A HUGE congratulations to Brandon Roy for being voted by the coaches onto the All-Star team. It's hard to think of a guy who deserves it more than Brandon. It's a testament to hard work and going about the game the right way.
Here's the audio from today's press conference with Nate McMillan and Brandon Roy fielding questions about Roy's first All-Star selection. Give it a listen if you'd like to hear reaction from coach and player.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Watch: Nate McMillan talks postgame
As you might expect, Coach Nate McMillan was none too satisfied with the way things turned out on Wednesday night. Outside of the first three minutes and the last three minutes, the Trail Blazers basically controlled the game. Portland has been on the other end of these kinds of games, most recently Sunday against the Hawks, but it doesn't make tonight any easier to stomach.
You don't need to watch more than a few seconds of the following video to see how disappointed Nate McMillan was after the game, but I'd suggest watching the whole thing anyway.
You don't need to watch more than a few seconds of the following video to see how disappointed Nate McMillan was after the game, but I'd suggest watching the whole thing anyway.
Notes and Quotes: Cavaliers 84, Blazers 83
A total bummer. Letting this one slip away really hurts, especially considering that both Utah and Denver won tonight. Nuts.
Notes
Blazers first loss in seven games decided by three or fewer points this season . . . Cleveland now won six of last eight meetings with Portland . . . LeBron James’ 37 points matches the most points in regulation for the Cavs in the all-time Portland-Cleveland series (World B. Free had 37 on 11/10/83 – Bobby Phills scored 43 against the Blazers in a 2 OT game on 12/30/95) . . . The 37 points matches the third highest against Portland this season . . . Portland’s 35.3% shooting (30-85) a season low . . . Cleveland’s 39 defensive rebounds season high vs. Blazers . . . Portland’s 15 fourth quarter points matches its season low for the quarter.
Quotes
Nate McMillan
“We played the game not to lose in the last few minutes while they played more aggressively to win. Our job was to keep the pressure on and we didn’t do it. In recent games down the stretch we’ve come down and got some stops. But tonight even though we did a pretty good job early in defending LeBron, he made the clutch threes and the winning drive to the basket just like great players do.
“On that winning play our first job was to keep LeBron in front of Brandon. But when he drove by, the second big mistake was we should have come over and given help and made it difficult for him to drive to the basket. That didn’t happen. Earlier they were running pick-and-rolls and often when we contained LeBron we were still able to get the ball back to him. Once we contained him the first time, we should have made sure he didn’t get the ball back.
“This one hurts because we had control over it for much of the game. But towards the end we just got outworked. They went on an 11-0 run. You’ve got to score. You’ve got to push the ball down the floor and get good shots. I thought LeBron did a nice job on Brandon. He stepped up when he had to. What I told the players tonight after the game is, ‘we gave up one.’ Tonight we had an opportunity to put the game away but we didn’t make baskets down the stretch.”
Jarrett Jack
“We messed up with some little things defensively. For the most part I thought we played well. We took them down to the wire. He (James) made a great play to win the ball game. Its not surprising (that LeBron made the big play). He’s the only one for them in double figures. It was only a matter of time he was going to start making open shots down the stretch. The loss is tough. Especially at home we really wanted to take care of our own court.”
Martell Webster
“He (LeBron) made some big shots. The ultimate of the game was when he showed his aggressiveness in going to the hoop and knocking down the reverse layup. It shows how patient and how poised he is in a real tight situation. People probably forgot he was on the Eastern Conference champions and was in the Finals last year. He knows what its like to be in a situation like that. He really showed why he is who he is and what he he does is what he does.”
Mike Brown
“Obviously Lebron was terrific. He put us on his back tonight. We couldn’t make a basket to save our lives tonight. But he put us on his back. He did what superstars do and he did was he’s capable of doing. That was fun to watch and that was fun to be a part of. The thing that impressed me that even though we couldn’t buy a basket, we tried defensively.
Portland is a great team, they’re well coached. They have a lot of nice young pieces. I thought defensively we tried to bring it the entire game. Even down the stretch I felt we tried to bring it. Lebron did a terrific job on Brandon Roy down the stretch. There were some things that helped us pull this out. The first one was how we closed the third quarter. The way we closed the quarter was extremely important. We took a 15 or 16 point game and made it six or seven. It gave us hope and opportunity. We 9 turnovers at halftime and we only had three in the second half.
This is a terrific three point shooting team and we continued to contest the entire night. We made their shots as difficult as possible. The last thing is we had contributions from everybody throughout the ball game.”
Lebron James
“They kept going behind the pick and roll. I was able to hit a three. I just wanted to be aggressive. We just go out and play hard. We haven’t have success on the road like this in a long time. We understand how to handle it. The coaching staff does a great of preparing us to go out every night. We have the number one (comebacks in the league) in the fourth quarter for a reason. We know the game is not over until there are zeros on the clock.”
“Przybilla is a good shot blocker. He came over and got me a couple of times. That’s not going to stop me from being aggressive and doing what I do best. They are very, very good. They execute very well on the offensive end. They do a great job on the defensive end. They know how to play the right way and have a bright future as a franchise.”
“I just wanted to take every possession like it was our last and be aggressive. My teammates did a good job at feeding off of me. I don’t know when the turning point happened but we were able to ride the wave and get a win.”
LeBron on Brandon Roy
“He’s a good player. He’s only going to get better. They’ve got a great franchise player here in Brandon Roy. I just do what I do. I prepare myself to be the best player on the floor every night no matter what building I’m in.”
Notes
Blazers first loss in seven games decided by three or fewer points this season . . . Cleveland now won six of last eight meetings with Portland . . . LeBron James’ 37 points matches the most points in regulation for the Cavs in the all-time Portland-Cleveland series (World B. Free had 37 on 11/10/83 – Bobby Phills scored 43 against the Blazers in a 2 OT game on 12/30/95) . . . The 37 points matches the third highest against Portland this season . . . Portland’s 35.3% shooting (30-85) a season low . . . Cleveland’s 39 defensive rebounds season high vs. Blazers . . . Portland’s 15 fourth quarter points matches its season low for the quarter.
Quotes
Nate McMillan
“We played the game not to lose in the last few minutes while they played more aggressively to win. Our job was to keep the pressure on and we didn’t do it. In recent games down the stretch we’ve come down and got some stops. But tonight even though we did a pretty good job early in defending LeBron, he made the clutch threes and the winning drive to the basket just like great players do.
“On that winning play our first job was to keep LeBron in front of Brandon. But when he drove by, the second big mistake was we should have come over and given help and made it difficult for him to drive to the basket. That didn’t happen. Earlier they were running pick-and-rolls and often when we contained LeBron we were still able to get the ball back to him. Once we contained him the first time, we should have made sure he didn’t get the ball back.
“This one hurts because we had control over it for much of the game. But towards the end we just got outworked. They went on an 11-0 run. You’ve got to score. You’ve got to push the ball down the floor and get good shots. I thought LeBron did a nice job on Brandon. He stepped up when he had to. What I told the players tonight after the game is, ‘we gave up one.’ Tonight we had an opportunity to put the game away but we didn’t make baskets down the stretch.”
Jarrett Jack
“We messed up with some little things defensively. For the most part I thought we played well. We took them down to the wire. He (James) made a great play to win the ball game. Its not surprising (that LeBron made the big play). He’s the only one for them in double figures. It was only a matter of time he was going to start making open shots down the stretch. The loss is tough. Especially at home we really wanted to take care of our own court.”
Martell Webster
“He (LeBron) made some big shots. The ultimate of the game was when he showed his aggressiveness in going to the hoop and knocking down the reverse layup. It shows how patient and how poised he is in a real tight situation. People probably forgot he was on the Eastern Conference champions and was in the Finals last year. He knows what its like to be in a situation like that. He really showed why he is who he is and what he he does is what he does.”
Mike Brown
“Obviously Lebron was terrific. He put us on his back tonight. We couldn’t make a basket to save our lives tonight. But he put us on his back. He did what superstars do and he did was he’s capable of doing. That was fun to watch and that was fun to be a part of. The thing that impressed me that even though we couldn’t buy a basket, we tried defensively.
Portland is a great team, they’re well coached. They have a lot of nice young pieces. I thought defensively we tried to bring it the entire game. Even down the stretch I felt we tried to bring it. Lebron did a terrific job on Brandon Roy down the stretch. There were some things that helped us pull this out. The first one was how we closed the third quarter. The way we closed the quarter was extremely important. We took a 15 or 16 point game and made it six or seven. It gave us hope and opportunity. We 9 turnovers at halftime and we only had three in the second half.
This is a terrific three point shooting team and we continued to contest the entire night. We made their shots as difficult as possible. The last thing is we had contributions from everybody throughout the ball game.”
Lebron James
“They kept going behind the pick and roll. I was able to hit a three. I just wanted to be aggressive. We just go out and play hard. We haven’t have success on the road like this in a long time. We understand how to handle it. The coaching staff does a great of preparing us to go out every night. We have the number one (comebacks in the league) in the fourth quarter for a reason. We know the game is not over until there are zeros on the clock.”
“Przybilla is a good shot blocker. He came over and got me a couple of times. That’s not going to stop me from being aggressive and doing what I do best. They are very, very good. They execute very well on the offensive end. They do a great job on the defensive end. They know how to play the right way and have a bright future as a franchise.”
“I just wanted to take every possession like it was our last and be aggressive. My teammates did a good job at feeding off of me. I don’t know when the turning point happened but we were able to ride the wave and get a win.”
LeBron on Brandon Roy
“He’s a good player. He’s only going to get better. They’ve got a great franchise player here in Brandon Roy. I just do what I do. I prepare myself to be the best player on the floor every night no matter what building I’m in.”
Even more pregame notes with Nate McMillan
Nate McMillan said a few interesting things in his pregame press conference, much of it having to do with the recent trade rumors. Here's a snippet of what was said.
Rebecca Haarlow: Yesterday, LeBron said that he thinks you have more talent on this team than the Cavs do. Your thoughts?
Nate McMillan: I like our talent. I like what we’re doing. We feel we have a lot of potential and it’s starting to show. You have to prove that on the floor, but we like the group that we’ve put together, our combination of players and our youth. As far as rebuilding and everything, I think that’s hard to say, man for man, who’s the better club. We don’t have Greg; we haven’t seen Greg play with this team. I think these guys have done some things to earn respect from other teams and organizations this year.
Jason Quick: Has Kevin given you assurances that he’s going to stand pat, keep this roster intact this year?
Nate McMillan: We like what we have, but I think he will listen. I don’t think his plan is to go out and shop, but with us playing as well as we’re playing right now, and I tell our guys this, we’re going to start to hear all kinds of things for the next few weeks. We’ve got what a lot of people want and that is youth and some potential. And the fact that we’re playing well, that’s going to attract some people and, you know, I expect the phone to start ringing.
Jason Quick: Would you prefer to not make a deal?
Nate McMillan: I like our team. I like our team. I like what we’re doing. I like the direction, but in saying that, and I’ve never been a GM, you have to at that position, if an opportunity makes sense and fits your direction, I’ve said this all along, you look at that. You consider that. But yeah, I like our team. I like what we’re doing.
Katy Brown: Do you worry about the great chemistry going on here? Does a coach worry about even talk of that stuff upsetting that?
Nate McMillan: Yeah, but at this time of the year, it always comes. There’s nothing I can do about it. There’s nothing they can do about it. This time of the year, February, you’re going to hear it regardless. We weren’t as good the last two years or winning the last two years, but we had a number of guys who were thinking their address would change. Some wanted to. But there’s nothing they can do, there’s nothing we can do about that. That’s my message to the team. Come to me if you feel uncomfortable or if you’re thinking that something is true and I’ll talk to you and let you know as much as I can. But there’s nothing we can do about that.
Katy Brown: It’s almost a form of flattery you’re saying then that you guys are in the place were people are looking at your roster.
Nate McMillan: No question. No question. They’re looking at our roster. They’re looking at our young guys. We’ve have all young guys and they played well. We’ve got four point guards, you know? They know that Sergio and Green are not playing a lot of minutes. Jack is playing a back-up, so that will attract some people. So we’ve got some guys that people like. Again, unless it makes sense for us, we’re not doing anything.
Katy Brown: Are you apart of that conversation?
Nate McMillan: I hear what’s going on. I hear what’s going on.
Rebecca Haarlow: Yesterday, LeBron said that he thinks you have more talent on this team than the Cavs do. Your thoughts?
Nate McMillan: I like our talent. I like what we’re doing. We feel we have a lot of potential and it’s starting to show. You have to prove that on the floor, but we like the group that we’ve put together, our combination of players and our youth. As far as rebuilding and everything, I think that’s hard to say, man for man, who’s the better club. We don’t have Greg; we haven’t seen Greg play with this team. I think these guys have done some things to earn respect from other teams and organizations this year.
Jason Quick: Has Kevin given you assurances that he’s going to stand pat, keep this roster intact this year?
Nate McMillan: We like what we have, but I think he will listen. I don’t think his plan is to go out and shop, but with us playing as well as we’re playing right now, and I tell our guys this, we’re going to start to hear all kinds of things for the next few weeks. We’ve got what a lot of people want and that is youth and some potential. And the fact that we’re playing well, that’s going to attract some people and, you know, I expect the phone to start ringing.
Jason Quick: Would you prefer to not make a deal?
Nate McMillan: I like our team. I like our team. I like what we’re doing. I like the direction, but in saying that, and I’ve never been a GM, you have to at that position, if an opportunity makes sense and fits your direction, I’ve said this all along, you look at that. You consider that. But yeah, I like our team. I like what we’re doing.
Katy Brown: Do you worry about the great chemistry going on here? Does a coach worry about even talk of that stuff upsetting that?
Nate McMillan: Yeah, but at this time of the year, it always comes. There’s nothing I can do about it. There’s nothing they can do about it. This time of the year, February, you’re going to hear it regardless. We weren’t as good the last two years or winning the last two years, but we had a number of guys who were thinking their address would change. Some wanted to. But there’s nothing they can do, there’s nothing we can do about that. That’s my message to the team. Come to me if you feel uncomfortable or if you’re thinking that something is true and I’ll talk to you and let you know as much as I can. But there’s nothing we can do about that.
Katy Brown: It’s almost a form of flattery you’re saying then that you guys are in the place were people are looking at your roster.
Nate McMillan: No question. No question. They’re looking at our roster. They’re looking at our young guys. We’ve have all young guys and they played well. We’ve got four point guards, you know? They know that Sergio and Green are not playing a lot of minutes. Jack is playing a back-up, so that will attract some people. So we’ve got some guys that people like. Again, unless it makes sense for us, we’re not doing anything.
Katy Brown: Are you apart of that conversation?
Nate McMillan: I hear what’s going on. I hear what’s going on.
Leapin' Larry loves the Blazers
You don't hear a lot about coaching vagabond Larry Brown these days, though he is still working for the 76ers as their vice president. Regardless, the guy still knows his basketball.
Today Brown breaks down tonight's matchup between the Cavaliers and the Trail Blazers and he's got nothing but nice things to say about our Red and Black.
On Brandon Roy:
On the Blazers depth:
On Nate McMillan getting his team to compete:
That's high praise from a coaching legend like Larry Brown.
Today Brown breaks down tonight's matchup between the Cavaliers and the Trail Blazers and he's got nothing but nice things to say about our Red and Black.
On Brandon Roy:
When the game is on the line you have to have somebody that can get a shot for himself, get a shot for his teammate or get a free throw even though your opponent might be in a position to try to stop you from accomplishing those things... Brandon is one of those unique kids. He’s strong enough to take it inside, he can keep you honest because he can make an outside shot and he’s a very unselfish player. He can get other people a shot and I think he trusts his teammates in that regard.
On the Blazers depth:
You’ve got two emerging stars in Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge. They have three kids that they play at point – sometimes they even play Roy there – with Steve Blake, Jarrett Jack and Sergio Rodriguez. Then you’ve got James Jones and Martell Webster. You’ve got Outlaw, one of these 6-9 power forwards that is really long and athletic, who can create a mismatch and who they’ve gone to late in games. Joel Przybilla is very underrated and unselfish. He comes in and rebounds and defends every night and doesn’t need the ball to be effective. And I think Channing Frye is in a terrific situation. He’s getting more and more confidence and he can make a shot, rebound the ball and he is another young kid who is developing.
On Nate McMillan getting his team to compete:
This team has shown an ability to come back late in games and I think it starts with Nate McMillan. He doesn’t allow them to give up. They think they’re in every game. They’re phenomenal at home where they rarely get beat. Young teams have a tendency to play well at home and not on the road, but they’ve gotten better and better on the road, winning some really tough games.
That's high praise from a coaching legend like Larry Brown.
Talking with Daniel Gibson
I got a chance to talk to Daniel "Boobie" Gibson after shootaround today at the Rose Garden (little known fact: Lebron James, unlike almost every player in the NBA, doesn't talk to media after shootaround). Here's a bit of what he had to say.
A nice guy that Daniel. Case in point: While sitting on the sideline talking to Gibson, a ball careened off the rim, flying (unbeknownst to me) on a collision course for my head. Gibson was kind enough to reach out for the ball, saving me a Spalding square to the face. A few seats over, Lebron remarked to Daniel that he should have let the ball hit my head, noting that it would have been good for a laugh. Maybe for a fifth grader it would have been, but luckily for me and my face, Gibson is a bit more mature. Daniel might never be a "global icon" but at least he got a sense of decency.
Holdahl: Is there any extra motivation playing against LaMarcus Aldridge, your old college teammate?
Gibson: I wouldn’t say it’s motivation, but it’s going to be a lot of fun being on the same court with a former teammate. We’ve always competed against each other every time we play. I always want to beat him and he always wants to beat me, even when we play one-on-one. We’ve always been competitive and I know I want to end up with the upper hand and so does he.
Holdahl: What do the Cavs need to do to get a win at the Rose Garden?
Gibson: Portland has been playing great, playing as a team, shooting the ball well. I just think we have to, as a team, get to their shooters, contest, play well on the defensive end and continue to execute the way we have been on offense. If we continue to guard the three-point line and try to keep those guys out of the paint I think we’ll have a great chance of winning.
Holdahl: What do you view your role as coming off the bench?
Gibson: My role has been, you know, coach expects me to come into the game and bring a lot of energy, make shots at big times. It’s changed. Coach wants me to come in and score, play defense on the quicker guards, just be out there playing basketball. (Mike Brown) gives me the freedom to do pretty much whatever I want on the court, so it’s been a great transition for me.
A nice guy that Daniel. Case in point: While sitting on the sideline talking to Gibson, a ball careened off the rim, flying (unbeknownst to me) on a collision course for my head. Gibson was kind enough to reach out for the ball, saving me a Spalding square to the face. A few seats over, Lebron remarked to Daniel that he should have let the ball hit my head, noting that it would have been good for a laugh. Maybe for a fifth grader it would have been, but luckily for me and my face, Gibson is a bit more mature. Daniel might never be a "global icon" but at least he got a sense of decency.
Pregame notes
Courtesy of the Trail Blazers and Cavaliers PR staffs, I present to you some notes about tonight's game (just like the media get!), which is a 6 p.m. start time. Don't show up an hour late.
First, the Blazers notes:
Now, the Cleveland side:
First, the Blazers notes:
• The two teams have split each of the last two season series, with the home team winning all four games.
• Cleveland and Portland each notched double-digit wins over each other last year, (Cavaliers won 100-87 on Nov. 15 2006; Trail Blazers won 94-76 on Jan. 17 2007).
• Brandon Roy faced the Cavs just once last season, notching a double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds to go with a career high six steals in the 94-76 win.
• Sergio Rodriguez averaged 8.5 assists vs. the Cavs last season, and led Portland in assists both meetings.
• The Trail Blazers held the Cavs to nine first quarter points the last time the two teams met, the lowest point total of any quarter for a Portland opponent last season.
• Only three current Trail Blazers (LaMarcus Aldridge, Sergio Rodriguez and Martell Webster) played in both games vs. Cleveland last season, while 10 current Cavs played in the teams’ two meetings.
• LeBron James led Cleveland last year, averaging 27.5 points, 6.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists in two games vs. Portland.
• LaMarcus Aldridge and Daniel Gibson were teammates at the University of Texas for two seasons, and led the Longhorns to the most wins (30) in school history in 2005-06.
Now, the Cleveland side:
• Cleveland is 8-4 on the road this season against Western Conference foes. The Cavaliers have won four straight road games and with a win tonight would post five roads win in a row for the first time since March 17-April 1, 1998.
• Cleveland has won 12 of their last 15 games overall. Since December 25, Cleveland’s 12-3 record is the best record among Eastern Conference teams.
• Over his last 10 games, LeBron James has averaged 32.9 points on .496 shooting, 9.2 rebounds and 6.3 assists per game. He posted his league-leading fifth 40+ point game of the season on Sunday afternoon at the Lakers.
• Zydrunas Ilgauskas has averaged 20.3 points on .625 shooting, 9.0 rebounds and 3.3 assists in his last three games. He has posted double-doubles in each of the last two outings.
• With two assists today, LeBron James would pass John Bagley for second place on the all-time Cavaliers assist list. Bagley finished his Cavs career with 2,311 assists in 375 games. James has 2,310 assists in 354 games.
• In his last two outings, Larry Hughes has averaged 20.5 points on .500 shooting, 6.0 rebounds and 2.5 steals per game. He has also connected on 5-9 (.556) shooting from three-point range during that stretch.
More second-year love
ESPN's Daily Dime TV rightly mentioned Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge as two of the top sophomores to watch in the Rookie/Sophomore Challenge at All-Star weekend. I've embedded the video below (the part about Roy and Aldridge starts with about 2:30 left in the clip) but I've also transcribed what Rick Carlisle and Matt Winer had to say.
Carlisle: The two guys I’m going to pick are two Portland players that have had major impacts in their second year. LaMarcus Aldridge, a big guy that can not only shoot from the outside but can post-up from the inside, and Brandon Roy, the guy that has been the do-everything player. He can make plays from the perimeter, he can post-up, he can find players and dish out, they’ve got a bunch of players that can hit three-point shots. Kevin Pritchard right now is one of the big names in the presidents or GM category because of the deals he pulls of on draft night a year and a half ago to land these two guys in Portland.
Winer: Everything he's touched there has turned to gold.
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Nate notes
I had a chance to talk with Nate McMillan today at practice about tomorrow's game against the Cleveland Cavaliers which is a 6 p.m. start time. Here's some of what he had to say.
On LeBron James’ improvement:
“Down the stretch, I think he’s one of the top fourth quarter scorers, making decisions. He has the confidence now down the stretch to carry a team and understand what needs to be done and how he can take advantage of his skill. He drives to the basket but he’s not settling. If you look at that Lakers game, he got to the rim a few times. Smarter, mature, he’s stronger and more confident than he was a couple years ago.”
On how to slow LeBron James down:
“Just like any other guy like that, you try to limit their touches and not give him anything easy. He’s one of those guys that slashes and gets to the rim. We’ve got to keep him in front of us.”
On the problems that the Cavaliers pose for the Blazers:
“They’re a team that’s playing with a lot of confidence right now. They have guys who can shoot the ball and play off of (LeBron James). After making it to the Finals, they feel that now they’re getting their rhythm back this last month or so. Very confident team, a solid team with a strong bench also.”
On the importance of the home stand:
“Every game is important. I think that the standings are showing that this time of the year is when you know teams are starting to look at the standings and their position. But every game is important. A game in November is just as important as a game in January, February or March. The thing is to take it one game at a time. That’s all you can control.”
On paying closer attention to the record of other teams:
“I know where we are and I know where other teams are. I don’t watch (the scores of other games) than I did before. We just focus on the game in front of us.”
And for more quotes from Trail Blazers, don't miss James Jones on PrimeTime tonight at 5:30 PM on KFXX 1080 “The Fan” and Channing Frye on John Canzano’s Bald-Face Truth at 7:20 PM tonight on KXL AM 750.
On LeBron James’ improvement:
“Down the stretch, I think he’s one of the top fourth quarter scorers, making decisions. He has the confidence now down the stretch to carry a team and understand what needs to be done and how he can take advantage of his skill. He drives to the basket but he’s not settling. If you look at that Lakers game, he got to the rim a few times. Smarter, mature, he’s stronger and more confident than he was a couple years ago.”
On how to slow LeBron James down:
“Just like any other guy like that, you try to limit their touches and not give him anything easy. He’s one of those guys that slashes and gets to the rim. We’ve got to keep him in front of us.”
On the problems that the Cavaliers pose for the Blazers:
“They’re a team that’s playing with a lot of confidence right now. They have guys who can shoot the ball and play off of (LeBron James). After making it to the Finals, they feel that now they’re getting their rhythm back this last month or so. Very confident team, a solid team with a strong bench also.”
On the importance of the home stand:
“Every game is important. I think that the standings are showing that this time of the year is when you know teams are starting to look at the standings and their position. But every game is important. A game in November is just as important as a game in January, February or March. The thing is to take it one game at a time. That’s all you can control.”
On paying closer attention to the record of other teams:
“I know where we are and I know where other teams are. I don’t watch (the scores of other games) than I did before. We just focus on the game in front of us.”
And for more quotes from Trail Blazers, don't miss James Jones on PrimeTime tonight at 5:30 PM on KFXX 1080 “The Fan” and Channing Frye on John Canzano’s Bald-Face Truth at 7:20 PM tonight on KXL AM 750.
Monday, January 28, 2008
Brandon Roy's unbelievable shot
Brandon Roy tries to recreate his legendary layin from the Toronto game at the Rose Garden. Click the play button to start the video.
Notes and Quotes: Blazers 94, Hawks 93
The stats and game night crews do a bang-up job of putting together interesting tidbits and quotes after games, so I thought I'd start posting those in the blog. Enjoy!
Notes
Portland now 6-0 in games decided by 3 points or less . . . Blazers trailed by 19 points with 10:58 remaining in the third quarter and were still down by 14 with 9:23 left in the game . . . Portland was outscored 52-37 in the first half then turned it around, outscoring the Hawks, 57-41 in the second half . . . The Blazers bench outscored the Hawks reserves, 45-19 . . . In the last three meetings, the Blazers have outscored the Hawks by five points in winning three straight games---102-100 in overtime, 111-109 in OT, and 94-93 tonight.
Quotes
Coach Nate McMillan:
“In some ways this was our biggest win. It was similar to the game we gave away in Philly in that they had what seemed an insurmountable lead and we just never quit. We didn’t have any life at all in the first half and I told the team at halftime that everybody had to contribute something to get us back in.
“What can you say about Brandon Roy? We have a special guy here. We just hope he can stay healthy. He has the will and the heart to be a special player in this league and we’re still seeing him getting better and better. People wouldn’t know it but he might not have played today. He was running a fever, his eyes were watery and (trainer) Jay Jensen had to give him liquids during the game. The defensive hold he had on Joe Johnson (in the last minute) was a thing of beauty. He kept him in front of him and Joe just couldn’t go either way and had to settle for a desperation shot.
“We also did that fourth quarter rally with a different kind of lineup we’ve never used before with Sergio, Frye, James (Jones), Travis and Brandon. We also worked on a different play off the pick and role by telling Travis and Channing to slip away to open spots and rather than drive around a screen, Brandon just passed to them for some open shots. But everybody contributed. Travis made two huge threes. As I said, we need everybody for coming from 19 points down like this. At the end for me, it was just shock and relief in saying ‘how did we do it?’ The answer to that: ‘By not giving in.’”
Brandon Roy:
About missing the front end of the two-shot foul with 2.3 seconds remaining: “I was really upset because I knew they only needed a two-pointer to beat us. I told the guys to make it up for me, try to make a stop, and they did a great job. Travis did a great job on defending Joe on that last shot. We were able to pull out a gutsy win.
“(In the second half) I wanted to be more aggressive. I saw how some of the guys were down and tired. I said, ‘look you guys, just follow my lead. I’m going to step up. Channing stepped up, and a lot guys came in and showed a lot of heart tonight. I just wanted to be aggressive and get to the lane and I was able to make some tough shots. We needed this win really bad. We’ve got Cleveland coming in here. Its tough to beat a team twice in one week. We did a good job of outlasting them down the stretch.”
Channing Frye:
“It’s a long season and its hard to always come out with energy. It was a gutsy win. They tried to take away Brandon Roy but he was able to create plays. We were able to settle down in the second half. Sergio. Travis and James Jones did a great job.”
Coach Mike Woodson:
“It was just a matter of time before they started to make shots. We tried to switch up our coverages somewhat but they got a few threes that put them back where they needed to be. We just didn’t make plays down the stretch and we just didn’t finish the game. I saw that coming somewhat in the Seattle game. We had a good game and had a big lead up there but we got sloppy at the end. It cost us tonight big time.”
(On end of game and last shot)
“We only had 2.3 to get it off. He was just trying to get a shot, that’s what it was all about. We just made too many mistakes down the stretch. We had a foul to give and we didn’t give that up. Roy made the play and he got fouled and he makes one of two. It should have never come to that particular play. We just didn’t handle our business tonight down the stretch.”
(On Brandon Roy)
“He’s been great for them all year. He’s done all the necessary things on both ends of the floor. I thought he made a great defensive stop as well on Joe Johnson. He was able to get a 24 second violation and they got the ball back. He’s been fabulous for their team. He has a legitimate shot at making the all star team if he continues to play that way.”
“Sure, we are stunned. This is a game we thought we controlled until the last 3 or 4 minutes of the game. We had these kind of slippages in the Seattle game. We just have to go back to practice and try to regroup. As well as we played defense tonight and rebounded the ball, there’s no excuse why we don’t come out with a win.”
Anthony Johnson:
“It’s more than just the guy on the ball, it’s the rest of us not coming up to help. With that being said, we left the guys out there guarding Brandon Roy on an island. In this league when guys are being aggressive, with the defensive rules, it makes it tough to defend. At the same time, you just can’t afford to give up layup after layup after layup as a team defensively.”
Josh Smith:
“The only thing you’re going to do with a team that has the man power to score is to slow them down, but eventually they’re going to go on a streak and make some shots. They did it late….I wish they had done that early.”
(On Brandon Roy)
“He’s not one-dimensional at all. He does it all. He can run the point guard position if needed, passing the ball around, but he can put the ball in the hole when they need him. That was a big layup to tie the game.”
Marvin Williams:
(On Brandon Roy)
“The thing about Brandon that I’ve always known is that he does what he wants to do when he wants to do it. He’s never in a hurry, he’s always patient. He seems like he’s always waiting for someone else to mess up and he just takes advantage of it right there and that’s why he is so effective. He’s tough to guard and he’s going to be tough to guard for a long time.”
“It’s frustrating, we know we are better than that. That’s a very good Portland team, I’ll tell you that. Very well coached and very good players. But we were up 15-20 pretty much the whole game and we didn’t take advantage of it and they capitalized.”
Notes
Portland now 6-0 in games decided by 3 points or less . . . Blazers trailed by 19 points with 10:58 remaining in the third quarter and were still down by 14 with 9:23 left in the game . . . Portland was outscored 52-37 in the first half then turned it around, outscoring the Hawks, 57-41 in the second half . . . The Blazers bench outscored the Hawks reserves, 45-19 . . . In the last three meetings, the Blazers have outscored the Hawks by five points in winning three straight games---102-100 in overtime, 111-109 in OT, and 94-93 tonight.
Quotes
Coach Nate McMillan:
“In some ways this was our biggest win. It was similar to the game we gave away in Philly in that they had what seemed an insurmountable lead and we just never quit. We didn’t have any life at all in the first half and I told the team at halftime that everybody had to contribute something to get us back in.
“What can you say about Brandon Roy? We have a special guy here. We just hope he can stay healthy. He has the will and the heart to be a special player in this league and we’re still seeing him getting better and better. People wouldn’t know it but he might not have played today. He was running a fever, his eyes were watery and (trainer) Jay Jensen had to give him liquids during the game. The defensive hold he had on Joe Johnson (in the last minute) was a thing of beauty. He kept him in front of him and Joe just couldn’t go either way and had to settle for a desperation shot.
“We also did that fourth quarter rally with a different kind of lineup we’ve never used before with Sergio, Frye, James (Jones), Travis and Brandon. We also worked on a different play off the pick and role by telling Travis and Channing to slip away to open spots and rather than drive around a screen, Brandon just passed to them for some open shots. But everybody contributed. Travis made two huge threes. As I said, we need everybody for coming from 19 points down like this. At the end for me, it was just shock and relief in saying ‘how did we do it?’ The answer to that: ‘By not giving in.’”
Brandon Roy:
About missing the front end of the two-shot foul with 2.3 seconds remaining: “I was really upset because I knew they only needed a two-pointer to beat us. I told the guys to make it up for me, try to make a stop, and they did a great job. Travis did a great job on defending Joe on that last shot. We were able to pull out a gutsy win.
“(In the second half) I wanted to be more aggressive. I saw how some of the guys were down and tired. I said, ‘look you guys, just follow my lead. I’m going to step up. Channing stepped up, and a lot guys came in and showed a lot of heart tonight. I just wanted to be aggressive and get to the lane and I was able to make some tough shots. We needed this win really bad. We’ve got Cleveland coming in here. Its tough to beat a team twice in one week. We did a good job of outlasting them down the stretch.”
Channing Frye:
“It’s a long season and its hard to always come out with energy. It was a gutsy win. They tried to take away Brandon Roy but he was able to create plays. We were able to settle down in the second half. Sergio. Travis and James Jones did a great job.”
Coach Mike Woodson:
“It was just a matter of time before they started to make shots. We tried to switch up our coverages somewhat but they got a few threes that put them back where they needed to be. We just didn’t make plays down the stretch and we just didn’t finish the game. I saw that coming somewhat in the Seattle game. We had a good game and had a big lead up there but we got sloppy at the end. It cost us tonight big time.”
(On end of game and last shot)
“We only had 2.3 to get it off. He was just trying to get a shot, that’s what it was all about. We just made too many mistakes down the stretch. We had a foul to give and we didn’t give that up. Roy made the play and he got fouled and he makes one of two. It should have never come to that particular play. We just didn’t handle our business tonight down the stretch.”
(On Brandon Roy)
“He’s been great for them all year. He’s done all the necessary things on both ends of the floor. I thought he made a great defensive stop as well on Joe Johnson. He was able to get a 24 second violation and they got the ball back. He’s been fabulous for their team. He has a legitimate shot at making the all star team if he continues to play that way.”
“Sure, we are stunned. This is a game we thought we controlled until the last 3 or 4 minutes of the game. We had these kind of slippages in the Seattle game. We just have to go back to practice and try to regroup. As well as we played defense tonight and rebounded the ball, there’s no excuse why we don’t come out with a win.”
Anthony Johnson:
“It’s more than just the guy on the ball, it’s the rest of us not coming up to help. With that being said, we left the guys out there guarding Brandon Roy on an island. In this league when guys are being aggressive, with the defensive rules, it makes it tough to defend. At the same time, you just can’t afford to give up layup after layup after layup as a team defensively.”
Josh Smith:
“The only thing you’re going to do with a team that has the man power to score is to slow them down, but eventually they’re going to go on a streak and make some shots. They did it late….I wish they had done that early.”
(On Brandon Roy)
“He’s not one-dimensional at all. He does it all. He can run the point guard position if needed, passing the ball around, but he can put the ball in the hole when they need him. That was a big layup to tie the game.”
Marvin Williams:
(On Brandon Roy)
“The thing about Brandon that I’ve always known is that he does what he wants to do when he wants to do it. He’s never in a hurry, he’s always patient. He seems like he’s always waiting for someone else to mess up and he just takes advantage of it right there and that’s why he is so effective. He’s tough to guard and he’s going to be tough to guard for a long time.”
“It’s frustrating, we know we are better than that. That’s a very good Portland team, I’ll tell you that. Very well coached and very good players. But we were up 15-20 pretty much the whole game and we didn’t take advantage of it and they capitalized.”
Friday, January 25, 2008
James Jones wants to go
For some unknown reason the participants in the Foot Locker Three-Point Shootout at All-Star weekend are the last to be announced. 
I don't know if the NBA needs more time to decide who should be jacking up three's in New Orleans, but I know that the announcement isn't scheduled to be made until February 7. All of the three-point specialists are most certainly on pins and needles.
I'm not sure what the specific criteria is, but I know that whatever it is, James Jones fits it. At 51.9%, Jones leads the NBA in three-point percentage. And though it's probably a little too early to start talking about records, if James could improve his shooting by half a percent, he'd end up tying Steve Kerr for the best single-season three-point percentage. That should be enough for an invite.
But there's more! Jones is joined by last year's three-point shootout winner, Toronto's Jason Kapono, as the only eligible players in the league who hit more three's than they miss. That's crazy. What's more, if James Jones had shot nothing but three-pointers this year, his field goal percentage would be 18th-best in the NBA. Better than guys like Tim Duncan, Yao Ming and Chris Bosh; all of whom make their living getting points inside the paint. Again, that should be worthy of an invite.
But maybe most importantly, James Jones actually wants to participate. A lot of guys might prefer to simply get a few days of rest rather than head down to New Orleans, but Jones would rather represent his team than get some extra sleep.
"I definitely want to go. I would love to go," says Jones. "It’s just another opportunity to show you skills and represent your team and you city. It would be great for me and the rest of the guys, but I just have to continue to do what I do. If they do send me that invite, I’ll win it."
So while there are no plans to release an "iJones" with clips of James knocking down baseline three's, there's more than enough data out there to insist that Jones be invited to All-Star weekend. It wouldn't be a three-point shootout without him.
I don't know if the NBA needs more time to decide who should be jacking up three's in New Orleans, but I know that the announcement isn't scheduled to be made until February 7. All of the three-point specialists are most certainly on pins and needles.I'm not sure what the specific criteria is, but I know that whatever it is, James Jones fits it. At 51.9%, Jones leads the NBA in three-point percentage. And though it's probably a little too early to start talking about records, if James could improve his shooting by half a percent, he'd end up tying Steve Kerr for the best single-season three-point percentage. That should be enough for an invite.
But there's more! Jones is joined by last year's three-point shootout winner, Toronto's Jason Kapono, as the only eligible players in the league who hit more three's than they miss. That's crazy. What's more, if James Jones had shot nothing but three-pointers this year, his field goal percentage would be 18th-best in the NBA. Better than guys like Tim Duncan, Yao Ming and Chris Bosh; all of whom make their living getting points inside the paint. Again, that should be worthy of an invite.
But maybe most importantly, James Jones actually wants to participate. A lot of guys might prefer to simply get a few days of rest rather than head down to New Orleans, but Jones would rather represent his team than get some extra sleep.
"I definitely want to go. I would love to go," says Jones. "It’s just another opportunity to show you skills and represent your team and you city. It would be great for me and the rest of the guys, but I just have to continue to do what I do. If they do send me that invite, I’ll win it."
So while there are no plans to release an "iJones" with clips of James knocking down baseline three's, there's more than enough data out there to insist that Jones be invited to All-Star weekend. It wouldn't be a three-point shootout without him.
Everyone loves iRoy
The All-Star starters have been announced, but the reserves are still yet to be decided. The coaches picks don't come out until Janurary 31, meaning that we'll have to wait another week before we know whether or not the iRoy succeeded in it's goal: To get Brandon Roy into the All-Star game.
But even if Brandon is passed over, the iRoy has still been successful in drawing more attention to Roy and our sleepy little neck of the woods. Check out the buzz that the iRoy has created.
ESPN's Ric Bucher first introduced the iRoy to the nation.
Brian Berger, the authority on all things sports and business, calls the iRoy "pure genius."
Brian Hendrickson of the Columbian thinks the iRoy trumps the Roy Leatherman promotion from last year. I tend to agree, though I don't have an iRoy to compare to my Roy Leatherman.
Katy Brown at KATU notes, "Who wouldn't be excited to receive an iPod?"
TrueHoop's Henry Abbott likes his iRoy, but thinks there should have been more footage of Roy rebounding.
OregonLive Blazer blogger Sean Meagher wants one, so do the folks at Larry Brown Sports.
But even if Brandon is passed over, the iRoy has still been successful in drawing more attention to Roy and our sleepy little neck of the woods. Check out the buzz that the iRoy has created.
ESPN's Ric Bucher first introduced the iRoy to the nation.
Brian Berger, the authority on all things sports and business, calls the iRoy "pure genius."
Brian Hendrickson of the Columbian thinks the iRoy trumps the Roy Leatherman promotion from last year. I tend to agree, though I don't have an iRoy to compare to my Roy Leatherman.
Katy Brown at KATU notes, "Who wouldn't be excited to receive an iPod?"
TrueHoop's Henry Abbott likes his iRoy, but thinks there should have been more footage of Roy rebounding.
I got one today, and it's loaded up with highlights -- mostly him scoring. I feel they missed a key thing: he gets key rebounds in crunch time. I can remember several. That's what makes him different. All the coaches getting these ipod's know he can score. Roy just did that again. In a crowd of Hawks, tied late in overtime, he managed to get the ball out of bounds off a Hawk.
OregonLive Blazer blogger Sean Meagher wants one, so do the folks at Larry Brown Sports.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Super sophomores
The All-Star game is approaching fast and at the bare minimum, the Trail Blazers should be represented by Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge in the Rookie/Sophomore game. That's a no-brainer.
Trail Blazers fans and lowly bloggers are not alone in that opinion. ESPN's David Thorpe takes a break from grading this year's rookies to run down the successes and failures of the sophomore class. As you might expect, Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge are two of the three second-year players Thorpe tabs as "The Big Three."
Rudy Gay slips in at No. 2, by the way.
I wonder if there's ever been a player who's been lauded for his "pace" as much as Brandon Roy has. Every time someone breaks down B.Roy's game, they always mention pace. It's a great observation, one which seems to be almost exclusive to Roy.
Also high praise for Aldridge. I've always considered him a "can't miss prospect," but I think people outside of the Northwest are only now coming to that realization.
Trail Blazers fans and lowly bloggers are not alone in that opinion. ESPN's David Thorpe takes a break from grading this year's rookies to run down the successes and failures of the sophomore class. As you might expect, Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge are two of the three second-year players Thorpe tabs as "The Big Three."
1. Brandon Roy, Blazers
The reigning Rookie of the Year is still at the head of the class. He's not a special athlete, nor a dead-eye shooter, and he doesn't "Iverson" too many people with jaw-dropping ballhandling moves. What he is, though, is a great player, because he's good or very good at everything. He defies NBA scouts' creed of "have to be great at one thing" to be a legit NBA player. Literally, this is a player without a real weakness.
I'm most impressed by his pace. Roy plays at a unique tempo that makes him look slow. But as he goes past guys or creates open midrange jumpers with his handle and timing, we realize that everyone else is moving even slower because he is in total control of his game and the ballgame in general. He may not ever be a league MVP, but a Finals MVP seems like a strong possibility one day. Portland's young bigs and higher draft picks (LaMarcus Aldridge and Greg Oden) are no more important to the franchise's future than Roy is -- that's how special he is.
[snip]
3. LaMarcus Aldridge, Blazers
Probably the second most talented sophomore and another can't-miss Portland prospect (along with Roy and Oden) who is an integral part of the Blazers' bright future. Except for some injury concerns, Aldridge leaves no question as to how he will be a dominant power forward in this league. He combines his dynamite turnaround jumper (with his high release) and his right-hand jump hook to form a simple but very effective low-post game. And I think he plays even better in open space; he has a great feel for pick and popping or flashing to open spots.
He's a good shooter, a good shot-blocker and a willing rebounder -- three keys to being more than an average power forward in the NBA. He's still thin, but that does not keep him from bashing inside -- a hint to what he'll be like when he naturally adds 20 pounds or so over the next few years.
Rudy Gay slips in at No. 2, by the way.
I wonder if there's ever been a player who's been lauded for his "pace" as much as Brandon Roy has. Every time someone breaks down B.Roy's game, they always mention pace. It's a great observation, one which seems to be almost exclusive to Roy.
Also high praise for Aldridge. I've always considered him a "can't miss prospect," but I think people outside of the Northwest are only now coming to that realization.
My main man Dave
Fellow blogger and personal friend Dave, who write the blog Blazer's Edge, has a super interview with Mike Born, our Director of NBA Scouting. It's a must-read for anybody interested in all the back-end work that goes into scouting, the draft and player development.
And if you missed it, Dave also conducted a Q&A with Mike Rice and Mike Barrett that is more than worth a read.
And finally, be sure to listen to Sports Saturday on 1080 The Fan to hear Dave talk Blazers with Gavin Dawson.
And if you missed it, Dave also conducted a Q&A with Mike Rice and Mike Barrett that is more than worth a read.
And finally, be sure to listen to Sports Saturday on 1080 The Fan to hear Dave talk Blazers with Gavin Dawson.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Still stinging from the '06 draft
On the last road trip, I walked among the crowd at the United Center in Chicago trying to gauge the opinion of Bulls fans regarding the 2006 draft night trade that sent Tyrus Thomas (the No. 4 pick) and Viktor Khryapa to Chicago for the LaMarcus Aldridge (the No. 2 pick). The plan was to write a feature similar to the piece I wrote the night before regarding the Timberwolves/Trail Blazers trade that ended with Brandon Roy playing in Portland and Randy Foye playing in Minnesota.
It seemed like a simple task. In Minnesota, every fan I talked to had some opinion of the Roy/Foye trade. I just assumed that Chicago fans, who have a reputation for being devoted if not knowledgeable, would have something to say about trading Thomas for Aldridge. Funny thing happened though: No one knew what I was talking about. I walked around the lower bowl of the United Center for 20 minutes asking fan after fan if they were familiar with the trade that brought Thomas to Chicago. Not a single person knew what I was talking about.
I tell Trail Blazers PR flack Collin Romer that I can't find anyone who knows anything about the trade. He comments that the hardcores sit up in the rafters and that I'd have a better chance getting a true fans opinion of the trade if I asked the common man in the nosebleeds. It seemed like a logical suggestion, so I took the stairs up to the top deck in search of some real Bulls fans so I can write my little story. What did I get for my trouble?
Nothing. I walked around the whole top level of the United Center, and not one of the 20 or so people I asked had the slightest idea what I was talking about. Some claimed they hadn't followed the team much since Jordan. Other gave a blank stare and returned to eating an $8 chili dog. One lady asked me if I could get her group better seats. But not a single, solitary person that that I asked who showed up that night knew of, let alone had an opinion of, the trade that changed the careers of LaMarcus Aldridge and Tyrus Thomas. I'll let you make the decision on what that says about the fans in Chi-town.
So why tell this long, drawn-out story? Today the Chicago-based Sam Smith answers a question, from a guy in San Diego no less, about whether the Bulls would have been better off taking a Trail Blazer:
So I finally got the answer to my question, sort of.
It seemed like a simple task. In Minnesota, every fan I talked to had some opinion of the Roy/Foye trade. I just assumed that Chicago fans, who have a reputation for being devoted if not knowledgeable, would have something to say about trading Thomas for Aldridge. Funny thing happened though: No one knew what I was talking about. I walked around the lower bowl of the United Center for 20 minutes asking fan after fan if they were familiar with the trade that brought Thomas to Chicago. Not a single person knew what I was talking about.
I tell Trail Blazers PR flack Collin Romer that I can't find anyone who knows anything about the trade. He comments that the hardcores sit up in the rafters and that I'd have a better chance getting a true fans opinion of the trade if I asked the common man in the nosebleeds. It seemed like a logical suggestion, so I took the stairs up to the top deck in search of some real Bulls fans so I can write my little story. What did I get for my trouble?
Nothing. I walked around the whole top level of the United Center, and not one of the 20 or so people I asked had the slightest idea what I was talking about. Some claimed they hadn't followed the team much since Jordan. Other gave a blank stare and returned to eating an $8 chili dog. One lady asked me if I could get her group better seats. But not a single, solitary person that that I asked who showed up that night knew of, let alone had an opinion of, the trade that changed the careers of LaMarcus Aldridge and Tyrus Thomas. I'll let you make the decision on what that says about the fans in Chi-town.
So why tell this long, drawn-out story? Today the Chicago-based Sam Smith answers a question, from a guy in San Diego no less, about whether the Bulls would have been better off taking a Trail Blazer:
It seems that the general consensus among the national media is that John Paxson should have drafted LaMarcus Aldridge instead of Tyrus Thomas. I couldn't disagree more. In hindsight, wouldn't Brandon Roy have been the better choice? It seems that a starting backcourt of Roy and Hinrich would have eliminated some major problems that the Bulls currently have, most notably, a big guard that can score as well as defend and an athlete that can take it to the hoop and get to the foul line on a consistent basis. --Tony M., San Diego
He was my choice then, but I have to admit Paxson gets more right than I do in the draft. The Bulls commitment then was to going big and it was hard to disagree. They desperately needed size. I recall the debate well. The fear was Aldridge was soft and too much a perimeter big man like Channing Frye. They decided to take a chance on talent and athleticism, which they hadn't before. I believe Paxson is kicking himself now for varying from his own formula and beliefs. I think he probably was influenced by people saying he'd been too conservative and you can't get a star like Stoudemire that way. That's who they hoped Thomas would be. We'll see if he gets more time, though now, yes, it does look like the wrong pick.
So I finally got the answer to my question, sort of.
Hollinger doesn't fear the fluke
Poke around a few newspapers and the Internet and you'll find that most people who follow the NBA are still a bit skeptical when it comes to Portland's playoff chances. The combination of a tough Western Conference and the Trail Blazers being the youngest squad in the league has given some the impression that the resurgence we're seeing in Portland is likely an anomaly. A little talent mixed with a lot of luck.
But now that we are at midseason, some people, including John Hollinger, have come to the conclusion that the Trail Blazers are for real.
Hollinger also notes that, should the Blazers avoid disastrous injury, they could be "a dominant force in the West for the next decade." I like the sound of that.
But now that we are at midseason, some people, including John Hollinger, have come to the conclusion that the Trail Blazers are for real.
A quick memo to those of you who thought those upstart Portland Trail blazers would soon fade out of the Western Conference race: They're not going away.
[snip]
Usually in a club this young, there is a tension between the desire of the players to win games and their desire to further their individual accomplishments so they can establish their careers and earn a bigger contract.
With this group, at least so far, they've managed to keep that instinct buried. It helps that none of their players are habitual ball dominators, and that the two best players, Roy and Aldridge, are as comfortable in the catch-and-shoot game as any of their teammates.
Hollinger also notes that, should the Blazers avoid disastrous injury, they could be "a dominant force in the West for the next decade." I like the sound of that.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Happy Birthday Greg Oden
Gregory Wayne Oden Jr. turns 20 today. Not a boy, but still not yet a man. I'm assuming Greg is spending his birthday in Atlanta doing all the fun things that 20 year-olds do, which as far as I can tell is the same thing an 18 year-old would do. Those years between 18 and 21 don't yield many new experiences. Maybe Greg can rent a car now in some states.
So while we blow out 20 candles for Greg, it's also worth saying a hearty thank you to Zoe Oden, Greg's mother. At 24 inches long and weighing 8 pounds and 10 ounces, Greg was necessarily the gargantuan baby you might expect when looking at him now, but I can imagine that he was more than enough for Zoe.
Happy birthday Greg. Way to go Zoe.
So while we blow out 20 candles for Greg, it's also worth saying a hearty thank you to Zoe Oden, Greg's mother. At 24 inches long and weighing 8 pounds and 10 ounces, Greg was necessarily the gargantuan baby you might expect when looking at him now, but I can imagine that he was more than enough for Zoe.
Happy birthday Greg. Way to go Zoe.
Monday, January 21, 2008
Greetings on MLK Day
Happy Monday, but more importantly, happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Make sure that you get a chance today to reflect on Dr. King's life and legacy as one of our greatest Americans.
The Blazers got a chance to do just that in Atlanta over the weekend. Jason Quick was there. So was J.A. Andande. When you're on the road, you don't have much time for anything other than practicing, sleeping and moving on to the next city, so it really says something that this team made time to visit some of the sites Dr. King frequented as a child.
And though it's a holiday, there's still work to do. The game today (11 a.m. to be exact) is a big one. A win assures the Blazers a record of no worse than 3-4 on this trip, which is a respectable feat for a young team on a long trip. Not to mention the Blazers has a nice streak going against the Hawks at Phillips Arena, having not lost there since January of 2002.
So enjoy the afternoon game if your at home, and if you're at work, take that little AM radio you stash in your desk and tune it in to Wheels and Antonio on KXL 750. And if you get a chance, go vote for the slew of mid-season awards that Dave at Blazer's Edge is facilitating.
The Blazers got a chance to do just that in Atlanta over the weekend. Jason Quick was there. So was J.A. Andande. When you're on the road, you don't have much time for anything other than practicing, sleeping and moving on to the next city, so it really says something that this team made time to visit some of the sites Dr. King frequented as a child.
And though it's a holiday, there's still work to do. The game today (11 a.m. to be exact) is a big one. A win assures the Blazers a record of no worse than 3-4 on this trip, which is a respectable feat for a young team on a long trip. Not to mention the Blazers has a nice streak going against the Hawks at Phillips Arena, having not lost there since January of 2002.
So enjoy the afternoon game if your at home, and if you're at work, take that little AM radio you stash in your desk and tune it in to Wheels and Antonio on KXL 750. And if you get a chance, go vote for the slew of mid-season awards that Dave at Blazer's Edge is facilitating.
Friday, January 18, 2008
Vote for Nate McMillan during halftime
Trail Blazers playing well so far on national television. So much so that, on ESPN.com, Nate McMillan is dominating the "Who should win Coach of the Year?" poll. 40 of the 50 states agree with Blazers fans that, at least if the season ended today, that McMillan should be awarded for the job he's done steering the Trail Blazers ship.
If you haven't voted, go ahead and do so below. Don't fear democracy.
If you haven't voted, go ahead and do so below. Don't fear democracy.
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