Who thinks we can get both Dragic and Vasquez with our huge cap space? We can drop Felton and Flynn. We just need a serviceable center in front of Przybilla. Dragic is an absolute starter, I don't know why the Blazers continually let good developing point guards fly under their radar. Has anyone considered Vasquez as a back up? He's a 6-4 Westbrook nightmare if he works on his defense. He played well in the playoffs with Memphis. He speaks Spanish as well as Kaleb. Who's with me?

Has anyone noticed that we need a quality shooting coach?  If Jason Kidd learned how to shoot better, how come Andre didn't get better? Why can't Nicolas Batum shoot better in the clutch?  What happened to Rudy? It seems other higher profile teams has shooting coaches that get results.  Do we get trainers that just know how to be nice to Paul Allen?  Can it be that when good shooters come to Portland they actually get worse? Comments please!

I mean seriously.  I think after the Blazer post season was over, I checked -out mentally and dove into the new Timbers season.  Then one Timbers game, after their best player score his first goal of the year at home, he ran all the way over to the sidelines- very far away, ignored all the other players, and hugged a surprised head coach John Spencer.  Would a Blazer player ever do that I don't know.  I know there's a wall between Nate and his players and I know psychologically its not good.  If we have Nate for two more years then we need new talent scouts...  A Johnson, Babbit, Fernandez, Mills, even Batum who barely made a difference offensively, REALLY?  This is our squad outside the big three?  I know the city of Portland will never attract the best of the best of coaching staff, but at least we have to address it.  How will we replace Monty Williams?  I think Monty was the link between Nate and the players.  Our two other assistants, did you notice they bounced around the league alot?  For what reason?  Our shooting?  Horrendous.  On the Spurs, everybody shoots well- coincidence?

Lastly, look what happened to the Hawks. Mike Woodson, their old coach was a carbon copy of Nate's style.  They fired him and now look at the team.  Their new coach is young and unproven.  What do you think Blazer nation??? If we can't fire, Nate, give him the pieces to make up for his deficiencies.

The Blazers finally found some fire to use to play hard with the Brian Cardinal pick and Nate just threw a bucket of fire on it!!!!  I don't care who was right or wrong!!!  IMO Nate is at the top of the tower glaring down at his team, completely disconnected.  Everytime the team loses, he blames his own players and takes no responsability.  He keeps saying old school phrases like "you have to suck it up" and "They might think I'm soft."  This is the 21st century.  The players are different now, ADJUST or GET OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just a thought...

So we annointed ourselves as the best, the loudest, and the most passionate fans.  I wholeheartedly agree.  But are we a crutch for the Blazer players?  Why are they playing so badly on the road, because they need our energy to play well?  Maybe the obvious lack of excitement from their fans drain the Blazer's energy.  How about the other teams who have bad fans.  Maybe they are so used to quiet home crowds and lack of passion that the players had to dig deep within themselves to find their own passion.  Just a thought.

I don't know about you guys but I just want to curl up in GW's beastly arms and have him carry all the way to the NBA championship!  Come on who's going to admit it?  I I've been an avid fan for five years and no one made me feel this way.  He's a the big brother I never had.  He's the UFC champ surrounded by choir boys and that's what makes him more of a beast.

Yes, Joel had effective offense last year!  Don't you remember Blake's and Roy's drive and dish plays?  Joel had so many easy buckets. Now they are not bringing him into the offense, and it make's Roy's job harder with the double team.  Can anyone explain it?  We can also involve Oden in these kinds of drive and dish too.  there was one that Blake tried against OKC but Oden's hands were not quick enough.  Maybe they need to do it more so he can anticiipate it better.  Comments?

Yes, no mistake,it made NO.1 highlight of the WEEK! I can't prove it cuz I saw in on espn this morning.  IT was all the weeks highlights including the World baseball classics which was days ago.  Rudy's fade away then steal and then last second buzzer three pointer made ESPN's highlight of the WEEK!  On top of that it was shown live nationally, I think our little team that can is getting the respect we deserve.  Now we got to live up to the attention we're getting by winning the first round of the playoffs!

Hey Blazers fans,

I've moved to portland a short time ago and I'm looking for die hard Blazer fans to watch games with and go to the Rose Garden too.  I live in NE Portland, where there are not a lot of fans- at least I don't see that many people with jerseys.  Thanks... Richard

Go Blazers!!  Go Blazers!!Go Blazers!!Go Blazers!!Go Blazers!!Go Blazers!!Go Blazers!!Go Blazers!!Go Blazers!!Go Blazers!!Go Blazers!!Go Blazers!!Go Blazers!!Go Blazers!!Go Blazers!!Go Blazers!!Go Blazers!!Go Blazers!!Go Blazers!!Go Blazers!!

We don't have a tough guy to rally the troops, period.  We can rely on our skills to a point, but we need an emotional leader to instill fearlessness. I'm utterly convinced we need to trade Channing Frye for a fearless competitor to talk trash back to the Celtics and Shaq.  We'll make the playoffs, but playoffs are not for wimps who cower under intimidating teams.  Who?  Who?  We were down by 11 with four miinutes to go.  We could have come back, but we just relied on lucky jump shots.  We looked like absolutely pathetic little rabbits trapped in a corner by a wolf.  There was no improvement from last year against the Celtics, we need just one missing link!

This post is in English and Spanish to bridge the gap between Spanish Blazer fans and US Blazer fans.

Les invito a comunicar con nosotros en español e inglés. No tengan miedo, un poquito de nosotros se van a quejar del idioma, pero, este foro nos dará la oportunidad de conocernos.  Todos nosotros de aquí tomabamos 2 o 3 años de clases de español en nuestra juventud, ahora es el tiempo para practicarlo.  Tengo una preguntas para Ustedes, los nuevos hinchas de los Blazers en España. 

I invite the new Blazer fans in Spain to communicate with us without fear.  Some of us might complain of the language barrier, but this forum is an opportunity for us to get to know our Spanish Blazer fans.  In the States, we all took two or three years of spanish in high school, and now is the time to practice it. 

I have a few questions for you new Blazer fans in Spain...

  1)Si yo hablaría con un cualquiera en la calle de España, ¿conocería a los Blazers?

  2)¿Piensan Uds. que Sergio puede jugar mejor con más minutos?

  3) El estilo europeo y el estilo NBA, ¿Qué prefieren? ¿Les gusta el NBA solo por los superestrellas, pero el estilo no?

  4)  Rudy se va a quejar de los poquitos restaurantes españoles que tenemos aqui en Portland.  ¿Podrían venir unos de Uds para traer su comida tan rica?

 5) Un tipico hincha español- ¿juega tanto como mira? 

1) If I talked to anyone on the street of Spain, would they know the Blazers?

2) Do you think Sergio would play better with  more minutes?

3) The Euro style and the NBA style, which do you like? And do you only like the NBA because of the superstars, but not its style?

4)  Rudy will complain about the few Spanish restaurants here, can some of you come and open up new restaurants with your delicious foods?

5) A tipical fan in Spain, does he play as much as he watches?

Si uno de ustedes deciden a visitar nuestra ciudad, y quiere ver un partido, contacteme. Soy el más apacionante de los Blazers y el más amable, y hablo español.  Portland es la ciudad más única en los estados unidos, la más rebelde de Bush, y la más izquierdista, donde viven muchos artistas, músicos, y baloncesto por supuesto.

If you decide to visit Portand, contact me, I am a Spanish speaking Blazer fan. Portland  is the most unique city in the US,  a left leaning city with many artists and musicians, and basketball of course.

Saludos y ¡Vamos Blazers!

Richard - dontstopcreating@yahoo.com

I don't know if the Blazer players are not fulfilling McMillan's strategies, or McMillan is just off his game.  I've never been so frustrated with the Blazer's play than now.  We have so many weapons, and we seem to be using them just part of the time.  Is Roy's ego getting the best of him? Or is McMillan giving Roy free reign?  I never blame the players, I always examine the leadership.  My suspicions started with the organization allowing themselves to get sucked into the Oden hype.  Oden should have come off the bench, like Hibbert and Love.

Let's pack the bar at Claudias' on Hawthorne and welcome the new season!  I know HD at home is nice, but let's go crazy, this year is special!   Yes, I am a man of few words, but they will be very loud tomorrow night.  I have HD and DVR at home and pay an extra $20 a month on top of my already high cable bill, but let's celebrate the old fashioned way, with beer in a bar and tons of Blazer fans!!  Go Blazers!

Well, not bad, under 40 responses, if everybody brought a friend or two, it could be lively place.  But three bars voted split fairly equally.  Any ideas?  Rotate every month? Every game?  I'm listening...

I've been to all three bars a number of times, I ate at Ch. Tortoise and Claudias, but not A&L's.  The food was decent, anyone eaten at A&L's?  Claudias and A&L's has pool tables, a game or two before or after the Blazer's game might be a nice add on. 

The television viewing might be the best at Claudia's, it feels like a mini theater, and nice bar stools.  A&L's seem the most spacious with lot's of room to walk around.  Cheerful Tortoise probably has the best "bar" atmosphere, but a lot of small TV's. 

I think nowadays, HD viewing should be mandatory, it's hard to go back to regular once you've seen HD.  Does anyone know which bar carries HD?

Alright guys (and gals),

WE CAN'T GET RIP CITY GOING IN FRONT OF THE TV AND ON THE COUCH!!  Here's your chance to pack a Centrally located bar wtih Blazer fans, meet other serious and commited fans, and make this year memorable.  Research each bar, check them out, and pick the best one.  Then commit to coming to see as many away games as possible or home games if you can't get tickets.

Go Blazers!!

How about if I make a poll for everyone to vote for the best spot for serious Blazer fans to congregate during away games?  I got Claudia's and Cheerful Tortoise.  Does anyone have a third choice for the poll?  The goal is to have the bar be packed with die hard Blazer fans, especially during away games.  Pick a place that is in Central Portland, so it's not far for everyone.  Then I'll put a poll out, once I figure it out.

This is my third year as a season ticket holder and nothing kills me more than the Blazers going on a road trip.  This is when I would usually depend on a fan club to drink beers with and talk Blazers, especially since most of my friends are casual fans.  So I asked other real Blazer fans what they do during away games, and the majority of them say they stay at home to watch it.  What's going on lately, are we becoming more and more "Cyberfans"?  We should build Blazer Nation like they have for the Red Sox. Why not?  I challenge anyone to discuss this idea...