SB Nation User Blog: DephlatorMouse

ESPN's Sleepers & Busts

DephlatorMouse — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 21:28:20 -0000

ESPN's Sleepers & Busts

Greg Oden, Trail Blazers (from Adam Madison): Blocks will be difficult to find this season, and Oden is one of the few players who has the potential to average two or more blocks per game. Oden is set to come off the bench again, but pay little mind to that; Joel Przybilla's skill set will be easy to transition to the bench if Oden emerges. Oden is a man on a mission who could begin to dominate the paint as soon as he cuts back on his foul rate. I buy his strong preseason, and he looks like a great value as a cheap No. 1 center.

4th 1/4 lineups Greg vs Outlaw

DephlatorMouse — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 19:13:10 -0000

4th 1/4 lineups Greg vs Outlaw

I wouldn't mind trading Outlaws 4th 1/4 heroics for Gregs great 4th 1/4 play which most nights means we don’t need a hero to win.

TBH Joel has no offense & last season Oden couldn't be relied upon to be considered an offensive weapon in the 4th. That's why Outlaw got the 4th quarter minutes & a chance to be a hero

To my mind a line up with Roy LMA Greg and take your pick at point with Blake or Miller and at SF Batum or Webster looks far more intimidating than replacing Greg with TO.

What are your thoughts?

Oden eager to prove his value to Blazers

DephlatorMouse — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 12:34:49 -0000

Oden eager to prove his value to Blazers

"This is going to be a big year," he said earlier this week before heading back to Portland to prepare for training camp. "Everybody comes in and has that first year, that get-used-to-the-league year. But you have to break out in your second year. You have to, and that's what I'm looking forward to."

Best newly signed player

DephlatorMouse — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 17:16:51 -0000

Best newly signed player

Shows Miller as a Tie for 5th. Interesting article though.

Rudy Upset ... News to the Blazers

DephlatorMouse — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 03:46:32 -0000

Rudy Upset ... News to the Blazers

from oregonlive.com apparently they talked to him 2 days ago discussing their moves & he's fine.

Greg Oden's new Personal Trainer

DephlatorMouse — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 04:18:31 -0000

Greg Oden's new Personal Trainer

I don't know if any of you guys have tried it but its been a key start to my summer fitness goals I've lost 5.5 lb since i started using it 8 days ago.

Next Season The Blazers Need To... with Poll

DephlatorMouse — Fri, 01 May 2009 03:39:44 -0000

First I'd like to say I'm exceptionally happy with the Blazers this season even with the loss to Houston. Say what you want about the calls & that if they went out way in games 3 or 4 we win the series (and you're probably right if you think that)

The question now is what do the Blazers need to do in the off season/during next season to win in the playoffs.

One option is of course to make a move for a sharp shooting defensive stopping point guard ala Kirk Heinrich. Doing this we probably have to give up Outlaw and Blake/Sergio.

Another option is to pick up some vets at various positions who play tough hard nosed defense & have a reputation for this so we can get some of those reputation based calls in the playoffs that Houston now enjoys.

Or we can basically stick with what we have & Nate pushes them to play as physical of defense all next season so come playoff time we have a reputation as a physical defensive team.

Poll

What do the Blazers need to do during the offseason/next season to make some noise in the playoffs next year?

Trade for a Kirk Heinrich-ish point guard

45 votes

Bring in vets with defensive skills & a reputation for it

29 votes

Play physical all year and build our own reputation so we get reputation calls next year

40 votes

114 votes | Poll has closed

LA Times: Team You Don’t Want In The First Round: Portland

DephlatorMouse — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 22:59:21 -0000

http://www.nbclosangeles.com/sports/basketball/The-Team-You-Dont-Want-In-The-First-Round-Portland.html

Pity the Houston Rockets, who could be bounced in the first round of the NBA playoffs.

Maybe that is a bad example because the Rockets slump every year right after tax day, just like the swallows coming back to Capistrano. But we could just as well end up pitying San Antonio or Denver or New Orleans.

We should pity whoever gets the Portland Trailblazers in the first round, because that is going to be one tough out and is likely to go seven games.

The young Blazers have turned the Rose Garden into a fortress, having recently beat the Lakers, Spurs and last night the Suns there. And the Spurs and Suns didn’t just lose, they got blown out. The Suns came in a team desperate for wins just to make the playoffs, and they were down 8 at halftime and just got steamrolled in the third quarter.

To beat the Blazers in a best of seven, you had better defend your home court because you know they are going to defend theirs. Portland is 29-7 at home and starting to play their best basketball now. After years of disappointment in Portland — from the era of the “jailblazers” to the struggles of Greg Oden — they are ready to rally behind their team. That arena is going to e rockin’ for the first round.

And the Blazers have the talent to steal a game on the road, too. Brandon Roy is one of the best, most physical ball handling guards in the league. Not only can he drive with quickness, but he is so strong it is hard to keep him off the spots he wants to get to on the floor.

LaMarcus Aldridge has quietly become one of the best, most efficient power forwards in the game. Steve Blake can bomb away from deep if you collapse your defense on Roy or Aldridge. The Blazers have one of the most active benches around, with Rudy Fernandez and Sergio Rodriguez, not to mention the ball of energy that is Travis Outlaw.

And all of those guys just seem to play a little better in the Pacific Northwest.

What if P.K. out-duels Bayles this Summer?

DephlatorMouse — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 23:44:24 -0000

Bayles is a great point guard but I honestly don't see him as the starter playing alongside Roy they both need the ball to be effective. From what I've seen of Koponen he actually is that guy. My question is what happens if summer league comes around with koponen as the better point guard? Would you make Koponen wait overseas longer just to give Bayles more playing time? Do you push Bayles further down the rotation behind P.K.? What would you do?

Going after Prince

DephlatorMouse — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 23:36:37 -0000

I was reading an article in the Oregonian the other day about Flip getting the ax and Joe Dumars saying that nobody on the roster is untouchable. Ever sine I finished it I haven't been able to stop drooling about the *slim* possability of aquiring Prince from the Pistons. I'm fairly ignorant as to hthe salary implications as my cell phone internet won't let me use trade machine, but I'd happily trade Web, Channing, Jack, and/or the 13th pick to get him in Red and black. He IS the answer to a lot of problems we face at small forward. He's an incredible defender shoots the 3 very well has good handles and doesn't have a selfish attitude on offense but he can take over the game if he has to. What do you guys think?

SB Nation User Blog: DephlatorMouse

ESPN's Sleepers & Busts

ESPN's Sleepers & Busts

4th 1/4 lineups Greg vs Outlaw

4th 1/4 lineups Greg vs Outlaw

Oden eager to prove his value to Blazers

Oden eager to prove his value to Blazers

Best newly signed player

Best newly signed player

Rudy Upset ... News to the Blazers

Rudy Upset ... News to the Blazers

Greg Oden's new Personal Trainer

Greg Oden's new Personal Trainer

Next Season The Blazers Need To... with Poll

What do the Blazers need to do during the offseason/next season to make some noise in the playoffs next year?

Trade for a Kirk Heinrich-ish point guard

Bring in vets with defensive skills & a reputation for it

Play physical all year and build our own reputation so we get reputation calls next year

LA Times: Team You Don’t Want In The First Round: Portland

Related Stories

What if P.K. out-duels Bayles this Summer?

Going after Prince