SB Nation User Blog: GreatOden'sRaven

That Drawer where you put unwanted things and they just sit there 9/19

GreatOden'sRaven — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 06:28:20 -0000

Television has been crap lately. Without my beloved Blazers on I haven't really had much to watch. So help me out.

What's your favorite show, especially one that isn't absurdly popular. Yes I have seen the Office.

I vote for Always Sunny in Philadelphia (although how you aren't already watching it amazes me people) and my favorite show that doesnt get NEARLY enough respect..

Burn Notice!

So fill me in. What SHOULD I be watching.. since I have time to kill in spades.

Junk Drawer 7/17PM and 7/18AM

GreatOden'sRaven — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 03:14:32 -0000

Well folks, its time for a new JD.

From the sounds of the BEdge basketball game, some of our fellow junkers and posters and lurkers who played may need some motivation to get on with their evening. According to a trustworthy eyewitness, it was a lot of failed shots, questionable defense and wallet thieves were on hand.

So in their honor... let's all give them some motivation.

What are your favorite motivational speeches?

My Personal Fave: "Everything is funny as long as it is happening to somebody else."

Here are some samples that will work...

Bill Paxton in Independence Day -
Good morning. In less than an hour, aircraft from here will join others from around the world. And you will be launching the largest aerial battle in this history of mankind. Mankind -- that word should have new meaning for all of us today. We can't be consumed by our petty differences anymore. We will be united in our common interests. Perhaps its fate that today is the 4th of July, and you will once again be fighting for our freedom, not from tyranny, oppression, or persecution -- but from annihilation. We're fighting for our right to live, to exist. And should we win the day, the 4th of July will no longer be known as an American holiday, but as the day when the world declared in one voice: "We will not go quietly into the night! We will not vanish without a fight! We're going to live on! We're going to survive!" Today, we celebrate our Independence Day!
Al Pacino in Any Given Sunday -
I don't know what to say, really. Three minutes till the biggest battle of our professional lives all comes down to today. Now either we heal as a team or we're gonna crumble, inch by inch, play by play, 'til we're finished. We're in hell right now, gentlemen, believe me. And, we can stay here -- get the $^!$ kicked out of us -- or we can fight our way back into the light. We can climb outta hell one inch at a time. Now, I can't do it for you. I'm too old. I look around. I see these young faces, and I think -- I mean -- I made every wrong choice a middle-aged man can make. I, uh, I pissed away all my money, believe it or not. I chased off anyone who's ever loved me. And lately, I can't even stand the face I see in the mirror. You know, when you get old in life things get taken from you. I mean that's...part of life. But, you only learn that when you start losing stuff. You find out life's this game of inches. So is football. Because in either game, life or football, the margin for error is so small -- I mean one-half a step too late, or too early, and you don't quite make it. One-half second too slow, too fast, you don't quite catch it. The inches we need are everywhere around us. They're in every break of the game, every minute, every second. On this team, we fight for that inch. On this team, we tear ourselves and everyone else around us to pieces for that inch. We claw with our fingernails for that inch, because we know when we add up all those inches that's gonna make the #$%@#^ difference between winning and losing! Between livin' and dyin'! I'll tell you this: In any fight, it's the guy who's willing to die who's gonna win that inch. And I know if I'm gonna have any life anymore, it's because I'm still willin' to fight and die for that inch. Because that's what livin' is! The six inches in front of your face!! Now I can't make you do it. You got to look at the guy next to you. Look into his eyes! Now I think you're gonna see a guy who will go that inch with you. You're gonna see a guy who will sacrifice himself for this team because he knows, when it comes down to it, you're gonna do the same for him! That's a team, gentleman! And, either we heal, now, as a team, or we will die as individuals. That's football guys. That's all it is. Now, what are you gonna do?
Mel Gibson in Braveheart -
Wallace: Sons of Scotland, I am William Wallace.
Young soldier: William Wallace is 7 feet tall.
Wallace: Yes, I've heard. Kills men by the hundreds, and if he were here he'd consume the English with fireballs from his eyes and bolts of lightning from his arse. I AM William Wallace. And I see a whole army of my countrymen here in defiance of tyranny. You have come to fight as free men, and free men you are. What would you do without freedom? Will you fight?
Veteran soldier: Fight? Against that? No, we will run; and we will live.
Wallace: Aye, fight and you may die. Run and you'll live -- at least a while. And dying in your beds many years from now, would you be willing to trade all the days from this day to that for one chance, just one chance to come back here and tell our enemies that they may take our lives, but they'll never take our freedom!!!
Wallace and Soldiers: Alba gu bra! (Scotland forever!)

And some visual evidence-

AND FINALLY

Poll

Are junk drawers supposed to have polls?

Yes

31 votes

No

16 votes

47 votes | Poll has closed

BlazersEdge Mock Draft Update

GreatOden'sRaven — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 17:09:33 -0000

Hey guys,

As a follow up to my earlier post, we will be doing our mock draft at 11am PST. I will post over here the results of who I select. We were allowed to make trades in our time leading up to the draft, and I completed one.. however because it was so large, it was disallowed as it would overshadow the draft.

You can follow our Mock Here if you want:

BlazersEdge Mock Draft

So from now until I post the results of my draft for OKC..

here was the proposed trade. Let me know what you think.

Toronto receives:

Jeff Green

Pick 3

Pick 25

Earl Watson

Chucky Atkins

Oklahoma City receives:

Chris Bosh (contingent upon him signing a long term deal)

2010 1st round draft pick (top 5 protected with an option for 2011 unprotected)

Thanks,

Great Oden's Raven

(UPDATE #1. With the Third Pick I chose James Harden. While I feel he is a bust waiting to happen, the fine people of WTLC have spoken, and James Harden it is. I will look for a shot blocking presence in the late first round.)

(UPDATE #2. With the 25th pick I chose Taj Gibson from USC. I think he would be an excellent pickup for you guys in the late first round. He isnt as strong as some of the other PF/Cs in the draft, but he has excellent rebounding and shotblocking (3 per game this year!!!!) and would be a great backup at C to allow Collison to play PF)

Poll

Is this a good trade?

Yes

15 votes

No

13 votes

28 votes | Poll has closed

Help Needed! OKC who you want?

GreatOden'sRaven — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 17:31:26 -0000

Well it's that time of year. The Draft approaches and as is fairly common across SBN... we are doing Mock Drafts. Over at Blazer'sEdge, I have drawn the task of selecting for OKC. Now being a archrival (at least formerly) I have a pretty decent idea of your team and where they have strengths and weaknesses. I could make my pick I think pretty accurately on my own, however, that is only an outsiders view. So if you don't mind, help me out here...

Who are the top 5 players you want in this draft at #3? Who do you want at #25?

And most importantly what are the things you need the most to complete your team. I know your record was god awful, but I think OKC is ready to make a leap into the 30 wins next year and into the upper 40s in 2 years if they play their cards right. I have great respect for Presti and I am sure he knows what he is doing.

If you were to trade the 3rd pick, what would you look for? I know thats like 5 things to ask, but I have heard OKC is looking to move their pick and I want to cover all my bases.

Thanks for your help, and if you have any Blazer q I will be glad to answer..

(EDIT: ADDED A POLL)

Poll

Which player would you most like the Thunder to select at #3?

Hasheem Thabeet

11 votes

Stephen Curry

3 votes

James Harden

26 votes

Ricky Rubio

17 votes

Jordan Hill

0 votes

Tyreke Evans

1 votes

Jrue Holiday

0 votes

DeMar DeRozan

0 votes

58 votes | Poll has closed

The 5/11 Aaron Brooks Red Suit Junk Drawer Edition

GreatOden'sRaven — Mon, 11 May 2009 19:35:40 -0000

Props to Brooks for busting out the bowtie. I was impressed. He is now a viable option at point guard after that move. That sealed the deal.

I was just in Oregon for the first time this year this last weekend. I was in a wedding. It was nice weather. It was a lovely ceremony. Laurelhurst has too many hippies. that was a nice group of single statements in a row.

Maybe its just me, but I am not sold on the "ZOMG! WE HAVE TO DRAFT DEJUAN BLAIR!!!" camp. I like the kid, don't get me wrong. But I don't think moving up is somethign we have to do. If he falls to us, take him, but I don't really see the need to move up much in the draft. I would rather get a free agent to fill the backup PF role. There are some good ones out there. I have seen too many guys just like him flame out. Not to say he will but i have seen it happen.

go ahead disagree with me.. i dare you..

Poll

Summers in Oregon are awesome because:

The weather is nice

53 votes

This is the last summer we get to relax without the playoffs

15 votes

There are lots of places to go outside and enjoy

38 votes

Jazz/Blues Festivals

3 votes

Californians dont visit during the summer

35 votes

144 votes | Poll has closed

Who is the Perfect Pick for San Fran?

GreatOden'sRaven — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 18:08:23 -0000

Lets say for a second that the draft plays out perfectly for YOUR player. you know, the one that you PRAY somehow falls to the 49ers. If you had your choice of player, who would you want? I know we want a tackle, but lets assume that Jason Smith, Aaron Curry and Eugene Monroe are gone.. every other player has been mocked ahead and behind us, but those 3 are ALWAYS mocked above #10. So.. who would you want? Discuss below

Poll

Your choice?!

Matt Stafford

2 votes

Mark Sanchez

18 votes

Michael Crabtree

44 votes

Jeremy Maclin

7 votes

Andre Smith

13 votes

Michael Oher

3 votes

Brian Orakpo

15 votes

Aaron Maybin

13 votes

Malcolm Jenkins

3 votes

Everette Brown

19 votes

BJ Raji

23 votes

Brian Cushing

0 votes

Rey Malaluga

2 votes

Robert Ayers

0 votes

Percy Harvin

1 votes

163 votes | Poll has closed

Total Junk 4/4/09

GreatOden'sRaven — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 03:21:25 -0000

Yeah well since no one has done one today. here it is.. add at your own will.

Blazers had a huge streak of luck with a win by Portland and a loss by nearly every other team in the playoff race. Except San Antonio.

I watched Rambo First Blood today. Oregon Sheriffs are jerks, hassling Vets like that.

Michigan State and North Carolina are in the title game (NC likely). Has anyone else noticed this has been the most boring freaking tournament ever? Part of that is also because CBS sucks. Show us the 5-12, 7-10, 8-9 games. We dont want to flippin watch 1-16... even 2-15.. cut to it if its close, but cmon... CBS pretty much sucks royally at all sports. they have crappy HD for football too.

well that is my junk for the day.

Why I love Mike Rice

GreatOden'sRaven — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 18:02:59 -0000

Now I am sure many of you will instantly recoil at the headline. It happens. This site claims to not like homerism yet refuses trade offers of dwyane wade for jerryd bayless. Here's the truth though, while Rice may be a homer (no debating that) he does it with class and without demeaning the other team. Yes I know he butchers names and his confucious parody is painful, but during the game, at least you know you will get analysis as opposed to plain ole kissing donkey.

I have had this conversation many times with friends and relatives who live in the Portland area. Without a shred of a doubt, they all think Rice and Barrett are biased and irksome, mainly because they believe they are the worst announcers in the league. Everytime I argue against them. Now if you are a Portlander and dont often get to see any other teams games with local announcers I can't expect you to know any better, but if you are a league pass person like myself, you know what I am talking about.

As a basketball fan, I like to hear announcers call the game as its being played, giving praise to a player that does well (except #24 in LA) instead of continuously praising their own team for nothing they have done. This gets especially frustrating when Portland is struggling of their own accord (Last night LaMarcus missed about 10 open jumpers) and the announcers give credit when its not deserved.

As it is fresh in my mind I will use last nights game with the Rockets. (On a side note, usually the best announcers are for the worst teams. I THINK this is because they don't need to remind the fans that their team is awesome when it is apparent they are not. I enjoy Clipper announcers, Sac announcers, and sigh, Seattle announcers ((I dont like that new heehaw towns announcers)) because when their team makes a great play they talk about it, when the other team makes a great play they talk about it. Most teams aren't like that.) I was forced to listen to Matt Bullard and whoever the play by play guy is, butcher calls, give horrid analysis (if you don't know much about a player or team, just say so, dont make stuff up) and cry cry cry. I had to listen to a tirade about how flopping is killing the league and Joel Pryzbilla is a major culprit while luis scola plays on their team and is doing the same thing down low. I had to listen to how fantastic Scola's rotation defense was on LMA when he was missing shots even tho Luis was never closer than 6 feet away, hardly enough to effect a shot. It was horrible. You would also be amazed to hear that Shane Battier or Yao Ming apparently never foul and good blocks consist of getting elbow on a shot as long as the refs don't see it.

One thing I have always appreciated about Rice and Barrett is that they are willing to admit when Portland makes a bad play. "Oh look at that replay, Travis got away with one there." "Yep there it is, Greg did travel on that play, good call by the referee." "Batum just got beat on that play, and a fantastic play by Butler to get the dunk." Some of you might say, so, thats nothing special. Oh but my friends it is. You have no idea. Here is 90 percent of the teams announcers on those same plays. "Travis got a clean block on that one, a little body maybe and he was going for the ball so the ref says let em play." "Well the refs are just picking on Greg tonight, that clearly wasn't a travel, and we better see them call that on the other end." "Butler uses the arm to get around Batum and scores a dunk. Wow where was the call for offensive foul on that play." Etc. Etc. They are also willing to admit when a player on the other team makes a great play. Which (with the exception of Roy, who is every old announcers second coming of basketball Jesus) is very rare for opposing teams to do. They tend to talk thru great plays by opposing players or take the opportunity to reference their own players based on who is guarding the man who scored.

Once you are subjected to these announcers you gain a deeper respect for Rice. Barrett helps him along and they work well together. Absence makes the heart grow fonder, and I am very fond of them right now. I will likely be suffering through San An announcers tonight, who I hope and pray are better than Houston, N.O., LAL or GSW. (GSW makes the list since their announcer had the BALLS to use Bingo Bango Bongo on a play by the Warriors against us with no props to Schonely.)

The moral of the essay I just wrote is this, be thankful for what you have Blazer fans. While some say the grass is always greener, in this case, the grass is dead in the other lawns.

Dirk's value

GreatOden'sRaven — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 20:58:41 -0000

Hey all,

I was just pondering over a trade in my head. I believe the Mavs probably finish about 6th in the west and get Portland in the first round, but I really dont think anyone outside of the L-word or Spurs make it out of the west. I have read before that you guys have pondered the idea of blowing it up and getting younger and making a push for down the road. Here is a trade thought I came up with. Now this requires you to move Dirk. So if he is untouchable at this point in your mind, then this won't work for you.

Here are the reasons why I think this works. You get younger, you get more pieces and you get more cap flexibility. You get more than equal amounts of scoring back (allowing howard I am sure more shots) and you get a local kid in the process to cheer for. You get a starting PF, a starting SG (unless you really want to start Wright, which i know no one does, and Terry is best off the bench) and a proven backup PG to cover 55 year old Kidds afternoon naps. You also get stackhouses 7mil per contract off your books.

I think the Blazers would have to really consider this deal. I know it would force them to win right now, instead of plan on winning down the line. It closes their window by quite a bit due to Dirk's age, but also frees up playing time for some of the other players hidden in their lineup.

What do you guys think? Would you do this trade?

Trade between Portland and Dallas

My 5 things

GreatOden'sRaven — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 23:30:55 -0000

Since I'm in no mood to rehash the entering and twisting of the dagger that was placed in my heart at approx 10pm last night, I thought I would make a list of 5 things the NBA needs to do to make me love it just that much more.

1. Axe "The Reggie Miller Foul".

- You all know this call. Its my least favorite rule in the book. Pump fake, defender jumps, shooter jumps into defender in air and flails. No ACTUAL attempt to shoot happens. I hate this rule. I despise this rule. If this rule were a person it would be Adolph Hitler in a Laker jersey having Starbucks coffee with Clay Bennett using money stolen from a homeless veteran selling handmade trinkets which he would then donate to a dying kids charity. According to the real rule book, this is an offensive foul. The offensive player is entering the defenders space (which goes up from his feet straight up into the ceiling), causing contact and somehow is rewarded. This is commonly called in the key as well. Get in close, dive INTO your defender and flail. 2 shots. And a loss of self respect.

2. Ease up on the Superstar calls.

- Look, I get it. You want to see the stars succeed. They are your bread and butter and make the bucks for the teams and the leagues. What drives me insane though is that they play by different rules. Its one thing to let a star get away with a questionable offensive goaltend for a slam or give him the benefit of the doubt on a dunk in the lane when the defender was millimeters from the circle in the key. But seriously, its gotten out of hand. Oh Mr. Stern, its about the game not the players. I can't fault his success, but the slope this road goes on is getting awfully icy.

3. Update the Arena Music.

- There are some classics out there, songs that when I hear them remind me of the Blazers, but c'mon guys. At least throw in ONE song that has been a top 40 since 1985. Just ONE. Please. I love Billy Idol. At least I did. But I was 6 years old. Update your music. Sometimes after a great run, I get stoked, I'm ready to dance (not Comet Guy dance but you know, get down) and then I get the same song they played earlier after we made one dunk. Mony Mony aint cuttin it. Update time. Timbaland makes lots of great beats where no one needs to know the words. Look into it fellas.

4. Show Some Loyalty.

- I understand the need to make money. I understand that the career of an NBA player is undoubtedly short. I understand that sometimes you are traded, sometimes you just dont fit, and sometimes the city you are in isn't good for your off the court life (NYC/LA/MIA don't work for party animals) but I miss the days when a player retired with the team he was drafted by. Now there are a ton of guys who change teams who are role players, but I am talking about stars (yes you LeBron) who for whatever reason leave their teams to go elsewhere for greener pastures. Your team loves you, you are loved in the community and can make just as much money where you are than anywhere else, yet you leave. I pray this doesnt happen to Roy, LMA or Oden. There just isn't any loyalty anymore. (Side note: I do not begrudge a player leaving at the tail of his career to try and win a title. Winning is SUPPOSED to be the reason to play, not money. Just move on with class and show respect to the place you played your whole career.)

5. Stop the Portuguese National Soccer Team-esque Flopping.

- If Oden or Shaq or Howard or Eddy Curry with a cheesesteak in hand, was charging at me, I get the idea of maybe going down a little bit before the body contact occured. I want children someday. Yet flopping occurs about as often as a european player gets on the floor. Some Americans are even worse (Derek Fisher should hang his head in shame) yet the NBA looks the other way. This isn't soccer, stop falling down. Remember? "Contact" sport? Well, in a perfect world (my world) not only would flopping not generate a call, it would be a foul FOR flopping. And a technical for guys who toboggon themselves across the floor like its ice on Greenland in mid January (again DFish, I am strongly nodding in your direction). Real charges should be taken when a player is out of control or run you over. If you start to fall while there is air between your sweat soaked jersey and their elbow, shoulder and/or face, the foul is on you my friend. And hopefully so is their stench.

Honorable Mention of things that drive me insane: Being 6"11 and laying it up in traffic. Getting 14 seconds on the clock after someone intentionally throws the ball off another players foot. Getting a timeout on the ground when it should be a jumpball. Guys that kick out their leg when they shoot and fall down and demand a call. Players who slap instead of punch (if your gonna throw it, mean it. Your getting suspended anyways and I enjoy a good punch). The inordinate amount of attention NY gets as a basketball Mecca when it is roughly the 100th best place to play in HS or College and the Knicks haven't won a title in 20 years. Peter Vecsey, Sam Smith and Stephen A Smith (his initials are in the wrong order). Kobe and Vanessa Bryant.

What are yours? (they can probably be shorter than my rants, unless you LOVE to type)