Moving Day

I knew this day was coming – the day the blog would relocate. WordPress was the perfect starter home. But as of today I’m making moves to a new look and feel at http://www.beyondthebeat.net/ .

Cruise on over when you have the chance.

And as always, thanks for reading.

W

 

Roy In A Word: Classy

Brandon Roy is not your typical NBA star. In fact, he’ll tell you the word “star” doesn’t even apply. But for a writer, Roy is everything you want in an interview, let alone a player poised to lead a young team into the playoffs.

Classy.

One writer whispered the word as he passed by, with Roy genuinely taking his time answering questions after the Blazer lost at home a few games back to the Phileadelphia 76ers. Insert cliche’ here: it was a game they should have had.

Everyone knew it. Brandon – who had a non-typical Roy game – knew it. Yet there was no “both teams played hard”. No “we let this get away”. No “this is one we should have had.”

The loss hurt, but still.

No canned answers.

Classy.

Last week after putting the hurt on the Phoenix Suns on TNT, the word jumped to life with Roy.

I was busy working on a story for HOOPSWORLD about the changes going on out West with the playoffs approaching. A team like the Suns – who are always postseason shoe-ins – likely won’t make it. Portland though – a young team on the come-up – easily will.

Goodbye Shaq. Hello Brandon Roy.

Times, they are a changing.

After getting some timely words and razzing from Shaq, I wanted to snag Roy for the piece. As I ran down the hall to the Blazers locker room, I thought for sure Brandon was long gone. Game had been over about an hour at that point. But opening the door to a nearly empty locker room, there was Roy – humble and real – still talking to a couple writers. Pretty soon, it was one on one with Roy.

And as we stood there talking about his days in Seattle, his infant son Brandon Jr., and how he came to know Shaq at the All-Star Game, I couldn’t help but think of that one word.

Most of the players had bailed. Writers were off meeting deadlines. The Blazers communication team huddle in a corner making late night plans.

And Roy just smiled and talked about basketball and life.

Classy.

pic via: o-live

That First Quarter….

Remember earlier in the season when Portland’s intensity level was often in question? Well, the Blazers pretty much killed that theory within twelve minutes on Tuesday.

On a night when Portland desperately needed to show a division rival like the Utah Jazz how legit they are, the Blazers accomplished that and then some. They started aggressive, were active and efficient – essentially providing a glimpse of how good this team really is.

The Blazers 39 points in the first quarter was the most in the opening period this season and tied a team mark for the most in any quarter.

Intense. Exactly how Portland wants to play with the playoffs approaching.

And it went a little something like this….

10:53: Brandon Roy jumper

10:29: LaMarcus Aldridge alley-oop

10:01: Steve Blake three-pointer

9:03: LaMarcus Aldridge lay-up

8:24: Brandon Roy three-pointer

8:13: Steve Blake three-pointer

7:20: Brandon Roy fade away jumper

6:46: LaMarcus Aldridge jump shot

6:24 Brandon Roy dunk

5:49: Brandon Roy lay-up

5:03 Nicolas Batum dunk

4:47: LaMarcus Aldridge freethrows (2-2)

4:13: Greg Oden freethrows (1-2)

3:59: Brandon Roy jump shot

3:33: LaMarcus Aldridge freethrows (2-2)

1:42: Greg Oden freethrows (2-2)

1:02: Greg Oden dunk

0:05: Sergio Rodriguez three-pointer

Three quarters later, Portland finished off Utah with a 125-104 win – their third straight victory of 20 plus points.

Who would have thought Portland would be sitting a game and a half back of the number two spot out West? Crazy.

Now if the Blazers can only show up on the upcoming road trip to Oklahoma City, Houston, Memphis and San Antonio.

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The Latest: Oh, how the shameless plugs pile up….let me count the ways.

Plenty of Western Conference playoff talk go on over at HOOPSWORLD, and guess who has received those assignments?

 And finally….while the Phoenix Suns are quickly fading in the postseason picture behind Dallas, questions about the offseason are already taking place.

Will Grant Hill return? Will Alvin Gentry be back?

After speaking to both guys, it’s clear they want their journey in Phoenix to last.

 pic via: washington post

Shaq Speaks, I Listen

It’s tough to beat a good Shaquille O’Neal story. It really is. Even having covered the guy a number of times before, I’ve learned if Shaq is going to talk, then you better be around to listen.

After Portland put the hurt on Phoenix last night at the Rose Garden and on TNT, Shaq held court with a handful of us around in the Suns locker room.

He waxed poetic – in his signature mumbling fashion – and comical about the game for a few minutes and Portland center Joel Przybilla, whom he has history with. They’ve mixed it up before. Plenty. (check out HOOPSWORLD for his take on Joel and “flopping”.)

Somewhere in the middle, I asked what he thought of Greg Oden.

The kid’s been playing nice of late – the last two games that is.

Now, I knew Shaq would be Shaq with the reply. But you have to ask, just for the sake of getting the response from Mr. Quotatious himself. I mean, we are after all talking about Shaq here.

“I don’t,” he said when asked what he thinks of the Blazers young center.

Shaq didn’t even look my way, at least until he repeated himself first.

“I don’t.”

“I’m a Shogun. You can’t ask me about a low level ninja. I still have to worry about Yao Ming, Dwight Howard.”

Classic.

Minutes later Shaq wraps up the postgame interview and we all disperse. As I’m heading out of the Suns locker room, I hear this low, deep, mumbling voice right behind me.

“You can’t be asking me about no ninjas.”

Didn’t think he was talking to me until I turned around and there’s Shaq smiling. I turn around letting Shaq know I had to ask, even though I know full well the routine.

“Don’t be asking me about no ninjas,” Shaq said driving home the point, again with a smile.

Okay, I get it. But I had to ask. Now I know.

Don’t ask about no ninjas – and never miss the chance to speak with the Shogun.

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The Latest: With all the playoff talk floating around Portland, you have to think the Blazers could be one of those teams prepared to pull an upset once they do reach the postseason.

Got into this the other day at HOOPSWORLD – the key to shocking Rip City and actually advancing to the second round.

pic via: takegreatpics.com

Life After A Newspaper

Chris Tomasson was busy covering another Denver Nuggets practice when he got the call: the newspaper was closing. Now after weeks of uncertainties, Tomasson and others from the defunct Rocky Mountain News are finding life after the newspaper.

A couple weeks back, Tomasson – along with fellow beat writer Aaron Lopez – was kind enough to recount his Rocky experiences about working a dead beat (The End Of A Rocky Road). Little did either of us know then that he’d find a place to call home so quickly in the same city.

He’s found it at InDenver Times – where the news is free, but a subscription fee is required to receive “analysis”; “insight, perspective, live blogging, live chatting, commenting, interactivity with writers and other readers.”

Chris recently spoke breifly about this new news model and his role at InDenver Times….

How did InDenver Times come about?

A little more than 30 former staffers from the Rocky Mountain News have banded together with three investors in an attempt to keep the 150-year-old spirit of the Rocky alive. If we get 50,000 subscriptions (at $60 a year, although shorter subscriptions are available) by April 23, the online venture will launch May 4.

Until then, we’re all working very hard to show potential subscribers what they can expect from InDenver Times.

I’ve already seen a couple headlines on the Nuggets attributed to you at InDenver Times. What will your contributions look like moving forward?

I’ll be providing a number of Denver Nuggets articles each week. For anyone who appreciated my Nuggets coverage in the Rocky Mountain News, feel free to take a look at www.indenvertimes.com. We’d love to have you come aboard as a subscriber.

With the state of the business, do you think we’ll see more paper – or at least staff members – use this model as a template?

I think everybody around the country will be looking to see how InDenver Times works out, and how the Seattle Post-Intelligencer does with its new online venture. Right now, the current newspaper model is broken. Too much money is being spent on production costs and distribution.

The online model is one solution to that. After observing what happens online, I wouldn’t be surprised if more newspapers follow suit.

pic via: nytimes.com

 

 

Welcome To Playoff Basketball….

I should be 10 dollars richer by now. “5 bucks the Blazers drop this one,” my text flashed to two other Portland media row writers about three minutes into the Blazers versus the Philadelphia 76ers game.

No takers.

We all agreed Portland had plenty of chances to win though. Even after the overtime results, no one could have predicted that kind of ending.

Chances are if you missed the game, then you have plenty in common with Steve Javie’s officiating crew.

But before I get into it here, just know this young Blazers team has to expect anything and everything on their way to the playoffs – even poor officiating.

It may be about as close to the “Montreal Screwjob” as you’re going to get – a bevy of close calls and near falls until the shaft in a matter of seconds. That’s one train of thought. Still, I’m not willing to bet – despite my earlier $5 gamble – that Portland can put this loss entirely on Javie, Leon Wood and Mark Lindsay.

You can easily go there. You can blame the refs. Plenty of blogs and chatrooms full of Blazers die hards on Tuesday morning will. Or you can assume these kinds of growing pains to casually occur over the next couple of months, perhaps not to this extent. If the Blazers are making postseason plans – and I believe we can all agree they are – then shoddy officiating is going to happen as often as a team going 10-34 from behind the three-point line.

Nate McMillan put it perfectly.

“Either they missed some calls or they are getting ready for playoff basketball.”

McMillan’s beginning of the quote is accurate enough. But if officials are really beginning to get into the postseason mood here in late March, Portland should too.

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The Latest: In the comings days I’ll be plugging this post from Monday every now and again. It’s a chance to gather some reader feedback for the upcoming re-launch of Beyond The Beat. Details inside….

piv via: daylife

Feedback Time

When I first started this blog last June, I wasn’t sure how long it would last. But nearly a year and several posts later, the blog has taken on a life of its own thanks to those of you who frequent Beyond The Beat. So now I need your help.

BTB is in the early stages of a major facelift, and has been for the last month behind the scenes. A move away from WordPress – who has been a great blog format to work with – is coming hopefully by late April/early May. More to come on this.

The look will change – layout and advertising. Content will grow and morph as well. And this is where you come in….yeah, you.

My original plan was to use BTB as a one-stop-shop for all my writing, from HOOPSWORLD to the Northwest Examiner and any freelance writing gigs along the way. I also wanted to give a glimpse about covering the NBA in Portland and the league as a whole.

Hopefully I’ve done those aspects justice.

As a highlight, I’ve had some brief feature stories (in memory of Kevin Duckworth), occasional interviews with other beat writers (the latest with Chris Tommason and Aaron Lopez from the now defunct Rocky Mountain News), and plenty of additional very random thoughts on the Blazers (time for Martell Webster to really shut it down?) – and the NBA to boot (some Mexican food from Mo Williams actually sounds good right about now….).

And while I have a sense of how I want to proceed with in content going forward, your feedback is important to this process and is greatly appreciated.

If you are a faithful reader (all five of you) or simply stopping by for a quick blog fix, your comments are what help keep this adventure interesting.

So it’s feedback time.

What have you enjoyed? What has worked? What needs to be scrapped? What would you like more of? Story ideas you’d like to see come to life? Interviews you’d like to see? Other blog/website features you’d benefit from?

Speak up….

And thanks always for reading and writing.

W

What’s The Rush?

Rudy Fernandez probably didn’t understand the joke lobbed his way, but Martell Webster tossed the zinger nonetheless. It was last week. Right before Portland faced Dallas. Maybe now Webster will heed his own comedic advice.

Fernandez was wrapping up his brief pregame media session outside the Blazers locker room, fielding questions about his sore right chest and right hip-pointer courtesy of the Los Angeles Lakers Trevor Ariza.

Just before the last question, Webster joined the crowd peering over shoulders giving Rudy some gag insight into life on the disabled list.

“Put some ice on it. Lots of ice.”

As Webster smiled and casually walked away, I couldn’t help but think about Webster and his own injury. This was well before Webster’s most recent comments saying the prognosis he’s received about his stress fracture in his left foot lately was merely that – a prediction – and that he’s targeting an April return.

Webster knows all about putting “some ice on it.”

The Blazers have essentially “iced him” like a big game kicker ever since they prematurely rushed him back from injury in Toronto in early December. Basically iced him with a walking boot for five months. Iced him again saying Webster would return around the All-Star break. Iced him yet again when they reportedly shut him down for the season once the NBA trade deadline passed.

Now it’s as if Martell is taking matters into his own hands.

Got talking family matters with Webster’s cousin – Jason Terry of the Dallas Mavericks – shortly after the Mavericks put the hurt on Portland last week. It was interesting. While Terry knows Martell can help Portland – as I detailed Wednesday over at HOOPSWORLD – he also knows it is best for Webster to get completely healthy and hit it hard this offseason.

Can’t help but feel the same way.

Yes, there is a need for Martell – as Terry explained. Portland knows the role he could fulfill on this roster – as Terry explained. But Portland’s managed to go this far without him and that goes without an explanation.

Will having Webster back mean the difference between the Blazers being a 4th or 8th seed out West? Does a possible Webster return extend Portland past the first round of the playoffs when the time comes?

Yes on the first one. No on the second. So what’s the rush?

Guess I’d much rather prefer Webster continue to sit this one out.

Put some ice on it. Lots of ice.

pic via: daylife

Meanwhile….In The E.R.

The last place I thought I’d find myself on St. Patrick’s Day morning was the emergency room. Guess that’s what I get for not wearing green – or drinking enough liquids before and during working out at the gym: a little dehydration.

So after some dizzy spells, nausea, a little vomiting, almost passing out, a quick bumpy ride in the ambulance to the hospital, I found myself being pumped full of fluids during about two hours worth of steady contemplation.

My first thought – should have drank more water. Brilliant.

Second thought – hope I don’t worry my pregnant wife of seven months and two year old daughter too much.

Every thought while trying to get some rest went a little something like this:

Wonder if my brother Patrick is waiting for me to call him back to wish him a happy birthday…..

Will Greg Oden (who is now listed as a “game time decision”) play Wednesday at his homecoming in Indiana?

It’s freezing in here….

This is seriously cutting into my research time on a story I’m attempting to write for a sports magazine in Seattle…..

How much is that ambulance ride going to cost me exactly?

Do the beat writers in New Jersey ever get exhausted by the small Asian media horde that follows Nets forward Yi Jianlian from town to town?

Do I still have to paint my daughters bedroom pink today?

Should I even bother asking if I can move to a room with a TV….

When should I call to arrange an interview with that one pro wrestling icon….

Will I see Nicolas Batum have another career night the rest of this season….

Can a brother get some Jell-O?

Now I know what Rudy Fernandez felt like – minus the bruised right chest, right hip-pointer, staying the night in the hospital, and visits from Sergio Rodriguez….

Wonder what my dad thought about when he was in and out of hospitals when he was sick with cancer….

Wish I had a book…

Do I still need to meet those three deadlines I have waiting for me at HOOPSWORLD this week?

Can I leave now?

I am blessed with the best wife in the world.

pic via: wikipedia

Best In The Northwest?

Knowing where Portland has come from the past few seasons, I can’t believe the Blazers winning the Northwest Division remains a possibility. Figured they’d make the postseason. Just didn’t imagine they could beat out Utah and Denver in the process.

So late last about midnight – after spending about a good five hours painting the master bedroom in my house – I had some work to do. The task: trying to figure out how Portland can get this done – win the Northwest.

The goods are running now over at HOOPSWORLD, and for me comes down to something the Blazers have played Jekyll and Hyde with all season long – winning on the road. Those two games in Texas – against Houston and then San Antonio – are going to be rough.

Think we all know what happened a couple weeks back.

With 18 games remaining (8 at home, 10 on the road), how will this race play out? Here’s the tale of the tape from here on out - with a little guessing game to boot:

Portland plays New Jersey, at Atlanta, at Memphis, at Indiana, at Cleveland, at Milwaukee, versus Philadelphia, Phoenix, Memphis, Utah, at Oklahoma City, at Houston, at Memphis, at San Antonio, versus the Lakers, at the Clippers, versus the Thunder and versus Denver.

Record: 10-8

The eight losses? I have Portland falling to Atlanta, Indiana, Cleveland, Phoenix, Utah, Oklahoma City, Houston, San Antonio.

That would give Portland a final record of 50-32. Is that enough to win the Northwest?

Discuss….

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The Latest: Know I am getting this update out late…..but it’s been one of those weeks. First, I think with Rudy Fernandez – who was pretty gimpy before the game - fully healthy, Portland would have beaten Dallas on Wednesday night. They missed his three-point shooting. I’m just saying.

But you still can’t argue with how the Mavericks always handle the Blazers. It’s pretty sick. Same goes with Dirk Nowitzki doing what Dirk Nowitzki does. Those two shots over LaMarcus Aldrige with a minute and under left in the game are as clutch as they come. You can’t stop that.

All That Jazz

Al Jolson and Neil Diamond have nothing on me.

I’ve belted out more stories on the Utah Jazz over the last three days after their recent stop in Portland that I’m quickly becoming known as The Jazz Singer.

You can get the skinny here on the Jazz running the Blazers ragged….Carlos Boozer (who will be a free agent next summer in case any GM’s around the league are reading and forgot) returning to action after a summer spent in Beijing watching and learning instead of actually playing….and finally the scoop on Matt Harpring, who is one of those guys players in this league love as a teammate but hate to play against.

Honestly, I’d like to see him on the football field. Dude’s a bruiser.

Utah’s a different team without him. Weird, considering the roster they have – Boozer, Deron Williams, Andrei Kirilinko, Kyle Korver and so on. But you remove Harpring and you remove the soul of the Jazz in my opinion.

Never been a big fan of Utah myself. Their style is a bit boring for me. Plus, they win way too much – 19 straight winning seasons in a row? Crazy. And not to mention but I had a tainted encounter with a member of the Jazz back in New Jersey when I first started covering the league.

Still have a couple buddies who bust me on the regular about it.

You butcher one guy’s name at the start of an interview and all of a sudden you are O.J. Simpson.

Sorry….bad line.

Anyone for a little Miles Davis?

Now that’s some good jazz.

pic via: brownman.com

Roster Spot For Randolph?

Since tonight was debate night at Hofstra, it’s only fitting we re-visit the Portland Trail Blazers great debate – minus Joe Plumber of course – smack dab from Rip City.

Last month at this time Steven Hill and Luke Jackson looked poised to battle for the final roster spot. But now Shavlik Randolph – the last invitee into camp – appears the front-runner to be Portland’s 15th man. Randolph certainly made his case late last week against the Atlanta Hawks (19 points, 9-9 from the field) and head coach Nate McMillan will be the first to tell you Shavlik knows how to play the right way.

McMillan is also a proponent of Hill’s. And you have to think that GM Kevin Pritchard may pull for Randolph to stick around for his production and playability. That’s the assumption at least.

So how will this debate and roster roll-call play out?

Will the return of Channing Frye this week to practice and the rest of the preseason cut into Randolph’s playing time? Or will the Blazers brass choose not to fill the last roster spot and opt instead to wait by the waiver wire for a big man – sorry Luke and Jamaal Tatum. Taking a look at some of those being waived from camp of late, you might as well throw this option to the wayside.

Besides, you’re not going to find a better big man available right now than Hill.

I’ll be honest. Randolph has played much better than I thought he would thus far. I also thought Hill would get more playing time than he has - a chance to show he can do more than just be Greg Oden’s sparring partner in practice. But with three preseason games left – Kings, Clippers, Jazz – Randolph is the man to beat at this point.

Who would have thunk it?

pic via: yahoosports

Ode To Joel

Thursday night.

Southeast Portland.

Cleveland High School.

Blazers full-court scrimmage.

Crazy high school kids.

Stuffy gym.

Third quarter.

Five and some change left on the clock.

Greg Oden’s elbow.

Joel Przybilla’s right eye.

Rebound.

Dunk.

Blood.

Four to five stitches.

Red Sox lose.

Red Sox win!

pic via: o-live.com

Channin, Channin, Channin

Larry Brown is always good for a good basketball story or two, especially when the story is about Brown and his days coaching the New York Knicks.

Not sure what the verdict is here, but I’m thinking Larry isn’t big on recounting his brief stay in New York. I could be wrong. But I don’t think so. Yet one of the most memorable moments for me about Brown is how he used to mispronounce Channing Frye’s first name.

Every time.

Back then Frye was trudging through his (impressive) rookie and (not so impressive) sophomore seasons under Brown before he was dealt to Portland two summers ago.

Yet for Brown, Frye will forever be known as “Channin”.

Notice the missing “g”.

“Channin.”

Poor “Channin”.

Brown – God bless his heart – thought he was saying Frye’s name the right way, but no matter what, where or when it always came out “Channin”. Now “Channin” is getting ready (spoke with “Channin” last week about returning from injury and to the floor early) for his first preseason game tonight in Sacramento, while Brown tries to figure out what he has in his first year in Charlotte (broke down those Bobcat woes today over at HOOPSWORLD).

So far he has a winless team this preseason (0-5), which conjures up another “Brown-izm” from back in the day:

“We’re playing like we don’t have a head out there.”

That was namely a dig on Knicks point guard Stephon Marbury.

And you know both “Channin” and Coach Brown remember that drama all too well.

pic via: si.com

Shavlik Randolph Wins….Finally

And then there was one….

Shavlik Randolph earned the title of Portland’s “15th man” today after Luke Jackson and fan favorite Steven Hill were both waived hours before Portland’s last preseason game against the Utah Jazz.

This from the Blazers today:

“We want to thank Luke and Steven for their contributions during training camp and preseason and wish them all the best for the future,” said General Manager Kevin Pritchard. “They’ve conducted themselves as real pros on and off the court and we believe both of them have a bright future in basketball.”

I never thought Randolph would win the hat-trick with three posts here at BTB, but it was well earned.

Here’s where it started….

Then I threw this dandy in the mix….

Then again, I also thought either Hill or Jackson were locks for the final roster spot before camp even got underway. Until along came Shavlik.

You have to wonder where Nate McMillan sat on this debate. My money – which isn’t much – says he was pulling for Hill. The rest of my money – which I’m having to tap my daughter’s piggy-bank for as we speak– says Pritchard wanted Randloph.

Either way, Randolph stays on and will likely fill the void left by Josh McRoberts.

pic via: daylife.com

Greg Oden Is Not Hines Ward

Money may be twiddling on Wall Street, but thanks to Greg Oden money is changing hands between NBA players at an alarming rate these days.

Dunk on Oden and get paid. That’s the word on the street. Kevin Martin of the Sacramento Kings got his.

He crossed-over Rudy Fernandez, went down the lane and dunked on Oden (up for discussion – it was more like “between” Oden and LaMarcus Aldridge) nights ago during a preseason game. I dropped a quick postgame email to Sam Amick –the renowned Kings beat writer – and asked how the Blazers looked in Sac town.

He hit me back telling how Martin won a cool $1000 from Mikki Moore for the throwdown. And sure enough, “dunk for dough” made the news. This from the Sacramento Bee (not courtesy of Amick unfortunately):

Martin also won a $1,000 bet with teammate Mikki Moore on who would be the first to dunk on Oden. “I had to go get my money,” Martin said. Asked if he knew Oden and Aldridge would be there when he crossed over Fernandez, Martin laughed.”Them guys have 7-(foot)-5 wingspans, so even if you don’t think they are going to be there, they are going to be there,” Martin said. “I’m glad they were there. I got a little richer today.”

On Wednesday night against the Los Angeles Clippers, Ricky Davis added to the bounty.

This from the Los Angeles Times:

The Clippers’ Ricky Davis, taking a break from his pre-game dinner, came up with another number. Why be predictable and imitate someone else? Davis threw it down: $500 for dunking on Oden. “I’ll leave it up to you all three,” he said. That caught the attention of rookies Eric Gordon and DeAndre Jordan and second-year man Al Thornton.

Gordon apparently wanted the ante at $5000 before Davis laughed the rookie off the bus.

No dunk. No dough. The question now is who is next? And what is the going rate?

I haven’t asked Oden about “dunk for dough” yet – the downer about not traveling with the team and having access on the road will do that to a guy. Perhaps by the time Portland returns home to face the San Antonio Spurs in the home opener , either Jason Quick or Joe Freeman – the Oregonian’s  own – will have beat me to the punch.

I have a hunch Oden will take the Hines Ward approach regardless.

“I’m not worried about what a guy says about a bounty,” Ward said about the reported hit-parade the Baltimore Ravens have out on the Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver.

“There’s nothing I can do about it.”

True. But there’s a difference in the Oden and Hines discussion here - besides Hines bringing it upon himself.

If Ray Lewis puts a lick on Ward the end result could be a coma.

“Dunking for dough” will either bruise an ego or cause Oden to be that much more of a beast when guys come down the lane – probably the latter.

I’d buy that for a dollar.

pic via: post-gazette.com

Rant: Maybe LeBron Was Right

Rant (‘rant): 1: to talk in a noisy, excited, or declamatory manner; 2 : to scold vehemently : to utter in a bombastic declamatory fashion.

Back in the day when Tommy Beer – of HOOPSWORLD fame – and I covered the New York Knicks, we spent many nights at Madison Square Garden ranting about anything and everything. Now 2,895 miles between Portland and NYC- and courtesy of an afternoon email exchange – the “Rant” continues….

WM: After watching Kobe hyperextend his knee the other night against the Bobcats, I got to thinking: maybe LeBron was right implying he doesn’t need to play in preseason games. You know Deron Williams (it’s Deron!) wants a sip of that Kool-Aid.

TB: Eh, I can’t get too fired-up about it or jump on that bandwagon. Is there a greater chance of LeBron spraining his ankle in preseason game than an intra-squad scrimmage? Some teams/players need to practice more than others. LeBron, as result of the Cavs playoff run and Olympic competition, has played non-stop for what seems like 365 days straight.

WM: So what you’re saying then is cats that played in the Olympics don’t need to play in the preseason? Or just superstars don’t? Aren’t the fans getting shortchanged in both cases?

TB: Everybody needs to be 100% prepared when the ball is tipped on opening night.  How they get there is between their coaching staff and themselves. All any professional sports organization owes its fans is to do everything within their power to win a championship. If that means playing LeBron James just 7 minutes in a meaningless preseason game – so be it.

WM: Here’s all I know: the NBA players today couldn’t hack playing 15 preseason games like they did back in the day. Those guys were real men. And another thing- the Sports Illustrated curse lives on . Kobe’s on the cover of the NBA Preview issue and he hyperextends his knee in the preseason thanks to Josh Powell….hmmm – but apparently it’s nothing an icebag can’t fix.

TB: Players today are bigger, stronger, faster, and quicker. That is a fact. And don’t get me started on Kobe. Last summer he is whining and bitching and demanding a trade because Mitch Kupchak can’t surround him with players worthy of his enormous talent. Fast-forward eight months and the Lakers are in the Finals with Pau Gasol starting up front. And now they start this season with Pau and Andrew Bynum down low. Hey Kobe, you still want to trade Bynum for Jason Kidd?!??!  Does it bother anyone else that he never apologized (at least publicly) to Kupchak, the Lakers, and his teammates.

Regarding curses:

“I don’t believe in curses. Wake up the Bambino and I’ll face him. Maybe I’ll drill him in the ass.”

WM: Good one…..but why would Kobe recant anything? That’s not his style. You have to believe in his mind he did nothing wrong. Back in the day Shaq was the problem, then Phil. Then it was Bynum and his youth or the lack of having a player of Kobe’s choosing. But once the Lakers returned to the Finals and Kobe can’t get it done by himself, I’m guessing he’s really buying into the team concept now. He’s better off staying hush. Here you thought this rant was about LeBron and it becomes all about Kobe. It’s always about Kobe.

To read more Tommy Beer, do yourself a favor and check out HOOPSWORLD….

pic via: zimbio

Scouting Batum

I have a confession: I wasn’t that impressed by Nicolas Batum as I watched him at the Las Vegas Summer League for the first time – I’ve told that story before. But the kid has proved me wrong during the preseason and I hope during the regular season too (as it’s just been reported he will start Tuesday night against the Lakers).

Peep the posting over at HOOPSWORLD which is running today on Batum’s story, just more proof that Portland values the person as much as the player.

Speaking of which, Jason Filippi, the Blazers international scout whom helped discover Nicolas (and Sergio Rodriguez and Rudy Fernandez as well) is a solid guy who was kind enough to share some insight on the whole scouting mentality.

Based out of Italy- where the Michigan native moved when he was 10 – Filippi and I spoke by phone as he was on a scouting trip in Slovenia. It was just before midnight there – 3 in the afternoon here in Portland. The 38-year-old has been in the scouting game for nine years, five of those with the Blazers. As we talked about Nicolas – who he is on the court and off and the story of his late father– we drifted to some particulars about searching for talent as a professional scout.

Filippi considers himself a veteran of the business, but he admitted the Blazers – particularly their front office and scouting directors – are different than his past clients. Different in a good way. Different in a great way.

Before, he said he was just going to games, tracking players, shooting video and taking notes. But since scouting for Portland, the focus has become finding out as much about the guys off the court as people. He credits Kevin Pritchard with enforcing that motto – a guy may be a good guy but if he doesn’t fit the Blazers mentality, it’s not going to work.  If he’s a little bit selfish and only cares about numbers, it’s not going to work.

Filippi confessed he gets almost scared because everyone can see “this kid” is talented, but he can’t leave any stones unturned. He said it’s been a learning experience. Before it was about how a player played and what he did on the court.

Now it’s about so much more.

pic via: portland tribune

Prediction Time

The late George Carlin said it best: Honesty may be the best policy, but it’s important to remember that apparently, by elimination, dishonesty is the second-best policy.

Right on George.

It’s one of the thoughts that crossed my mind late last night as I knocked out HOOPSWORLD’s annual NBA award prediction list. See, I’m not big into lists. I’m not big into predicting awards. Yes it draws a readership and plenty of comments – some harsh, some smart – but I’d rather pen a story. What was I going to do? The job demands it – so does an Editor.

But since I ventured to pick and choose awards for around the league, allow me to play Nostradamus – using the same criteria and some new categories – Portland Trail Blazers style :

Sixth Man of the Year – Rudy Fernandez: Last year the award easily went to Travis Outlaw, but now with Rudy in the mix it’s hard to vote against him. Plus, had Outlaw actually been prepared to step-up into the starting lineup (how was Travis not ready?) the debate might have been between Rudy and Nicolas Batum. Even in that discussion, Rudy will be the man holding the “white unit” together and contributing the most to the starting five.

Most Improved Player– Sergio Rodriguez: Who would have thought the addition of Rudy Fernandez would have improved Sergio’s game this much? He looks so much more comfortable out there. The shot. Smart passing. Still needs to work on the “D”. Working on his shot this summer was the perfect move though. So was bringing over his fellow Spanish countryman. Those two combined help Sergio take home MIP honors.

Coach of the Year – Monty Williams: In an upset, Williams comes out of nowhere to take Nate McMillan’s given award. Not only has Monty been working diligently with Nicolas Batum on his shot – as he has done with Travis Outlaw and Martell Webster in the past – but Coach Williams can also be found working out Greg Oden in pregame drills. Batum is now in the starting lineup and G.O. is growing into game time shape. It’s the full Monty.

MVP – Brandon Roy: You just don’t mess with a good thing.

Rookie of the Year – Greg Oden: A couple weeks ago, my vote was for Rudy Fernandez. Then it moved to Nicolas Batum. But it’s just plain stupid to bet against G.O. on this one, so I’m not going to. If he can earn ROY honors around the league, surely he’s the best rookie on his own team.

Defensive Player of the Year – Greg Oden: This was another tough call. Had Martell Webster been healthy, his name would be in bold type here instead of the big fella. Also Joel Przybilla is going to give Greg a run for his money, but I’m still betting on Greg to have the most direct impact on the defensive end of things in Portland. Block party anyone?

Total Wins – 47: I’m totally flip-flopping here. The magic number has been 50, especially out West. But you take Martell Webster out of the lineup with a jacked-up foot and his absence is going to hurt Portland immensely – and their win total. A slow start – on the road and against the West – could drop the Blazers like Kimbo Slice throwing a fight. I’m going for 47. That’s my final answer.

Playoff Seed – 8th: See above. If Portland can stay healthy – now dubbed the Martell factor – the Blazers could sneak into the 7th spot out West. But with a core of Brandon Roy, LaMarcus Aldridge, Greg Oden – tossing in the addition of Rudy Fernandez and the trusty veteran leadership of Steve Blake and Joel Przybilla – Portland should return to the postseason this year. Plus it helps that the likes of Denver, Dallas, and maybe even Phoenix will have slipped this season.

You gotta like those odds.

pic via: msnvideo.uk

Growing Pains

If the first half wasn’t a rude awakening for Portland, starting the second half without Greg Oden certainly was.

By the time I finished doing a radio spot for ESPN AM1420 in Honolulu just past tip-off, the Los Angeles Lakers had already built a favorable lead, Oden had just picked up his second foul and now all Greg has to show for his NBA debut is an injured foot.

“I don’t know. I’m trying to get some information right now,” Nate McMillan said after the game.

“At halftime he tried to run on it and it was a little too sore for him to return. He might have stepped on someone’s foot. I didn’t see the play. I did see him hobbling down the floor after the play.”

Portland is calling it a mid-foot sprain on his right foot. The X-Rays came back inconclusive and Oden’s scheduled to have an MRI done Wednesday morning. (update: the Blazers will have an announcement today after 5 o’clock)

Ouch. Not good. Not good at all.

When asked how afraid he is that it might be serious, McMillan said “I hope not. He’s worked so hard to get himself back. Here we are the first game and it’s a tweeked ankle. Hopefully it’s not anything serious and hopefully in a couple days he’ll be back.” 

Greg said he wanted to play. He was running, trying to get ready to go. Said it happened during the third play of the game when he stepped on Derek Fisher’s foot. Said he tried to play on and right now it’s a “little tender”.

“It sucks. Just gotta keep on working,” Oden admitted. “It’s just a little set back. It happens.”

First the knee, then the ankle, now the foot.

Stay tuned.

Aside from Oden’s injury, Portland’s bandwagon may be a little lighter today thanks to some blatant nervousness at the Staples Center. That’s certainly not the Blazers we’ve come to know during the preseason, but let’s be honest – this is the Lakers and they weren’t in the Finals last season for nothing. Such baptism by fire is actually a good thing.

So what positives can McMillan and the Blazers take from this painful loss?

There aren’t a lot, but here’s worth mentioning….

- Rudy Fernandez (16 points) made a legit debut. It was devoid of his “Pistol Pete-esque” stylings, but he kept the turnovers to a minimum (zero actually) which is always a good thing. He was active but not crazy. Rudy also looked like a natural fit when McMillan went to the Roy, Rudy, Outlaw, Aldridge and Oden combination during the middle of the second quarter.

- While Jerryd Bayless appeared the odd man out in the backcourt, he certainly played decent when he was on the court (14:36). With the game over early, it was wise for McMillan to get the kid out there in the second half. Same goes for Nicolas Batum (3:32) late in the fourth quarter.

-  Joel Przybilla and the Kobe Bryant battle lives. These two had a heated run-in at the Rose Garden last season. Back then, when I asked Bryant about it afterwards, he said that’s what Joel gets paid to do. Przybilla earned a bit of that keep (11 rebounds) when he planted a shoulder into Kobe during the third quarter. Joel kept it real, kept it physical – unfortunately Kobe went off soon after. When asked afterwards if that got him going Kobe laughed it off, “Maybe a little bit.”

- Travis Outlaw – despite Portland’s slow start – finished strong (18 points). Maybe that was due to getting a start. Maybe that was enough to light Outlaw’s fire. Maybe he’ll keep this up come Portland’s home opener versus the San Antonio Spurs on Friday night.

- Brandon Roy had a little hibachi (14 points) going once the game got into the final two quarters. As the leader of this team, you know it had to eat Roy up to come out flat. But he bounced back. That says a lot about his perseverance.

pic via: getty images

Pritchard Said It Best….

I’m not going to pretend I know what Greg Oden must be feeling right now. But if I had to guess, I’d say he’s somewhere between frustrated and hopeful.

Like many of us that cover the NBA – and specifically the Portland Trail Blazers – I swapped mass amounts of text messages and emails today about Oden’s status, which we all know now is out 2-4 weeks with the gimpy right foot. But it wasn’t until probably the last text I sent to a buddy around 8ish on Wednesday night that something struck me:

Despite being almost 35-years-old, white, 6-2 and 195 pounds and a millionaire (okay, maybe not monetarily speaking…but I know I’ve got at least a million baseball cards stashed in a footlocker in my garage), G.O. and I are the same – we are both trying to make it through life one day at a time. That’s the only way to live.

Tomorrow isn’t promised. Neither are days spent playing a game.

It was a long “24 hours of Greg Oden” in Portland – note the shameless plug via HOOPSWORLD – but today is a new day.

Here’s what I appreciated about this whole Oden ordeal. It puts life in perspective for everyone involved – the fans, the Blazers organization, Kevin Pritchard, Nate McMillan, Greg, the team, the media and even those casual fans sprinkled around the league and throughout Oregon.

Perhaps Pritchard (seen above in his Jayhawk best) put it perfectly talking with the Oregonian’s own John Canzano (who does a bang-up job by the way on the Bald-Face Truth) on 95.5 The Game:

“I talk about this all the time. As important as Greg is, so is Shavlik Randolph. Believe it or not, I believe that. It may sound a little backwards but we have important players. I’m not saying they aren’t important. But we are a team. We can’t put the onus of a winning season or the playoffs on Greg Oden.”

Well said. That’s real talk. If words could heal, maybe Greg will be back sooner than we know.

pic via: k.u. media

Spurs, Mason and Pop….

The numbers don’t lie and the rings force you to remember.

The San Antonio Spurs (0-1) come into the Rose Garden tonight for Portland’s home opener 31-13 all-time against the Blazers (0-1). Regardless if it has been a visit from Mr. Robinson’s neighborhood or Tim Duncan, the Spurs have always had Portland’s number. And four NBA titles never hurts the argument that San Antonio remains one of the elite teams to beat out West.

No doubt they are banged up. San Antonio will be without their two Argentineans in Manu Ginobili (ankle) and Fabricio Oberto (heart). Those guys keep the Spurs feisty (and Bruce Bowen) in what is usually a vanilla filled squad – nothing too flashy, no bruisers; just straight-up results.

Hence the .705 winning percentage against Portland.

We know all about Duncan and Tony Parker. But the new addition to the Spurs – and a guy the Blazers should be mindful of tonight is Roger Mason, Jr.. Very interesting journey to the NBA: drafted by Chicago in 2002 (31st overall), traded and released by Toronto, played over in Greece and Israel, before latching on with his hometown Washington Wizards (where he averaged 9.1 points per game last season in place of an injured Gilbert Arenas and former Blazer Antonio Daniels). He signed a two-year free-agent contract with the Spurs this past offseason. Mason is one of those cats you have to keep your eye on.

He’s been around – is always moving without the ball. Lose him and he’ll make Portland pay.

And then there is Gregg Popovich (insert Grizzly Adams and Z.Z. Top reference here).

How can you not like Pop (think surly grandfather and cool uncle rolled into one)?

Just ask Shaq. You probably know this story by now. Shaq recently referred to San Antonio’s “hack-a-Shaq” tactics in the playoffs last year as “cowardly”. Here’s Pop’s rebuttal courtesy of YouTube….

Classic.

pic via: washington times

Report: Blazers Ink Webster

The Blazers miss having Martell Webster around righ now, but it looks like they will have him for some time to come.

According to published reports, Martell Webster and Portland agreed on a four-year extension today.

Check details of the full report here….

pic via: ptb.com

Remembering Studs Terkel

Is there a better name in writing than Studs Terkel? Is there any day sadder than yesterday when Terkel passed away at the age of 96?

If you don’t know Louis “Studs” Terkel or aren’t familiar with his work, now is the time to get to know the 1985 Pulitzer Prize-winner who will be largely remembered for his amazing oral histories. That’s the Studs Terkel I’m eager to get to know more myself.

To me, Studs Terkel was – and will always be - the old sportswriter from the movie, Eight Men Out. It’s one of the best sports movies of all-time.

In the 1988 flick, Terkel portrayed Hugh Fullerton (who discovered Ring Lardner), the Chicago newspaperman who revealed the 1919 “Black Sox” Scandel and plans to throw the World Series by the Chicago White Sox against the Cincinnati Reds. Fullerton’s whistle blowing changed professional baseball forever. Something tells me Shoeless Joe Jackson would agree.

You ESPN faithful will remember Terkel for his cameos on SportsCentury highlighting the lives of Jack Dempsey, Joe Louis and Babe Ruth. He also contributed to Ken Burn’s documentary on Jack Johnson, Unforgiveable Blackness: The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson.

Sports – like for so many of us – was in Terkel’s blood. But life was in his writing. Studs was all about telling a story. It was about the people. It was about getting to know someone and then telling others their tale – their joys, their hardships. That’s real writing.

That’s a story. That’s our story.

“People are hungry for stories. It’s part of our very being,” Terkel once said.

“Storytelling is a form of history, of immortality too. It goes from one generation to another.”

pic via: ryanssmashinglife

Roots Run Deep For Blazers

Gregg Popovich cracks me up.

I know I already did my San Antonio Spurs post for the year– or at least until they play Portland again in February – but Pop still has me rolling after a long weekend.

Before the Blazers hosted and beat the Spurs in the home opener at the Rose Garden last Friday, Pop held court outside San Antonio’s locker room. Probably the second or third question in was about Kevin Pritchard and if Pop ever thought Pritchard would become the wunderkind he’s known for around the league. The two have history going back to their days at the University of Kansas before San Antonio.

“I can’t believe it. He’s an idiot,” Pop said with tongue firmly planted in cheek.

I’ll let you check out the rest of that quote over at HOOPSWORLD in a feature highlighting how the Blazers approach to the game and philosophy is rooted in San Antonio’s success story. All Portland needs now are the rings – and patience of course.

—————–

Rough go in Phoenix on Saturday night.

Rebounding and turnovers killed Portland softly – as did some shoddy defense. That had to drive Nate McMillan up the wall.

But you have to give it to Rudy Fernandez and LaMarcus Aldridge. Fernandez played his best game of the season (20 points off the bench) and Aldridge – who with 16 points didn’t have as big of a game as he did against San Antonio – continues to show his game has matured after a slow start in Los Angeles.

He seems – I don’t know – more physical. He looks – I don’t know - more aggressive. It’s nice to see.

As for Rudy, how long do we give before Nate McMillan inserts him into the starting lineup? In honor of Tuesday’s election day, you can place your vote at the bottom of this post. I’m thinking two weeks - enough time for Travis Outlaw to show he’s either a starter or better served energizing the second unit. 

——————

There’s a storyline circulating around the NBA that could bode well for Portland – Al Harrington disgruntled in Golden State. Man, have the Warriors had their share of drama since the summer. First it was Monta “Mo-Ped” Ellis. Now Harrington wants out.

The Warriors have said they will accommodate Harrington’s trade request. And knowing Golden State is one of those teams Portland could compete with out West come playoff time, you have to think such disharmony clarly plays in Portland’s favor.

So where does Harrington land?

Hard to tell at this point – the Charlotte Bobcats could be an option since they have the pieces. Perhaps the Cats inquire about Raymond Felton to plug the point in Golden State, and toss in Sean May who is getting no run in Larry Brown’s system. Both Felton and May are slated to be restricted free agents next summer. It’s worth a shot.

Wherever it is, chances are it will be a short stay.

Harrington will also be a free agent at the end of the year….

pic via: daylife

 

Outlaw Owes Batum Dinner

A great man once wrote that winning is the ultimate deodorant.

Even Travis Outlaw would have to agree.

If Portland were 2-1 heading into Utah on Wednesday evening, chances are he’d still be the starting small forward on this young season. But since the Blazers need a more defensive presence at 1-2 and rank among one of the smelliest teams defensively in the league at this time, Nate McMillan made the executive decision on Tuesday to name Nicolas Batum his starting three.

Actually Outlaw should be thanking McMillan for the move. Travis should also be buying Nicolas dinner.

Let me explain.

If it wasn’t for Nicolas stepping up on the defensive end for Portland, Outlaw wouldn’t be returning to a role he’s clearly more suited for and should easily own once again. It’s like this: the second unit should belong to Travis, just as much as it does to Rudy Fernandez right now. And the energy the second unit should bring will only showcase Outlaw’s abilities that much more. They got lost in the starting lineup. They’ll standout more in the “white unit.”

This move is good for Nicolas, but it’s even better for Travis – as I touched on Tuesday afternoon over at HOOPSWORLD, where I broke down the Top 5 Reasons why Batum is now starting.

What will be even more interesting to see is what transpires once Martell Webster eventually returns from his foot injury. How does McMillan spread the minutes around then? Where does Batum and Outlaw fall on the depth chart? That’s down the road a ways, but a realistic topic we’re sure to have again. 

Let’s stick to the now.

The other day, I posed the poll question: When will Rudy start? I should have clarified the meaning – how long before Rudy starts at the two, thus leaving Brandon Roy to slide over to the three? You got the drift regardless. In fact, the majority of you said “not before Nicolas.” You were right on.

Was that response due to late voter turnout? Or are Blazer fans simply standing in awe of this kid three games into the season?

Chances are you are seeing the same thing Nate is. Stand away.

pic via: daylife

Bench Work For Rudy, Outlaw

First San Antonio. Now Houston.

If Portland could win on the road they might be on to something.

It’s pushing about 2:30 in the morning. It’s Friday…. I think. Sorry. I only know two things right now: First, that Portland lost – then turned around and beat Houston – all in a course of 0.8 seconds thanks to Brandon Roy. And second, that writing a story on deadline that is set to run at 6 a.m. the next morning during a game is a waste of time.

Too much can change in only fleeting seconds.

I will say this though – Roy may have won the game (and you can peep that feature here, “Roy Shows ‘Poise’ In Portland” via HOOPSWORLD that is running today…what do you think I’m doing up so late), but Portland got that win over the Rockets thanks to Travis Outlaw and Rudy Fernandez.

Sure, LaMarcus Aldridge was huge. But what’s new. When besides opening night against the Los Angeles Lakers hasn’t Aldridge been solid?

Which brings me back to Travis and Rudy….that’s the kind of bench support Blazer faithful have been waiting for.

Travis needed that game. He needed that double-double (14 points and 13 rebounds). Anything to stop the absurd trade rumors floating around by former beat writers in Chicago and the message board masses. Don’t be so quick to pack Travis in the station wagon and drive him out of town just yet.

And Rudy. I know this guy gets a lot of love from ESPN for being top rookie. And I know Rudy (who went for 15 points, 5-9 from the field) says he doesn’t listen to such talk – or at least he played innocent before the game about the topic. But come on. Don’t even get me started on this guy. That finger roll over Yao Ming was straight sick. I’m looking forward to January when he’s found his comfort zone.

Meant to grab Ron Artest after the game to see if he was dizzy from having to chase Fernandez around all-night. Could have sworn I saw Ron-Ron tell Tracy McGrady “you take him then” at one point during the game. If so, he certainly didn’t have any better luck.

Here’s hoping both Travis and Rudy have better luck with their sore backs. Nate McMillan said they both suffered back spasms late in the game.

I’m thinking it was from having to carry the team at various stretches.

pic via: daylife

Sergio’s Saga

As much as Nate McMillan probably wants to move on from the entire Sergio Rodriguez trade talk saga, chances are this one isn’t going anywhere and will play itself out like a reality TV show.

Might as well dub this one “Survivor”. We already know who is in jeopardy of getting voted off the island.

After five years of covering the league – three of those in New York where drama is always at a premium – I learned to appreciate where both Nate and Sergio are coming from today after Rodriguez’s agent (Jose Ortiz) demanded a trade. It’s a delicate situation. McMillan prefers Sergio to come to him if he is unhappy about his role on the team. Sergio is clearly unhappy about his role and playing time, but is hesitant to approach McMillan on the matter.

It sounds like – and I say that because I only talked to McMillan about the matter from the practice facility – the time was never right for Sergio to talk about his frustrations with Nate. He couldn’t do it the first couple games. Nate was busy dealing with a gimpy Greg Oden. He couldn’t do it on the road in Phoenix or Utah. Portland was too busy losing. But if that was the case – if Sergio was really wrestling with when and how to talk to McMillan about his role and playing time – then that’s on Sergio for not saying anything.

It’s on him still. Nate told the team today to come and talk to him if they are unhappy, not the press. Something tells me Sergio isn’t knocking down his door.

But I feel for Sergio. He’s in a tough spot.

It can’t be easy being the fourth point guard option behind (in no particular order) Steve Blake, Brandon Roy and now Rudy Fernandez. It’s like last year all over again. And the year before that. But let’s think about it: are things really going to change for Rodriguez by bailing to another team?

Besides maybe picking up a little extra playing time (maybe), is he a starter in this league? If his agent  really believes he’s not a half court point guard, what’s going to happen when/if Sergio ever gets into the playoffs where games are grinded out in half court sets? Will he be any happier watching from the bench then? If there is any beef between Sergio and McMillan, isn’t that a matter to keep in house and not to be broadcasted by an agent?

There may not be any right or wrong answers here.

Here’s one more to ponder: with General Manager Kevin Pritchard a guru at making moves in June during the NBA Draft, don’t you think he has the fortitude to make a trade happen during the regular season with a player whose interests are coming before the teams?

That question might be a little easier to answer.

——————-

For those arriving late, here are a few links to help you along the path to the “Sergio Saga”….

Jason Fleming from HOOPSWORLD recapped the original story out of Spain where Jose Ortiz launched the trade demand….

The Oregonian’s Jason Quick spoke with Kevin Pritchard who said Sergio is going nowhere….

Nate McMillan on his “open door policy” and how he discussed the matter today with the team at practice….

And finally, Benjamin Golliver over at BlazersEdge.com transcribed like a madman to bring us Sergio’s thoughts….

pic via: marca.com

Scouting The T-Wolves

It’s gameday. Time for a quick scouting report….

Throughout the course of the season, various beat writers, bloggers, online journalist and columnists will join me in bringing you an inside look at teams from around the league as they roll into the Rip City. Today, Stephen Litel – who has covered the NBA for the past four seasons and writes for the Downtown Journal in Minneapolis -breaks down the Minnesota Timberwolves.

What has impressed you the most about Kevin Love?

It seems cliché, but I’m very impressed with Love’s work ethic. When I arrive at Target Center on game days, it’s about 4:30 pm. Love is already out on the floor with JB Bickerstaff in a full sweat, working on post moves. The outside game and passing are there, but his commitment to improving is how he’s impressed me early.

How good can Jefferson be?

Big Al is already at an All-Star level and, statistically, probably should have made the squad last year. Of course, it’s nearly impossible to secure an All-Star roster spot playing on a team as bad as the Wolves were last season. Jefferson is not shooting well to start this year, but the numbers are still there and he’s shown a much greater passing acumen with outside shooters like Mike Miller to help stretch the defense.

Portland should be aware of _______?

Rashad McCants. Much is made of McCants’ attitude “issues,” but he has shown tremendous growth in the first weeks of the season. Seeming to embrace his role off the bench, McCants has shown the scoring ability he is known to have, coupled with the ability to put the ball on the floor and dish in traffic. With Randy Foye’s struggles to start the year, McCants’ unselfish play has been a bright spot.

So, how is the rebuilding process going by the way?

As far as building a more likable team than ones that featured players such as Mike James and Ricky Davis, the Timberwolves have found success. The players making up the 2008-09 roster are easy to root on, yet have a ways to go before becoming a true playoff contender. The mix this year of youth and experience, as well as a much more balanced team will keep them in most games this year, but defining who will step up alongside Jefferson in crunch time is key for the future.

Do you ever wake up in cold sweat knowing you could’ve had Brandon Roy?

Honestly, the inevitable comparison between the two has not been fair until this season. Both had solid rookie seasons, but the second year is the difference now. While Roy blew up, making the All-Star team, Foye sat on the bench with an injury that kept him out for half the year. This season may go a long way towards determining if the trade was fair or not, even though a majority of Wolves fans would rather see Roy in the new Minnesota uniforms. The concerning aspect is how Foye has struggled with both his shot and confidence to this point, after comparing himself to Steve Nash last year and proclaiming himself a leader on the team.

Big thanks to Stephen Litel for stopping by Beyond The Beat – to read more from Stephen, make sure to check him out at Downtown Journal, or SLAM Online where he writes on the Minnesota Lynx and serves as SLAM’s WNBA columnist.

pic via: hoopsstarsonline

Where Does Frye Fit?

LaMarcus Aldridge walked towards the court at the Rose Garden and past Channing Frye late last season and basically blew-up Frye’s spot.

“Don’t believe this guy. He doesn’t know what he is talking about.”

It was a good couple hours before the game. Channing leaned against a wall just down from the Blazers locker room drenched from a pregame workout. Huffing, he explained how he wanted to return to Portland after a then approaching summer that could have easily seen Frye shipped out of town.

It never happened.

Now Frye hopes he can still call Portland home after this season, despite not being able to agree with the Blazers on a contract extension. I broached the topic with both Frye and Kevin Pritchard last week – a story you can read in full over at HOOPSWORLD today….

Where does Frye fit in Portland’s future?

I will spare you guys the intricacies of Channing’s game and his likeability off the floor. Those who religiously read his blog or tune in for his radio show on 1080AM The Fan know what Frye is all about. He’s about being real.

It’s good to see.

It didn’t start that way. We were familiar with each other from our days in New York. It was rough for Channing. The Knicks had no clue had to use the guy. The summer he was traded to the Blazers, I returned home to Portland after paying an ungodly amount of rent in Manhattan for three years. Truth be told though, he wanted nothing to do with me when I rolled out to Portland’s practice facility one offseason morning two summers ago. 

To Channing, I was “one of those” writers from New York.

“Yeah, I remember you,” he said avoiding making any eye contact.

Oh yeah, I remember thinking. This is going to go reeeaaal nice.

Despite the chilly reception, we had a good talk. Anyone who knows Frye knows this: the guy loves to talk. He talked about New York. He talked about growing. He talked about starting fresh. He talked about loving Portland.

He still talks about loving Portland.

He knows what is he talking about.

pic via: nba.com

He’s A Magic Man

But try to understand, try to understand

Try, try, try to understand

He’s a magic man, mama

He’s a magic man….

 

I highly doubt Brandon Roy has “Heart” shuffling on his I-Pod playlist, but after Portland grabbed their first road win of the season against the Orlando Magic, Roy is easily the “Magic Man”. After waving his wand against Houston and Minnesota at home, Roy played his most complete game of the season on Monday night with 27 points – a new season high. Presto.

Hopefully the back-spasms he suffered at the end of the game will be gone come Wednesday in Miami.

As for Monday night, Portland came out aggressive and finished strong. How many times can we say that this season?

While you ponder that one, let’s go inside and outside the box score for the rest of the goods….

- Steve Blake finished with 20 points and went 2-3 from outside the arc. Blake needed this one, perhaps even more than Portland needed a road victory. And it’s not that he scored from all spots on the floor, yet it’s how many of those points came from the charity stripe where Blake went 10-11. That stat line screams one thing – aggressiveness.

-Travis Outlaw continued to show his worth by moving to the second unit three games ago. He had 20 points and had it going from outside early and often (3-5). You knew this was coming. Once he found a comfort zone back where he belonged it was only a matter of time before the real Outlaw re-appeared. And that’s a boost about his all-around game, just not his scoring touch.  Thanks to Outlaw and Rudy Fernandez, Portland outscored Orlando’s bench 20-2 to open the game. The Blazers finished with 40 points off the pine.

- I’m in no way advising Jerryd Bayless’ agent Jeff Schwartz to issue an distasteful edict against Nate McMillan and demand a trade, but it’s certainly helped Sergio Rodriguez’s minutes. After averaging 9.2 minutes per game the first five games of the season, Sergio has logged roughly 12 and 16 minutes respectively the past two games since making headlines for all the wrong reasons. Here’s the thing though – for every one of Sergio’s sweet jump-step buckets down the lane, there’s a pass into the third row that tends to void his in-game success. This just in: consistency counts. His play in the fourth quarter proved that.

- Portland only had 5 turnovers  (2 in the first half) versus the Magic’s 14….9 steals versus Orland’s 3….scored a season-high 36 points in the first quarter….and shot an impressive 52.9 % from three-point land for the game.  James Jones is smiling somewhere.

- You knew Dwight Howard was going to get his. Same goes for Hedo Turkoglu. But the fact that Portland played strapping defense – and created fouls – against Rashard Lewis, Mickael Pietrus and Keith Bogans says volumes about Roy and Outlaw – Rudy and Nicolas Batum grasping Nate McMillan’s bigger picture: a defensive mindset.

- Play of the Game: Rudy’s three-pointer at the end of the first quarter was pretty smooth. So was Roy’s bobbled-shot against Boguns down the lane in the fourth quarter. But this one goes to Channing Frye for going toe-to-toe against Turkoglu with seconds remaining before the half. After a hard foul on Howard in the paint, Hedo shoved Roy in the back and Frye wasn’t a having it. Words were exchanged. More shoving commenced. Double-technical fouls were issued. But score one for Frye and Portland for finally muscling-up. It’s about time.

pic via: usatoday

Does Portland Need Another Veteran?

Nate McMillan likes his veterans. Kevin Pritchard likes his veterans. Steve Blake is likeable. So is Joel Pryzbilla. But does that mean Portland wouldn’t love benefiting from another veteran on the roster?

The thought crossed my mind while I was writing a “Free Agents For Hire” piece for HOOPSWORLD that is running today. And while the list of free agents – veterans of course – may not exactly fit Portland’s culture (although guys like Antonio McDyess, Lindsey Hunter and P.J. Brown are as solid as they come), I can’t help but think about a phrase McMillan tended to repeat at the end of last season.

He said then the Blazers could use more experience. At least that was his stance heading into the offseason.

All Portland did during the summer was get younger.

I’m not saying James Jones (now with Miami and on the shelf with a jacked-up wrist) was the end-all-be-all. He had to go to turn the job over to guys like Martell Webster and Travis Outlaw. But you have to agree Jones had a knack for corner three-pointers, providing on-court leadership in limited time and being light-hearted in the locker room.

Jones is just an example. He’s what you’d want in a veteran.

The trouble is where do you put another player? Minor details. Let’s answer the first question before we move on to the nitty-gritty….does Portland need another veteran?

 pic via: oregonlive

Two For The Road

That was a close one.

Portland played phenomenal to open the game. They put it away late. But somewhere in-between Greg Oden registering his first two points in the NBA in the first quarter and Rudy Fernandez’s spinning-jumper in the lane in the fourth, the Blazers nearly tanked it.

Thankfully a Steve Blake corner-three and career-high 25 points for Fernandez saved another road win.

This winning on the road thing is starting to become a habit.

Let’s jump inside – and outside – the boxscore….

-Three points in roughly 16 minutes is nothing to write home about for Greg Oden. Here’s what is though: that he played injury free. That’s what’s most important right now. He looked awkward on offense. He intimidated on defense. But Oden fit perfectly into the second unit, and once he gets his legs under and timing back, the second unit is going make some folks around the Association take notice – unless they haven’t already with Rudy Fernandez and Travis Outlaw putting in work.

-Brandon Roy (back) may have been gimpy heading into the game, but you never would have thought so watching him play. Seeing Roy (22 points) and Dwyane Wade (36 points) go head-to-head in stretches would have made Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier blush. It was blow for blow. Might have to call that one a draw.

-LaMarcus Aldridge tends to get lost in the Roy-Oden-Rudy shadow but he shined on Wednesday night. You may never see a more hard-earned and aggressive 14 points and 7 rebounds in your life. Blake hit the three. Roy was Roy. Rudy was amazing (again). But Aldridge’s effort shouldn’t go unnoticed as the player of the game against Miami for another strong showing. He punched the clock.

- Joel Pryzbilla was solid. Along with Aldridge, Joel cleaned up the glass early and helped get easy points in the paint in the first. He finished with 7 points and 10 rebounds. Very solid. But here’s what’s most impressive: he played just under 22 minutes and didn’t commit a single foul….a single foul.

-What can we say about Rudy Fernandez that ESPN’s Jon Barry didn’t repeat over and over and over during the nationally televised game. For 48 minutes, Barry raved about Fernandez to no end, leaving viewers to recite the “this guy is fearless” mantra until Barry calls another Blazers game this season. Now the middle-Barry brother knows what Portland has already come to know about Rudy in this short season.

-Play Of The Game: Honorable mention goes out to Nicolas Batum for his block on Wade in the first quarter. Kid never gave-up on the play. Sergio Rodriguez’s lob to Rudy for a dunk in the fourth quarter also gets a nod. Yet it was Rudy’s spin move and jumper in the lane with 44.9 seconds left that put Portland up 98-92 and gave Rudy 23 points that was the play of the game. Steve Blake may have an argument, but this was Rudy’s night.

pic via: nba.com

Roy and Paul: What Could Have Been

Shoulda-coulda-woulda.

Anytime the Portland Trail Blazers face the New Orleans Hornets, it’s hard not to think about Chris Paul partnering in the same backcourt as Brandon Roy. No need to close your eyes to imagine that dream team. Just look back to the 2005 NBA Draft for a swig of reality juice and what could have been.

Ignore the chewy pulp. That’s just hindsight.

At the time, Portland owned the third-overall selection. Then President Steve Patterson and then General Manager John Nash opted to move down in the draft. They traded the pick to the Utah Jazz for the sixth and 27th overall picks and a 2006 conditional first-round pick.

We know how this one played-out: Deron Williams to Utah, Paul to New Orleans, Raymond Felton to Charlotte and Martell Webster to Portland.

Was it the right move?

There are two camps here. One camp believes without that Jazz-Blazers trade, Portland wouldn’t have been able to obtain Brandon Roy with the sixth pick in 2006. Give Kevin Pritchard more credit than that. Something tells me he would have got his man regardless.

The other camp knows Patterson and Nash missed the boat. Their faith was in Sebastian Telfair. Remember, Sabby was the point guard of the future for the Blazers at that time. Now Portland is still searching for their point guard of the future and Paul is busy being the best point guard in the league.

He went from Rookie of the Year in 2006 to an All-Star, first-team All-NBA and first team All-Defense last season. He led the Hornets to one of the best records in the NBA last year (56-26). He pushed New Orleans into the second-round of the playoffs. He finished second in MVP honors. He won a Gold medal this past summer.

No offense Martell….or Deron (it’s Deron!)….or Raymond…. but that resume isn’t too darn shabby. Anyone want to call for a draft do-over?

Now picture Paul alongside a smooth shooting guard, a foreign import at small forward, an underappreciated power forward and young talented center and tell me how sick that would be.

Wait a minute – that’s the New Orleans Hornets starting five.

Never mind.

Guess the only time Roy and Paul will be on the same team for the next 10-15 years will be at NBA all-star games representing the West.

And it goes a little something like this….

 

pic via: daylife

Grading Rudy Fernandez

Rudy Fernandez had to play defense the minute he got off the plane in Portland this past summer. That’s what happens when you have a couple hundred people waiting to go one-one-one with you.

Let’s see what Rudy can do in a zone.

It’s tough to really gauge how good Fernandez can be this season with the Blazers at 6-4. Are we seeing his best? Or is there still more to come? A couple more months will reveal a lot, that’s for sure – the guys will know Rudy’s game more and he’ll know theirs. Don’t get me wrong. He’s been nothing short of amazing thus far. But hard pressed to critique his game, it is clear his defense needs some work.

A story on “Rudy’s Big Adjustment” is running today over at HOOPSWORLD….defense is the topic at hand. You just know that side of the game is something Rudy is anxious to improve. And he will.

Even still, passing marks (even on defense) fill his resume ten games into the season:

Scoring: At 13.6 points per game, Fernandez has been solid in the second unit. Now you just wonder if he’ll get any starts this season. Grade: A+

Shooting: On a team full of jump shooters, Fernandez has been a breath of fresh air. He’s easily replaced James Jones in dialing it in from deep (44%). He ranks second in the league in three-pointers made (24) and sixth in three-pointers attempts (54). He gets a little trigger-happy from down there at times (Minnesota at home where he was 3-7; and at Miami, 3-8), but Rudy’s efficiency puts your mind at ease. He knows when to hold them and knows when to load them. His mid-range has been solid too (45%) but it’s that release from beyond the arc that has the entire league taking notice. Grade: A

Passing: Rudy’s been a little less “Pistol” Pete Maravich than we saw in the preseason. He’s averaging two assists per game. Maybe he’s just finding a comfort zone. Again, that’s a part of his game that could show in another month or two when familiarity spreads. Right now, he’s keeping it simple. Perhaps that’s best. No need to force it. Grade: B+

Steals: The guy is active. This much we know. After a made bucket it’s not uncommon for Rudy to lurk, ready to catch someone sleeping inbounding the ball. This is a tough one to grade though. You can tell Rudy wants to cheat the passing lane, but he also doesn’t want to get beat defensively. It’s a Catch-22. He’s averaging a steal a game in roughly 28 minutes play. Look for this number to jump in the coming weeks. Grade: B

Free-Throws: 94% – ranks first on the team. Enough said. Grade: A+

Turnovers: You have to ask yourself: is the guy being sloppy or is he trying to make something happen? At 1.40 turnovers per game – third highest on the team (Brandon Roy leads with 2.20) – Rudy is trying to make something happen. Can’t fault him there. Grade: B

Defense: Knowing Rudy has to cope with how physical the league is and Nate wanting him to “stand down” instead of “hopping around” defense is an area he’s still been decent in. Sure, he’s been beaten on some assignments and needs to set harder screens. But Rudy is also not afraid to take a charge. That is always a good thing. Still, there’s room for improvement. Grade: B-

pic via: daylife

Road Warriors?

As the final seconds ticket off the clock between Portland and Golden State on Tuesday night, Brandon Roy’s words rang true: “We have to figure out how to play on the road without all that pressure.”

It was a couple days before the Blazers embarked on their now complete five game road trip – a trip that saw them beat Orlando, Miami and Minnesota and fall to New Orleans and the Warriors. Roy leaned against a wall at the practice facility and put it perfectly.

“We have to figure out how to play on the road without all that pressure.”  

The man speaks the truth. Portland is still trying to figure out how to win on the road. Going 3-2 on a mid-November roadie is solid, but 4-1 would have beeen better, particularly on Tuesday night when the Blazers should have beat the Warriors.

But winning on the road isn’t the only unsolved mystery. As I discussed today in a column called “Portland’s Missing ‘Identity’” running on HOOPSWORLD, it’s clear the Blazers are still trying to figure out who they are. Nate McMillan is still toying with rotations. It’s a constant shuffle depending on match-ups. Are they a fastbreak team? Are they a halfcourt team? Is Portland’s lack of “identity” (Kevin Pritchard’s word) simply due to the fact Martell Webster is on the shelf?

Something to think about.

Even still, there are some small victories you can take from the loss at Golden State….

Jerryd Bayless finally sniffed the court. After picking up a quick foul and turning the ball over, Bayless remained active and forced a steal himself. It may have only been a scoreless 3:54, but I’m thinking the confidence boost for the young rookie was timeless. Jerryd needed that playing time if not physically to stay loose and ready, than surely mentally. You don’t want to lose this kid.

Greg Oden got his run on. Playing the Warriors is the perfect remedy to help get Oden in game shape and overcome any issues of conditioning. Even if Portland was outscored 22-9 on fastbreak points, the big fella was hustling. Oden played nearly 30 minutes and finished with 22 points – both career-highs. But the real treat –besides his signature dunks – was watching him run the floor and finish on a break with Travis Outlaw and Brandon Roy. More please.

Let’s continue this “Road Warrior” theme (big up to Hawk and Animal)….

 pic via: wwe.com

Centers Of Attention

This probably isn’t going to be the most popular opinion in Rip City right now, but Joel Przybilla should continue to be Portland’s man in the middle.

It goes beyond what he was able to do against the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday night when he with finished 14 points and 9 rebounds. Instead, it’s about continuing to provide Greg Oden with a certain modicum of easiness after the hectic history of his oh so brief career. The truth is Oden fits into the second unit as smoothly as Travis Outlaw, Rudy Fernandez and a fastbreak. Besides, how many players in this league spit the old cliché: it’s not if you start, but if you are on the floor to finish the game that counts.

And right now, that is what Oden is doing best – finishing. One more of those power dunks and this is bound to be the result…..

It’s only a matter of time.

The truth is, Portland has the best of both worlds with Przybilla tag-teaming with Oden. They combined for 24 points, 6 blocks and 19 rebounds against the Bulls. What could be better right now for the Blazers? Przybilla is cleaning up the garbage. Oden is finding his groove and might actually be enjoying himself. Better yet for Nate McMillan, the wins are mounting.

That’s hard to argue with.

———————-

Another busy week over at HOOPSWORLD…..will James Posey’s championship experience pay off in New Orleans this season? I dove into the discussion thanks to some thoughts from Posey who turned down returning to Boston for a change to win with the Hornets.

Will he be the difference maker for New Orleans?

 

Scouting The Kings

Sam Amick has covered the Sacramento Kings for the past four seasons (and some change), so who better to help scout the Kings than the beat writer from the Sacramento Bee.

In what has become a sporadic game day tradition, various beat writers, bloggers, online journalist and columnists will join me throughout the season in bringing you an inside look at teams from around the league as they prepare to take on the Portland Trail Blazers. Today it’s all Amick with the Blazers (7-5) visiting the Kings (5-8) on Friday.

Man, Reggie Theus looks like a young Lando Calrissian in that throwback….

Is this how you thought the season would start for you guys?

Well I’d obviously be a liar if I said yes. The injuries (Kevin Martin and Francisco Garcia mainly) have opened up minutes for some of the young guys, and they have mostly surprised in a big way. Rookie forward Jason Thompson has been very good, fellow rookie Donte’ Greene just broke out for 15 points in his first start and second-year center Spencer Hawes has taken a quantum leap from last season.

Now as to their recent Jekyl and Hyde road trip (lose to Memphis and beat New Orleans) that happened time and again last season when they fell to horrible teams and downed great ones.

That was my next question….the Kings lose to the Grizzlies and then turn around and beat the Hornets. Who are these Kings right now?

It’s something else though, that phenomenon. On the one hand, you’ve got to call it a lack of focus against bad teams and some complacency there. On the flip side, I wonder if the lack of pressure or expectation when they face good teams allows them to play much more free. I can’t explain it, though.

You mentioned Martin and Garcia, who else should Portland be concerned with?

I’d say (Jason) Thompson. Considering there was a time not too long ago when the Kings were pondering ways to get the Blazers’ own LaMarcus Aldridge via trade, they’re now hoping the rookie out of Rider University is the answer to a power forward problem that has been there since Chris Webber left town.

Portland and Sacramento last met in the preseason at the Rose Garden when Greg Oden had his way with both Spencer Hawes and Mikki Moore. How do they contain him this time around?

I think they may just ask Greg to lighten up a bit. Other than that, there’s not much they can do other than agitate him right when he gets the ball on offense and surround him on the glass with the intent of poking the ball wherever he’s not. The Kings have been getting killed by the three-ball, so you won’t see much doubling down low.

Last one for you….former NBA point guard Kevin Johnson was recently elected Mayor of Sacramento. How does Johnson being in office benefit the Kings’ future in Sacramento? Or does it?

Without knowing all of his politics (I don’t vote because I live outside the city), I do see it as a good thing. On image alone, he brings a major boost to a city that needs it right now. What’s more, the backdrop is that of an incumbent mayor in Heather Fargo who is widely perceived as solid but far from dynamic. I know the Maloofs love the pick, as it certainly doesn’t hurt their efforts to get a new arena built in Sacramento if only because Johnson places great value on the Kings being here. It’ll be interesting.

Big thanks to Sam Amick for his time. For the latest out of Sacramento make sure to check out Sam on the Kings Blog on sacbee.com.

pic via: nbrpa.com

Zach Randolph Coming Out West

That didn’t take long. Late word out of New York has Zach Randolph on the move once again.

Multiple sources have confirmed and are reporting a three-way trade between the Knicks, Los Angeles Clippers and Golden State Warriors. Randolph would head to the Clippers and Jamal Crawford to the Warriors, with the Knicks receiving Al Harrington from the Warriors and Tim Thomas and Cuttino Mobley from the Clippers.

Ink hasn’t dried yet but it appears to be a done deal.

Essentially it’s a salary clearing tactic for the Knicks. All three contracts they receive expire in 2010.

The deal could be finalized as early as Friday afternoon.

After averaging 17.6 points and 10.3 rebounds his first year in New York, Randolph is putting up 20.5 points and grabbing 12.5 rebounds playing out of position at center for head coach Mike D’Antoni.

But money talks. And right now the Knicks coin is saying “we’re trying to free up room for LeBron James or another marquee free agent.”

Welcome back to the Western Conference Z-Bo.

pic via: all-nba

King For One More Day?

I highly doubt Reggie Theus is on Facebook. But if he were, it’s likely his status update would read: Reggie Theus is feeling the pressure….

As the Sacramento Kings prepare to take on Portland Monday night at the Rose Garden, it’s hard not to think about Theus being on the hot seat. In only his second season in Sacramento, Theus has been the topic of conversation about his pending future with the Kings. Most recently co-owner Joe Maloof took to the air-waves openly questioning the poor start to the season. The Sacramento Bee’s own Sam Amick then followed-up with General Manager Geoff Petrie who confessed “it’s just way too early to make a fair assessment of what we have here.”

So when is the right time then? At what point in the season do the Kings assess Theus’ job, knowing his departure could be the result?

Regardless of the time, two seasons – or one season and 15 games - is far too soon to expect greatness from a head coach, particularly for a team hobbled by injuries (Kevin Martin, Francisco Garcia, Mikki Moore) and relying on a couple vets and some novices. Theus earned 38 wins last season – his first with the Kings. Now at 5-10, Sacramento may have a tough time improving or drawing close to that number. But does that mean Theus should go?

Gregg Popovich only won 17 games his first year in San Antonio. We all know what he’s been able to do capturing four rings since.

Mike D’Antoni only mustered 21 wins taking over the Phoenix Suns in 2003-04. We all know he made the Suns go in 7 seconds or less for five years.

Heck, even Nate McMillan won 21 games his first season in Portland. Last year the Blazers ended the season at .500, and this year they have a chance to win nearly 50 games and perhaps make the postseason. Could you imagine if McMillan had been let go two years in?

These things take time. Ask P.J. Carlesimo about that. Rebuilding can’t be rushed. In Theus’ case, two seasons may not be enough to put a franchise like Sacramento back on the track to success. Then again, it appears ownership and upper management are at odds on his evaluation as Theus’ hot-seat heats up. 

Reggie’s in a tough spot.

pic via: nbapa.com

Breathe In, Breathe Out

Nate McMillan is having a hard time breathing these days.

Nate’s caught that nasty winter bug that’s been going around (I can relate) and was popping throat lozenges like a madman before the game. I’m not sure if he’s breathing any easier after watching the Sacramento Kings – the injury riddled and five-whole-wins Sacramento Kings – come into Portland’s house and basically push them around.

On a night when the Chicago Bulls used a last second shot from Larry Hughes to beat Utah – at Utah – the Blazers could have been the second upset of the night.

They dodged a Sac-town bullet.

Greg Oden didn’t dazzle, even though Brandon Roy certainly did. Yet if McMillan was handing out game balls afterwards, the one and only should have gone to Joel Przybilla. Peep the statline: 10 points, 12 rebounds and 2 blocks in roughly 28 minutes. Oden may have got the start, but Przybilla finished and he finished strong.

As one faithful reader commented to me last week, “it’s like having a set-up man and closer in baseball.”

We know who was who versus the Kings.

It’s hard to argue with McMillan’s decision to start Oden. As he said before Portland hosted Sacramento, “he wasn’t going to come off the bench the whole season.” Maybe so. But on Monday night at the Rose Garden, Przybilla gave McMillan every reason to keep Greg on the bench and his playing time to a minimum.

That’s just Joel being Joel.

Guess you could say he was a breath of fresh air.

pic via: daylife.

Best From The Bench?

Brandon Roy doesn’t have many off nights, but on Wednesday night against the Miami Heat there was no need for him to be on. The bench put the game on their broad shoulders.

Roy went 2 for 11 and finished with 8 points as the Blazers won easily. Yet when Portland’s second unit – aptly dubbed the “white unit” – continues their impressive play on the season, the Blazers become more than the “Brandon Roy Saves The Day Show.”

They become one of the best benches in the league. Perhaps even thee best.

According to the stat kings over at 82.games.com, the Blazers boast one of the best scoring second-strings in the NBA. They are pitching in a combined 37.5 points per game, third best in that category behind the Minnesota Timberwolves (39.2 ppg) and the Los Angeles Lakers (38.5 ppg). But scoring isn’t everything. Portland’s bench also ranks among the top in rebounds (third, 17.3 rpg), assists (fourth, 8.4 apg), (third, 3.7) and blocks (fifth, 2.3 bpg).

Another win only adds to those numbers, with a combined 49 points, 24 rebounds, 19 assists, 2 steals, and 5 blocks from the reserves in the victory. Not bad for one night of work, huh? When Channing Frye (17 points) shows off his range, Travis Outlaw (15 points) shows last year was no fluke, Sergio Rodriguez (11 assists) shares the ball, Joel Przybilla (9 rebounds) bangs the boards and Rudy Fernandez – well, he’s Rudy Fernandez (13 points) for crying out loud – it’s no wonder the “white unit” runs red hot against the rest of the league.

Enjoy the night off Brandon. 

Chris Paul and the rest of the New Orleans Hornets await you after some turkey, stuffing and giving thanks.

————————–

Speaking of bench guys, I grabbed time with Francisco Garcia of the Kings when Sacramento was in town on Monday and basically he’s dying to get out on the court for the first time this season. He’s shooting for this weekend. In keeping with the job demands of covering the entire league, here’s the skinny on Garcia…. 

pic via: o-live

 

Spread The Minutes Around

Martell Webster will be back before too long, and with him returns a number of questions. But one trumps the rest:

Who gets the minutes at small forward?

I got into this a little bit today at HOOPSWORLD touching on the changes Portland will go through once Martell is ready to play – which doesn’t seem too far away from the sound of it. Basically there are four factors involving how the Blazers will adjust to Webster’s return….

The Nicolas Batum Factor: This kid can play and we’ve all seen how his game has changed from summer league to now during the regular season. I’ll be the first to admit, Batum didn’t show me much in Las Vegas. But these last sixteen games (and counting), Batum is easily the “feel good story” of the Blazers season thus far and I am constantly in awe at what he can do on both ends of the floor. I’ll spare you the highlight reel discussion about his ability to get into the paint, play defense, run the floor, shoot the three and simply scrap for a loose ball. It doesn’t matter how Nate McMillan does it. He just has to find time for this kid to play. Will that mean continuing to start?  

The Channing Frye Factor: No one is going to confuse Channing with having a power game in the paint. Even at 6-11, that’s not his style. Never has been. Hitting a fifteen foot jumper each time out is. He plays the pick-and-pop perfectly and it’s no wonder assistant coach Monty Williams told me Frye is one of the best shooting big men in the game today. Channing’s extending that range to include the deep three and it came to life against Miami on Wednesday (2-3). Yes, Frye’s rebounding and pure aggressiveness needs to improve, but it’s hard to complain when he’s hitting that outside shot. He’ll simply have to learn to produce the same (or more) with less time.

The Travis Outlaw Factor: Outlaw isn’t a starter and that’s not a bad thing. He is at home in the second unit, and while the small forward spot has his name written all over it, watching him play the four should be an adventure. That appears McMillan’s plan. Listed at 6-9 and a generous 207 lbs., Travis isn’t going to muscle anyone around and his defense is suspect. But with his length and energy, he’ll give guys fits. We saw it last year in some cases – against Denver’s Kenyon Martin comes to mind – and we will see how revisiting Travis at power forward works out. The minutes will be there.

The Nate McMillan Factor: Nate’s going to play the match-up game in juggling Webster, Batum, Outlaw and Frye. Without naming names, he’s already said as much. He’s done that so far this year with rotating Batum and Outlaw out for each other – although Travis has received more run than Nicolas. Just like anything else this season though – adjusting to life without Martell and even Greg Oden for six games for example – McMillan’s planning to work with what he has. Right now, he has a whole lot of guys he could plug in at various spots at any given time and that will only increase once Webster gets back. Not a bad problem for any coach to have.

pic via: daylife

Not Done Yet….

Two years is a long time to be out of work. That’s one of the first things that crossed my mind as I pitched a story to my editor recently about Eric Musselman, the former head coach of the Golden State Warriors and Sacramento Kings.

The story was quickly approved. The interview was pretty interesting on many levels. And the feature on Musselman is running today over at HOOPSWORLD. It provides a quick glimpse of a coach itching to get back on the sidelines after a 24 month (and counting) hiatus and what unemployment entails in such a career field.

The truth is I hope “Muss” finds what he is looking for – in coaching and in life. The best awaits in both I’m sure.

You can follow his story here….complete with the latest from the world of coaching.

Of course it’s only fitting we talked some Blazers, particularly with the legacy his late dad Bill Musselman left in Portland as a member of Mike Dunleavy’s coaching staff in 2000.

It was Bill’s last stop on a truly amazing coaching journey that spanned 37 years.

While Eric couldn’t remember his career-record against Portland, he was quick to call Nate McMillan one of the “most underrated coaches in the NBA.” When asked how he would coach against Portland, Musselman talked about trying to contain Brandon Roy – a scheme Musselman said was easier said than done. There are 29 head coaches in the NBA that surely agree with him.

We talked about Greg Oden some, but Musselman came correct. Said he hadn’t seen enough of him to really say much. Said he did know it would take time to get his conditioning and learn the pace of the NBA though. Adjusting to the game mentally and the heavy expectations, is something Musselman believes will “take the most patience.”

What impressed Musselman more than McMillan, Roy, and G.O. was the overall character and direction of the team. And now with Portland at 12-6, it’s hard to argue with the man.

pic via: AP

 

 

Only In New York

The drama never stops at Madison Square Garden. It was that way when I covered the New York Knicks for three seasons and it’s that way right now. That’s the thing. It’s not worse with Stephon Marbury’s antics, insubordination and house arrest. It’s simply the same.

No buy out yet. Just bye-bye.

Even 3000 miles away from Manhattan, I know one thing is for certain: the Knicks locker room is a better place without Marbury in it.

So while the Knicks deal with the typical distractions, Portland looks to make it five-straight wins and their second consecutive win on a five game roadie. But believe it or not, all the talk coming out of New York isn’t necessarily Knicks-centric and all about Starbury. There is some Blazers banter making its way down Broadway…..

First Knicks General Manager Donnie Walsh voiced his concern for Greg Oden over the weekend.

“I’m a little worried about Oden,” Walsh told the New York Daily News. “He’s young and these young guys come in, but their bodies are not ready for the NBA, and they do get hurt. I think with real young players, they’re not ready for the NBA. All of a sudden they’re playing at our speed and our tempo against men. It seems that even if they don’t get hit, they start breaking down a little bit.”

Then on Monday, Alan Hahn of Newsday – who writes the paramount blog on the Knicks beat by the way – gave the rumor mill a fresh spin making a ploy for a couple Blazers.

“They (the Knicks) have a pretty good test Tuesday against the Portland Trail Blazers at the Garden. Keep an eye on Travis Outlaw…think he might fit in the (Mike) D’Antoni system if the Blazers ever would consider moving him. Sergio Rodriguez is looking for a change of scenery as well….Hmmm.”

Who would the Knicks offer in return with Outlaw and/or Sergio likely expendable? With the Knicks failing to sign forward David Lee to a contract extension back in October, his future in New York appears tentative at best according to two sources familiar with the situation.

pic via: newsday

Spanish Fly

Mike D’Antoni knows how talented both Sergio Rodriguez and Rudy Fernandez are. The New York Knicks head coach – formerly of the Phoenix Suns– helped draft and subsequently trade both Sergio and Rudy to Portland at different times of his tenure in Phoenix.

The Suns selected Sergio as the 27th overall pick in 2006 before trading him for cash considerations that same day. A year later, Phoenix snagged Fernandez in the first round (24th overall) only to turn around days later and trade him along with James Jones for cash considerations.

On Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden, D’Antoni might have been calling for a couple draft day do-overs.

A good hour after the “Rudy-Rudy-Rudy” chants faded from the Garden and a first quarter that saw Portland shoot an abysmal 29%, Fernandez slowly shook-off a case of the “clanks.” He hit his first two shots of the game – both from beyond the arc – only to miss his next three attempts.

Clank.

Rudy hasn’t delved into too many funks this season. And he didn’t stay that way for long. You just had a feeling he was going to get it going on a big stage like New York with a large Spanish contingent on hand. His two enormous three-pointers early in the fourth quarter contributed to a 14-0 Blazers run, which in essence salvaged another Portland win – their fifth-straight. Very impressive final numbers for Rudy: 18 points, 5-11 from the field, 4-8 from three 4-4 from the line in roughly 21 minutes.

More chants.

Let’s not forget Sergio’s role in Portland overcoming a Knicks 10 point lead. Setting up Rudy is one thing, but getting into the lane and hitting a stop-and-pop off the glass over Tim Thomas late in the fourth was nothing short of smooth. That is unless you count Rodriguez’s step-back three minutes later. He put together a solid yet non-flashy game: 5 points, 5 rebounds, 1 steal and 0 turnovers in 19 minutes.

Win.

In the end though, victory over New York didn’t come easy for Portland. There probably isn’t a scrappier eight player team in the NBA than the Knicks right now. They just wore down. For the Blazers, they need to get a good night sleep with Washington up on Wednesday. The Wizards won in New Jersey by 20 points and now both Washington and Portland prepare for a little back-to-back action after a quick flight to D.C. 

Can the Blazers make it 7-6 on the road?

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Okay, so Portland didn’t make it on the short list of the NBA’s ”Biggest Surprises In November” (a rundown story that ran yesterday on HOOPSWORLD). But with their winning ways, Brandon Roy’s wow factor and the typical cliche’ of an all-around nightly team effort, they are worthy of an honorable mention….

pic via: daylife

Growing With Greg

While Nate McMillan was busy giving referee Joe DeRosa the business, his young Blazers were two minutes away from another growth spurt.

On a night that saw Brandon Roy’s late game heroics continue, Greg Oden flash promise and Portland take care of the Washington Wizards on the end of a back-to-back, it’s clear the second youngest team in the league is coming of age during this East coast swing that has seen the Blazers win three in a row and six-straight games.

Roy has the uncanny ability to will his team to victory, proof positive by a 22 point outing. But Oden showed and proved; he finally gave McMillan a reason to keep him in the game late in the fourth quarter, where usually he’s been relegated to the bench down the stretch. That’s been Joel Przybilla’s job. Well, on Wednesday night in Washington, Oden received a little on the job training. He showed he belonged.

Each game out Greg will grow. Some nights slow (New York). Some nights fast (Washington).

It’s almost as if he shed his security blanket at one point in the game.

When Przybilla went down and out (briefly) with a sprained left ankle, Oden had no choice but to earn his keep. Maybe somewhere in the back of Greg’s mind he finds comfort knowing Joel is all-everything defensively in the middle for Portland. Then again, maybe he saw an opportunity present itself and decided to take full advantage. A double-double later (13 points and 10 rebounds), Oden basically gave everyone the “Gas Face” – 3rd Base style.

Kick ‘em in the grill Greg….

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Quick plug for a HOOPSWORLD feature on Jerryd Bayless, from Alex Raskin – who along with Tommy Beer – covers the New York Knicks and grabbed time with the Blazers rookie while in New York. It hasn’t been an ideal situation for Bayless but he’s making the best of it….

pic via: o-live

Thinking Of Rodney Rogers….

Like any other week during the regular season, I watched a few NBA games this week. Read even more about the others. But one story stuck with me: the Rodney Rogers accident.

I don’t know Rodney Rogers. Never covered him. Never even seen him play, besides watching SportsCenter clips of Rogers hitting a deep three with that left hand or posting up down low with that big 6-7, 235 pound frame time and again.

After reading about Rogers the past couple of days and writing about him today in a piece titled “Prayers For Rodney Rogers” for HOOPSWORLD, it’s as if I know him a little bit better now though.

As he was getting out of the NBA at 33-years-old after a 12-year career, I was grabbing my notepad and voice recorder for the first time in East Rutherford, New Jersey going to go cover the Nets. I heard his name in passing though. Remember wondering if someone would pick him up. Remember wondering if he ever thought about playing again at such a young age.

Like many I’m sure, it was tough hearing the unfortunate news about the ATV accident that has left Rogers paralyzed. I can’t imagine. It’s hard to imagine. How would I cope? Where would my faith be?

It makes you think….

Here’s a quick Rodney Rogers flashback from his days in Denver against the Utah Jazz.

Smooth….

pic via: nba.com

Beantown Beatdown

Sorry to be a voice of objectivity but it is probably best Portland lost to the Boston Celtics on Friday night. They won’t forget that loss. In fact, it will make the Blazers that much stronger as the season grows older – as the team grows older together.

We are, after all, talking about the Boston Celtics. The NBA Champs. Going into their building and beating them on national television is as difficult as trying to beat the Los Angeles Lakers on opening night at the Staples Center under the bright lights.

Wait a minute.

Never mind.

No doubt about it: these were growing pains. This is a level Portland is trying to reach – a peak already reached by Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett. But even by standing on their tip-toes thanks to an impressive six-game-win streak, this was a night where Brandon Roy couldn’t save the day. A night when Greg Oden reached and the Celtics teached. A night when Rudy Fernandez couldn’t hit a three. A night where the Blazers seemed allergic to rebounds. A night where a combined 30 points in the second and third quarter didn’t cut it. A night that Portland will eventually look back on knowing they learned a lot from a big loss in Beantown.

The good news – Sunday is another game.

Toronto – after firing their head coach Sam Mitchell on Thursday and being trounced by the Utah Jazz on Friday night – is a team Portland should beat, even on the Raptors floor. It’s not the loss against Boston they have to worry about now. It’s coming out with a hangover in Toronto. If and how they bounce back will speak volumes about the Blazers.

If not….it could be more tough love.

pic via: nba.com

Welcome Back Webster….

Change is a good thing. And on Sunday afternoon in Toronto the Portland Trail Blazers will begin to dabble in some minor alterations. Not only is Martell Webster suiting-up for the first time this season, but his return to action also creates a ripple effect throughout the rest of the roster.

I addressed this recently at HOOPSWORLD but failed to include someone in the “Webster returns” equation: Ike Diogu.

Diogu has barely sniffed the floor this season. Actually, I think you and I have played more minutes than Ike so far this year. Yet with Webster getting reacclimated with minutes here and there– briefly now and logically a lot later – perhaps this is the time for a change in whom – along with Travis Outlaw – helps back up LaMarcus Aldridge. Maybe it’s time to get Diogu in the fold before long?

Think about it.

Portland has missed a rugged bruising forward since the days of Brian Grant. Channing Frye isn’t going to provide that presence anytime soon, and since it appears he’ll have his minutes cut the most with Webster back, why not see what Diogu can give you with more than mop-up minutes?

I can hear Nate McMillan now: it depends on the match-up. Well, why not create a mismatch? Let the other coach adjust. At 6-9 and 250 pounds, all Ike would be expected to do is rebound and bang – you know, add a little toughness down low; an attribute many surely agree would be a welcomed change and shouldn’t be only expected of Joel Przybilla.

Change is a good thing.

Update: Apparently Nate has other plans….Diogu was placed on the inactive list to make room for Martell.

pic via: nbanoise

A Minute On McMillan….

The Seattle SuperSonics versus the Chicago Bulls, 1996 NBA Finals. Those VCR tapes of the games I recorded were played out. My poor Quasar begged for mercy. Must have watched them weekly during the following offseason, with a gimpy Nate McMillan giving Seattle an emotional lift in Game 4 with a Sonics win.

All these years later – and now having covered Nate the past two seasons here in Portland – it’s still amazing the kind of defensive commitment he embodied throughout his entire career. We spoke about it briefly as I picked McMillan’s brain about Portland’s own defensive make-up this season.

You can head over to HOOPSWORLD for that full story – “New ‘Mindset’ In Portland” – which is running now.

Anytime the Denver Nuggets come to town, it’s worth grabbing a minute or two with George Karl – who coached Nate in those days – for a good McMillan story alone. Heck, even guys who played sparingly with McMillan still rave about what he was able to do on the floor.

Take Jerry “Ice” Reynolds for example. Talk about a blast from the past. “Ice” spent eight seasons in the NBA as a 6-8 swingman and still remembers fondly his lone season in Seattle (1988-89) playing alongside a then 24-year-old McMillan.

“He was always into the game both mentally and physically,” Reynolds, who now coaches the Jersey Express in the ABA, told me recently.

“I can remember Nate not being a great shooter, but never hesitating to shoot a big shot down the stretch of a game. He was as confident in himself as any player I’ve played with or against.”

What Reynolds said holds a lot of weight. It says a lot about how the Blazers are ran today under McMillan.

You always hear from coaches – Larry Brown loves to use the phrase – about players who “play the right way.” Nate fit the bill as a player. Even as a coach McMillan employs that tagline every now and again as he wants his guys to “play the right way.” I’m thinking if McMillan could have, he would have suited-up in Toronto on Sunday against the Raptors. He was that into the game. It’s only fitting then for the sum of this season – with Portland sitting right behind the Los Angeles Lakers atop the West – that Nate McMillan has “coached the right way.”

Man, I wish I had those VCR tapes now.

pic via: seattletimes.com

Let The Oden-Howard Talk Begin….Again

Greg Oden as Dwight Howard: Nate McMillan went there before.Will he go there again?

After spending the past three summers with Howard on Team USA, McMillan knows Dwight’s game intimately. But can Oden transform himself into that kind of player?

Last year when Orlando rolled into town, McMillan said he (and the organization) envisioned Oden being Dwight Howard-like once healthy and back on the court. The size. The body. It was easy at that time to see the comparison. But now I’m not so sure McMillan ventures that theory. Maybe he does.

I’m sure at least one writer will go there with the Magic rolling into the Rose Garden on Tuesday night.

So is it farfetched?

Let’s forget how Dwight can run the floor, while Oden is pulling the plow right now. He’s kind of a plodder. I’m starting to think that’s just Oden’s style. You know, kind of like how Sam Perkins – “Big Smooth” himself who played for the Mavericks, Lakers, Sonics and Pacers – always looked like he was half-asleep.

Instead, let’s take a look at Howard’s numbers from his first year in the league to see if Oden can get there…..

In 2004-05, Howard started all 82 games for Orlando. He finished the season averaging 12 points, 10 rebounds, 1.7 blocks and 32.6 minutes per game. Howard also finished third in Rookie of the Year balloting behind Charlotte’s Omeka Okafor and Chicago’s Ben Gordon.

So far this season, Oden has appeared in 16 games and is averaging 7.9 points, 7.8 rebounds, 1.6 blocks and roughly 22 minutes per game. Where is he among the leagues top rookies? First? Second? Is he even the best rookie on the Blazers, let alone the league?

For a rookie season comparison, the numbers between Dwight and Greg aren’t that drastically different. Now whether Oden can follow in Howard’s impressive footsteps and accomplish similar feats that Dwight has achieved in his brief career remains to be seen.

pic via: orthopreneur

O Holy Night….

It was the tale of two locker rooms after the Orlando versus Portland game. One missed three-pointer could have changed the somber postgame scenery for the Blazers, but it was one of those nights.

The Magic used a little magic and were laughing about it all the way to the chartered bus.

Perhaps the best line after the game came from Stan Van Gundy. I’ll let you be the judge of that one.

No one can blame the guy for not being happy with the outcome. And the same goes for Nate McMillan. No one can blame him for being wrecked. It was a tough loss for Portland and it showed on Nate’s face afterwards.

Brandon Roy took ownership of the loss for the team. Everyone else either hurried, dressed and bolted or lingered in the locker room to avoid whatever media exposure remained fishing for a sound bite.

But down the hall with the Magic, it was as if Christmas had arrived two weeks early.

While much of the team sat chowing down on a postgame meal, all they could talk about was Rudy Fernandez emulating the “Energizer Bunny” coming off screens and pics and stopping only to hit threes. Other than that it was all jokes: a little razzing about some blown assignments and of course much love for Hedo Turkoglu.

It’s like they didn’t want to leave the building.

Good times….not had by all though.

pic via: nba.com

Still Kicking It

There have already been four head coaches fired eight weeks into the regular season. No wonder the unemployment rate is soaring in this country. But there is one guy who seems to always have job security: Gerald Eugene Sloan.

“I know how volatile this business is,” Jerry Sloan said recently. “I just think how lucky I’ve been to be here for so long.”

You win, you stay.

It’s that simple and Sloan – despite a couple losing seasons in his 21 years coaching in the NBA – perhaps knows that better than any coach in this league. You don’t become the first coach in league history to reach 1,000 wins with one team by throwing junk against the wall and hope that it sticks.

There has to be a commitment to what you believe in and how you carry that message out.

It’s no wonder Nate McMillan considers Sloan a blueprint for his coaching style. Right now McMillan has coached in 641 games, posting 306 wins and 335 losses. Okay, so he doesn’t have John Stockton and Karl Malone. But he does have Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge….and that Greg Oden fella. Only 694 more wins for McMillan as head coach of the Blazers and he’ll join Sloan in a distinguished class.

Then again, Sloan will probably have another 1000 wins under his belt by then.

Can Portland rebound on Thursday night at Utah? Or will the heartbreak from Hedo Turkoglu hang over their heads?

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Shameless plug time: We – and when I say we, I mean HOOPSWORLD – rolled out a new feature series this season called “Life As A Rookie”. Jerryd Bayless shared his story last week, and this week it’s Courtney Lee of the Orlando Magic. I got with Lee on Tuesday night and it’s easy to see why he’s a natural fit in Orlando….

In other “shameless plug” news…..

For you boxing purists and history buffs, the Northwest Examiner is running a feature I wrote on former heavy weight champion Jack Dempsey, who in the mid-1930’s stepped off a passenger train in Portland to fight four guys in one night at Multnomah Stadium.

The story is available in PDF (sorry, but that’s how the NWE rolls) and begins on page 13.

pic via: drunkenboozer

One Of Those Weeks

If back-to-back games are the killer of an NBA schedule, than the Portland Trail Blazers are deadman walking. It’s bad enough to drop a game in always tough Utah. But now you have to come home against a rested Los Angeles Clippers? Brutal anyway you look at it.

“I think the back-to-back thing is by far the most overblown excuse in the NBA,” Jeff Van Gundy, who now calls action for ESPN said once.  “Why should games on consecutive nights be a problem? Because the other team’s more rested? That’s no excuse.”

Portland’s about ready to find out if he’s right. Next up Zach Randolph and the Clips – yes, the same Clips who recently worked out Darius Miles on Tuesday. Hmmm….Either way, it’s been one of those weeks for the Blazers.

Not only have they lost two-straight games – first to Orlando and then Utah – but it’s the way in which they’ve suffered those defeats.

One was a heartbreaker. The other, a head scratcher. How does Brandon Roy go for two-straight 30-plus games, resulting both in losses? How can LaMarcus Aldridge produce two of his more impressive outings of the season and Portland not come away with wins to show for them? How does the bench go from having four guys (Rudy Fernandez, Travis Outlaw, Joel Przybilla and Sergio Rodriguez) all score in double-figures to barely mustering 19 points as a group?

It’s not an excuse. It’s an unsolved mystery.

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On Monday, I launched into a quick flashback about Greg Oden and Dwight Howard – the whole “Greg as Dwight” angle. Appreciate those who chimed in with some thoughts by the way…..really good stuff.

Took the story and ran with it….was interested in delving deeper into comparing their rookie seasons, complete with thoughts from Orlando Magic GM Otis Smith. The end result was “The Oden and Howard Debate” currently running over at HOOPSWORLD.

pic via: esmas

View From The Alley

It’s becoming a habit….

I have a tendency when covering games to leave the media area early as games begin to drift into the final minutes and seconds. Helps avoid the mass exodus bum rush at the Rose Garden and makes for a closer feel for the action.

I opt for the alleyway down from the visitors bench.

Watched Brandon Roy hit that improbable three-pointer to beat Houston from there. How can you forget that one? Coming through the alley and towards the locker room, everyone from Rick Adelman down to Ron Artest was expressionless.

Blank. Nothing.

Saw Hedo Turkoglu shock the Blazers with a game winning bank-in-three earlier in the week. Three feet to my left Orlando General Manager Otis Smith must have died and comeback to life at least four times in those final two minutes. He was beside himself. So was Dwight Howard as he took off his jersey and tossed it to a fan.

And last night, it was Baron Davis with his step back three to send the game into overtime and eventually onto a Clippers win (pregame and postgame updates via HOOPSWORLD). Davis walked passed like he’d been there before – no barking, no smiles. Just a couple high fives.

I’ll spare the other view from the alley – Steve Blake going Chris Dudley at the free-throw line. I’ll spare you reliving how Brandon Roy is carrying the load far too much. I’ll spare you remembering when the “white unit” was red hot but have now gone pitch black.

That view from the alley may be the money spot, but right now the Blazers look a little broke.

pic via: the myspace

Darius Isn’t Done….

Time to save the date. Zach Randolph left Portland with a win after returning to help beat the Blazers last Friday night. Now after signing with the Memphis Grizzlies over the weekend, Darius Miles has probably already circled Wednesday, February 18th on his calendar.

That’s when Miles comes to town.

Mike Dunleavy – who is wearing two hats for the Los Angeles Clippers right now as head coach and General Manager – got a good glimpse of Miles last Tuesday when Darius worked out for the Clips. I spoke to Dunleavy before the game Friday about Miles, curious not only to see what his interest was in signing Darius but also how a front office goes about handling a player with a suspect background.

Here’s what came of that discussion with Dunleavy, holding down the Monday a.m. slot over at HOOPSWORLD.

As I wrote this story Friday night during the first half of the Blazers/Clippers game and edited it Saturday morning, Miles was getting ready to sign with Memphis. Thought I’d put my story to bed. My heart palpitations Saturday afternoon and evening reminded me otherwise. Needless to say, I left my re-write for the last minute on a snowy Sunday night around Portland just to avoid any more surprises.

Live and learn. Back to Darius real quick….

Now I’m sure plenty of die-hard Blazer fans will voice their opinions about Miles and blow-up the comment section – perhaps even more so when the Grizzlies come to town in February. That’s cool. Always curious to know what people think. Guess what I am more interested to see is how this whole storyline plays out and how it will affect Portland’s bottom line and budget if and when Miles plays 10 games for Memphis.

And I’m sure I’m not the only one….

pic via: espn.com

Getting The Point

Sergio Rodriguez apparently is a wanted man….again. For the second time in three weeks, Rodriguez has been the topic of conversation with at least one New York Knicks beat writer who believes the Knicks should take a look at the Portland Trail Blazers reserve point guard.

More on that blog blurb here from good friend Alan Hahn at Newsday. It’s a quick ploy, but a ploy none the less from over the weekend.

It raises the question again: if Rodriguez is eventually moved, does Portland get a point guard in return knowing Jerryd Bayless is waiting in the wings?

Besides, the Knicks had their chance at rebuilding their backcourt back in June at the NBA Draft. Back then, Eric Gordon – who is now starting for the Los Angeles Clippers – was on the board when New York opted for Danilo Gallinari – he of injured reserve fame – instead with the 6th overall pick.

Once again, the Knicks missed the boat.

Gordon is quietly having a nice season for the Clips. Caught up with him last weekend to talk about adjusting to the NBA and where his game is at right now. The feature on Gordon – “The Rise of Eric Gordon” – is running now over at HOOPSWORLD.

Quick take on Gordon: the kid just gets it. He knows his role. He’s not one of these rookies who feels the need to take on the world like some young guards in this league.

Gordon just goes about his business.

What the Knicks would give for him right now….

pic via: elmundo

Off The Wall

On a night when Terry Porter’s number 30 was raised to the Rose Garden rafters and Brandon Roy nearly continued his 30-plus consecutive scoring streak, Nicolas Batum decided to show-up and join the party.

The 19-year-old from Lisieux, France – who has struggled of late after a brilliant start to the season - finished with 12 points, 8 rebounds, 1 steal and went 2 for 5 from beyond the arc in roughly 24 minutes.

Nicolas needed that game. Every rookie slumps at some point in the season. Maybe this was his slump buster.

It was Batum’s best game since November 28 against New Orleans when he finished with 12 points in 20 minutes. His outings that followed have been a combination of nondescript (Boston and Los Angeles Clippers) and scoreless (5 of the last 8 games) performance. It became glaringly clear Nicolas had run smackdab into a rookie wall.

On Tuesday night Batum ran right through that wall thanks to a regained stroke and his trademark defense. Thanks to Nicolas, the Blazers bench actually snapped out of their mini-funk with with all seven members in the second unit scoring in Portland’s 32-point win over the Sacramento Kings. 

pic via: daylife

Inside The Waive

It was a shady situation. After a year selling used cars in my early twenties, my sales numbers slipped. And in the car biz you are only as good as your last deal. So I was “let go”; fired; given my walking papers. But in the NBA it’s different. Guys get “waived” all the time for countless reasons.

I dove into some of those reasons –without getting too soaked in the CBA (Collective Bargaining Agreement) – today over at HOOPSWORLD with “The Way Of The Waive”.

It’s a tricky business pro basketball. That’s true if you are covering it, and even more so if you are actually participating in the business. And let’s not forget it is a business at the end of the day.

Let’s look at this in a Portland Trail Blazers light….total hypothetical situation here.  

Say Shavlik Randolph is waived at some point this season. Sorry Shavlik. You were the first guy that came to mind. For Kevin Pritchard or Nate McMillan to have that talk with Randolph is probably about us fun as going to the dentist. But for Shavlik, it’s almost like getting your wisdom teeth yanked out without any Novocain.

Chances are you’d feel bad for Shavlik. No one wants to see a guy get waived; to see a guy lose his job. That’s one side of the story though. The other has to do with bringing in a guy that essentially helped usher out the 15th man but will actually help your club immediately.

Does it cushion the blow any if Portland were to bring in an available free agent like Robert Horry or P.J. Brown – you know a veteran who can add some swagger or muscle – to help round out the roster?

That’s one of those tricky parts about the NBA.

Just thinking out loud here….

pic via: wordpress blog

A Word On Outlaw….

Compared to Brandon Roy’s historical night, Travis Outlaw will be back page news come Friday morning. But he should at least get a sidebar mention in the win over Phoenix on national television.

As Roy stood with the game ball under his arm after finishing with a career-high 52 points, Outlaw slowly slipped into the tunnel towards the Blazers locker room. Portland sure needed this one. But Outlaw needed it even more.

He hasn’t been himself lately, even before the sore tailbone which has hampered Travis since Utah. Heck, even the trade rumors probably took their toll. No newsflash here: last year’s “Mr. 4th Quarter” has been – shall we say – a bit M.I. A.

On Thursday night though, Outlaw inched back towards outstanding. Not only did he provide the only scoring spark (14 points) in the second unit, but he remained aggressive throughout (6 rebounds). Then there was “the play.”

Outlaws ability to battle Jason Richardson for a rebound with 12.2 seconds left and Portland up by three points could have been the play of the game. Blazers ball. After fourth quarter collapses to Orlando and the Los Angeles Clippers last week, it certainly was the Blazers saving grace.

Portland has shown they can beat the dregs of the league like Sacramento. The way the Blazers make noise in the NBA though is by beating upper echelon teams like the Suns. Okay, so it’s not those Phoenix Suns, but nevertheless a difficult match-up coming off three days rest against a young team like Portland who has endured some growing pains of late.

Luckily along with Roy, Steve Blake (22 points and 10 assists) and LaMarcus Aldridge (16 points on 8 for 12), Travis Outlaw came to play.

pic via: daylife

The Show Must Go On….

I’m not sure when it hit me. Could have been when I was digging around the snow drift to my car. Or maybe as I was chaining up, eager to break the family bout of cabin fever with a trip to Target. Then I got the text message– that’s when I knew.

The show must go on.

“The Trail Blazers have boarded a bus enroute to Eugene where they will fly out later this afternoon for their Monday night game at Denver.”

It’s come to this.

Just what Nate McMillan and his team need: more snow, complete with elevation. But after a nice full week – and even fuller weekend of the fluffy stuff  in Portland – it was time to get back to work. I’m sure the last thing McMillan and especially Brandon Roy wanted to do was move on from his 52-point performance against the Phoenix Suns and the “M-V-P” chants echoing from last Thursday at the Rose Garden.

There are no rain outs – or snow outs in this case – in the NBA. The show must go on. That goes for Portland, who has to play Denver on Monday before traveling back to Portland to play the Nuggets on Tuesday, and that goes for me too.

I’ve got my own agenda to keep.

Family is coming to town for the holiday, where a gripping adventure to Central Oregon waits. But not before my wife and I head to the hospital in the morning to see if we’re having a little boy or little girl come May. Either way I’ll be teaching the pick-and-roll at some point in the next 10 years….

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Shameless plug: What is a guy to do when he’s surrounded by ten inches of snow outside and a continuous loop of “Finding Nemo” inside?

After a few emails on Friday and Saturday from a person close to the Indiana Pacers, it became clear Jamaal Tinsley is in for a long season. It’s a topic I launched into – “Will Tinsley Play Again?” at HOOPSWORLD – knowing there’s a chance Tinsley will be back on the court, just not any time soon.

In staying with the “point guard” theme….the Phoenix Suns are holding a workout Monday to fill a roster spot to find a suitable back-up point guard (“New Point Guard For Suns?”), with six free agents vying for the job. A quick teaser…..two former Blazers round out the participants.

pic via: hidden-london

Not Getting Garnett….

If there was ever a time for the Portland Trail Blazers to “sweep the leg”, it is tonight against Boston with the “Cobra” in town. Don’t tell me you don’t know about the “Cobra.”

Ask Jerryd Bayless about the “Cobra.” He’ll tell you. Or maybe he won’t. Ask Toronto’s Jose Calderon about the venom. He tasted it.

Kevin Garnett may not have his own dojo, but the move – or at least the name – is fresh from the Karate Kid minus sensei John Kreese’s “Kai.”

I don’t get it. Pressuring full-court and wagging your finger at Calderon is one thing. Getting down on all-fours and getting after Bayless is a whole different story, a tale where the plot stinks of unprofessionalism from an alleged “All-Star.” Surprised Bill Russell didn’t try the move back in his day. Guess he was too busy going about his business collecting rings and acting like he’s been there before.

That’s just me though. I don’t get it. So I reached out to someone who might.  

Jessica Camerato, formerly of HOOPSWORLD, now covers the Celtics for WEEI Radio in Boston and schooled me when I asked what gives with Garnett.

“That’s just KG,” Camerato said.

“Yes, playing defense on all fours against pint-sized guards seems eccentric, but this is coming from the same guy who slams his head into the goalpost while talking to himself before every game. Last season when Garnett got into the “Cobra” position – as he dubbed it – he said after the game that he didn’t even realize what he was doing.

“So while opponents may call it intimidating or a scare tactic, it’s just KG keeping his head — or losing it – in the game.”

Apparently it’s just not a point guard thing. New Orleans’ David West saw the “Cobra” up close, something I hope the Rose Garden faithful won’t have to endure.

In the end – at least for me – Garnett going to the “Cobra” diminishes who the Celtics really are: the best team in the NBA.

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Shameless Plug: Staying with Boston….Sean Williams of the New Jersey Nets – who played his college ball at Boston College – is quickly becoming known as a draft day bust. After a solid rookie season in 2007, Williams is lost in New Jersey. Hours after I ran a feature on Williams at HOOPSWORLD yesterday (“Searching For Sean Williams”), the Nets shipped him to the NBDL – a move I professed to be wise for both sides.

Besides, the next move Williams could see after a short stint in the D-League is being dealt at the trade deadline in February.

pic via: wordpress blog

Six On The Floor, One For The Ages

Doc Rivers sat in his office in the visitor’s locker room at the Rose Garden staring at the sheet of paper. It was hard to tell if he couldn’t believe the black ink popping off the page or if he was trying to memorize it. Either way, Doc wasn’t happy.

Rivers was quick to credit a Brandon Roy-less Portland after the Blazers beat his struggling Celtics team of late. But Doc still couldn’t get over a call the refs blew (or called brilliantly depending on the team you represent) right before the half on Tuesday night.

I detailed the 10.3 seconds remaining right before the half here after the game courtesy of HOOPSWORLD’s “Courtside Blog.” Tough break Doc.

Here’s the thing: Had that call gone against Boston; had the Celtics scored with six men on the court; had Boston been on the receiving end of that bucket, Portland would shut down like another snow storm hit the city.

Bedlam.

No, that’s not how the Blazers beat the Celtics. But let’s be real.

Portland showed up to play while Boston arrived and failed at playing their typical brand head games Kevin Garnett style. The Beantown jawing in early December when the Celtics manhandled the Blazers may have worked then, but Greg Oden – and particularly LaMarcus Aldridge – weren’t having it in Rip City with or without Brandon Roy. And in this case it was “without” Brandon Roy.

A huge win – the last of 2008. 

What a way to go out.

(Portland’s “six-on-the-floor” :48 seconds into the highlight.)

pic via: si.com

Hurry Up And Wait

If there is one thing I’ve learned the most from covering the NBA the past five years, it is this: it’s a constant waiting game. Take the Boston versus Portland game at the Rose Garden this past Tuesday for example.

Driving to the arena I knew I had a looming Celtics story deadline for Wednesday afternoon. I typically arrive with a couple storylines in mind, sometimes more. But it was one of those nights. The two pregame storylines I planned didn’t come to fruition.  It happens.

I went the postgame story angle route instead – obviously storylines develop after two hours of game time.

It paid off, but only after waiting patiently out for Ray Allen in the visitor’s locker room. The guy is a smooth criminal. He was one of the very few left to address the media and had some interesting takes on the Celtics play of late (jump over to HOOPSWORLD for that story – “Physical Play Hurts Celtics”).

Planned on lasting for a good Kevin Garnett – who preferred to dress in the trainer’s room – quote too but the duration exceeded a point of ridiculousness.

As far as I know, he’s still in there.

With that story in the bag, I went for a Portland scoop knowing I can always count on one Blazer to typically be the last man standing in the locker room – Travis Outlaw. Usually, one needs only to wait for Outlaw to finish his postgame ritual in the weight room. But it’s always well worth the wait.

Shy-country boy combined with rare honesty, Outlaw makes for great interview – as long as the topic is about something other than himself. Go there and you get modesty. Give praise and you get awkward silence. Switch gears and it’s on.

But I had to go there. I’ve wondered about it – the trade talks we’ve all heard and read about – including Travis – involving Travis. The end result was “Outlaw Plays Through The Rumors” running today on HOOPSWORLD. It was worth waiting to ask the question, but only once the chitter-chatter had ceased.

I can’t help thinking though – with Nicolas Batum’s stock high and Martell Webster inked to a contract extension back in late October – what Outlaw’s future in Portland really looks like at this juncture.

Guess we’ll have to wait to find out.

pic via: daylife

The Bright Spot

Every kid in this league hits their rookie wall at one time or another. On Sunday night at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, Nicolas Batum broke through his.

In a game where Portland ran the table in the first half, only to return lackadaisical in the second half against the Lakers, Batum was the bright spot through 48 minutes for the Blazers. He did all the things – and more – that endeared him to the Blazer faithful the first few games of the season or even back in late November in wins over Miami at New Orleans at the Rose Garden.

He went for 15 and 12 points respectively in those two games. Sunday night he posted a career-high 17 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, grabbed a steal and went 6-6 from the field.

His defense on Kobe Bryant was trademark. Would have made Ruben Patterson proud. Real proud. Hustle, aggressiveness; the court savvy; the timing of it all.

With no Brandon Roy and Travis Outlaw struggling for his second-straight game, Batum did his part two-fold. And in Roy’s absence for the next 7 to 10 days – maybe more in the end – Portland is going to need everyone at their best, even Batum. This was his best.

It almost makes you forget Nicolas going “0-for” in eight of his 30 starts this season.

It’s normal for both Greg Oden and Rudy Fernandez to get their due praise, but you can’t pass up the chance to rain a little love down on Batum when it is well deserved. Despite another Portland loss, it’s games like Sunday where you see why the organization is so high on this kid. His name will get around the league before too long.

Then again, I think Pau Gasol knows his name already….

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Update on David Lee: If you’ve read this blog before, or happened to catch Friday’s Talkin’ Ball on Comcast SportsNet Northwest, you’ve heard me talk about the Blazers and their need for the play of the New York Knicks David Lee.

Now – after reaching out to sources close to the teams and one league source – it appears the two teams have hit a dead end. Touched on that today over at HOOPSWORLD….

Could getting a third team involved be the u-turn for Portland acquiring Lee? That’s being floated out there too, but the bottom line is this: the Knicks may not be ready to part with their double-double machine after all.

pic via: daylife

Nobody Asked Me But….

Remember when Queen and David Bowie accused Vanilla Ice of sampling “Under Pressure” for “Ice Ice Baby” and he denied it – and they were right? If not then chances are you won’t recall sportswriters Jimmy Cannon or Jim Murray either.

Both had their version of a feature column titled “Nobody Asked Me But”, but unlike Ice I know a little something about respect. So thanks to Cannon and Murray’s inspiration before me, here goes:

Nobody Asked Me But….

1. It looks like DUI’s are the new black around the NBA. First Sir Charles, then Antoine Walker and now Jason Richardson of the Phoenix Suns – allegedly. Seriously. Guys. Leave the Benz in the lot. Call a cab already.

2. With all the All-Star injuries out West – Brandon Roy, Carlos Boozer, Carmelo Anthony – the Northwest Division will eventually come down to who has the best supporting cast.

3. Yes, I did see “Marly and Me” – and yes, I teared-up.

4. Isn’t it time Greg Oden got his shot at being an offensive option for the Blazers? (You knew I couldn’t go long without slipping in a shameless plug. I’m surprised I made it this far).

5. I don’t think Danny Ainge and the Boston Celtics should take a gamble on signing Stephon Marbury if he becomes available.

6.  I still think David Lee would fit lovely in Portland. Maybe this summer?

7. Editors really have no clue what their writers go through.

8. A real throwback night in the NBA would kill. I’m talking no shot clock, no three point line, no music – except an occasional organ, no ear-drum-breaking noises, no astronomical charge for tickets or concessions. But we can keep the long shorts.

9. The world needs an Eric B. and Rakim reunion album right about now.

10. I wonder if Martell Webster’s foot injury is far worse than what anyone in Portland is letting on – like done for the season worse.

11. The last thing I want to see is the New York Yankees buying any more marquee pitchers or big bats this offseason.

12. Brett Favre should come back for one more year with the Jets. What the heck.

13.  I think it’s stupid Lil Wayne has his own blog on ESPN while Chuck D deserves the job. God forbid he might have something intelligent to say.

14.  Mike Brown in Cleveland should take home “Coach of the Year” honors.

15.  Spending everyday raising a two-year-old really puts life in perspective. Trust me.

pic via: mega-prod

All Over Aldridge

I wasn’t buying it then and I’m not buying it now. Just last week a local sportswriter in Portland refuted the fact LaMarcus Aldridge is as good as he really is. I’m sure that writer changed his tune after Portland beat Detroit on Wednesday night thanks to Aldridge.

Yes, Travis Outlaw flexed bigger than his 6’9, 207 pound frame displays with regained confidence and shooting touch late in the fourth quarter. Yes, rookie Jerryd Bayless howled at the moon and for one night maybe showed he could see minutes once Brandon Roy eventually returns.

But without Aldridge, the Blazers bandwagon might be a little lighter today. Sure it took him 21 shots to get his 26 points – essentially mirroring Detroit’s Tayshaun Prince (13 for 21, 26 points) – but you have to pick your poison.

Do you want an Aldridge – who took a nasty shot to the ear in the win - outing like he had against the Pistons? Or do you want the LaMarcus who looked lost against New Orleans last week when he made a whole five shots in 18 attempts?

He may not be “the man” – we know who owns that title in Portland. Folks may not obsess over him the way they do Greg Oden, Rudy Fernandez and Bayless. You know who you are. But we all know who runs the floor and finishes better than anyone on the Blazers. And we all know that if Portland is going to get where they want to go that L.A. will have to help get them there.

Sorry, but right now LaMarcus Aldridge is that good.

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Shameless Plug:  That’s not the outing I thought Allen Iverson was going to have. He finished with 14 points. Thought for sure he’d put up more than 19 shots too, especially after he had Steve Blake and Sergio Rodriguez matched-up against him.

Think Detroit missed the boat there.

But come playoff time you just know the Pistons will be clicking on all cylinders. As I found out, the whole “Detroit and Iverson won’t be able to adjust to each other” argument simply doesn’t hold weight. You can read more about that today over at HOOPSWORLD.

pic via: o-live.com

What A Day….

You think you know, but you have no idea. Covering the NBA when drama strikes on or off the court often means nothing but a full day, and Friday was no exception. It went a little something like this….

2am: My two-year old daughter decides it’s time to wake-up…..good times. She must have sensed the drama.

4am: After some hanging out and an episode of Sesame Street, it’s time for bed. Let’s try this again…..for me too.

7:30am: Awake to a few emails and a Sports Illustrated report about Portland Trail Blazers team president Larry Miller’s emailed memo to the rest of the league. It was the line in the sand. Stood slack jawed after reading. Twice.

7:31-8am: Swapped “what-the-hell-is-going-on-around-here” emails to fellow confused writers, sources and friends. Cursed SI’s Ian Thomsen for breaking the story.

8-9:00am: Awaited email and phone call from Blazers front office regarding the published Yahoo report that launched the whole “some-team-could-sign-Darius-Miles-just-to-mess-with-Portland’s-money” story from Thursday. Was told Thursday “meetings” delayed a response. Realized what “meetings” those actually were…..very interesting.

9:30-11:30am: Did some research. Ran errands. Avoided the Blazers practice facility and the media moshpit. After covering the whole Larry Brown – Isiah Thomas saga while in New York back in the day, I learned a quick lesson: the last thing any coach or General Manager wants is one more writer around with a voice recorder in their face. The story could wait. Like in life, avoid the drama.

Noon: A man has to eat….fed my daughter and put her down for a nap too. Caught up on emails and chuckled at the email response from Cavs owner Dan Gilbert to Miller’s email memo. You can’t make this stuff up….

12:30pm: Contemplated updating Facebook status to “Wendell got the memo”…..Facebook IM fellow writers about the fall out soon to hit the Blazers.

1:15pm: Swapped a dozen emails/texts to editors explaining I was working on the story….or at least was thinking about working on the story.

2pm: Called and spoke with Blazers media relations team. Wondered if a comment or press release was forth coming from Miller and the organization – it was, just didn’t know when. Stay tuned.

2:05pm: More emails/texts to editors. No replies. Some replies. Wanted to take a nap but worked the phones instead.

3:45pm: Caught Larry Miller on John Canzano’s Bald Face Truth on 95.5 The Game….still had questions of my own.

4:05pm: Received call from Blazers media relations member informing of a 5pm conference call with Larry Miller.

5:03pm: Conference call gets underway. Know it’s a national story when writers from the New York Times, CBS Sports and TNT join myself and three other beat writers on the call. Asked Miller if he would change anything about the way the memo situation was handled. Said he wouldn’t.

5:15pm: Get word the NBAPA filed a grievance against the Blazers. Isn’t that what Portland should have done in the first place – filed their own to the league office about their concerns?

5:25pm: Processed Miller’s comments, thoughts from the conference call. Originally thought Portland was wrong for taking the low road. After the call, I came to appreciate the Blazers strong arm tactics. Wondered if the guys on the court dared to be that tough against Golden State come Saturday.

8-8:30pm: Got killed by my wife in Mario Kart.

8:45pm: Time to get to work. Knocked out 700 word feature to run Saturday morning over at HOOPSWORLD. We had a couple updates on the situation today, so my input wasn’t in dire need on Friday. Saturday is a different story….

9:35pm: Get ready to file story. Checked to see if any breaking news hit on the topic. It did. Report: Grizzlies re-sign Miles. Sat slack jawed. Sent mad texts. Cursed Ron Tillery at the Memphis Commercial Appeal for breaking the story.

9:40pm: Re-wrote my story.

10:15pm: Finished and filed story….again.

10:30-11pm: Catch up on texts and emails about Memphis signing Miles. Still can’t believe it. Brian Hendrickson from the Vancouver Columbian and I ponder the same thought via text: wonder if this day will ever end.

11:30pm: Decide to make this day even longer by writing a blog post about what the day in the life of a NBA writer/reporter looks like when a story hits…and hits….and hits.

12am: Slowly fade into the night…..with thoughts of David Stern vetoing Miles’ 10-day contract with Memphis. The story continues.

pic via: bodoglife.com

Deal Or No Deal?

This blog post isn’t about Darius Miles. I promise. But it is about how wallowing in the Miles mire now is an obstacle Portland must overcome quickly.

That first big hurdle could arrive in the coming weeks with the NBA trade deadline fresh on everyone’s mind. You think the rumors going around the league are bad right now, just wait another 15-25-35 days when it gets real crazy.

As someone who covers the league, I couldn’t but help think about Portland’s position in all of this the past few days – well, at least since Friday.

How hard will it be now for Blazers GM Kevin Pritchard to work the phones – knowing what has transpired regarding Darius Miles (that’s the last time you will hear Miles’ name mentioned, I swear) – and not feel that will play a factor into how other front offices respond? He won’t be communicating via e-mail. This much we know.

After talking to a trusted league executive – with the scoop detailed over at HOOPSWORLD titled, “Has Portland Hurt Trade Chances” – I have a better understanding of the bigger picture. And I mentioned this in the piece, but the NBA is so “relationship” and “contact” driven.

All sports is that way. Heck, sportswriting is that way.

In his book Falling Hard, a must-read boxing book by Chris Jones that recounts his rookie year covering the fight game, Jones says it perfectly:

“The meeting represented my first lesson as a would-be reporter: journalism is founded almost exclusively on contacts.”

I buy that. I also believe building “relationships” is the key to any success – business, marriage and even in basketball. And just as any team in the NBA hopes for success, that accomplishment is largely predicated on those “relationships” and your ability to establish common ground with others or your “contacts.”

I’m just not sure how far such rapport goes under Portland’s recent off court circumstances.

pic via:criadvantage

New Knicks, Old Tricks

Click-click-click-click-click. That’s the sound of a New York Knicks media relations lackey typing your conversation with a player or coach into their BlackBerry, only to send it on to upper management. Maybe it’s not that way right now. But that was the reality not too long ago.

You may think these shenanigans about a certain Memphis Grizzlies forward (told you I wasn’t going to use his name again), is a flashback to a Bob Whitsett era in Portland, and they may easily be. But I’m not sure it is nearly as bad as the never ending circus that is the New York Knicks.

Now with Eddy Curry making ugly headlines, I dove into this today over at HOOPSWORLD in a story titled, “When Can The Knicks Move On?”. I wonder if the Knicks will ever get back to basketball instead of dealing with these typical distractions. 

(As a side note, it’s really hard to believe these Curry allegations. It’s just unfortunate when bad things happen to really good people. I smell a rat on this one.)

What I saw, read and wrote about in my three seasons covering the Knicks will forever be branded into my memory. Let me count the ways. I need only mention the usual suspects – James Dolan, Larry Brown, Isiah Thomas, Stephon Marbury – and the story starts to tell itself.

I’ve got stories. Man, I’ve got stories. Stories too long to detail in this simply blog post. I’ll save it for the book one day.

Know this though: it got so bad between the team and media – a tangible paranoia that trickled down from Dolan from day one – that some writers couldn’t do a single interview without a team media relations representative present and transcribing the entire conversation into their handheld device.

This happened everyday. Everyday.

It could even be as simple as, “Hey bro, nice game last night. How are the wife and kids?”

Click-click-click-click-click.

Such Gestapo tactics at the Garden led one beat writer to seriously joke he’d better look under his car or check the breaks in his ride on his way home from the arena.

Only in New York.

pic via: newsday

Which Way Will They Go?

This time of year is never easy around the league: the NBA trade deadline. It’s basically a guessing game in some instances, and that’s even if your sources launch or can confirm a so called “done deal.”

Case in point: As a news service, HOOPSWORLD takes a lot of heat about the rumors they discuss, typically rumors that are already detailed by beat writers or in particular scenarios, debated with front office types or legit sources.

“Legit” being the keyword here.

Then there are those writers who simply throw a name against the wall and hope it sticks. Unfortunately, HOOPSWORLD – at times – falls prey to this beast. And the beast eats that garbage up. Swapping readership for credibility isn’t worth it.

Personally, I’m not big on that style.

But there are times – and with the trade deadline approaching, this is one of those times – that you have to seriously look at a situation and say, “okay, this team needs help. They have a desperate need. Or they have pieces to work with. Why wouldn’t they make a move?”

That was at the heart of a HOOPSWORLD piece – “5 Trade Deadline Teams” – running today, a quick list of a handful of teams that might have a hectic next couple of weeks.

Trust me; it was tough to keep it to five teams. Could have easily been seven or ten teams. Should be a busy deadline; that’s a given.

So where does Portland fall into this category? They didn’t make the list. Would they have if it were longer? I’m still not sure. According to Kevin Pritchard, Portland will “stand pat.” Knowing the situation at the point and small forward positions however, something has to eventually give though. We know far too well Pritchard isn’t a big in-season-trade-guy, unless you count Taurean Green for Von Wafer from last year.

So apparently the Blazers won’t budge.

Surely Raef LaFrentz is sitting comfortably somewhere on his Iowa farm with a different opinion.

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Shameless Plug: You know you’ve been busy if someone else plugs your work before you can shamelessly do it.

Thanks to Dwight Jaynes for spreading the word on the Portland Indians – Portland’s first pro basketball team in his recent blog post.

After much research on and a gift of an interview from a surviving member of the Indians – an interview that would not have happened without Jaynes’ help – the Northwest Examiner ran the feature story on their front page this month.

That never sucks.

Much like Dwight, I am not a fan of the PDF. But what is a writer to do….

pic via: streetsigns

The Writing On The Wall

It’s not a story I looked forward to writing. But the conversation had to take place: Channing Frye’s future in Portland.

For those of you who have taken the time to read this blog over the past six-seven months, you know my take on Frye. After arriving in New York around the same time and both beginning our careers with the Knicks – Channing play, me writing – we landed in Portland the same summer.

It just happens that our paths have intersected more than once.

For me, he’s one of the great guys in this league. Always a good quote. Don’t feel bad about calling him goofy either. He calls himself goofy.

I’ve pretty much come to this conclusion though: if Frye were a cliché, he’d be “good guys finish last.”

It was that way in New York. It appears it will be that way in Portland – hence me digging into the idea of his future with the Blazers, courtesy of HOOPSWORLD.

Right before the Blazers embarked on their recent road trip back to Chicago, Philadelphia, New Jersey and Charlotte, I grabbed some time with Channing at the Rose Garden. Wanted to get his thoughts on his current predicament. Know it’s not an easy time for him. Also know his play has reverted back to when he first arrived in Portland.

Many will agree. When Frye is on the court, you almost forget he is.

Let me say this – the guy isn’t jaded. He’s not complaining. He’s not sulking.

If anything, Frye has read the writing on the wall and doesn’t like what it says.

pic via: nba.com

The Real Redd

It was well after midnight when I heard the voice in my head scold me: you just buried the lede!

The story was filed. A re-write was not in the works. Neither was on-the-fly editing.

Sleep.

After a fresh six hours, it was one of the first thoughts that crossed my mind this morning – burying the lede. That is downright scary. Must have been the guilt speaking to me. It happens. Thankfully the drone of “daddy-daaaddy-daaaaaaddy” broke that spell.

Given the task of writing a feature story on the Milwaukee Bucks Michael Redd – a true class act -, I grabbed some time with Redd after the Bucks dropped a tough one at the Rose Garden on Monday night.

The feature is running in full today at HOOPSWORLD.

As we talked about his play this season, his amazing trip to the Olympics, and the Bucks postseason prayer in general, the interview moved towards a matter very close and personal to Redd: his faith.

As a rule of thumb with my current employer, editors prefer you avoid discussing politics and religion. But this was neither of those topics – this was about Redd’s faith, his belief – and yes, there is a difference between faith and religion. So Redd and I went there. Had this been an opinion piece, I wouldn’t have gone there. But because the story was truly to be about Redd, then I had to ask about Redd the player and Redd the person.

I wanted to inquire about the real Redd.

In the story however, that topic – Redd’s faith and how it plays out in his life – closed the story.

And in this case – at least for me writing about Redd – it was okay to bury the lede. I wanted to leave the impression of what really matters at the end of the day. So I did.

Goodbye journalism 101.

Goodbye guilt.

pic via: nike.com

A Little Bit Mo….

Rarely do I take handouts from multi-million dollar ball players like that, but the Cleveland Cavaliers locker room was in good spirits and so was I.

Besides, when Mo Williams offers you a postgame quesadilla, you take it.

How could I not? He caught me off guard as I came around the corner and into the locker room. Plus, the guy just shot lights out against Portland. I wasn’t telling him “no”. But let the record show I gently sat the boxed Mexican meal down on a nearby folding chair when Mo wasn’t looking, as not to hurt his feelings.

It was one of his rare misses of the night.

Rule of thumb: messing with a player is okay. Chowing down on his postgame meal in the locker room is forbidden, even if you are starving.

Luckily Wally Szczerbiak asked for some of the quesadilla, so it didn’t go to complete waste.

The Blazers on the other hand, wasted one against the Cavs. Basically, they were left in awe of LeBron James as I touched on after the game over at HOOPSWORLD.

While James held court at his corner locker with the press pressing in, I caught up with Ben Wallace feet away from the flock for a feature story running Friday on Cavs rookie J.J. Hickson. Yet as I stood there with James’ media moshpit overflowing and finishing up with Wallace, a couple things struck me:

First, James – in all his glory and humanity – lives up to the hype every time I see him play. Covered him when he would come through New Jersey; covered him when he would come through New York; cover him now when he rolls through Portland. He never disappoints. Never. And while Cavs fans will hate me for saying this, there is no doubt in my mind that he belongs in New York when and if he opts for free agency in 2010.

He was made for the stage at Madison Square Garden.

That’s the beauty of a site like Countdown2LeBron. It’s essentially a one-stop-shop on your way to the James-Knicks marriage.

And second, Portland is going to have a hard time making the postseason if they continue to falter against physical superior teams like Cleveland. Denver and Utah come to mind out West; they both play in that Cavs gritty mold. They get after it. They scrap. They put in work. And they actually rebound.

Portland best rub on a little elbow grease before it gets too late.

pic via: daylife

To The Point

Just when you thought Portland’s point guard rotation was back to normal with Steve Blake returning to the floor, along comes a Brian Skinner pick.

When the Los Angeles Clippers big man put a body on Blake with about five minutes left before half, a yelp and cringe by Blake said it all. Not sure what hurt more – Blake’s right shoulder or the two air balls he launched during his ten minute stint.

Actually, I’m wondering what he was doing out there in the first place. Obviously it was his call to play, but it was Nate McMillan’s decision to start him. Would Blake have re-injured his shoulder if he came off the bench? Perhaps.

But right now, the tag team of Sergio Rodriguez and Jerryd Bayless are self sufficient enough to hold down the fort for a few more games. If McMillan is going to put faith in his two backup point guards, it might as well be during this stretch.

Take Sergio for example. Rodriguez passed up a wide-open three early to find Joel Przybilla all alone under the basket, and his over-the-head-no-look-pass to Greg Oden two quarters later was about as sick as a dish comes. A little stylin’ and profilin’. He played smart. Maybe Sergio’s numbers aren’t going to blow you away (7 points and 5 assists in roughly 17 minutes), but combined with Bayless’ performance the two are holding down the point.

Chances are Jerryd started the game thinking he’d be lucky to even sniff the court. But as we all know about the NBA, injuries and opportunities go hand-in-hand. Much like Sergio, his final stat line isn’t All-Star worthy either (5 points and 6 assists in just over 22 minutes), but the fact is the two point guards only combined for two turnovers, and that is solid.

Very solid.

And while so much is made of Bayless’ aggressiveness and his barking after a bucket, what about his on-court chemistry with Oden? It seems at least once a game, the two rookies are in sync with an alleyoop or quick dish for a dunk. They have good chemistry together.

It’s nice to see both Sergio and Jerryd taking some ownership at the point.

In other words, take your time Steve. Take your time.

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Shameless Plug: Couple more weeks to go to the trade deadline is officially upon us. So as we wait to see what takes place in Portland, teams like Cleveland prepare for another postseason run.

But will they make a move?  I caught up with Cavs head coach Mike Brown last week – along with Ben Wallace – and was curious what the approach is when names float around in the rumors, as they are prone to do this time of the season.

The story is running in full over at HOOPSWORLD.

pic via: nba.com

Six Degrees Of Larry Brown

I had a feeling it would go like this when Larry Brown came to Portland. I’m not talking about the Blazers steamrolling a hobbled Charlotte Bobcats either. It’s more about Brown leaving a lasting impression.

Call it “Six Degrees of Larry Brown” if you will.

There was a reason Brown held his pregame availability at 5:00 at the Rose Garden. Whereas most visiting coaches tend to hold a typical intimate press conference closer to 5:45 outside their locker room, Brown opted for the early bird special.

He had places to go; people to see. Actually, now in his 28th year in the NBA, it was more like people coming to see him.

I gotta go talk to Coach Brown….

That phrase was heard plenty around the Rose Garden on Wednesday.

First it was assistant Blazers Monty Williams who grabbed a seat courtside next to Brown. Williams played under Coach Brown at Philadelphia in 2002-03, a time Williams has told me before he will always cherish. It was in Philly where Monty came to appreciate Brown, his work ethic and also where he got to know Brown’s family.

Minutes later – as Williams and Brown parted ways – General Manager Kevin Pritchard sidled up alongside his former head coach. Pritchard won an NCAA title in 1988 thanks to Coach Brown while at Kansas, and his gratitude extends all the way back to those early days in Lawrence when Brown used to ride Pritchard in practice.

See, Brown tends to be hard on his point guards. It’s always been that way. Ask Rod Strickland, Mark Jackson, Allan Iverson, Chauncey Billups, Stephon Marbury, Raymond Felton – and of course, Kevin Pritchard – about that.

“Oh man, was he,” Pritchard said when I asked if that was the case.

“If not, I’d like to meet someone who is harder.”

But looking back, Pritchard also knows it was all for the better.

“I wouldn’t be where I am today without Coach Brown.”

That’s why it was refreshing – knowing the paternal relationships involved – to hear Brown heap praise on the Blazers after the Bobcats loss. He knows how far they have come and likes where they are going.

Next up is Channing Frye.

While it’s uncertain if Frye had a chance to swap “hellos” with his first coach in the league, there remains a reason in my mind why Frye’s rookie season in New York was his best yet: Coach Brown. He knew how to use “Channin” (as Brown always mispronounces Frye’s first name) and “Channin” fit well into his Brown’s system.

Poor “Channin”.

Heck, even Nate McMillan recalled before the game how he took-in one of Coach Brown’s annual summer coaching seminars a few years back and spoke fondly about what he learned from the coaching legend.

As for me, the “Six Degrees” has come full circle with Coach Brown – from one coast to the other.

My first year covering the NBA in New York, the Knicks brought in Larry Brown to help right the ship. And while the Knicks season – and Coach Brown’s tenure in New York – sunk like the Titanic, I will never forget being able to listen and talk the game with Coach Brown during pregame and post game interviews and at practice. 

It was amazing.

It was crazy.

It was truly a blessing.

pic via: upi

Speak Up

As the youngest of eleven children, a lot of things went unsaid when I was growing up. My Dad – a workaholic and at times very stern man – wasn’t big on touchy feely communication. All these years later I’m starting to realize that upbringing comes in handy covering the NBA.

There was no such thing as an “allowance” in my family. The roof over your head, food on the table and clothes on you back – many times hand-me-downs – was the stipend.

So if I wanted some spending money, my mother typically told me to “ask your father.”

Great. I knew a “no” was on the way before even thinking of asking. Why even bother? Money was not a topic I approached my Dad with. After working a graveyard shift, sometimes picking up an overtime shift on top of that to help ends meet, all he wanted to do was rest…..or work around the house.

I grew up afraid to ask him for anything, let alone money.

So I kept to myself, learning quickly to unwant.

You can’t get away with that in this league.

Front offices, coaches, players, agents, scouts and “sources” are the heart of your information, regardless if it is a life feature story to tell or emerging news to report. Without that, this job is irrelevant. If you want to know, you have to go ask.

Sitting on your hands isn’t an option.

It’s a death sentence.

No one else is going to ask your questions, write your story or build a relationship for you. That’s on you. Regardless what someone tells everyone else, all you can really truthfully bank on is what you hear first hand from the person you are conversing with.

In this case Kevin Pritchard.

Yesterday afternoon I ran a story over at HOOPSWORLD discussing Pritchard’s thoughts on the Blazers and the upcoming NBA trade deadline – and more specifically, Portland’s place in making moves. A good hour or so later, I received comments and emails about the story, refuting Portland’s decision to make a trade in the coming weeks.

All I can say is this: if I want to know something, I don’t have a problem inquiring. What I can’t control however is what “said person” tells someone else. It happens. The last thing any GM is going to do right now is show their hand, regardless if they have a full house or are bluffing.

It’s all about the poker face.

So what do you do? You take the person for their word.

All I can do is speak up and ask.

pic via: sme-blog.net

Waiting On An All-Star

Two years ago when LaMarcus Aldridge was snubbed from the Rookie-Sophomore All-Star game in Las Vegas he used it as motivation towards the second half of his rookie season and leading into the summer. It paid off.

He made the trip to New Orleans last year as a sophomore. So does this mean Aldridge will be an All-Star for the West next year?

Motivation is the key.

Okay, so his numbers are just below career-highs he posted last season. And he is buried behind the fan favorites, leaving him to receive the eleventh most votes at his position out West.

That’s what prompted my talk with Kevin Pritchard, asking if Aldridge will ever be an All-Star knowing who he is running up against. I’m more inclined – not to debate that stance – but take it a few steps further and wonder when his time will come?

Look who Aldridge finished behind in voting: Tim Duncan, Amar’e Stoudemire, Carmelo Anthony, Dirk Nowitzki, Ron Artest and Pau Gasol. I get that. Those are some impressive names.

But from there down the door is wide open: Bruce Bowen, Shane Battier, Josh Howard and Luis Scola. Aldridge finished behind them all.

I get the first six. I don’t get the other four.

Bowen – while a defensive stud – has seen his minutes slip, along with his production. Battier and Howard have been injury prone much of the season, and Scola is solid but not to the point where he is better than Aldridge in the post or on the perimeter.

Nevertheless, it’s going to take a big year from Aldridge – whenever that is – for him to represent the West at an All-Star game.

pic via: espn

No Streaking

Well, that was fun for Portland while it lasted. The five-game win streak is over after losing to Dallas. So why is closing the book on a win-streak actually a good thing?

That’s easy.

It puts life out West in perspective for the Blazers.

The last thing Portland needs right now is to rattle off 10-straight like the Boston Celtics, then have everyone gunning for them to fall on their faces. Forget that. The Blazers are better off flying under the radar and sneaking up on teams. That’s why they are sitting fourth out West in the first place.

It’s not that Portland has to win every game. Certainly helps, but it isn’t a must. Because right now, the Blazers are sitting right where they want to be while teams around them are beginning to hit the skids.

Tt’s more important to get and stay healthy than it is to win six, seven or eight games in a row. Wins will soon follow.

Steve Blake is preparing to return after Portland’s current road trip – hopefully Martell Webster before too long. New Orleans has lost four-straight and will be without Chris Paul. Utah is banged up missing both Carlos Boozer and Andrei Kirilenko. The Los Angeles Lakers – while not immediately fazed by the loss of Andrew Bynum – is missing a cog in their machine.

Houston is always a team with an injury waiting to happen.

Tis the season.

Forget the streak.

It’s too early for Portland to peak.

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The Latest: Hard too not think about the upcoming trade deadline these days. And what better way to get a debate going then talk about some players who should be on a general manager’s shortlist…..or at least a topic of converstation between a few front offices.

Check out “10 Players GM’s Should Call About” over at HOOPSWORLD too see who made the cut.

pic via: photobucket

The Knicks: Then And Now

It’s been two seasons since I’ve seen the New York Knicks up close and personal. I missed their trip through Portland last season due to the flu, but having covered the Knicks for three seasons prior I was used to being sick.

The Knicks now are nothing like the Knicks then.

Slowly but surely the organization is starting to turn things around. Okay, it’s not the glory days of Frazier, Ewing or Houston. The wins aren’t there. But it sure beats the charade New York endured during the Isiah Thomas era – or error as those in the know prefer to call it.

Here’s some quick hits on the Knicks then – as I saw them for three seasons, versus the Knicks now:

Then: The Garden Gestapo tried to muzzle Larry Brown from speaking openly to the press. When Thomas took over on the sidelines, he opted for a “just tell them what they need to know” approach with the media. And even that was hard for him to do

Now: Head coach Mike D’Antoni can speak his mind and freely interact with the media….as it should be.

Then: David Lee could barely get a start.

Now: Lee is the man.

Then: Beat writers typically had their conversations with players transcribed by media relations staff members into handheld devices, where they were then sent on to upper management.

Now: All beat writers have to worry about looking over their shoulder at are the constant layoffs in the newspaper biz.

Then: Larry Brown heralded Eddy Curry as the Knicks next big man. To Thomas, Curry was an All-Star in the making.

Now: Basketball is the furthest thing from Curry’s mind.

Then: The Knicks brawled against the Denver Nuggets.

Now: They are fighting for the eight spot back East….21 wins and all.

Then: Channing Frye was part of the Knicks foundation.

Now: He can’t get off the Blazers bench.

Then: Stephon Marbury was a locker room cancer.

Now: The Knicks are close to being cured with Marbury out of the picture.

Then: Marbury said he was the best point guard in the league.

Now: He’s teamless.

Then: Nate Robinson was an out of control point guard.

Now: Robinson makes the Knicks go.

Then: Thomas hoped veterans like Steve Francis, Jalen Rose and Kelvin Cato would help lead the Knicks.

Now: D’Antoni has all the faith in the world with a youngster like Wilson Chandler.

Then: Jerome James was known as “Big Snacks”.

Now: Well, some things just don’t change.

pic via: nymag

Gone Mental….

The NBA All-Star weekend is nearly upon us, but I’m getting the feeling the Portland Trail Blazers – with still two more games before the break against Oklahoma City and Golden State – have taken their leave a bit early.

Mentally, they are already on vacation.

If Sunday’s near loss to the New York Knicks said anything, it said that. In fact, that truth was spoken last Friday night in Oklahoma City. Loud and clear.

This is in no way taking away from the shocking comeback win and late game heroics of Brandon Roy. Amazing wears number seven. This much we know. Guess Jared Jeffries ignored the scouting report about Roy’s trademark sweet lefthand scoop to the hoop– even if Jeffries did get caught on a switch.

But as I got into after the game during a postgame HOOPSWORLD blog entry, the Blazers nearly gave that one away….a few times.

I know Nate McMillan said afterwards he’ll take the win. But there is no way he takes blowing a 17 point lead, turning the ball over 14 times and letting the Knicks basically run amuck in the second half.

You can’t take that, not when the real season starts after the All-Star break.

Portland can’t afford the same costly mental lapses during the second half of the season.

pic via: o-live

The New Old School

There is old school and then there is Donnie Walsh. But it’s that old school styling that earns him so much respect around the league, even in this new school NBA.

He’s a New Yorker to the fullest – straight from the Bronx – who practiced Tar Heel traditions at North Carolina, before being selected by the Philadelphia Warriors but never playing. Walsh opted for coaching at UNC instead, then South Carolina, then as an assistant coach for Larry Brown with the Denver Nuggets.

A storied career with the Indiana Pacers soon followed, where he rebuilt the team through Reggie Miller. And man, was Miller ever a Knicks killer.

Now Walsh aims to do the same with New York (minus Miller).

It’s only fitting – after talking to Walsh and getting to know his thoughts on the state of the Knicks – that his first change in New York was eliminating the strict and paranoid media policy that had been no doubt hurting the franchise.

Had that policy remained in place, I’m not sure Walsh would have signed-on to help reform the Knicks in the first place. Under the old regime, we certainly wouldn’t have been able to chat courtside without a team representative present, that’s for sure.

He knows the press isn’t the enemy.

Walsh may be getting up there, but he’s as new school as he is old school.

At 68-years-old, he stays up late to watch games on NBA TV, is attached at the hip to his BlackBerry – even if he would rather not be at times – and makes the cross country treks and long road trips to keep tabs on the team and staff.

Is he a miracle worker though?

We’ll find out in the summer of 2010.

pic via: cbc

 

Let’s All Cool Down….

What do Amar’e Stoudemire, Major League Baseball and a heavyweight championship fight all have in common? None are coming to Portland, so can we just get back to basketball please.

I get it. The trade deadline is upon us and we are bound to hear anything and everything over the next couple of days. But let’s just leave it at this: keeping Raef LeFrentz’s $12.7 million expiring contract is far better for the Blazers than making a move simply for the sake of change.

So after the mass emails from fans, other writers and needy editors I received today about this rumors…..here is the straight dope:

I have no doubt that Phoenix offered a package for Stoudemire, involving LaMarcus Aldridge, Jerryd Bayless, and LeFrentz’s expiring contract. If I learned anything from Ken Berger – formerly of Newsday, who reported the story over at CBSSports.com – from when we both covered the New York Knicks, it is this:

The guy can work a story and his sources are legit. Portland signing off on the deal however is not.

It’s surprising Phoenix didn’t ask for Brandon Roy in return too.

Good lord.

GM’s talk all the time. They talk shop all the time. Heck, some even text trade ideas to each other. ‘Tis the season.

And just as Portland isn’t buying this deal, neither do I believe that this whole talk got started on Portland’s end. Aldridge is the second best player on the team. Bayless is a kid many in the organization see as a future point guard for Portland. As for LeFrentz, that contract isn’t going anywhere until this summer once it has expired.

To be honest, I’m not sure Stoudemire is on his way out of Phoenix just yet. Not Chicago, not Miami and certainly not Portland. If anything, the Suns are putting him on ice.

So let’s everyone cool down from this rumor.

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The Latest: Since I won’t be making the trip to the All-Star Game this weekend, I knocked out a quick story on someone who will be – adidas.

Let me explain. If you haven’t heard, adidas constructed the jerseys that will be worn at the All-Star Game on Sunday and the product is pretty insane. Spoke with an adidas rep yesterday, who endured sleepless nights the past two years to help get this high-tech uniform done.

I will let the story tell the story….”The Perfect Fit At All-Star”….via HOOPSWORLD of course.

And of course, here is the poster child for the product. None other than Superman himself….

pic via: nba noise

About The Raef List….

There is always a method to the madness – even when it comes down to compiling a top 10 list about an injured veteran center on the mend in Iowa. Heck, even Raef LaFrentz would probably admit he’s never been at the center of Portland’s world as much as he is right now.

Actually, the story idea – running today thanks in large part to fellow HOOPSWORLD writer Jason Fleming’s insight – came about pretty easily. It helps having fans and fellow writers tell us – two guys based in Portland – how the Blazers need to move LaFrentz’s contract.

They even took it a step further saying the Blazers should pull the trigger on the Amar’e Stoudemire trade proposal. I went there yesterday. And I don’t want to go back today….but I will.

What is amusing is the feedback we are getting on this “10 Reasons To Keep LaFrentz’s Contract” piece. If you have time, check out the comment section from the story. Love those who take time to comment. They truly make the debate lively. But I also love how funny it gets – not in a ‘ha-ha’ way, but more of a ‘are you friggin serious’ way - when people say Portland is stupid for not trading for Amar’e or not moving LaFrentz’s contract.

That’s along the comedy lines of David Letterman’s interview with Joaquin Phoenix last night.

Classic.

Now, I’m not typically a betting man, but I would bet a bag of Funyuns those same folks who say Portland is stupid for not trading LaMarcus Aldridge, Jerryd Bayless and Raef’s contract to the Suns reside outside the greater Portland metro area and even the state of Oregon.

Am I wrong here?

If so I would love to hear from you….

pic via: o-live

Brush It Off….

Every time I see an ant hill, I can’t help but think back to when I was in high school. I was a sophomore. Maybe a junior. All I know is there must have been a couple hundred ants crawling all over me and I hated it.

It was in Nebraska. I was working with my dad trying to repair a driveway culvert at the feed and seed lot one of my older brothers and my dad ran. The culvert had a hole in it. I was selected to try and fix it. Had no choice actually. My dad – likely after a long day of work in the hot summer sun – asked me to lay down on the gravely driveway to see about a hole in the culvert.

I laid down, discovered the hole and stood up to tell my dad about it.

As I did, I got a tingly feeling all over me. I had rested right on top of ant hill. I was covered with ants. Covered with them. They were on my legs, my arms, my neck. I was freaking out.

I imagine news of Greg Oden’s latest gimpy knee problem has hit a lot of people in the same way. If nothing else it is part of his injury prone legacy.

Oden missed the NBA rookie-sophomore game last night after experiencing some swelling on his left knee. The MRI revealed a chip fracture on the patella. Now every Blazers die-hard or Oden fan across the league suddenly has this creepy crawly feeling all over them. It’s like every time you think this kid is healthy, you are swarmed with discomfort.

Makes it even worse after Kevin Durant did what Kevin Durant does.

I mean, forget the ants. The injury bug feeds on this guy like he was Old Country Buffet – the wrist, the knee, the ankle, the knee.

But let’s look at the big picture here. Had Oden played Friday night in Phoenix, it would have been the back end end of a back-to-back-to-back outing. If anyone needs a break in Portland it is this kid. What truly matters is that he get some rest and be healthy for the second half of the season, not go-down in an exhibition game that doesn’t count.

No need to freak out.

As I stood there covered with ants, I’ll never forget how calm my dad was. He simply walked over to me, told me to stand still and started brushing the ants off of me.  Felt like a lifetime. But it was over before I knew it.

That’s all Oden or his fans in Rip City can do right now.

Remain calm, brush it off and move on.

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The Latest: When All-Star weekend always rolls around, I can’t help but be envious of those other writers who take advantage of their three-day-weekend. No such luck for me. While I didn’t make the trip to Phoenix, we have a strong HOOPSWORLD contingent on the ground.

Luckily, they are spooning me some interviews.

Just didn’t know one of those clips would allow me to tell how happy Allen Iverson is about this coming summer. He’s got free agency on his mind – all while having one foot out the door in Detroit.

Stay tuned….will have a feature story on Kevin Durant and Michael Beasley, as well as one on Atlanta Hawks center Al Horford running later today.  

Enjoy the weekend.

pic via: brouser

Where Does Roy Go From Here?

It’s a simple question: where does Brandon Roy go from here?After his second-straight impressive All-Star outing Sunday in Phoenix, you have to wonder if one day Roy will stand in front of his peers and raise that MVP Trophy.

Lost between the Shaq and Kobe Bryant lovefest and the fleeting minutes of the game – or the second edition of the ‘Slam Dunk Contest’ as I like to call it – was Roy’s performance. Not surprising. I’m sure there were a lot of people watching who don’t even know what Roy is capable of – let alone who he plays for.

Not only did he finish with 14 points on 7-8 shooting to go with five rebounds and five assists, but he led everyone in minutes with 31. I bet Nate McMillan will thank Phil Jackson for that later. Because the last thing McMillan and the Blazers want is an All-Star hangover from their true All-Star.

Roy has to be ready to really lead Portland during the second half of the season. We’re talking about building upon his first half performance, not duplicating it.

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The Latest: Man, Michael Beasley took a lot of HEAT (yes, pun intended) for jacking up too many shots on Friday night. What do you expect? It’s an exhibition contest, plus he was trying to exchange buckets with his boy Kevin Durant. I digress.

Here’s a quick story about Beasley and Durant’s childhood friendship and a shared dream…..along with the Atlanta Hawks Al Horford showing his true colors at All-Star weekend. Both stories ran Saturday over at HOOPSWORLD.

W

Don’t Make This About Darius

Not too long ago a former Portland Trail Blazer made headlines down in Memphis. You might have heard about it. It was somewhat controversial. But on Wednesday night when the Memphis Grizzlies take the floor at the Rose Garden no one will probably be looking at “that” man – or should I say “that” head coach.

All eyes will be on Darius Miles. Instead, they should be on his head coach.

When Lionel Hollins was named the 11th head coach in franchise history for the Grizzlies back on January 25, this former assistant with Memphis caught some flack. Major flack.

Not only was he returning to the sidelines for the Grizzlies – after posting a combined 18-44 in two prior stints – but some who cover the league didn’t even think Hollins – who was serving as an assistant with the Milwaukee Bucks this season - should have received the job in the first place.

With all the former head coaches looking for work, why Hollins? Is he just another short term solution? If that is the case, at least he’s getting the most out of team right now. Memphis is 4-6 since Hollins took over as head coach of the team. Not horrible for the Grizzlies who lost 12-straight before turning to grab four wins under Hollins. 

On Wednesday night, you won’t have to be a Grizzlies fan to cheer Hollins in Portland.  You just have to know something about how he helped bring a championship ring to Rip City.

Selected sixth overall in the first round of the 1975 NBA Draft by the Blazers, Hollins (sitting dead center in the above photo) earned a spot on the 1976 All-Rookie First Team and won an NBA Championship as a starter for the Trail Blazers in 1977, where he was a teammate of current Grizzlies assistant coach Johnny Davis (sitting second in on the left).

The next year, Hollins was an NBA All-Star who also named to the NBA’s All-Defensive First Team. In over 673 career games, he averaged 11.6 points, 4.5 assists and 1.56 steals with Portland, Philadelphia 76ers, San Diego Clippers, Detroit Pistons and the Houston Rockets.

His number 14 hangs respectively from the Rose Garden rafters.

But Hollins and Davis aren’t the only former Blazers in Memphis. Hollins recently added Damon Stoudamire to his coaching staff. Stoudamire played with the Grizzlies from 2005 to 2008 and is now in his first NBA coaching position after serving as director of player development at Rice since December.

So let’s not make Wednesday night about Darius Miles’ return to Portland or the beef between Memphis and Portland’s front office. Why even go there?

Make this about Hollins. Make this about Davis.

Make this about Portland revisiting their lone championship season and the launch of Blazermania into the NBA vernacular.

pic via: pro.corbis

Just What I Thought….Kind Of

I’m going to make this one quick and painless. Because I was right and I was wrong – at least for the time being.

For the past few weeks, I’ve said the Portland Trail Blazers were not going to make a move. Well they did by shipping out Ike Diogu. I also said the Blazers would wait until the summer to make major moves. And they will, especially now with the team receiving $3 million in a trade exception along with Michael Ruffin (formerly of the Washington Wizards, above).

Ruffin has been injured. He hasn’t played this season with the Chicago Bulls. And who knows if he will even report – or even yet – is waived by Portland.

For the time being, Nate McMillan shared this thoughts on the trade and upcoming deadline….running now over at HOOPSWORLD.

With the trade deadline set for tomorrow afternoon, I’m sure to have another post or two.

Stay tuned.

pic via: daylife

So Long Deadline….

Thank the good Lord that is over with. Sorry, but in my five plus years covering the league, the weeks, days and hours leading up to the NBA trade deadline is my least favorite topic to address. Coaches don’t like to talk about it. Neither do players. And for some writers, it essentially complicates matters.

What typically ends up happening is pageviews and readership is exchanged for credibility.

But no one wants to talk about that. They want to talk about earning respect, while all along losing it.

Talk to any beat writer across the league and they will tell you what irritates them the most about this time of year is all the rumors loosely thrown around like a Chris Brown haymaker. Guys on the beat spend half of their day chasing dead end rumors. Then they spend the rest attempting to get confirmation from a general manager, someone in the front office or a team source on what – in most cases – results is mere speculation.

Somewhere in between they actually have time to write – that is – when they are not worried about the newspaper biz suffering.

Can’t help but think guys in my situation – who primarily deliver online content – are part of the problem during the ongoing hoopla in late January and early February.

But that’s not me. Has never been my angle – just to report rumor after rumor after rumor after rumor. That’s sloppy journalism.

Bushleague.

I find comfort in knowing I’m not a rumor monger. I find comfort in knowing I’ve established relationships and friendships with front offices, other beat writers and legit sources around the league who know what I’m about. And if anything, I’m about refuting a rumor instead of conjuring one up.

Have I reported about trade talks? Of course. Do I make it my goal 98% of the times I write? Hardly.

Trust me. Being told by an editor that you can’t run a story during the few days leading up to the trade deadline because it is not “rumor related” is simply infuriating. So it’s not only guys on the beat who have to deal with the winds of the rumor mill.

Such hot air is felt everywhere.

So forget the number of reasons I gave for Portland not trading Raef LaFrentz’s expiring contract….while many in the media – including some collegues at HOOPSWORLD - said that was one move the Blazers would make.

Forget how I assumed Brad Miller and Joe Smith would be on some GM’s shortlist…..and yes, Smith will not finish the season in Oklahoma City.

Forget Donnie Walsh telling me the New York Knicks didn’t have a lot of room to maneuver with trades….days before they move three guys out of town.

Forget me trusting both the Sacramento Kings and Chicago Bulls would make moves at the deadline…..boy, did they ever.

Forget all that noise.

Allow me to return to the stories of basketball and life for the love of God Shammgod.

pic via: empty the bench

Good For Brooks

Man, how times have changed. It used to be that when Brandon Roy and Aaron Brooks shared the court, Roy reaped the praise. On Tuesday night in Houston, these two Seattle natives did a little changing of the guard.

“He’s a mismatch problem for everyone who goes against him,” Brooks said of Brandon back when Aaron was at Oregon and Roy represented Washington.

“He’s quicker than most guards.”

It’s as if the Rockets diminutive guard was talking about himself.

Roy may be the two-time All-Star, but Brooks is starting to shine for Houston – a team who has won eight-straight at home. He finds himself the point man of the Rockets future, particularly after Rafer Alston was shipped to Orlando at the trade deadline last week. And to think there were actually some who cover the Rockets that disapproved of drafting Brooks 26th overall two summers ago.

How do you like him now?

The kid could still be a legit candidate for 6th Man of the Year. If nothing else, he’ll be one of the reasons Houston makes noise out West during their postseason run, sans Tracy McGrady. 

Roy may have finished with 24 points and 5 assists, but Brooks takes home the win. He went for 20 points and 5 assists over the Blazers, who couldn’t overcome an 18-point deficit despite a third quarter surge.

While Portland is tied for the most of any team in the NBA, winning eight games – including six on the road – when trailing at the start of the final period, they couldn’t make it nine on Tuesday night.

So what do they have to show for their efforts?

Nothing more than a quick trip to San Antonio, a restless night and a back-to-back against the Spurs on Wednesday night.

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The Latest: Pretty convenient having Ron Artest on the floor considering one of the topics I touched on in a “PM Report” for HOOPSWORLD late Tuesday.

Who is the “dirtiest player” in the game today? We all know Artest’s history, but I don’t think he takes the honors. For my money, Matt Barnes of the Phoenix Suns gets the nod. See the evidence here. Apparently everyone else and their grandmother – including many players around the league – votes for Bruce Bowen.

Discuss.

pic via: daylife

Stick and Move….

Somewhere in the world Ruben Boumtje-Boumtje should feel pretty good about himself. Sure Scottie Pippen, Rasheed Wallace and Bonzi Wells ran the show, but everyone on that 2002 Blazers team can say they were around to last beat San Antonio on their home floor.

Seven years later, that unfortunate streak remains intact, as does Portland’s recent road woes. It’s now at five-straight losses on the road. 

No Tim Duncan. No Manu Ginobili. No worries.

Still, Portland can learn from the heartache….

Travis Outlaw: He went 6 for 8, finished with 13 off the bench. Loved to see Outlaw’s jumper falling, but would it kill the guy to drive to the rim every now and again? That’s when Travis is at his best – well, that and when he’s knocking down that corner three. For as much as he talks about playing more aggressive, you sure don’t get that from the sight of Travis’ constant fall away jump shot.

Channing Frye: Where did that come from? Frye went for 15 points – hasn’t dropped those numbers since late November in Miami when he finished with 17. Good for Channing. Maybe it was the increased playing time. Maybe it was the fact that Frye was close to losing whatever minutes he had left to Shavlik Randolph. Either way, the playing time should be there for Channing if Greg Oden continues to sit. But will Frye’s production be there?

Steve Blake: More of a professed pacifist myself, but I loved seeing Blake mix-it-up with Francisco Oberto in the third quarter. If only Portland showed more emotion like Blake flexed against Oberto, maybe the Blazers wouldn’t be so easily pushed around. Think about it. Who is quick to not back down from anyone – Joel Przybilla. Everyone after that is tied for a very distant second. Notice Joel was the first one to step to Blake’s aid?

If these guys plan on making their mark on the postseason, Portland has to be more physical. We saw that between Przybilla and Tyson Chandler. We saw it with Brandon Roy and David West. Guess Blake was sending that message in San Antonio.

On The Road Again: Thought for sure Portland could go 2-1 when they first embarked on this trip – perhaps beating Houston and Minnesota. But now the only thing the Blazers have going for them is meeting the Timberwolves who are 1-9 in their last 10 games and losers of four-straight on Friday.

pic via: yahoosports

“The Kid” Is Back In Town

Spring training got under way this week, and that can only mean one thing: the return of Ken Griffey, Jr. to the Seattle Mariners. And while Nate McMillan is busy preparing the Portland Trail Blazers for a postseason push, “Mr. Sonic” knows all about “The Kid”.

“I’m happy to see him go back to Seattle,” McMillan said of Griffey.

Junior was an instant fan favorite from his days as a 19-year-old rookie until his departure from Seattle after the 1999 season – leaving the then Sonics guard to keep tabs on Griffey and the Mariners.

“He was huge – him and (Jay) Buhner – we all came around that time, but my son (Jamelle) was a huge fan of his and he had the opportunity to go in the locker room and meet those guys. Griffey was the man – a great player. Things changed for the Mariners when he left. But they had some great runs with him and Randy (Johnson) and guys that were there in the early 90’s.”

But despite not making it to a playoff game in ’95 when the Mariners upset the New York Yankees in the American League Division Series, McMillan said he “became a huge Mariners fan”, something many will likely do with Griffey back in town after a ten year absence.

“Hopefully he has something left,” added McMillan, knowing the city of Seattle would benefit from a Mariners resurgence.

“He’s just been quiet since he left Seattle and hasn’t had that – he’s been injured since he’s been gone and I know he went back home – but hopefully he has something left to bring back. When he left, I think a lot of people wondered when he retired, would they retire his jersey as a Mariner.

“Now he gets to come back. I think that is good.”

pic via: full count pitch

I Have To Ask….

Let’s just have the conversation shall we. No foul in that. For the sake of debate: could it be Portland is actually playing better without Greg Oden right now?

Come on now. I can’t be the only one having these thoughts, can I?

As I stayed up way too late on Saturday night writing about how Joel Przybilla really is an unsung hero for the Blazers and that this whole Oden knee-jerk isn’t going away any time soon, that’s the thought that ran through my mind: is Portland better without him right now?

Ran through my mind again after listening to Nate McMillan say that the healing process is “a lot slower than we expected” before the Blazers/Spurs game.

Let’s recap: better without him right now?

Blasphemy? Reality.

Who would think such a thought? Me, I guess. Anyone else?

Come to think of it, I was all for Przybilla staying in the starting five when Oden came back from his first injury. Thought Oden should have earned that spot – and that has nothing to do with him being fragile. Now I can’t help but think – if and when - Oden does return, will he once again be inserted into the starting lineup.

The kid has to get healthy first. Then, he has to earn it.

It’s a legit debate: right now, are they better without him?

You consider what Portland has been able to do without him this season – going 3-3 when Oden missed six games to open the season and now moving to 5-2 since Oden injured his left knee cap – and it’s not a farfetched conversation to have.

I pressed the issue with McMillan recently. Wondered if Portland could rely on what they endured last season without having Greg available. Could that experience – for better or worse – benefit the Blazers during another episode of “Life Without Greg”.

Nate wasn’t having it…..I get that.

But still, I have to ask: are they better – right now – without him?

pic via: daylife

The End Of A Rocky Road

When I heard the Rocky Mountain News in Denver was running their final edition last Friday, the first thing I thought was: what about the guys on the Nuggets beat?

Where do they go from here? Chris Tomasson and Aaron Lopez are wondering the same thing.

Tomasson and Lopez, who started covering the team about a year apart from each other, were both kind enough to share their experiences about working a dead beat for a folding newspaper, the memories along the way, and what the future holds….

Yet, even with so much unknown, Tomasson and Lopez never stopped putting in work….even breaking news in the final hours of their time at the Rocky.

Has it started to sink in that the Rocky Mountain News has closed?

CT: It’s started to sink in a little. We had a farewell party Saturday night and you saw all the Rocky people there, and that’s when it started to sink in. Thursday was such a whirlwind trying to save all the emails and files before they came for our computers – and I was just running around, so it’s definitely started to sink in.

Can you just give a quick background on your time at the Rocky and on the beat with the Nuggets….

CT: It’s one in the same – six-and-a-half years and took over the beat in September 2002. Survived the infamous 17-65 Jeff Bzdelik season 2002-03, when they averaged fewer points than any team since the shot clock – excluding the lockout season –and I’ve been covering the playoffs ever since then.

What has it been like – knowing the paper had been for sale and would eventually shut down – heading to work with the writing on the wall?

CT: I still handled my work as professional. The harder you work, the more you took your mind off of it. So that wasn’t a problem. We knew from the start that it didn’t look good. There were periods of semi-optimism when we continued to linger because they initially set a deadline of mid-January and as that passed, we got into February we figured they must have done something to stay alive. So we tried to think positive thoughts. But in the last week or two, they said they would tell the Rocky their fate my March 31. It sounded like it was over, although we thought we would linger through March.

Where were you when you received the news the paper was closing?

CT: I was in a very appropriate place, where I’ve been much of my life: standing in the hallway waiting to interview players. I had my computer on – but not on the internet – I was transcribing audio and waiting for some players to come out after an off day. Somebody called me and gave me the news. They said, did you hear the news? I thought someone got waived or some big NBA news – because it was getting close to that March 1 date when players could be waived. But they were like, you better call your office. Then I knew what the news was.

On a beat- and as much as you see them – did you talk to George Karl, the players and management to let them know what was going on?

CT: They kind of knew it was coming. George offered some nice sentiments to me at one point. Several members of the front office gave me their best wishes and what have you. And when the news finally came down, they were very gracious. With the state of the newspaper biz – combined with a declining economy – it doesn’t sound like this will be the first we will hear of a major paper shutting their doors. We are trying our best to stay optimistic, but there is so much so much doom and gloom out there it is difficult.

Our situation was understandable, because of how many two newspaper cities are left. Most people thought one day Denver would be down to one paper. But I’m still in the ‘I’ll believe it when I see it mode’ when a city like San Francisco or San Diego – another newspaper that is trouble – that has no newspaper in their major city. If that day comes, that will be a very, very sad day.

How hard has this time been Chris?

CT: It’s been tough just with the uncertainty out there, but I’m just trying to stay positive. Most likely I will finish up the season going to some Nuggets game, getting into some freelance and certainly I want to stay in the business. I think I can be an asset to a printed publication or online situation – so I’m trying to hope for the best at this point.

Could the Rocky have survived? Did they cash in the chips too early?

CT: Not knowing all the financial situations – but we heard the rumblings that maybe we would have stuck it out, that the (Denver) Post would have folded. But I’m not wishing any ill will on them. If they would have folded, it would be the economic situation with one of the two having to go. Scripps (who owned the paper) had to answer to stock holders, so that is another difference between the two companies. It’s just unfortunate this whole thing happened, and what’s happening to newspapers in general.

What are you going to miss the most about working for the Rocky and being on the Nuggets beat?

CT: I will miss the daily adrenaline. Obviously with the trade deadline passing, just not as major. The March 1 cut down date, and it’s been an exciting season with the Nuggets and with Chauncey Billups changing things around. There seems to be much more positive energy hanging over the team this year. So you just miss the daily challenge. Every day is a challenge and you are wondering what you are going to put in the paper the next day. Now there is no next day.

Is there a story that epitomizes your time on the beat?

CT: Ah, I’m going to have to think about that one. Go on to the next one – I’ll have to think about that one.

What if I told you that was my last question….

CT: Okay, I’ll tell you what I’m going to remember. I wasn’t there for all the long suffering years of the Nuggets, but my first season on the beat was 2002-03 – which I talked about before when they went 17-65. Some people think that was the least talented team in the history of the NBA – and that is being extreme. But I remember that next year when they got Carmelo Anthony in 2003 – o4.

They played Sacramento and it was a night they clinched a playoff berth. And Michael Jordan was there watching Carmelo Anthony – Lionel Richie was there – there just happened to be all these stars coming out to watch him. And they finally clinched the game – and Bzdelik, the embattled coach who many thought if they didn’t clinch the playoffs he would be fired – he was running down press row yelling, ‘yes, yes, yes.’ It was that excitement at the time. The team – at that point – hadn’t made the playoffs in nine years. So there is a memory for you.

There is such a fine line between writer and player – and where those relationships land – but are there particular players you became close to that you will miss more than others?

CT: We’ve had a pretty good cast of characters – or cast of players I should say – overall in Denver. I kind of remember those guys were just like regular guys. Two kind of stick out – actually I’ll single out three guys.

One was Mark Pope. He was perhaps the best interview with my time with the Nuggets. The guy was just extremely witty. He rarely played in his years with Denver. One rare time, he got in and it was the first points he’d scored in a couple years. It was against the Bobcats. He was kind of holding court in front of his locker after scoring two points. The game was a route. Reporters were trying to latch onto something to write about. He said, ‘yeah, Emeka Okofur of Charlotte, I posterized him. Wait a minute, make that ‘Pope-sterized him’.

Another guy I’ll remember was Eduardo Najera (now in New Jersey). He was just a regular good guy and if something was on his mind, you could just sit and banter with him at his locker.

And then another guy I will put in that category – a current guy – is Anthony Carter. Real good guy. A guy who took the tough road to the NBA. He’s thankful for what he has. Like I said – a lot of good players, a lot of great interviews. I’ll remember those guys that are like regular guys.

So much was made of “blogs” and where they factor into pushing print media out the door. Now, the poor economy and lack of advertising is piling on – but what are your thoughts on “blogs” in general? Perhaps the difference of working for a paper, while also running a “blog” as part of you writing….and is that a forum you plan to explore to keep your name out there?

CT: It’s certainly a possibility. I’ll have to get some more computer expertise to see how that all works, but basically the name is “blog” but I differentiate between the people who are there, at the games, in the locker rooms talking to people. You can call it a “blog” you can call it being a reporter – whatever you want to call it.

I think people need to be there at the game in order to form an opinion, or at least talk to a few people before you make sure your opinion isn’t idiotic. Whatever you want to call it – I don’t have any problem with that. What I see is the perforation of the internet – people who are never at the games, they are just sitting in their study in their boxer shorts and just ripping on players or what have you.

Because the thing about me, if I write something critical I’m there in the locker room the next day. I’m not running and hiding from anybody. I have to be pretty careful that I have my facts straightened-up and in order. For “bloggers”, you’re not going to get that. You are going to have people taking shots from afar. And if it goes on the internet the way things do these days, it may not be accurate and that’s the impression that is out there.

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Aaron Lopez – who covered the Denver Nuggets and Colorado Avalanche since joining the paper in November 2001 – briefly shared his thoughts via email on his time at the Rocky Mountain News.

What’s your plan going forward now that the Rocky has officially closed its doors?

AL: I will try to freelance as much as possible. Thankfully I know a lot of people at Kroenke Sports [Enterprises] and in the Denver sports scene, so hopefully I can make a few bucks here and there while looking for permanent work.

Where were you when he got word?

AL: Heard about it today (Thursday) about noon while eating lunch with my 5-year-old son. One of my co-workers called me with the news.

What has it been like the past few months knowing where things would likely end up for the paper? Was it hard to work your beat?

AL: We’ve known this day was probably coming for some time, but I tried to stay professional and do my job as best I could on a daily basis.

I was looking forward to traveling to Indianapolis and Detroit with the Nuggets next week. I wanted to see how Chauncey Billups was welcomed back to the Palace after five months.

Oh well. I’m now like every other Joe Sports Fan. I’ll have to watch it on TV and read about it on the Detroit web sites. I won’t be reading about it in The (Denver) Post because I refuse to get a subscription.

Update: Be sure to check out Chris Tomasson in his debut over at Pro Basketball News….

Much thanks to Chris Tomasson and Aaron Lopez for their help and efforts with this interview during this difficult time….

pic via: edsport

Getting Defensive….

Nate McMillan talks about this a lot. His players are too offensive minded. Defense comes last. McMillan on the other hand believes defense should trigger your offense. So when the Blazers came out flat against the Denver Nuggets it didn’t come as a shock.

We’ve seen this charade before.

The defense wasn’t there – again. And when it was, it was far too late. But that wasn’t the only thing missing in Denver on Thursday night. Portland simply doesn’t have that physical chip on their shoulder that they so desperately need. I’ve gone down this road before. Plus, the Blazers inability to beat a Western Conference team bound for the playoffs is nonexistent. They are now 1-12 in that department.

Those two aspects – a lack of physical play and struggling to win away from the Rose Garden against the big boys out West– will mean an early exit from the postseason whenever Portland gets there.

TNT’s Doug Collins summed it up going to a commercial break minutes into the second quarter, after Kevin Harlan noted, “Nate McMillan would like the Blazers to be more physical.”

Really? You don’t say. Collins came correct though.

“I don’t think that is their make-up right now. Maybe as they get older they might be a team that takes some harder fouls,” Collins said. “But I don’t think Nate would mind that, especially the way to start a game tonight just to set the tone of the game. They did not do that.”

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The Latest: Portland has been there before – on the outside looking in at the playoffs. Earlier in the week at HOOPSWORLD, I took an early look at the seven teams who are probably wondering what the heck they are playing for right about now.

There is one losing team – perhaps the worst the league has to offer – that is playing for something: the Sacramento Kings. Not only will they make more moves this offseason, but they have a solid chance at landing the number one overall pick come June.

And lastly….make sure to check out Andrew Perna, RealGM’s Deputy Editor and his mission to raise awareness about Multiple Sclerosis with his “NBA for MS” series. Andrew has really made an impact – both with his writing and forming lifelong relationships around the league – with his truly worthy cause. Nice work Andrew….

pic via: AP

Fired Up Versus Fight….

It was one of those love-hate moments. For the past few months, I’ve been barking about the Portland Trail Blazers being devoid of physical emotion and toughness. The Blazers were forced to bark back on Monday night.

I loved seeing Portland take a stand against the Los Angeles Lakers – a series that is constantly chippy. I loved seeing Brandon Roy, LaMarcus Aldridge and Travis Outlaw display some much needed chutzpah in the final seconds of the third quarter.

I just hated to see it come at the expense of Rudy Fernandez laying under the basket in pain and clutching his chest after taking a hard foul from Lakers Trevor Ariza. It was a scary time. You never want to see that happen to any player – a guy carted off on a stretcher with his neck and body stabilized.

It’s that time of season. Games will be physical from here on out.   

Roy said it best after the game (via HOOPSWORLD’s “Courtside Blog”). The foul was one thing. Ariza “bucking” (talking trash) was the final straw. That’s what got Roy and everyone else on the Blazers sidelines heated.

No need to see a fight. But I’ll take the Blazers getting fired up any day.

I’ve seen this happen before. So has Channing Frye – who was in the thick of the pushing and shoving between the Blazers and Lakers.  Sure he thought back to New York just as I did.

Back in December 2006, Frye was with New York when the Knicks and Denver Nuggets “brawled” at Madison Square Garden. The Knicks took exception to the Nuggets running up the score in a blowout when then-Knick Mardy Collins grabbed J.R. Smith around the neck on an open layup.

Soon players were shoving, posing, throwing punches and both benches got involved in the end. Frye was one of 10 players tossed, while avoiding a suspension. Seven others weren’t so fortunate.

It was a nasty incident. Didn’t have to go there. But it happens.

I’ll never forget watching from the pressbox at MSG as Carmelo Anthony threw a haymaker at Jared Jeffries only to backpedal all the way down to the other end of the court to hide behind his teammates.

A real tough guy.

Luckily, cooler heads prevailed at the Rose Garden on Monday night.

Here’s the footage….getting fired up versus getting into a fight:

pic via: bleacher report