I just had to post this.....

I just opened my new copy of the ESPN the magazine, and on page 62 is a story about how hard it is to hit free throws in the playoffs.   Interesting but not worth posting.....

UNTIL YOU SEE THE TWO PAGE SPREAD OF PORTLAND FANS BEHIND THE BASKET.

There they (we) all are, distracting Green from his shot.   Its beautiful to see "FREE THROW GUY" right smack dab in the middle of it all.

It gave me a chuckle.

In the past week, there has been quite a bit of discussion about Batum starting over Webster.   While I agree Batum should start, I do not think it is a good idea to reduce Webster's minutes one bit.   Webster has really come on in the past two months.   His energy has been good, at times even great, and he has found the basket while also defending top notch players.  

BUT, Batum clearly brings a strong defense and now he has shown an ability to find the bottom of the rim.   No one disputes that Batum has what it takes to start.   Well, maybe there are those who disagree, but I think they are in the minority.  

The question is: can LA play the five?   He may be 6' 11" but clearly is not a post up player.   However, it is not unusual for teams to play centers who don't post up.   Look at Brad Miller for Chicago, or Illgauskus for Cleveland.   I am guessing, however, that you post LA at the five, he will step up.   In the end, Juwan Howard does not have the size to really be effective, as we have seen this week against Utah, nor does he have the legs to play 30+ minutes every night.

In the end, my proposed lineup is, in my opinion, the only way to hope to make the playoffs AND it maybe the only way we get out of the first round.  Start now, let them play as much as they can together and by April, they should have gelled nicely.