll also allow the below average player we are guarding to shoot uncontested jumpers or we'll just practice turning our head on defense so said average player can get layups instead.  Third quarter starts...same as second quarter.  Fourth quarter starts...same as second and third quarters.  Game over.  -11.

People can bag on Oden all day for his injury woes, but at least the guy plays his heart out and looks like he cares 100% of the time.

Recap. Box Score...

Continue Reading...>>

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A Greg Oden Moment

On a slow Friday, I was browsing through pictures and ran across this one that I hadn't seen in a while.  This picture right here essentially highlights ever single reason that the Blazers drafted Oden #1 in the 2007 NBA Draft.  Take that statement however you want...

(By the way, that shot of his teammates should go down in history.)

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The Pre-Funk: Blazers at Cavaliers 12/11

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...

Yahoo's team report for the Cavaliers and their recent struggles sounds oddly similar to some other team we follow very closely...

Once again, it was the same old problems for the Cavs -- fast-break points (18) and turnovers (20) -- that proved costly.

"That's been our Achilles' heel in a lot of our losses, especially as of late," Brown said. "We are paying the price for not being sharp in those two areas."

They managed to throw in fast-break points, turnovers and Achilles in the same report while not talking about the Portland Trail Blazers.  Hats off guys!

Whenever the Blazers play teams with hall of fame type players like LeBron or Kobe, I refuse to dig deep and over analyze.  We can talk schemes, weaknesses, keys to the game and all that garbage, but really you have no control over what James is about to do.  If he goes off, life sucks.  If he struggles, life is grand.  You can't control a player of his caliber, you just have to hope he doesn't blow up for 50/8/8.

On the Blazers side, you need Roy to match LeBron as closely as he can and then hope your below average role players step up.  That's it.  No extra garbage.  No wasting time.  Hope LeBron doesn't have a monster game in front of a nationwide ESPN audience, and hope "your" Blazers role players step waaaaaaaay up.

Continue Reading...>>

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Blazers Fans Disappointing in All-Star Voting

Seriously people, this is pathetic.  This is our only professional franchise, we fill the arena every single night, talk about them constantly with peers and co-workers, yet can't find 1 minute a day to vote them into the NBA All-Star game.  Come on!

Early results look like this:

Western Conference

Guards
1.  Kobe Bryant - 692,518 votes
2.  Tracy McGrady - 281,545 votes
3.  Steve Nash - 272,135 votes
4.  Chris Paul - 248,049 votes
5.  Jason Kidd - 207,247 votes
9.  Brandon Roy - 106,416 votes

Forwards
1.  Carmelo Anthony - 588,958 votes
2.  Dirk Nowitzki - 366,300 votes
3.  Pau Gasol - 280,758 votes
4.  Tim Duncan - 271,321 votes
5.  Kevin Durant - 177,205 votes
11.  LaMarcus Aldridge - 70,588 votes

Centers
1.  Amare Stoudemire - 447,776 votes
2.  Andrew Bynum - 299,484 votes
3.  Nene - 90,439 votes
4.  Marc Gasol - 75,765 votes
5.  Greg Oden - 73,874 votes

Now go VOTE!

For a full breakdown of rankings including the Eastern Conference head over to NBA.com.

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The Afterparty: Blazers/Pacers Game 23

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.

Not sure if anyone is keeping track, but "your" Portland Trail Blazers are now 2-1 without Greg Oden!  OK, that's not funny or enlightening.

From what I've read this morning, everyone seems to be excited about last night's performance as a return to the look of last year's team.  Now I don't know about the rest of you, but I didn't see a team capable of winning 54 games last night.  Unless of course you meant playing down to the level of competition, struggling for 3.95 quarters, and getting crushed on the boards by rookies is a step in that direction...

The only real difference between last night's and Monday night's games, is the fact that Indiana can't shoot for ish.  They go 3 of 17 from deep and start throwing up extra bricks down the stretch.  Fortunately for Portland, the old Brandon Roy was in the building.  So if that's what everyone meant, then I sort of get it.

Closing thought:  If Aldridge wouldn't decide to take the second half off every night, he might be an All-Star.

Recap. Box Score...

Continue Reading...>>

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The Pre-Funk: Blazer at Pacers 12/9

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...

This might be the only win we'll see as Blazers fans over this 4 game road trip.  So throw a party, make some popcorn, bake some cookies, do something, because times are tough and we all need to take in the positives which are coming few and far between these days.

And yes, that was a negative statement...anyone else struggling to remain positive?  Anyone else in "Blazers Depression?"  I've been thinking of canceling my Comcast so that I can't even have the urge to flip over to  games.  OK, that was an overstatement.  I still love watching this team and will be with them until the end, but man, life as a Blazers fan sucks right now.  The jokes on Twitter about injuries are running rampant.  The entire season has become one big punch line.  If it weren't for Tiger Woods...OK, that's going too far.

Oh, and the Pacers organization is complaining about injury woes as well.  I thought they were kidding when I read an article comparing them to the Blazers unfortunate situation...they weren't.  This is a team who's second leading scorer is Dahntay Jones and they think they have some right to complain about injuries and misfortunes.  Laughable.

Continue Reading...>>

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Rudy Fernandez Has Microdiscectomy

My prison cell is running out of room for chalk marks...

PORTLAND, Ore. – Portland Trail Blazers guard/forward Rudy Fernandez will undergo a procedure today to alleviate pain in his right leg, General Manager Kevin Pritchard announced Tuesday.

Fernandez, 24, will undergo a microdiscectomy to relieve pressure from a nerve root in his lower back that is causing pain in his right leg.

Dr. George Shanno will perform the procedure at Southwest Washington Regional Surgery Center in Vancouver, Wash.

A timetable for his return will be determined after the procedure.

*Update*

The rumor floating right now says that Rudy will miss 3 months or 6-12 weeks.

*Update 2* - From the team...

Rudy Fernandez will miss 4-6 weeks after having a microdiscectomy today to relieve pain in leg caused by nerve root in lower back.

That's definitely better news than the original 3 month timeline, but this means we'll need a ton of production from guys like Steve Blake and Martell Webster immediately and consistently.

*Update 3* - Official Update from the Blazers...

RUDY FERNANDEZ UNDERGOES SUCCESSFUL PROCEDURE

Second-year Spaniard will be sidelined 4-6 weeks

PORTLAND, Ore. – Portland Trail Blazers guard/forward Rudy Fernandez underwent a successful microdiscectomy Tuesday to alleviate pain in his right leg, General Manager Kevin Pritchard announced today.

Fernandez, 24, will miss 4-6 weeks as a result of the procedure, which relieved pressure from a nerve root in his lower back that caused pain in his right leg.

“The procedure was successful and we can now turn our attention to getting Rudy healthy and back on the court,” said Pritchard. “He’s been under a lot of pain and we look forward to Rudy returning healthier than ever.”

Dr. George Shanno performed the procedure at Southwest Washington Regional Surgery Center in Vancouver, Wash.

Fernandez appeared in Portland’s first 20 games this season, averaging 8.6 points, 2.7 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 23.3 minutes. He leads the Trail Blazers and ranks among NBA leaders with 1.55 steals per game.

The Palma de Mallorca, Spain, native leads team qualifiers with a 38.8 percent (31-for-80) mark from three-point range. Fernandez’s 159 three-pointers last season set an NBA rookie record.

 

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I Heart 2009-10 Miami Heat Dancers

We gave the 2009-10 Miami Heat Dancers a ton of love in our NBA dance team rankings earlier this year based a lot on their history and now that pictures are finally starting to come out, we were spot on.  And more recently, they unveiled their season poster which included quite the party and a little catwalk action.

Here are some of the pictures that made up their newest poster...

Continue Reading...>>

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The Afterparty: Blazers/Knicks Game 22

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.

One less player and coach and the exact same result we've come to expect:  uncontested jumpers, uncontested layups, easy bucket after easy bucket, predictable offensive sets, inconsistent play from role players, large deficits, a disappearing Aldridge in the clutch, excuses, etc.....annoyingly etc.

At some point you have to start questioning everything don't you?  Is Brandon Roy the right guy to lead this franchise?  How big of a mistake was signing LaMarcus Aldridge to an almost-max deal?  Has the coaching staff lost this team?  Is Kevin Pritchard too close to his players and afraid to move them?

Obviously I understand the fact that this same team won 54 games last year and is still sitting at 13-9, but with their play of late, they might be 13-21 by the end of December.  They are 1-4 in their last 5 games and have trailed by double figures in all of them; most by 20 or more.

Does Dr. Phil do NBA teams?

Recap.  Box Score...

Continue Reading...>>

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Rudy Fernandez About to be Traded?

It was an odd last minute scratch from Saturday's home game against the Houston Rockets wouldn't you say?  Just a day after trade rumors broke on Andre Miller, Rudy disappears with an apparent re-aggravation of sciatic back pains.  I'm not trying to go all conspiracy theorist on you, but the timing should perk your ears especially after last summer's reports of an unhappy Fernandez, his spotty play, and the team not showing a ton of concern towards finding him minutes.

On Sunday, as the team was preparing to leave for their 4 game east coast road swing, Joe Freeman chimed back in with news that Rudy would miss the Blazers next game in New York and would join the team midweek.

And tonight, we heard mixed reports on his "midweek" status and Portland's Wednesday match-up with Indiana.  According to Brandon Roy, we won't see Rudy in Indiana, yet Coach Demopoulos hadn't heard or wouldn't confirm that news.  Hello communication breakdown?

Then Jason Quick snuck in this article just before tip-off:

Fernandez, who sat out Saturday's game against Houston and did not make the team's flight on Sunday for tonight's game in New York, is getting the second opinion in Portland on Monday.

Gerard Darnes, the Spanish agent for Fernandez, said the back problems stem from last season's nasty fall against the Lakers, when Trevor Ariza fouled him from behind, leading to Fernandez leaving the court in a neck brace and on a stretcher.

Darnes was in Portland on Friday and is in New York for the Blazers game against the Knicks. He said the doctors are trying to identify the origin of the back pain.

Anyone else find it odd that his Spanish agent is in New York instead of with his ailing client?  He probably doesn't need to be holding his hand on the MRI table, but what's he doing traveling with the team?  We all know that Kevin Pritchard likes to hit the road and after the Oden injury, admitted that it might be time to look at making some moves.  Was something already in the works before Greg went down?

This should get interesting...

*Update*

Rudy has chimed in via his own blog and he's either saying the right things or really is injured.  We'll lean towards the injured side this time and give him the benefit of the doubt...

Recently I was telling you about taking care of the body. The last days have been hard because I’m not done with my back problems and I can’t participate with the team normally. Sometimes you have to stop to be able to continue, because the back hurts a lot right now. I missed the last home game, against Houston, and now I couldn’t make the trip to the east coast with the team. I had to stay in Portland to rest and do treatment. It’s a shame not to be able to play in New York against the Knicks, I know that a lot of Spaniards are in New York on vacation these days and a lot of them had tickets to go see me play in the Garden, like it happened last year. A lot of you have told me on this site. I feel bad I won’t be there but this is the right thing to do now, try to get healthy as soon as possible. Anyway, thanks for your support, that you show here, as always

Get well soon number 5.

*Update 2*

Rudy's agent has shot down rumors of a possible trade and also acknowledged these back issues as starting after the flagrant foul from Trevor Ariza.

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Nate McMillan's Achilles Tendon Surgery is Successful

Blazers' doctors still batting 100% on the success chart...

HEAD COACH NATE MCMILLAN UNDERGOES SUCCESSFUL SURGERY ON ACHILLES TENDON

McMillan expected to return to bench Dec. 15 vs. Sacramento

PORTLAND, Ore. – Portland Trail Blazers Head Coach Nate McMillan underwent successful surgery Monday to repair a ruptured right Achilles tendon.

He is expected to make a full recovery and return to the bench for the Trail Blazers’ Dec. 15 game vs. Sacramento. The injury occurred during a Dec. 4 practice.

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

Lead Assistant Coach Dean Demopoulos will serve as the team’s head coach in McMillan’s absence, starting tonight at New York.

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The Pre-Funk: Blazers at Knicks 12/7

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...

Nice of the New York Knicks to catch fire at the same time the Blazers lose their head coach, starting center and Spanish fly.  Should be an interesting night to say the least.  Nate Robinson has been benched while everyone else on the team is playing lights out ball.  They'll be running all over the place and with a constantly shrinking Portland roster, we'll have to see what the Blazers do to keep up.  Try to slow them?  Try to outpace them?  Coach Dean at the helm!  Let's see what you got.

And we just dropped a ton of links below to take up your entire day.  Rightfully so, the world is covering the Oden story like a Charlie Weiss firing, and we dug deep for some you may not have seen.  Enjoy.

Continue Reading...>>

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Greg Oden Has Successful Left Knee Surgery

That was quick...

GREG ODEN UNDERGOES SUCCESSFUL SURGERY ON LEFT KNEE

Oden to miss remainder of 2009-10 season

PORTLAND, Ore. – Portland Trail Blazers center Greg Oden will miss the remainder of the 2009-10 season after undergoing successful surgery Sunday to repair a fracture in his left patella, it was announced by General Manager Kevin Pritchard.

The surgery was performed by Dr. Don Roberts at Salmon Creek Medical Center in Vancouver, Wash.

The injury occurred at the 7:45 mark of the first quarter in Saturday’s 90-89 win vs. Houston. Oden, 21, underwent an MRI Saturday, confirming the fracture.

“We are thankful today that Greg's surgery went well and Dr. Roberts projects a full recovery,” said Pritchard. “Greg is an important member of our Trail Blazers family, and we look forward to getting him healed and eventually back on the floor. Greg has overcome adversity before, and I am confident he will do so again.”

In 20 games prior to the injury, Oden averaged 11.7 points (60.5% FG), and team highs of 8.8 rebounds and 2.40 blocks. Entering Saturday, Oden ranked second in the NBA in blocked shots and fourth in field goal percentage.

Oden’s 15.6 points per game in the seven contests before the injury (Nov. 20-Dec. 1) marked the best seven-game stretch of his career. The second-year center out of Ohio State improved his averages in every major statistical category from last season, seeing marked increases in points, rebounds, assists, blocked shots, field goal percentage and free throw percentage.

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The End of the Greg Oden Experiment?

Through 21 games, this team wasn't putting together performances warranting some huge playoff run, but the growth and learning that they would have endured throughout the season is what they will now miss.  The Portland Trail Blazers #1 draft pick is gone for another year and will come back next season having to start all over again.  It feels like the end of the Greg Oden experiment.

This post isn't about Sam Bowie or the fact that many would assume Oden as "injury prone."  This isn't about being a "bust" while Kevin Durant is performing at an MVP level.  This isn't a plea to trade the big man.  This post is simply about time.  About a window of opportunity that seems to have closed.

The 2009-10 season was supposed to be the most important season yet for this group of Portland Trail Blazers.  This was their growth year.  This would be the year that LaMarcus Aldridge takes his game into an elite level.  The year that Brandon Roy would solidify himself as one of the top 10 players in the entire game.  The year that Greg Oden appeared as the force we had all dreamed about.  The year that these 3 fixtures would learn to play together, leading this team into NBA history.  And now that year is lost.

Writing this post the day after an injury of this magnitude may not be the most ideal time, but ideal is a word this franchise knows little of.  These 21 games, or even more fitting, these 2 and a half years have not been kind to players, coaches or fans, yet we'll all have to keep moving forward.

We won't know until sometime next year if Oden will fully recover.  And we won't know until at least a year after that if he'll be a championship level center.  We don't know if the owner that provides this team with financial freedom will still be with us.  And we don't know if Brandon Roy's quickly aging body will continue to produce at an All-Star level.  There are so many concerns to have now that Greg is done yet again.  The bright lights of the future have surely dimmed.  Is it time to move on?

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The Afterparty: Rockets/Blazers Game 21

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.

Not really in the mood for a big drawn out recap or analysis after this game.  Even with Roy taking down the Rockets again in the final seconds, this still feels like a loss.  Great comeback after a great loss.

Recap.  Box Score...

Continue Reading...>>

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Make it Really Official: Oden Out for the Season

In case you needed extra confirmation, the team released this...

GREG ODEN SIDELINED WITH FRACTURED LEFT PATELLA

PORTLAND, Ore. – Portland Trail Blazers center Greg Oden fractured his left patella, an MRI confirmed tonight. Oden will undergo surgery and is likely out for the season.

A surgery date has yet to be determined.

The injury occurred at the 7:45 mark of the first quarter in Saturday’s 90-89 win vs. Houston.

“I'm obviously disappointed having worked so hard to get to where I was,” said Oden. “This is a setback, but I'll be back. It's in God's hands now. I want to thank the fans, my teammates and everyone in the Blazers family for all of their good thoughts.”

In 20 games prior to the injury, Oden averaged 11.7 points (60.5% FG), and team highs of 8.8 rebounds and 2.40 blocks. Entering Saturday, Oden ranked second in the NBA in blocked shots and fourth in field goal percentage.

“This was a setback, no doubt about it,” said General Manager Kevin Pritchard. “It felt like a punch in the gut, but he’s going to bounce back. That’s the kind of kid he is.”

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Breaking: Greg Oden Out with Knee Injury

Wow, what a night.  That picture says everything you need to know...

We saw the big man go down, learned that he was headed across the Rose Quarter to Rebound Orthopedics for an MRI and then our sources sent us the bad news..."broken kneecap."

We actually sat on the news for almost 5 minutes until we could really confirm.  Our first tweet at 8:16 PM is when we had the news...

And then we broke the horrible news at 8:20 PM...

Continue Reading...>>

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The Pre-Funk: Rockets vs. Blazers 12/5

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...

Sitting at 12-5, the Blazers were starting to finally look like one of the elite teams in the NBA.  Now at 12-8, they've dropped back to 3rd in the Northwest and just a couple of losses away from backing up to 4th and behind the Oklahoma City Thunder.  Yes you read that correctly.  With a new injury reported almost daily, it's hard to stay positive especially with a 4 game road trip on the horizon.  Can game 21 of an 82 game season really be a "must win?"  You betcha.  Dropping a 4th straight game might mean a season ending downward spiral.

And who do we have tonight?  The same team that ended Portland's Cinderella run last season.  The team that was supposed to be a bottom feeder after losing 3 key players in the off-season.  The team that looked no where near the level of the Blazers on opening night, and then like world beaters four days later.  The team that will again give Steve Blake and Dre Miller fits.  The team busting pre-season expectations in a positive way...unlike the one we're covering.

I'll say it one more time, "must win."

Continue Reading...>>

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Blazer Dancers Go OFF in Dressing Room

Watch this and tell me what the hell Cristi is doing in the background.  She would be the blonde that's actually dressed out in her dancer outfit for the night.  You...go...girl.

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Breaking: Nate McMillan Ruptures Achilles Practicing With Team

This is seriously not a joke. He had to practice with the team today because of their injury woes and ruptured his own achilles in the process. I'm seriously laughing hysterically yet completely speechless and baffled.

The rest of the team better start working zone box out drills in bubble suits...

HEAD COACH NATE MCMILLAN TO UNDERGO SURGERY ON RUPTURED ACHILLES TENDON

McMillan will miss Portland’s upcoming four-game road trip

PORTLAND, Ore. – Portland Trail Blazers Head Coach Nate McMillan will undergo surgery to repair a ruptured right Achilles tendon on Monday, Dec. 7.

McMillan sustained the injury during Friday’s practice and will miss Portland’s upcoming four-game road trip to New York, Indiana, Cleveland and Milwaukee. He will coach Saturday’s game vs. Houston.

Lead Assistant Coach Dean Demopoulos will serve as the team’s head coach in McMillan’s absence.

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McMillan on Miller "We have him now." Uh, What?

On the same day that trade rumors break on Andre Miller, Nate McMillan stepped aside with his ice pack at practice for some comments concerning his newly acquired guard.

None of these are sounding incredibly positive.  In fact, maybe it's time for Dre to open up a bit and become a part of this team.  I've been a huge supporter of his from day 1, but at some point, we all have to make sacrifices and step out of our little shells to find success.

Brain T. Smith of Columbian fame has this...

On whether he's seeing progress in Miller fitting in with the Blazers:

No. Because that's who he is. ... The progress is — no, he doesn't talk. He's a very, very quiet individual. And he is to himself. It's almost like — sometimes silence is worse than someone who talks. Because you can't, you don't have a read. Or you don't know how to — you try to figure out how to communicate with them. And it may not be personal, but you can take it that way. Sometimes, being in a room and not saying anything can say just as much as someone who ...

For me, it's new. And I have to try to communicate with him and talk to him and get him to understand what we need and where I'm coming from. But also read him. Because all of our guys are different. You can't treat one guy; you expect the same thing from them, but they all are a little different. Some guys want to be talked to and shown. Some guys want to be kind of left alone, and some guys are to themselves. And there's some guys that come in here loud. And you have to adapt to all these personalities. I'm sitting here — I've got 15 personalities that I have to adapt to and they all are different. No one guy is the same. So, that is what I have to adapt to. How to

Make sure to read the rest of the chat here.

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Blazers Rockin' Hardwood Classic Jerseys Tomorrow

(Click image for big boy version.)

Release from the team and dates after the jump...

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Andre Miller on the Trading Block?

Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports is at it again with the trade chatter.  These rumors were spread some time ago, but it feels a little more real now that AWoj is on it.  The guy, although a Pritchard hater, is usually spot on...

Since Travis Outlaw(notes) has been lost for four to five months with foot surgery, GM Kevin Pritchard has been working the phones for an athletic forward as a replacement.

That isn’t much of a surprise, but this is: In conversations with Portland’s front office and coaching staffs, several league officials believe Andre Miller(notes) could soon be available. As a free-agent signee over the summer, Miller can’t be traded until Dec. 15.

After missing out on several preferred free agents, Pritchard settled for Miller and signed him to a three-year, $21 million contract, the first two years of which are guaranteed. Yet, Blazers coaches have privately insisted to confidants throughout the league that Miller isn’t working out, and the belief is that Pritchard is testing the market on Miller’s worth. Portland could stay with Steve Blake(notes) or use Miller to bring back another playmaker.

Sources say that Brandon Roy(notes) clearly prefers playing with Blake over Miller, and that’s an issue that Pritchard must contend with.

At this point in the season, nothing pisses me off more than hearing that Brandon Roy prefers Blake over Miller.  This is quickly becoming the season of Roy as the newest prima donna in the NBA.  Whine, whine, whine.  Blame, blame, blame.  Just start winning already.

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A Raptors' Fan on Hedo Turkoglu

Just in case any of you were hoping Hedo Turkoglu had actually signed in Portland to bring more depth at the forward slot, we bring you an email from a friend living in the arctic of Canada.

An assessment on Turkoglu from his soon-to-be brother-in-law makes me feel for Raptors fans, but also has me thanking the non-existent Portland Turkish population once again...

I went to the Washington game this week, and it was just painful to look at Turkoglu on defense.  He looked like a man adrift on a sea of uncertainty, with a look on his face that he ceased caring whether he lived or died a while ago.  I know we heard that his 11th hour decision to spurn the blazers in favour of the raptors was based on the city, his wife, etc.  but really,  you have to think style of play entered into it.  He's thinking:  so I could go to Portland with a respected, system oriented head coach who emphasizes defense first, and has 3 cornerstones they are building a franchise around.  OR, I could go to Toronto, with a no-name head coach I can tune out, sit on the perimeter and jack 3s, not work for my offense, and no one will balk if I play NO DEFENCE WHATSOEVER, because no one else on the team is playing any either.  Hmmm....what should I do?

Now, I know we're on the west coast, but has anyone even heard Hedo's named called this year? His numbers all went into the tank compared to seasons past and his age appears to be a factor 3 years in advance.  Sorry Toronto.

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The 9 Best Allen Iverson Commercials

This post may come off a little weird as it has nothing do with the Blazers and everything to do with one of my least favorite NBA players, but bear with me.  The funny thing is, I woke up this morning and for whatever reason, starting thinking about Allen Iverson of all people.  (Creepy?  Yes.  I'm married to a woman?  Yes.  OK, settled.)  And I started getting a little sad when realizing what this guy had done for the game, how big he was in his prime both on and off the court, and then now to see how far he's dropped.  At one time though, he was as big as you could possibly get in the NBA.  Seriously, this guy actually got me to buy 2 pairs of Reeboks during my playing days which is a pretty big deal.

A quick tribute was needed as he returns to Philadelphia where we can remember all the good things about Allen Iverson.  Here's a look back at his best commercials...

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The Afterparty: Heat/Blazers Game 20

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.

If there is one positive note to take away from this 3-game losing streak, it's that the Blazers can look at Tiger Woods and say, "At least we're not THAT guy!"  Other than that, they should all be kneeling at the alter of Naismith and begging for basketball forgiveness.  I'm not even sure that "uninspired" is a harsh enough term to use anymore.  Lackluster?  Pathetic?  Spiritless?  Characterless?  Halfhearted?  None of these seem fitting either.

So where does this team go now?  For starters, 3 full days of practice might help.  Someone should stop by a roasted nut shop and buy LaMarcus Aldridge a pair.  Brandon Roy can pick up this book for some new ideas.  Finally, fans can watch their oh-so-meaningful Thursday night football game and the organization can cancel theme nights forever. 

It's going to be a long and windy road through the month of December and we should all be concerned.  This team has too many injuries and too many tough opponents on the horizon for anyone to be sitting comfortably in their cubicles.  After Saturday against the Rockets, the Blazers hit the road for 4 games, come back for a few, and then enter a closing month stretch which includes Phoenix, Orlando, Miami, Dallas, San Antonio and Denver in a row over just 10 days.   Someone shoot me now.

A Few Links...

• Trip City?  What's up Blazers?  [Darth Weasel]
  
• Defensive rightfully blamed?  [Mike Barrett]
• Blazers thinking too much?  [Jason Quick] 
• Media row report.  [Blazers Edge]
  

Continue Reading...>>

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Blazer Dancers Shine in Silver or Black Boy Shorts

Nobody appreciates NBA dancer boy shorts quite like we do.  Proof of that statement here and again here.  And "your" Blazer Dancers refused to disappoint us this year with a couple new versions of our favorite male inspired bottom.  (Yeah, that sounded odd.  Ignore that sentence.) 

Who can argue with silver or black?

Continue Reading...>>

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Blazer Dancers Because We Love Them

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The Pre-Funk: Heat vs. Blazers 12/1

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...

How do you beat the Miami Heat?  Not by stopping Dwyane Wade.  Containing him for the most part will obviously help, but really, it comes down to their 3-point shooting.  The team appears to live and die by the long ball much like "your" Blazers of 2008-09.  In their 7 losses, the Heat are hitting just 30% from deep while attempting 149 which is absurd.  In their 9 wins, they are shooting almost 36% while only taking 131.  They are also 2-5 when they shoot more than 18 in a game and have won just one game when they shoot 20 or more.  Basically, let them jack up threes all night long baby!

What should we expect from Portland?  Who knows anymore.  20 point win.  20 point loss.  If we can somehow rid Nate McMillan of his Blake Goggles, and succumb to the everlasting power of ES Watts, then we might lean a little to the winning side.  Hell, ESPN Accuscore has the Blazers at 80%...that should stand for something right?

And for those attending, be prepared for an entire night of puffy chests and toolbox gestures made towards the jumbo-tron.  "Civil War Night."  Anything to make a buck right corporate?

Continue Reading...>>

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