I have been irritated by what I have seen as the excuses made by this team this season.  Everyone has been talking about the injuries this season as a rationale for the up and down play.  I knew that played a large part but I still thought this team was selling themselves short.  But I don't know what to say after the injury to Pryzbilla.

He will probably be out until midway through NEXT SEASON.  At some point you have to say that this has been something that is beyond comprehension.  I was angry because of what I had heard from the leaders of the franchise.  Seeming to pack it up.  Talking about the injuries and how difficult it was to gameplan.  I understood all of that but it still made me angry because of what I saw as a team giving up.  Making excuses for why things hadn't gone well.

I had this image during tonight's game.  Of someone whose legs had been cut off at the knees and people were still asking them to run.  The Blazers tried with all their might to run and they got it done tonight.  I am very proud of this team.  After all of the drama and problems they came together and won as a team tonight.

I understood tonight for the first time what the players and coaches had been talking about.  They weren't making excuses.  They were just expressing how difficult it is to win when half your team goes down for the season.  Are there still issues without the injuries?  Yes.  But this team has a lot of heart.  I have never seen a season like this for any basketball team injury wise and I think this is still a playoff team.  Amazing.

After reading Mike Barrett's blog and coming to the realization that this was the plan all along (Jerryd Bayless, Nicolas Batum, et al) I think this notion has to be seriously considered.

For those who know and love the movie Casino, you know what I'm talking about.  If not, Ace Rothstein was a bettor who was so much better than everyone else that he changed the odds of whatever game he bet on.  Other big time gamblers followed his lead.

Remember, Jerryd Bayless was #4 on most draft boards leading up to the draft.  He was ranked as the 2nd best point guard prospect behind Rose.  Most fans didn't talk much about Bayless because it was thought that some of the core would have to be given up to get him.  Not to mention that the Blazers brass NEVER mentioned his name.  All that you heard about before the draft was Alexander, Westbrook, and Augustin.  Batum was also stolen right out from under San Antonio.

If KP was able to change the odds that much because of intentional misdirection this has to go down as one of the best draft days EVER by a front office.  I don't think the genius of what has just happened will be fully appreciated for a while.

 I came across this one long article about what it takes to build a championship team in the NBA .  This should be required reading for anyone who wants to know why some teams win NBA titles and why most teams don't and usually never will.  There are four separate links but they should be read top to bottom as one article.

Gold Medal Superstar

Gold Medal Superstar 2

The Art of Building A Champion

The Art of Building A Champion 2

  Very interesting stuff.  Greg Oden is our potential Gold Medal Superstar.  If he is as advertised the championship window is open.  This might seem obvious to a lot of people but I have never seen it laid out so clearly and convincingly as to why that is the case.

This article is good for a laugh.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/17655-The-Portland-Trailblazers-Team-of-the-Future-No-Way-The-Warriors-Are-Better

Some of the more choice assumptions:

1. Andris Biedrins is just as good as LMA or maybe even better.

2. The Warriors young talent is just as good as the Blazers young talent.

3. Greg Oden is not an "impact" type player.

Real men of genius, indeed.  You had me at hello, brother.