I think everyone will agree that it has been a long and up and down season for Jarrett Jack, mostly down. There have been reasons as to why he should be the odd man out in our pg rotation and justifiably so. However, this last week of the season he has been playing out of his mind with very good games against the Lakers, Kings, Mavericks and Grizzlies. I think many can agree too that it's not a matter of talent with Jack, but a matter of the brains to play the position for us. This can be fixed. I have noticed when he just sticks to his game, which is driving to the hoop, getting fouled and making clutch free throws, he is capapble of being a starting pg in this league. I think he can get over these head games that he has, and if he can do that, he could be our pg of the future. Even with all of our cap space in 09, Paul and Williams aren't going anywhere so we can throw that possibliity out right now. I think unless we can get either Harris or TJ Ford, (yes I think he's better than Calderon but the injuries are a concern) then I say we see how Jack fits with Oden.

What do you guys think? Has Jack's play over the last week of being in the starting lineup earn him a spot for next season, or has his horrendous play and inconsistency warrant a trip to a new city? Lets discuss

No more standing up for Brandon Roy! I'm sick of all of the Blazersedgers that come to his rescue every time someone posts something critical of him.  I want everyone to know this diary isn't coming after a lackluster performance against a team that plays zero defense but more or less his comments after the game. For those that haven't read them yet I encourage all of you to read Quick's recap on O-live. His attitude is a bunch of BS, something Bonzi would say, not our future superstar and this year's all star. What is the most discouraging is his quotes came after he basically didn't try for 30 of his 32 minutes he played last night. If he would have said that stuff after playing his heart out then it's a little easier to let slide and we are having a different discussion. If this is what Brandon thinks of the rest of this season then I don't want him to play the next three games. I want the players who want to finish this season strong, and want to get to .500 for the first time in 5 years to be playing! If it's so hard to get up for games you should win, Brandon, like the 2 Seattle games and last nights game, just because we are out of the playoff race then I just have one more thing to say to you: "Don't even come to the Garden tonight because I will be there and am paying damn good money to watch my team that I pour my heart and soul into every game fight till the very end"!

I, like many Blazer faithfuls, have criticized Webster for simply dissapearing in games. But lately, with last night being the latest example, I have seen something else: The coaching staff simply does not run enough plays for him. It is obvious when he only takes 3 shots. That is not a sign of him being unagressive or passive, he's just not getting his touches. How is this possible when he is a jump shooter/scorer? I question this only today because it comes on a night when our best player was hounded all night by 2-3 guys and on top of that, was ice cold. Freeing up Webster with those baseline pics setting him up for shots could have got us back into this game. Who knows, maybe Tell catches fire and wills us back into the game like he did against Utah and then they would've had to respect him more. This could've freed up Roy too. Sometimes, Nate just baffles me. Webster makes his only 3 point attempt but you still play the 2 man game with Roy and Aldridge even when it was obvious to everyone that that was where all of their defensive attention was. Am I wrong? Should Nate of ran some plays for Webster to get some open looks or Jones too for that matter? Or am I completely off? Appreciate your input.

This guy is having a phenomonal season! I know he is getting up there in age at 31 but he is also proving that that isn't going to stop him from putting up big numbers, on a team that has Caron Butler and Gilbert Arenal nonetheless. He is a free agent at the end of the season and I think he would be an excellent addition to our team. Standup guy with no character baggage, a good scorer and great rebounder and has range along with inside game as well. Adding him to our mix next season only solidifies us even more as a lock to be in the playoffs next year. Our small forward and point gaurd positions are the weakest points on our team, plugging Jamison in there with Aldridge and Oden makes us very scary on defense all of a sudden and does the same on offense. Only problem with this signing is either Webster or Outlaw would have to go. What do you guys think? is signing a proven vet and playoff scorer to our mix of youngins worth letting go of some promise in Oulaw or Webs? Or do we just keep the same roster and hope everything pans out and the guys grow up for next season? Whatever the case may be, I think Jamison would be awesome on our team! Please give me your thoughts

Ok, we all know what the 2 biggest needs are for the Blazers this offseason, a defensive minded point gaurd and a backup 4. I have a plan to acheive both of those goals and your input will be greatly appreciated.

Alright first, by now it is no secret that NJ likes J.Jack and Outlaw, hence them wanting to pull that 3 way deal back before the deadline. Harris makes over 7 mill next year but is a free agent after that so I could see them going the cheaper route with Jack. My trade would be Jack, Frye and Outlaw for Harris and Ager. The salaries are extremely close based on what the players will make next season. 2 reasons why I think NJ would do this:

1. Jack is cheaper and they really like him
   
2. Outlaw and Frye provide scoring off the bench. The Nets are horrible in bench production.

My second move would be to draft Kevin Love. He imediately fills the void we lost with moving Frye. He strokes the mid range shot, so the pic and pop plays will still be effective. Plus he will provide added toughness in the paint. Can you imagine a second unit of Blake/Rudy/Jones/Love/Pryzbilla? No one would dare come into the paint! I think our second unit will still be strong even with the loss of Outlaw, plus our starters will be a year older so they can play more minutes if the bench is providing any scoring. That second unit coupled with the starters: Harris/Roy/Webster/Aldridge/Oden is a dang good team. Sergio,Ager,Miles,McRoberts/LaFrentz isn't too bad of a 3rd string either. I would love this team, not too mention, with Oden, Joel, LMA and Love I feel pretty confident we would lead the league in blocked shots! If you don't like any of these moves, I can understand that. Blazer fans have fallen in love with Outlaw this season, but he is definitely expendable in my opinion. And one thing is for sure, our defense and rebounding improves a great deal with these moves and that is our biggest  weakeness at this point.
Alright, what do you guys think?

How many times have we heard it? "Well the Blazers are on the second of a back to back tonight" and all the other excuses that come along with it (tired legs, getting into the city late). I am here to finally stand up to this nonsence. Losing a game because of a back to back is the most overated excuse in the game of basketball and nobody uses it more than our broadcasters. Lets get the facts straight. We are two games above .500, Minnesota has won 14 games, the wolves play some of the worst D in the league. I don't care if this is our 3rd game in a row and the Wolves have had a days rest, we should still win this game! Having the youngest team in the league has it's disadvantages experience wise, but it should provide advantages energy wise! What do you guys think of the back to back excuse? And also, I'm putting the over/under at 10 for how many times The Mike's reference to playing a back to back tonight. Please give me your thoughts

As we go deeper and deeper into the season it becomes more blatenly obvious to me what the Blazers mentality and attitude is during a game, primarily on the road. That mentality is "we aren't good enough". Last night was the latest example. Up 14 in the first half, then there was the Lakers game when we were up big early on as well. It's almost as if our attitudes are "they are going to make a run, and even though we are up big right now, it's not going to last". That is how I feel. I just got that feeling during the game last night, the feeling when you know it is inevitable that we will lose no matter what the score is at the time of our big lead and it looks like that is the way the Blazers feel too. There is no urgency to stop runs (getting easy shots, free throws or rebound). How do you guys feel about this? Am I wrong? Or do the Blazers have a confidence problem when playing good teams on the road even when they are up big?

This is in no way a bash on Brandon post, I loved his game last night and basically didn't everything to will us back and almost take the lead. However, there is one thing he didn't do or hasn't really done all year that is worrying me a bit. I know he is in only his second year but if LMA gets some harsh criticism in his 2nd season then I think it's fair to do the same for Roy. He simply does not take over in the 4th qtr in games. So many times last night in the midst of our comeback he would kick it to Trout for a jumper, or Jack for a 3 when what I really want is B to just keep taking it to the rack, make a layin or get fouled. Yes, there have been many times when he has hit a clutch shot to either win a game or force overtime but the times when he just takes the game over througout the 4th qtr are few and far between. I think the fact that he is very unselfish should be noted. Roy might not be the type to take over in the 4th. He might not have that killer instinct like Kobe, Lebron, Manu, Pierce or KG. So the question: Does Roy pocess the killer instinct i'm talking about and i'm just missing something? Or is Roy simply too unselfish and more of a complimentary star to a superstar with a killer instinct that maybe we need to go out and get?
By the way, this is my first post. I love Blazersedge and am glad to be a part of the family finally