Tons of great images from last night's win, including a picture of Nate McMillan and Greg Oden sharing a smile, the now infamous six-men-on-the-court play, an unusually pensive Kevin Garnett, hugs after hugs and Pierce's elbow being fouled by Aldridge's face. Good times.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Bayless ready to come off the bench
First things first: Rudy Fernandez will replace Brandon Roy (hamstring) in the starting lineup tonight versus the Celtics. Shavlik Randolph will dress with Roy being placed inactive list for the first time this season. I didn't hear an official word on Greg Oden, but I believe he will play.
Expect to see Jerryd Bayless play extended minutes for the first time this season in the second unit. Nate McMillan said pregame that Bayless both guard positions depending on the lineup. So when Bayless is on the floor with Steve Blake, he'll probably play point guard, and he's out with Sergio Rodriguez, he'll hold down shooting guard.
"It’s going to be good," said Bayless, who was just a step below giddy pregame. "Hopefully everything works out. Should be a great opportunity. I’m looking forward to it."
Bayless usually practices as a member of the first unit, subbing in for Blake and Roy when needed, but he didn't seem particularly worried about stepping on the court with the second unit.
"I don’t think it will be different; I’ve just got to find a rhythm with them" said Bayless. "Basketball, to me, has always been a game about rhythm. Obviously it’s short notice, but I’ve played with Joel, I’ve played with all the guys on the team, so I think it will be an easy adjustment."
Bayless has been used sparsely so far this season, which has made the rookie out of Arizona a bit reluctant when it came to shooting, but with playing time all but guaranteed tonight, expect to see the aggressive player that lit up the Las Vegas summer league.
"The reason I’ve been tentative -- that’s a different situation when you don’t know if you’re going back in," explained Bayless. "So it’s like, should I shoot this or is this shot going to get me taken out? That’s a different situation. Now, it’s just basketball. I can go in there and play. Hopefully everything works out. I’ve worked hard for it."
Expect to see Jerryd Bayless play extended minutes for the first time this season in the second unit. Nate McMillan said pregame that Bayless both guard positions depending on the lineup. So when Bayless is on the floor with Steve Blake, he'll probably play point guard, and he's out with Sergio Rodriguez, he'll hold down shooting guard.
"It’s going to be good," said Bayless, who was just a step below giddy pregame. "Hopefully everything works out. Should be a great opportunity. I’m looking forward to it."
Bayless usually practices as a member of the first unit, subbing in for Blake and Roy when needed, but he didn't seem particularly worried about stepping on the court with the second unit.
"I don’t think it will be different; I’ve just got to find a rhythm with them" said Bayless. "Basketball, to me, has always been a game about rhythm. Obviously it’s short notice, but I’ve played with Joel, I’ve played with all the guys on the team, so I think it will be an easy adjustment."
Bayless has been used sparsely so far this season, which has made the rookie out of Arizona a bit reluctant when it came to shooting, but with playing time all but guaranteed tonight, expect to see the aggressive player that lit up the Las Vegas summer league.
"The reason I’ve been tentative -- that’s a different situation when you don’t know if you’re going back in," explained Bayless. "So it’s like, should I shoot this or is this shot going to get me taken out? That’s a different situation. Now, it’s just basketball. I can go in there and play. Hopefully everything works out. I’ve worked hard for it."
Who starts in place of Roy?
Bad news out of shootaround today, as Brandon Roy, already listed as questionable for tonight's game against the Celtics, is now declaring himself doubtful. Getting a win against the World Champs is tough, but doing it without your best player? That's going to take something special.
So who picks up the slack if Roy doesn't play, and more specifically, who takes Roy's spot in the rotation? It basically comes down to Rudy Fernandez and Jerryd Bayless. The snap judgment would be to go with Rudy, as he has more general NBA and "big game" experience, but the decision might not be as cut and dry as it appears on the surface.
A few things to contemplate.
Having Roy out of the lineup already throws the rotation for a loop. If you give Rudy the start, that rotation goes even more catywampus, as both the first and second units change. If you simply go Bayless for Roy, you at least keep the second unit intact, though it can be assumed that Rudy plays more minutes regardless.
Then there are matchups to consider. Is Blake and Bayless vs. Rondo and Allen a better option than Blake and Rudy vs. Rondo and Allen?
And then there's past performance. Rudy has played much more than Bayless, but a lot of people thought Jerryd showed something during his garbage time minutes in the loss to the Celtics. Do you reward Bayless for that tenacity with the start, or defer to Rudy's experience and proclivity for scoring?
Also worth noting that Bayless often runs with the first team during practice when Roy sits. Does that give Bayless the leg up? Then again, Rudy often plays with the first unit late in games, so maybe he gets the edge.
I've got an opinion, but I'd like to hear your thoughts first. If it were your call, who would you give the start to? Let's hear it in the comments.
So who picks up the slack if Roy doesn't play, and more specifically, who takes Roy's spot in the rotation? It basically comes down to Rudy Fernandez and Jerryd Bayless. The snap judgment would be to go with Rudy, as he has more general NBA and "big game" experience, but the decision might not be as cut and dry as it appears on the surface.
A few things to contemplate.
Having Roy out of the lineup already throws the rotation for a loop. If you give Rudy the start, that rotation goes even more catywampus, as both the first and second units change. If you simply go Bayless for Roy, you at least keep the second unit intact, though it can be assumed that Rudy plays more minutes regardless.
Then there are matchups to consider. Is Blake and Bayless vs. Rondo and Allen a better option than Blake and Rudy vs. Rondo and Allen?
And then there's past performance. Rudy has played much more than Bayless, but a lot of people thought Jerryd showed something during his garbage time minutes in the loss to the Celtics. Do you reward Bayless for that tenacity with the start, or defer to Rudy's experience and proclivity for scoring?
Also worth noting that Bayless often runs with the first team during practice when Roy sits. Does that give Bayless the leg up? Then again, Rudy often plays with the first unit late in games, so maybe he gets the edge.
I've got an opinion, but I'd like to hear your thoughts first. If it were your call, who would you give the start to? Let's hear it in the comments.
Monday, December 29, 2008
Video: McMillan, Roy from practice
Head coach Nate McMillan and guard Brandon Roy discuss the upcoming game on Tuesday versus the Boston Celtics.
Video: Oden, Aldridge Roy postgame
It's a but after the fact, but here's video of Greg Oden, LaMarcus Aldridge and Brandon Roy discussing the victory against the Raptors. You'll notice that each player was asked about defense, which was Nate McMillan's emphasis during his pregame media availability.
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Video: McMillan from practice
There's been a bit of discussion regarding Nate McMillan's consideration of making a change in the rotation, so I thought you might enjoy watching the video of that exchange. It's from a few days ago, but I think it'll give you some perspective as to where McMillan's mind is.
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Vote Rudy for Slam Dunk Contest
I know you're all doing your best when it comes to All-Star voting, walking up bright and early every day to vote for Brandon Roy, LaMarcus Aldridge and Greg Oden. Your efforts are appreciated. The most recent count has Brandon Roy at 174,244 votes (9th among Western Conference guards), LaMarcus Aldridge at 145,857 votes (11th among Western Conference forwards) and Greg Oden at 144,650 votes (5th among Western Conference centers). Keep fighting the good fight.But now there's another All-Star vote on your plate, one we stand a great chance of winning. For the first time ever, the fans will get to vote for one of three rookies to join Dwight Howard, Nate Robinson and Rudy Gay in the Slam Dunk Competition. Rudy Fernandez is one of those rookies. He only needs to beat out Russell Westbrook and Joe Alexander to get a trip to the Phoenix for the contest, and with the way Rudy throws down and the entire country of Spain on his side, I like his chances.
Rudy wants your vote, and he was smart enough to make part of his plea in his native tongue. Portland fans have been clamoring for an entrant in the Slam Dunk Contest for some time now, so don't let this opportunity pass.
Vote for Rudy here. Vota para Rudy.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Catching up with KP
We'll check in with general manager Kevin Pritchard periodically throughout the season to get his thoughts on the Trail Blazers and the NBA in general.
How satisfied are you with how the team has played so far this season?
KP: "Our whole thing is that we don’t want to get caught up in the day-to-day. We want to take a long-term approach to this, and for us, our goals are still the same: get to the playoffs. We want to see what this team can do in the playoffs. The Rose Garden is such a special place, so if we can get into the playoffs we can win some games, I think. Have some fun in the playoffs. This city is desperate to have that. They’re hungry for it, as we are.
"I feel very good being where we are after 26 games. We need to stay healthy, and we want to get better. Our whole thing is, how can we keep getting better? We’re a young team going through some bumps and bruises, going through some learning curves, that’s natural in this league. We’re so young that we’re going through so many new emotions for some of these guys. Rudy, Greg, Batum, Bayless, they’re all going through a bunch of new things. They bring some energy but everything is new to them. Once they get into 40, 50 games it’s like, now I’ve done it. You’re still a rookie but you sort of know what to expect. I’m excited for the next 15, 16 games so they can get more comfortable. Everybody talks about the ‘rookie wall’ and whether they’ll hit it, but we’re going to try and help them as much as we can."
Would you expect the improvement from increased playing time to exceed the declination that might occur due to fatigue?
KP: "The theory in this league is as the veterans get more comfortable, they start playing a lot better. That does happen, so there’s a catch-up from the veteran’s standpoint because they don’t work quite as hard in the offseason. They work, but they know it’s a marathon and not a sprint. Right now we’re sort of sprinting, so we need to make sure we can continually get better."
Do you feel like too much has been made of the early season schedule? It seems like every team seems to think they’ve got it tougher than someone else.
KP: "You’ve got to play 82 games. Playing 16 on the road in our first 24 games, that was tough. Not from the physical part. I think Nate did a great job of giving off-days and rest and really looked at recuperation time, but mentally I thought we were really drained a couple of games here at home, didn’t have that freshness."
I think you mentioned last year before the draft that the team needed to get more athletic at the guard positions. I’m wondering if you feel the say way 26 games into the season.
KP: "I think I said in the backcourt and that includes our small forward. I think Nicolas is as athletic as they get. He’s sort of sneaky smooth. He brings another dimension of shot blocking to that position with Travis. With Martell out, Nic has done an admirable job. We need him to grow. For us to grow, he has to grow.
"Sergio and Blake, their strengths aren’t their athletic ability. But Blake is as tough as they get. He’s a tough kid. As we get better, that position becomes more important because if you elevate your point guard play, the rest of the play improves. Blake has been terrific this year. Sergio has shown that he is that creative offensive weapon off the bench and he’s done a fantastic job as well."
Brandon Roy has really come into his own this season. Part of that he seems to be that he’s looking for his own shot more often. Can you speak to his evolution as a player this season?
KP: "He’s terrific. He’s a high level player in this league. What makes Brandon special for me is he understands that delicate balance of taking too many shots, taking the right amount of shots and not taking enough. He sort of finds that sweet spot. We want him taking a lot of shots. There have been times in games where I want him to get up five, six more shots. But it’s not in his persona. I wouldn’t say he’s a scorer; he’s a basketball player. That’s a special talent."
It seems like the team is doing a better job of closing out games this season. Is that an indication of this team’s growth?
KP: "I think Nate does a great job of managing that. I think that shows that he’s a very good coach in this league. And then our guys are comfortable with each other. It trickles down from LaMarcus and Brandon. They’ve been in a lot of close games, they know what they have to do. We’re going to win our fair share, but we’re going to have some tough losses, too."
How do you think the league has changed in the last year?
KP: "We’re a league of mimics. We see what’s working and we try to mimic it. You see Boston with their great defense and then everybody wants to be a great defensive team. I come from a background where defense is very important. Right now every team is trying to figure out how they can put the best defensive players out there. I think that’s important.
"It’s amazing because for us in the West, I don’t feel like it’s changed at all. You’re going to have to get in the high 40’s to get in the playoffs. You can’t just win fifty percent of your games and expect to make it to the playoffs. Now the East, maybe you can, but not in the West. There are too many good teams. So in that instance, I don’t think anything has changed. You’ve got to be an upper-echelon team to get into the playoffs. And again, that’s our goal, so we know we’re going to have to get up there. "
Has there been an increased emphasis for franchises to get set up for free-agency two and three years down the road? It seems like only recently you’ve started to hear about teams making moves to position themselves vis-a-vi free-agency years in advance.
KP: "It’s interesting. From a management perspective, we plan out three, four, five years. I think most teams do it. I just think that 2010 class is very special, so everybody is going to compete. But quite frankly, sometimes it’s important to zig when everybody else is zagging. "
Do you feel like you’re in a position where you don’t need to make any of those big moves?
KP: "What I don’t want to do is limit any of our thinking. Are we definite players in 2010? Who knows? A lot has to be done between now and then. What I do know is that I really like our team. I like our youth. You project out some of our guys like Nicolas, Bayless, Sergio, Rudy, Oden. What are they going to be in two or three years? They’re just cutting their teeth right now. I believe we have a chance to be pretty good for a long time. And that’s what we wanted. We want to have a chance to have a crack at the big games, the big playoff games down the line in two, three, four, five years. An elongated success. Hopefully we can do that."
Have you been surprised at the turnover regarding coaches this season?
KP: "It’s an interesting thing. I was thinking the other day: are there going to be interim coaches after the interim coaches? It’s been so early, so are they going to fire the interim and bring in another guy to were there are multiple coaching changes in one year for one team?
"I’ve said this and I’ve told this to Nate -- I didn’t come up with it, it’s from Coach Roy Williams -- coaches get too much blame and they get too much credit. And because of that it feels like everybody is pointing the finger. I believe truly in this -- Nate and I and Mr. Allen have talked about this -- it’s a collective responsibility. The players, the coaches, the general manager, the owner; it’s all of our responsibility. If we all shoulder that responsibility, it doesn’t fall on one person."
How satisfied are you with how the team has played so far this season?
KP: "Our whole thing is that we don’t want to get caught up in the day-to-day. We want to take a long-term approach to this, and for us, our goals are still the same: get to the playoffs. We want to see what this team can do in the playoffs. The Rose Garden is such a special place, so if we can get into the playoffs we can win some games, I think. Have some fun in the playoffs. This city is desperate to have that. They’re hungry for it, as we are.
"I feel very good being where we are after 26 games. We need to stay healthy, and we want to get better. Our whole thing is, how can we keep getting better? We’re a young team going through some bumps and bruises, going through some learning curves, that’s natural in this league. We’re so young that we’re going through so many new emotions for some of these guys. Rudy, Greg, Batum, Bayless, they’re all going through a bunch of new things. They bring some energy but everything is new to them. Once they get into 40, 50 games it’s like, now I’ve done it. You’re still a rookie but you sort of know what to expect. I’m excited for the next 15, 16 games so they can get more comfortable. Everybody talks about the ‘rookie wall’ and whether they’ll hit it, but we’re going to try and help them as much as we can."
Would you expect the improvement from increased playing time to exceed the declination that might occur due to fatigue?
KP: "The theory in this league is as the veterans get more comfortable, they start playing a lot better. That does happen, so there’s a catch-up from the veteran’s standpoint because they don’t work quite as hard in the offseason. They work, but they know it’s a marathon and not a sprint. Right now we’re sort of sprinting, so we need to make sure we can continually get better."
Do you feel like too much has been made of the early season schedule? It seems like every team seems to think they’ve got it tougher than someone else.
KP: "You’ve got to play 82 games. Playing 16 on the road in our first 24 games, that was tough. Not from the physical part. I think Nate did a great job of giving off-days and rest and really looked at recuperation time, but mentally I thought we were really drained a couple of games here at home, didn’t have that freshness."
I think you mentioned last year before the draft that the team needed to get more athletic at the guard positions. I’m wondering if you feel the say way 26 games into the season.
KP: "I think I said in the backcourt and that includes our small forward. I think Nicolas is as athletic as they get. He’s sort of sneaky smooth. He brings another dimension of shot blocking to that position with Travis. With Martell out, Nic has done an admirable job. We need him to grow. For us to grow, he has to grow.
"Sergio and Blake, their strengths aren’t their athletic ability. But Blake is as tough as they get. He’s a tough kid. As we get better, that position becomes more important because if you elevate your point guard play, the rest of the play improves. Blake has been terrific this year. Sergio has shown that he is that creative offensive weapon off the bench and he’s done a fantastic job as well."
Brandon Roy has really come into his own this season. Part of that he seems to be that he’s looking for his own shot more often. Can you speak to his evolution as a player this season?
KP: "He’s terrific. He’s a high level player in this league. What makes Brandon special for me is he understands that delicate balance of taking too many shots, taking the right amount of shots and not taking enough. He sort of finds that sweet spot. We want him taking a lot of shots. There have been times in games where I want him to get up five, six more shots. But it’s not in his persona. I wouldn’t say he’s a scorer; he’s a basketball player. That’s a special talent."
It seems like the team is doing a better job of closing out games this season. Is that an indication of this team’s growth?
KP: "I think Nate does a great job of managing that. I think that shows that he’s a very good coach in this league. And then our guys are comfortable with each other. It trickles down from LaMarcus and Brandon. They’ve been in a lot of close games, they know what they have to do. We’re going to win our fair share, but we’re going to have some tough losses, too."
How do you think the league has changed in the last year?
KP: "We’re a league of mimics. We see what’s working and we try to mimic it. You see Boston with their great defense and then everybody wants to be a great defensive team. I come from a background where defense is very important. Right now every team is trying to figure out how they can put the best defensive players out there. I think that’s important.
"It’s amazing because for us in the West, I don’t feel like it’s changed at all. You’re going to have to get in the high 40’s to get in the playoffs. You can’t just win fifty percent of your games and expect to make it to the playoffs. Now the East, maybe you can, but not in the West. There are too many good teams. So in that instance, I don’t think anything has changed. You’ve got to be an upper-echelon team to get into the playoffs. And again, that’s our goal, so we know we’re going to have to get up there. "
Has there been an increased emphasis for franchises to get set up for free-agency two and three years down the road? It seems like only recently you’ve started to hear about teams making moves to position themselves vis-a-vi free-agency years in advance.
KP: "It’s interesting. From a management perspective, we plan out three, four, five years. I think most teams do it. I just think that 2010 class is very special, so everybody is going to compete. But quite frankly, sometimes it’s important to zig when everybody else is zagging. "
Do you feel like you’re in a position where you don’t need to make any of those big moves?
KP: "What I don’t want to do is limit any of our thinking. Are we definite players in 2010? Who knows? A lot has to be done between now and then. What I do know is that I really like our team. I like our youth. You project out some of our guys like Nicolas, Bayless, Sergio, Rudy, Oden. What are they going to be in two or three years? They’re just cutting their teeth right now. I believe we have a chance to be pretty good for a long time. And that’s what we wanted. We want to have a chance to have a crack at the big games, the big playoff games down the line in two, three, four, five years. An elongated success. Hopefully we can do that."
Have you been surprised at the turnover regarding coaches this season?
KP: "It’s an interesting thing. I was thinking the other day: are there going to be interim coaches after the interim coaches? It’s been so early, so are they going to fire the interim and bring in another guy to were there are multiple coaching changes in one year for one team?
"I’ve said this and I’ve told this to Nate -- I didn’t come up with it, it’s from Coach Roy Williams -- coaches get too much blame and they get too much credit. And because of that it feels like everybody is pointing the finger. I believe truly in this -- Nate and I and Mr. Allen have talked about this -- it’s a collective responsibility. The players, the coaches, the general manager, the owner; it’s all of our responsibility. If we all shoulder that responsibility, it doesn’t fall on one person."
Post Notes: Nuggets 97, Trail Blazers 89
It should come as no surprise that most of the notes of interest from last night's game tend to be Denver-friendly. Hopefully we can change that tonight. That's right: We will play tonight.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
• Nene recorded his second-straight double-double (seventh of the season, 46th of his career) with 19 points and 11 rebounds against the Blazers tonight. The Nuggets are now 5-2 on the year when Nene records a double-double.
• Chauncey Billups tallied his fifth double-double of the season (fifth with Denver, 81st of his career) with 19 points and 10 assists. The Nuggets improve to 6-1 when a player dishes out 10+ assists, while they are 6-0 when Billups does so.
• Linas Kleiza scored 17 points off the bench for Denver tonight, marking his fourth-straight game scoring 10 or more points.
• J.R. Smith started his first game of the season tonight, scoring 15 points and grabbing seven rebounds in tonight’s win. Tonight marked his first start since 1/31/07, while it was his 25th start in a Nuggets uniform.
• Chris Andersen blocked a season-high six shots vs. Portland tonight (previous five vs. Houston on 11/30/08). This is the fifth time this season that he has blocked four or more shots.
• LaMarcus Aldridge led the Blazers with 20 points during tonight’s loss. This is his seventh time so far this season leading his team in scoring, while it is his ninth time scoring 20 or more points.
• Brandon Roy managed only eight points for Portland tonight. Entering tonight’s game, Roy had scored 29 or more points in his previous five outings, while averaging 36.4 ppg in the process.
TEAM NOTES
• With tonight’s win, the Nuggets improve to 18-10 on the season, including 10-4 at the Pepsi Center. Denver’s 18-10 record is tied for the second-best record thru 28 games in team history (also began at least 18-10 five other times, most recently in 1989-90).
• With tonight’s win, the Nuggets once again avoided losing consecutive home games. Denver has not lost consecutive games at the Pepsi Center since the 2006-07 season (2/5 and 2/7/07).
• The Nuggets scored 97 points in tonight’s win, which is their fifth win on the year when to scoring under 100 points (5-7). Denver was just 3-16 when scoring under 100 points last season and only 3-23 during the 2006-07 season.
• Portland scored 89 points in tonight’s loss and are now 6-8 this season when failing to score 100 points, not to mention just 1-5 when being held below 90 points. Denver, on the other hand, is now 11-1 when holding teams to less than 100 and a perfect 8-0 when holding the opposition to 90 or less.
• With tonight’s win, the Nuggets improved to 10-1 against the Blazers at the Pepsi Center since 2003-04, as well as 17-4 overall these last five-plus seasons.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
• Nene recorded his second-straight double-double (seventh of the season, 46th of his career) with 19 points and 11 rebounds against the Blazers tonight. The Nuggets are now 5-2 on the year when Nene records a double-double.
• Chauncey Billups tallied his fifth double-double of the season (fifth with Denver, 81st of his career) with 19 points and 10 assists. The Nuggets improve to 6-1 when a player dishes out 10+ assists, while they are 6-0 when Billups does so.
• Linas Kleiza scored 17 points off the bench for Denver tonight, marking his fourth-straight game scoring 10 or more points.
• J.R. Smith started his first game of the season tonight, scoring 15 points and grabbing seven rebounds in tonight’s win. Tonight marked his first start since 1/31/07, while it was his 25th start in a Nuggets uniform.
• Chris Andersen blocked a season-high six shots vs. Portland tonight (previous five vs. Houston on 11/30/08). This is the fifth time this season that he has blocked four or more shots.
• LaMarcus Aldridge led the Blazers with 20 points during tonight’s loss. This is his seventh time so far this season leading his team in scoring, while it is his ninth time scoring 20 or more points.
• Brandon Roy managed only eight points for Portland tonight. Entering tonight’s game, Roy had scored 29 or more points in his previous five outings, while averaging 36.4 ppg in the process.
TEAM NOTES
• With tonight’s win, the Nuggets improve to 18-10 on the season, including 10-4 at the Pepsi Center. Denver’s 18-10 record is tied for the second-best record thru 28 games in team history (also began at least 18-10 five other times, most recently in 1989-90).
• With tonight’s win, the Nuggets once again avoided losing consecutive home games. Denver has not lost consecutive games at the Pepsi Center since the 2006-07 season (2/5 and 2/7/07).
• The Nuggets scored 97 points in tonight’s win, which is their fifth win on the year when to scoring under 100 points (5-7). Denver was just 3-16 when scoring under 100 points last season and only 3-23 during the 2006-07 season.
• Portland scored 89 points in tonight’s loss and are now 6-8 this season when failing to score 100 points, not to mention just 1-5 when being held below 90 points. Denver, on the other hand, is now 11-1 when holding teams to less than 100 and a perfect 8-0 when holding the opposition to 90 or less.
• With tonight’s win, the Nuggets improved to 10-1 against the Blazers at the Pepsi Center since 2003-04, as well as 17-4 overall these last five-plus seasons.
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Fear not, the Trail Blazers will fly to Denver
Everyone talked about how big the matchup with Boston was, but in my opinion, Monday night's game against the Nuggets in Denver is the most important game of the season, so far, for the Trail Blazers. Both teams have 17-10 records and hence, they sit tied for the top spot in the Northwest Division. So the team that wins on Monday takes takes a lead in the division. That fact makes Monday's contest much more critical than an away game against an Eastern Conference opponent.
But that's not all. The team that wins on Monday almost certainly has the momentum going into Tuesdays rubber match at the Rose Garden. If the Red and Black can somehow get two wins against Denver in two days? You can't overstate how important that would be.
But how to get to Denver? The snow/ice storm has made getting out of Portland International Airport next to impossible. The Blazers get around in a private jet, so they're not subjected to all of the same difficulties that commercial air traveler have deal with, but private jet or not, ice on the runway is ice on the runway.
So how are they going to get to Denver? Well, the team has already boarded a bus to Eugene, where conditions are a much more manageable 42 degrees with regular ol' Oregon rain. The team will fly out of Eugene, getting into Denver sometime later tonight, Portland weather be damned.
I'm guessing something similar will be done for the trip back to Portland unless conditions change before Tuesday.
So even if you're stuck at home tomorrow, you'll still be able to see what I'm guessing is going to be a heck of a basketball game on Monday. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. and will be televised locally on KGW Channel 8. Tune in.
But that's not all. The team that wins on Monday almost certainly has the momentum going into Tuesdays rubber match at the Rose Garden. If the Red and Black can somehow get two wins against Denver in two days? You can't overstate how important that would be.
But how to get to Denver? The snow/ice storm has made getting out of Portland International Airport next to impossible. The Blazers get around in a private jet, so they're not subjected to all of the same difficulties that commercial air traveler have deal with, but private jet or not, ice on the runway is ice on the runway.
So how are they going to get to Denver? Well, the team has already boarded a bus to Eugene, where conditions are a much more manageable 42 degrees with regular ol' Oregon rain. The team will fly out of Eugene, getting into Denver sometime later tonight, Portland weather be damned.
I'm guessing something similar will be done for the trip back to Portland unless conditions change before Tuesday.
So even if you're stuck at home tomorrow, you'll still be able to see what I'm guessing is going to be a heck of a basketball game on Monday. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. and will be televised locally on KGW Channel 8. Tune in.
PTI: Five Good Minutes With Brandon Roy
Mike Wilbon and Bob Ryan interview Brandon Roy during the December 19 edition of "Pardon the Interruption."
Friday, December 19, 2008
Video: Roy, Outlaw postgame
Check out what Brandon Roy and Travis Outlaw had to say after Thursday night's win versus the Suns. I don't know what Roy could possibly do for an encore, but I'm looking forward to finding out.
Photos: Trail Blazers 124, Suns 119
It's doubtful that you're going to forget this one, but here are some photos should you need to jog your memory for some reason.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Porter's No. 30 Rises To the Rafters
The inner bowl of the Rose Garden clears out pretty fast during a typical halftime intermission, but on Tuesday night, the Portland crowd remained in their seats to witness Terry Porter’s No. 30 raised to the rafters.
Porter, who thanked his parents, fellow players and fans during his acceptance speech, let loose with a “Rip City Baby!” as he took the mic to speak about the honor of having his number retired.
Many of the players who ran the floor with Porter at the old Memorial Coliseum, including Buck Williams, Jerome Kersey and Wayne Cooper, collected at midcourt to pay tribute to their friend and former teammate. Most of the memories reminisced upon focused on the Western Conference championship teams of 1990 and 1992, teams that are considered among the greatest in Trail Blazers history.
“If I had to pick one memory, it would be the year we made it to the Finals the first time,” said Porter. ”We had picked up Buck, we got Kevin and there were a lot of questions about the makeup of that team and how we were going to come together.
“As that year went on we got better and better and more and more comfortable with each other. Finishing out in Phoenix then going into the locker room and having the excitement of all of us going to our first NBA Finals, that was probable my best individual memory.”
Porter remains Portland’s all-time leader in assists and three-point field goals. Only Clyde Drexler, who took a couple playful shots at this old teammate in a video taped message, played more minutes, scored more points, had more steals and made more free throws than Porter.
Porter, a former non-scholarship athlete at University of Wisconsin Steven’s Point, made numerous references to the humbling experiences of having his number among other Trail Blazers great like Bill Walton, Maurice Lucas and Drexler.
“I just think that whenever you’re blessed to play this sport, you always like to be recognized for your service,” said Porter. “Everybody wants to be recognized for their service, especially when they think they’ve done something well.
“When you think about me, coming from Stevens Point, I think the one thing that got me to this point was my ability to work hard, my work ethic. I always strived to be the best player I could be, always trying to do the best things for my team. So from that standpoint, I hope people remember me as someone who appreciated the game and put everything he could into the game and maximized his talents. Couldn’t jump, didn’t have quick speed, but was still able to achieve a lot with the talent I had.”
Friday, December 12, 2008
Video: Nate McMillan postgame
Another tough loss to swallow. After one like this, I can't decide if it's better or worse to have three days off. You don't want to walk around with that taste in your mouth, but the rest sure would be nice.
I thought Coach McMillan said some good things after tonight's loss to the Clippers. Rather than dwelling on the negative, he chose to focus on the team fighting through adversity. No reason to pile on.
I thought Coach McMillan said some good things after tonight's loss to the Clippers. Rather than dwelling on the negative, he chose to focus on the team fighting through adversity. No reason to pile on.
12.12.08 Nate McMillan pregame
Listen to head coach Nate McMillan address the media prior to tonight's game versus the Clippers. Amongst other things, McMillan notes that Outlaw will not play due to a bruised tail bone.
Download the podcast (7.3 MB).
Download the podcast (7.3 MB).
Just Being Bayless
It is morning at the Trail Blazers practice facility and Jerryd Bayless is doing the things that most basketball players do; the same routine he’s done since junior high. First there is stretching to be done before some light jogging up and down the court to get the blood pumping. After that, it’s time work on ball handling skills: dribbling two balls at the same time, crossovers, keeping the ball low the court. Throughout the drills, Bayless displays an assortment of prototypical point guard skills; skills that draft prognosticators questioned whether or not he had when he declared for the NBA draft after his freshman season at Arizona.
Next up, shooting drills. Bayless works his way around the court in a deliberate manner, taking set shots from the perimeter, driving to the hoop, jump stopping, fading away, cutting hard around imaginary screens before pulling up for a mid-range jumper. Every now and then Bayless will roll to the hoop and elevate, displaying his impressive vertical leap before throwing down a dunk or laying the ball softly off the glass.
Bayless finishes up the workout with weightlifting. Already an impressive physical specimen when he entered the league, Bayless has continued to sculpt and add muscle to his 6-3, 200 lbs. frame. His body-type, broad, compact and muscular, is reminiscent of guards like Chauncey Billups and Dwyane Wade; guards that can get be physically imposing on defense while remaining quick and explosive. It’s the kind of body that is equipped to handle the beating that an 82-game season can dole out.
Nothing that Jerryd Bayless does at the practice facility on this day is all that different from what others will do, but with one exception: It’s still two hours before the start of actual practice. By the time most of his teammates show up to get their ankles taped, Bayless will have already put in a full workout.
“His work ethic is off the charts,” said assistant coach Monty Williams, one of the earliest risers in the Trail Blazers organization. “He’s in the gym when I get there, which is sad, but that’s just the way he is. And before games he’ll work out two or three times. He’s one of those guys you almost have to tell them to chill out a little bit. But he’s got a healthy sense of paranoia and he’s trying to do anything he can to get on the court. And when he does, I think all of this hard work is going to pay off for him.”
Getting on the court has been difficult so far this season for Bayless, who, after being name the MVP of the Las Vegas Summer League, has played in just six games through the first month of the season. Veterans Brandon Roy, Steve Blake and Sergio Rodriguez eat up most of the burn at the guard position in Nate McMillan’s rotation, leaving little opportunity for Bayless to get significant minutes. It’s the proverbial catch-22 of being a high draft pick on an already good team: plenty of opportunity to learn from some of the best in the NBA, but little time to utilize those lessons in game situations.
“All I know is that I’m putting in the work,” says Bayless. “That’s all I can do. Everything else is up to coach. I’m working out and doing everything that I can to get better, but when it comes to playing time, it’s all up to coach. But when my chance comes, I’ll be ready.”
It’s an adjustment for a player who, up until now, has always been the first option on any team he has ever been on. The competitive nature and self-assurance that drives the most successful athletes can’t simply be turned off and on, so Bayless has worked on refocusing that energy into improving his game while he waits for an opportunity to prove himself on the court.
“There’s no doubt in my mind that his time will come,” said general manager Kevin Pritchard, the man responsible for orchestrating the trade on draft night to acquire Bayless from the Indiana Pacers. “When it is? That I don’t know. But he is preparing himself, and I use that word very strongly. He is definitely preparing himself to be a good basketball player in this league. And that’s why we’re very encouraged because he’s competitive and he’s tough. He’s going to get his chance.”
Until that chance comes, Bayless will keep working earlier and more often than the next guy, preparing for that opportunity as he has always done.
“I try to improve on everything everyday. Right now I’m just trying to be Jerryd, and hopefully everything thing will work out.”
Thursday, December 11, 2008
12.11.08 Edition of the Trailblazers.com Podcast
This week's episode is huge. Mammoth. Gargantuan even. Over an hour of Trail Blazers digital talk. Gavin Dawson of 95.5 The Game, Dave Deckard of Blazer's Edge and myself, Casey Holdahl, of trailblazers.com is now available for your listening pleasure.
This week we talk about the heartbreaking loss to Orlando, Brandon Roy's awesomeness, the drastic improvement exhibited by Sergio Rodriguez, the reason for the team's improved shooting from outside, the difficulty of drawing All-Star votes and a whole lot more. Really, it's too much to list. I think you'll like it.
Download the podcast (60.3 MB!!!).
This week we talk about the heartbreaking loss to Orlando, Brandon Roy's awesomeness, the drastic improvement exhibited by Sergio Rodriguez, the reason for the team's improved shooting from outside, the difficulty of drawing All-Star votes and a whole lot more. Really, it's too much to list. I think you'll like it.
Download the podcast (60.3 MB!!!).
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Video: McMillan, Roy postgame
Disappointing. An otherwise great effort marred by about two minutes of terrible, no good basketball. We haven't lost many games like this recently.
Here's video of Nate McMillan and Brandon Roy addressing the media postgame.
Here's video of Nate McMillan and Brandon Roy addressing the media postgame.
Postgame Notes: Magic 109, Blazers 108
This one stings. Losing for the first time at the Rose Garden this season on a last-second shot is a tough pill to swallow. But hey, we can still go 40-1 at home.
By the way, anyone else think there should have been a full second left on the clock after Turkoglu's make? It seemed like they let a lot of time elapse off the clock after the shot went down. Then again, we didn't have a timeout, so it probably wouldn't have made much of a difference.
Here are the postgame note from tonight's game. Mad ups to communications intern Aaron for these nuggets of truth.
THAT-A-ROY
Brandon Roy scored a Trail Blazers season-high 30 points, becoming the first Trail Blazer to reach the 30-point mark this season … Roy has scored 20-plus points in 15 games this season ... The third-year player has notched at least a share of the scoring lead for Portland in 15 contests and the assists high in 10 games.
SERGIO SNAGS SEASON-HIGH
Sergio Rodriguez netted a season-high 14 points, including nine in the third quarter (6-6 FT).
HOME WINNING STREAK SNAPPED
Portland had won all seven of its home contests before falling to the Magic ... The Trail Blazers were one of only two teams with a perfect home mark entering tonight ... Cleveland (12-0) is now the NBA’s lone undefeated team at home.
CLOSE FALL
The Trail Blazers had won all four games decided by three or fewer points this season before dropping a one-point game to Orlando ... Portland had won eight such games in a row, dating back to last year, before tonight’s loss.
ROAD TESTED
The Trail Blazers have played a league-high 15 road games this season (8-7) ... Portland’s eight home games are tied for the league low (7-1).
THIRD-QUARTER MAGIC
The Magic scored a Trail Blazers opponent season-high 32 third-quarter points … Orlando hit more three-pointers (14) than any other Trail Blazers opponent this season … The Magic made nine three-pointers in the second half alone.
ON THE REBOUND
After getting outrebounded, 44-34, on the glass in Orlando, Portland controlled the boards with a 44-29 advantage vs. the Magic in Portland.
L.A. ALL DAY
LaMarcus Aldridge’s 25 points were just two off his season high of 27 ... The third-year forward has shot 67-for-118 from the field (56.8%) in the last eight games.
ONE TEAM ON THE BLOCK
Portland held its opponent without a single block for the second time this season, while notching seven rejections of its own. The Trail Blazers now hold a 128-74 edge in blocked shots in 23 games on the year.
SWEET SIX
Six Trail Blazers scored in double figures for the fourth time in 2008-09.
DOWN AT HALF
The Trail Blazers trailed at halftime, 49-48, for only the second time at home all season … Minnesota led Portland, 49-43, at the break before Portland earned a 97-93 victory on Nov. 8.
By the way, anyone else think there should have been a full second left on the clock after Turkoglu's make? It seemed like they let a lot of time elapse off the clock after the shot went down. Then again, we didn't have a timeout, so it probably wouldn't have made much of a difference.
Here are the postgame note from tonight's game. Mad ups to communications intern Aaron for these nuggets of truth.
THAT-A-ROY
Brandon Roy scored a Trail Blazers season-high 30 points, becoming the first Trail Blazer to reach the 30-point mark this season … Roy has scored 20-plus points in 15 games this season ... The third-year player has notched at least a share of the scoring lead for Portland in 15 contests and the assists high in 10 games.
SERGIO SNAGS SEASON-HIGH
Sergio Rodriguez netted a season-high 14 points, including nine in the third quarter (6-6 FT).
HOME WINNING STREAK SNAPPED
Portland had won all seven of its home contests before falling to the Magic ... The Trail Blazers were one of only two teams with a perfect home mark entering tonight ... Cleveland (12-0) is now the NBA’s lone undefeated team at home.
CLOSE FALL
The Trail Blazers had won all four games decided by three or fewer points this season before dropping a one-point game to Orlando ... Portland had won eight such games in a row, dating back to last year, before tonight’s loss.
ROAD TESTED
The Trail Blazers have played a league-high 15 road games this season (8-7) ... Portland’s eight home games are tied for the league low (7-1).
THIRD-QUARTER MAGIC
The Magic scored a Trail Blazers opponent season-high 32 third-quarter points … Orlando hit more three-pointers (14) than any other Trail Blazers opponent this season … The Magic made nine three-pointers in the second half alone.
ON THE REBOUND
After getting outrebounded, 44-34, on the glass in Orlando, Portland controlled the boards with a 44-29 advantage vs. the Magic in Portland.
L.A. ALL DAY
LaMarcus Aldridge’s 25 points were just two off his season high of 27 ... The third-year forward has shot 67-for-118 from the field (56.8%) in the last eight games.
ONE TEAM ON THE BLOCK
Portland held its opponent without a single block for the second time this season, while notching seven rejections of its own. The Trail Blazers now hold a 128-74 edge in blocked shots in 23 games on the year.
SWEET SIX
Six Trail Blazers scored in double figures for the fourth time in 2008-09.
DOWN AT HALF
The Trail Blazers trailed at halftime, 49-48, for only the second time at home all season … Minnesota led Portland, 49-43, at the break before Portland earned a 97-93 victory on Nov. 8.
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