Win One for Nate.

Last night's win over the Sonics was indeed a nice, solid win. There were few mistakes and the Blazers did a great job from start to finish. They held their own in a very fast paced game.

What makes this win significant to me is the mere fact that the team played not only to win, but to win for Nate. They played with a conviction and desire that made a very loud statement as to how the guys have come to respect Nate McMillan. This is a very good sign that the tide is turning in Portland. Even Zach, who has been on the receiving end of Nate's wrath more than I am sure he'd care to say, wanted to win the game for his coach.

When a team has a healthy respect for their coach, there is no end to what good things can happen. I think there is a difference between "liking" the coach and respecting the coach. The Blazers "liked" Mo Cheeks, they respect Nate McMillan. Nate has taken the road of the parent, not the friend. It's the right way to go, no matter which way you look at it.

Congratulations Blazers! Good job.

Don't mix!

Warning to the people of Sacramento, there is a ticking time bomb in your city. All our lives we are warned to not mix certain chemicals together for fear of an explosion or the emission of poisonous gases. Apparently the Maloof brothers missed that lesson.

I have always suspected those two of inhaling certain toxins and now I am convinced. Who in their "right" mind would mix a Bonzi Wells and a Ron Artest? I have experienced Wells as a Blazer fan. I have only seen what most of you have seen of Artest. I can not imagine these 2 guys coexisting and playing nice together for an extended period of time.

What makes this particularly amusing for the Blazer fan is that Ron Artest actually makes Bonzi look good in comparison. In addition to this, this could be our chance to shed the "jailblazer" name and hand it over to Sacto. Hey, at least they have Alcatraz and San Quentin nearby!

It's only a matter of time.

tick tick tick...

2 Blazers sent to the NBDL.

Martell Webster and Sergei Monia have been sent down to the NBDL (National Basketball Developmental League) so they can play rather than sit. I think there are valid arguments on both sides as to whether this is a good thing or not. On one hand, the guys have been nudged out of playing time and this is an opportunity for them to play in games, not just practice. On the other hand, it takes them away from their team, it removes them from the very thing they are supposed to be a part of.

I think the success or failure of this "experiment" will depend heavily on attitude. The hitch, in my opinion, is whether they will ever be called back. If lack of PT was the factor that sent them there, it means that space would need to be created in order to bring them back. We still have one more player waiting in the wings to come back. Darius Miles will absolutely take more PT away from the bank when he returns. So, who's coming back in that case? Will there be a switch where someone who is here now will be sent down and either Martell or Sergei will be brought back? Who can say.

This is the first year that the NBA has been able to use the NBDL in this way. It is similar to the farm system used by Major League Baseball. In the NBA, a team can send any rookie or 2nd year player "down" up to 3 times a season. The player can be called "up" at any time as well. I guess that means if you get sent down a 4th time, you are out. The player will receive the same pay they get while in the NBA. I do not know the particulars there. From what I can tell, the NBDL is competetive enough that even here, there is a battle for PT. In other words, it isn't a vacation for those who really want to play and get back to the NBA. Minutes go to those who earn them, just like the NBA. Of course, it's hard to earn minutes when there are 15 guys on a roster, with 3 or 4 at any one position, and most of them are deserving to play. Since the guys continue receiving their NBA pay, it will be interesting to see who is motivated to fight their way back and who is not. I suspect the dream of the "big time" should be enough. If it isn't, then it may be an opportunity for some teams to do some "weeding". (Don't even go there and you know who you are!)

It used to be that players that find themselves without room to play end up sitting on the bench until garbage time, where they are lucky to eek out 2 minutes every 10 games. Most players don't even break a sweat in that time. This is where having the chance to play is a good thing. How can a guy work on his game if he isn't playing? However, how can a guy work on his NBA game if he isn't in the NBA?

I don't think this system has been in place long enough to answer the question. I'm open to it but I have my reservations. So far this year, 16 players have been sent to the NBDL, including Monia and Webster. So far, only 2 have found their way back to the NBA.

There are 8 D-League teams. The team that the Blazers are associated with is the Fort Worth Flyers. We share this team with Dallas, Golden State, and the Lakers. We share the team, not the players, so don't worry about Martell or Sergei being stolen by the Lakers just yet!

You can learn more about the Fort Worth Flyers here.

BLAZERS win 3 in a row!

 
What a fun game!

The atmosphere at the Rose Quarter is certainly getting better. The guys played a good all around game. We had a stall in the 4th but this time, they did what they needed to do to win. They deserve credit. You can say they got lucky if you want but I'd counter you with "good teams find ways to win". That is what the Blazers did. They defended that final shot. Cleveland simply dropped another close one. The Blazers are continuing to play with heart. I'm a happy fan.

If you would like to see pictures of the game, please go to
Picture Talk.

GO BLAZERS! 

Heart

Brian Hendrickson of the Columbian tells us how Nate McMillan forced the Blazers to grow, and understand what "playing with heart" really means. It's a worthy read.

"Nate McMillan thought about his Portland Trail Blazers' struggles all day on Wednesday.

He considered their six-game losing streak. He considered their youth, their 10-24 record, and the lack of heart they displayed in a 29-point loss to Miami three days earlier.

The Blazers needed a reality check, McMillan concluded.

So when his players gathered in their locker room before Wednesday's game against the Los Angeles Lakers, McMillan pushed aside talk of schemes, strategies and Kobe Bryant's 45-point game scoring streak. Instead, McMillan grabbed a marker and walked up to a grease board at the front of the room.

He drew a heart..."
rest of story

Kobe's streak ends in Portland!

YES! How sweet it is. This is what I love about basketball. Not only did Steve Blake and Ruben Patterson effectively stop Kobe from getting to 45, the Blazers BEAT LA as a team. I am very proud of them. I wish like anything I would have gone to the game. If they would just play like this each and every night. Beats me why they don't. Either way, a Laker loss is a Laker loss and it is even better at the hands of the Blazers. Phil will rue the day he called us "jackals".

Now, let's see if ESPN is able to choke out the words, "Portland Trailblazers break Kobe's 45 point scoring streak and win the game as well". We will be lucky if it makes the crawl.

Congratulations Blazers! It's a happy day for Blazer fans.

Miracles do happen!

GO BLAZERS!

BOX SCORE

Beat Up L.A.

Today is the day that I have been dreading. The Blazers take on the Lakers tonight. I used to look forward to this and relish the rivalry. I'd take my bells and make Laker fans around me miserable. Not tonight. I'm staying home. There can be no rivalry when there is no equality. This is simply a lopsided match-up. Barring a miracle (which does happen in basketball), we are in for trouble tonight. Kobe is on a roll and we are on a slippery slope to the bottom of the NBA stack. The Miami game exposed our lack of defense in a most offensive manner.

There is however, a ray of hope this morning (not sunshine, so don't get excited)The hope stems from what I heard on the radio today. Nate McMillan has told the Blazers to get physical with L.A. It sounded to me that Nate was saying "Beat up L.A. and fouls be darned!". I think all Blazer fans would gleefully welcome this approach. I know I will. Start early and set the pace. Let Kobe know that he is going to be challenged all night long. Maybe, just maybe, a whistle or two will go our way. Streaks don't last forever and Kobe's 40+ streak has to end too. We may not win the game but I'm hoping we can at least beat Kobe. I simply can not stand the guy.

GO BLAZERS!

All night long....

 
  This is how it went with Miami.

Pat making sure his hairpiece is still there.

 
 

Wade's goin' in.

 
 

Look at the faces...

 
 

It was a good block!

 
 

Zo doing the "Boonie stance" ;)

 
 

GP & JJ

 
 

For the millionth time, you can NOT foul me, I am a SUPERSTAR!

 
 

Zach looking to pass.

 
 

Not an easy task.

 
 

This is too easy...

 
 

Travis going for the rebound.

 
 

Shaq actually looks small!

 
 

Ha keeping Zo at arms length.

 
 

Zach & Zo

 
 

Shaq

 
This one needs a good caption! 

Joel guarding Shaq.

 
 

Blake and J-Will

 
 

D-Wade

 
 

Ruben

 
 

Alonzo

 
 

Rumor Mill

It could be that we have an answer to the question of who will start, Blake or Telfair? According to a little birdie, who heard it from another little birdie, Telfair may not be a Blazer much longer.
The rumor involves 3 teams, the Blazers, Celtics, and New Orleans. The end result for Portland would be Paul Pierce. The Blazers would lose Sebastian Telfair and Travis Outlaw.
I like it.
So, there's something to chew on for a while!

Damon Stoudamire Update

I don't think I need to say anything about the current state of the Blazers. If you are fan, you know.

However, I do want to report on the condition of a former Blazer, Damon Stoudamire, who tore his pateller tendon during the Memphis/Blazer game (very ironic if you ask me). Damon is pretty adament that he will play again, but it isn't going to be this season. Damon underwent surgery on the 3rd of January to repair his tendon. It was successful.
LINK


I truly wish him the very best.