I hate when the Blazers play like this. It just takes all the fun out of being a Blazers fan.

Games like last night are just so boring. I mean, there's no drama, no second-guessing, and hardly any room to gripe and complain about what the team should have done differently. Where's the fun in that?

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With all the summer's purported "disappointments" on the Free Agent market, it'd becoming clear that the "Big Splash" the front office was hoping for is not going to happen. Barring a sweatheart deal with a team looking to offload salary, we may be better off at this point merely shoring up our bench with a veteran roleplayer or two.

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I was fortunate enough to be selected by my company to attend the NAB (National Association of Broadcasters) national convention in Las Vegas, Nevada last week.

As a loyal Blazer fan, I thought it only fitting to wear my Blazers gear for as much of the week as my work schedule would allow. This had some interesting results.

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The Oregonian is reporting that Rudy Fernandez has won the fan voting, and will be the fourth representative in this year's Dunk Contest at All-Star Weekend, alongside Dwight Howard, Nate Robinson, and Rudy Gay.

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While no Blazer player really stands out in the major categories (Points, Rebounds, Steals, Assists, Blocks), there are a number of Blazers who stand out statistically. Here's some interesting figures showing how our players are getting the job done in less flashy ways.

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It's been all over the media this year. Golden State is fielding a younger team than Portland, so we're only the "second-youngest team" this year.

Well, that may have been true on opening day, when some reporter who was so inclined decided to do the math and check it out. However, there is a problem with that.

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I was at last night's game. Man what a fun game that was.

I got there more than 80 minutes prior to tip-off. There were, as always, a number of players shooting around as the crowd filtered in. (Thank you to the Blazers for opening the Rose Garden 90-minutes prior to tip rather than 60 minutes like last season.)

Alongside Blake and Shavlik Randolph, a clean-shaven Martell Webster was there shooting  threes.

He looked very good. He wasn't running or cutting or anything, and it's hard to judge true accuracy from a shooter when there's no defender there creating mischief. However, almost every shot was right on the money.

He didn't show any signs that his foot was bothering him any. If he's cleared to practice next week, December 5th seems entirely reasonable to me for his return.

I'm very excited to finally have the possibility of a 100% full (if not entirely 100% healthy, at least 100% PRESENT) roster.

The only downside I see is it probably means fewer minutes for Batum (like, probably NONE in most cases, unless we have extended garbage minutes like last evening). It could also throw a wrench into team cohesiveness, but that's already pretty up-in-the-air right now due to the Oden adjustment, so I can't imagine Martell's return is going to make waves that are any more noticeable than that. In any case, the sooner he comes back, the sooner we can work out the last kinks in our lineup, and finally see what we have.

If last night was any indication, this team could be ready to make serious waves RIGHT NOW. Go Blazers.

Okay, so we have gotten a taste of what kind of amazing player Rudy has turned out to be.

I'd say it's time to let the rest of the NBA (and the world) know it as well.

Rudy is not on this year's All-Star Ballot. I can't think of a more deserving player not listed on that form, however. Now it's pretty much a no-brainer who the two starting guards for the West are going to be this year (CP3 and K*be), based on reputation alone. This sucks, but hey, it's the way things are. It's pretty hard to argue with those selections based on the way those two guys play.

If Brandon keeps being Brandon, however, there's a good chance he'll be on the bench again, as voted by the coaches.

I say we make a concerted effort to draw attention to Rudy Fernandez, by writing him in. Sure, he's a shoo-in for the Rookie Challenge, but that's weak sauce. I say let's see if we can get him in the grown-up game as a write-in candidate.

This site is one of the most active fansites on the entire Internet. Let's show the world the kind of power we can generate by voting early (and often) for Rudy as a write-in candidate!

If Rudy's even on the radar as a vote-getter by January, then the coaches will be taking note. With the All-Star coaches, perception can be reality.The world saw what he could do in the Gold Medal game in Beijing. Let's make certain the coaches remember that moment. Let's make certain they take notice of this guy who is playing amazing ball, and making the NBA fun again.

Who's with me?

Edit:

Here is the direct link to the voting page on NBA.com:

http://www.nba.com/allstar2009/asb/eng/landing.jsp?cid=nba18

Rumor source here:

http://www.hoopsworld.com/HeadlineStories.asp?hd=20080629&lc=NBA#STORY_9771

I'm not exactly sure what to think about this deal. One the one hand, Steve Blake is the perfect fit for us right now. He provides stability and a steady hand for the next couple seasons while Bayless is learning the ropes, and showing us what he can do. Beyond that, Blake becomes valuable as an experienced backup, bringing good outside shooting, and hard work and energy off the bench. How could we even think about trading that away?

On the other hand, we'd be getting back David Lee. That's a heck of an upgrade in terms of talent. Lee plays the PF in NY, but could easily slide over and be our starting SF. Plus, we do have a glut of point guards right now, making Blake at least somewhat expendable.

What do you think? Does this deal make sense for Portland?

Source for this rumor is here:

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basketball/2008/06/21/2008-06-21_wont_be_a_summer_sequel_because_kobe_bry.html?page=2

Unlike the Barbosa trade, I think it's safe to say that this deal, as announced, makes almost no sense for the Blazers, no matter how you try to spin it.

Travis is clearly a better player than Miller. Also, Miller duplicates way too many of the traits we already have in Blake, Jones, and Webster. Besides, there will be players on the board at #13 with better potential than Miller has, also.

Now, if Memphis were to throw in their 2008 pick, then maybe this could work. I'd hate to see Travis go, but there is no doubt that Augustin and Westbrook will both be there at #5.

What do you think?

Would you like to see Mike Miller in Blazers colors?

The Arizona Republic is reporting this morning on a rumored trade involving the Blazers and Suns.

http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/sports/articles/0620sunsnotes0620.html

Money quote: "A Portland deal would have sent 21-year-old swingman Martell Webster, next week's No. 13 pick and another piece for Barbosa."

For "Another piece", read "Jarret Jack, McBob, or Sergio".

While the article seems to imply that this one is, at this point, dead, trades like this have a way sometimes of re-emerging in a slightly different form on draft-day, so who knows?

Okay, so I didn't mean for this to happen.

In my office pool for the NBA playoffs, I tried to make picks that would be different than the other basketball fans in my building. I picked the New Orleans Hornets to win the west, and the Pistons to win the east. That looked pretty good for me right up until game 7 on Monday.

Now, with the Hornets on vacation, I find myself down in the pool by a substantial margin. Most of the points leaders in the pool picked the Spurs to win it all. Nobody picked the L*kers. But nobody picked Detroit to win it all, either.

Now, my only mathematical chance of winning is for the L*kers to beat the Spurs, and Detroit to win the East, and then the Finals.

This leaves me, now, in the almost untennable position of having to root FOR the L*kers in their series vs. the Spurs.

What is a Blazers fan to do?

On the one hand, I passionately hate everything the L*kers stand for. I want to see Ime (my man--I even have his Blazers jersey) win a ring.

Yet, the L*kers victory could be a "win" for me, too. Where should my loyalties lie? Oh man, this sucks.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/basketball/nba/04/25/hill.suns.ap/index.html

Brandon Roy finished in third place in the Joe Dumars sportsmanship award voting for the 2008 season. (Grant Hill won the honor, and Shane Battier was second.)

How tremendous is it that not just "a" Blazer was considered for this honor, but THE player for the Blazers, the man who most embodies the nature and character of the team, was considered?

I mean, Chris Dudley can win the citizenship award on a "Jail Blazers" team, and it doesn't say anything. 

Very cool. Way to go Brandon!

Here's a potential trade scenario that would seem to address many of our issues.

The salaries work. Would the teams go for it?

-----

New Jersey Nets trade

Devin Harris, Richard Jefferson

to Portland for

Jarret Jack, Martell Webster, Raef LaFrentz, 1st round pick(13), 2 second round picks (33, 34)

What Portland gets:

- Quality Veteran help at the 3. Jefferson is getting older, and he's expensive, but Portland can afford the hit. Moving to Portland could possibly revitalize Jefferson's game. Portland needs the veteran help more than another young draft pick.

- A great young player at the point. Harris is a great fit in Portland, and they have a much better chance to resign him than New Jersey does in 2009.

- Stabilizes the point guard position long-term. Gives Portland 2-3 years to find or develop a longer-term solution at the 3 (Jones?).

What New Jersey gets:

- Relief from Jefferson's long contract, as Raef's expires at year's end.

- Multiple draft picks to rebuild with, including one lottery pick.

- A chance to get something in exchange for Harris, who is unlikely to stay with the team past 2009.

- A young talent at the point in Jack to replace the departing Devin Harris.

- A good quality young three-pointer threat in Martell


Portland Line-up After the trade:

Devin Harris, PG
Brandon Roy, SG
Richard Jefferson, SF
LaMarus Aldridge, PF
Greg Oden, C

Bench:

Steve Blake, PG
Rudy Fernandez, SG
James Jones, SF
Travis Outlaw, PF
Joel Przybilla, C
Channing Frye, PF/C
Sergio Roderiguez, PG

New Jersey Lineup after the trade:

Marcus Williams, PG
Vince Carter, SG
Stromile Swift, SF
Sean Williams, PF
Nenad Krstic, C

Bench:

Jarret Jack, PG
Martell Webster, SF/SG
Trenton Hassell, SF
Raef LaFrentz, C
Josh Boone, PF/C
Lottery Pick (10) DeAndre Jordan?
Lottery Pick (13) Chase Budinger?

As a result of the Shaq-to-Phoenix trade, as well as the quirk of schedule that had the Blazers play both Miami games before the trade--and all three of their Phoenix games after the trade--the Blazers avoid having to play against Shawn Marion this season.

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With today's win at Atlanta, the Blazers now have more road wins (8) than any other team in the Northwest Division.

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The Blazers now have the second best home-record in the entire NBA (a half-game behind San Antonio), at 17-3 (tied with Dallas).

It is worth noting that Portland's home record is now BETTER THAN BOSTON'S. And tied in the loss column with San Antonio.

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Obviously, drafting Greg Oden may well turn out to be one of the most important player acquisitions in the history of the team. But how can a guy who's out for the year with season-ending surgery help his team now?

There are really two factors that make Oden important to this year's team.

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The fans at the Rose Garden have taken to chanting "M-V-P! M-V-P!" Whenever Brandon comes to the free throw line.

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Merry Christmas, Blazers fans. Your team gave you a ten-game winning streak (and counting!) for Christmas.

The writers around the league are giving us mad love, as well. Here are the power rankings from the major sources:

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An analysis of Home and Road records around the Association, as it impacts the Blazers.

This far into the season, there is still a lot of basketball to be played, but we have started to see some of the separation that will become more important in March and April for which teams will or will NOT have shots at the playoffs. How does this impact the Blazers' playoff chances?

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I wrote this as a comment originally, but liked it so much, I decided to make it into a diary entry, in a modified and extended form. This is my first diary entry, so be gentle. ;-)

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