I'm writing this at 6:30, hoping that the unspecified 10:00am is EST not PST. I've been up all night waiting to buy tickets, terrified my alarm will not go off. Game 5 will be the first game I'll be in town for since late 2008. [edit: bummer, tix not selling on eastern time]

Before that there are still two games in Houston. Partially because I missed BEdge Night, and also because I love a good party, I propose a Blazers Edge road game party for Sunday evening. 

Sunday's game starts at 6 and is on TNT (plus KGW I believe; haven't been in PDX recently) so any bar worth a damn should carry it. Alternatively smaller groups could meet for potluck/BBQ parties. Weather forecast is calling high 60s so that is an option.

But all of this is dependent on us to organize. The only restriction to what activity, is proximity to TVs. Please share any ideas you all might have in the comments!

[edit:] So elated right now. just secured my ticket for game five. coming down from Vancouver BC this weekend. If you're going to game five, where are you sitting? also anyone who's interested in a Sunday afternoon get together email me: lazersailer@gmail.com

By securing homecourt the Blazers have greatly increased their chances of reaching the second round! This is farther than I thought they would go last November.

Ever since the possibility of getting fourth seed occurred I've been salivating because it means two things:

1. We'll probably go into the second round. Portland has been unbeatable at home, just crushes opposing teams; 6 wins of 30 or more. In the last 3 home games we have a point differential of 17.7; best in the NBA. For the season it's 9.9, 4th best.  
2. Fourth Seeded second round means the L*kers. Face it; Utah isn't getting out of round one. It'd like to see the upset happen. It's gonna hurt rooting for the Jazz but I will. Still.... 

Some of my favorite memories come from the 2000 WCF run. I attended one of the early playoff games, watched or listened to the rest.

Who among us doesn't remember where they were during the WCF Game Seven?
I still occasionally youtube it (just make sure no one's around to see you cry); most recently last week to get myself fired up for Friday's game. The botched calls against Sabonis, specially in the end of the third quarter, make me furious.

And until last friday, every L*ker and L.A. fan refused to admit to the Rivalry. Kobe made this rivalry real on both side. L.A. wants this; Portland wants it more!

Any game between L.A. and Portland is amazing. A Second Round battle is going to be awesome! It's the beginning of a new era. I'm actually glad we are seeded fourth rather than third, just so we have a greater chance of playing L.A.

[*Edit*] Fair enough; Houston is gonna be tough. Really tough; my least favourite team we could be playing. terrible matchups for us. Homecourt should help some, but I'm not sure it'll be everything. We're gonna need to play like we've been doing for the last month. It's hard to gauge how we'll play against them at home as our first and only game was in early November.

That said, this isn't a post about the upcoming series. I never made any claim that we'd get through it for sure. But the Second Round against L.A. is open because we're in the Fourth Seed specifically.

 As a young child, the last time I cared about Blazers Basketball was that series. I was in 4th grade. I remember where I was when Game seven happened. I'm sure lots of you do too. After that season I stopped paying attention for a few; became more involved in other activities and rode out the ugly years.

This post is about the chance for that to happen again. the hope that my inner child can maybe get some vindication.

But like I said upfront; this is Higher and Farther than I ever expected us to go this season, and am so happy and excited just to have playoff games to attend!

I have yet to find online footage of Court Cuts, but let me say watching Canadian Television - The Score; Channel Fifty4 -  announce Brandon Roy's dominance was awesome!

We didn't get a shout-out specifically, but our online presence was recognized. Thanks for putting up with my incessant posting about this.

Here in Vancouver, most people don't know who the Blazers are, let alone any of the players. I really hope a little national coverage will ignite some fire!

Also: Thanks to [user] claire for her (unprompted, and amazing!) help in getting the word out! And Ben for Twittering!!

We win!

It was all worth it for this!

****  IN Other news: ****

OMG DID U SEE TRAVIS? WTF!!! THAT SHOT WAS *#@&*-ING AMAZING!! 

and a STEAL! Sink em Brandon! You're the KING!

[UPDATE] Wed: 12:36pm - Original Post below

Something strange has happened. Vince Carter is no longer in this contest.... I think perhaps it was some kind of April Fools Joke? Not too sure.

I do know Canadians really hate him, and I thought Kobe won.

Still -  Every B-Edger must now vote 24/7 for Brandon Roy. Let's wipe that smirk of Kobe's face!! 

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APRIL FOOLS!!

but....

Brandon Roy is in the Finals of TheScore.com 's King of Court Cuts Challenge!!

He is currently losing to Vince Carter! The margin (in Vince Carter's favour) as of 11:45pm is 90% to 10%.

Are we gonna let this happen?

Brandon Roy cannot lose to Vince "Super-Chucker" Carter.

Don't let Brandon Roy be Canada's April Fool!! 

DEFEAT VINCE CARTER!!

Please Please Please VOTE for Brandon Roy!!

For the Junk Drawer portion of this post, I ask you thee fellow BLEdgers to chose whom you'd vote for in a "Highlight/Favourite player contest". But NO current Blazers are allowed.

I'm opening this thread (along with many others I'm sure) as my way of saying thanks, and passing on good thoughts to Rudy Fernandez, Numero Cinqo!

I was hoping everyone could add their favourite Rudy Funfacts, Rudy moments, or just good wishes. 

This may be premature, but one of the reasons Rudy is so awesome is his toughness. So when he stayed down like that it scared me.

I'll start the list off with:

1.  First Rudy Memory  I remember watching Rudy play for the Spanish national team during the Olympic finals. First time I'd seen non-Highlight play by him. At first I was having trouble picking him out cause his hair was way shorter than in the film on youtube. But it was then that I jumped on the Rudy Train! - portland89

2. Noones questioning your desire to play, Rudy

You’ve found a 2nd home here in Portland and we love you!!  - Nuggz503

3. I remember when we first drafted him.

I immediately checked youtube for highlights and thought to myself, " we’re actually getting this guy?!". Then when I saw him in the Olympics I got chills. I was thinking that Rudy’s game is unlike any player in the NBA. The way he moves without the ball, the way he positively affects the offense without even touching the ball. Rudy is a rookie and already logging QUALITY minutes. He has been a big part of our success this year, and his rise to NBA consistency should be special to watch. Get well Rudy.    - Dario

4. El Mago

You have our thoughts friend. I still remember that Dunk on D. Howard. I didn’t know then what i know now. All the best you Spaniard magic man.  - BlindNil

5. Rudy is sooo tough!

I think it was agaisnt Lithuania in the Olympics. Rudy got what seemed to be a concusion and then after being on the bench for a few minutes he went back in only to catch a alley-oop, throw a couple nice passes and toss up a three. this is all from memory but I was so impressed by it that I told every one I saw for like a month about it.   - BlazerManiac77

6. Ruuuuuuuuuuuudy

Get better man. Your teammates and fans have your back…L*kers or no L*kers.   - DLieberman

add yours to the list! And Best Wishes for a fast recovery Rudy!!

Here in Canada we have this awesome network called The Score. Being the smallest Canadian sports channel it doesn't carry many hockey games leaving lots of room for the NBA. If anyone is familiar with Tas Melas of TheBasketBallJones, he started on The Score a few years ago and now live-blogs for them

One of the programs they run is a Tuesday show called Court Surfing. It consists of highlights from the previous week and bouncing (or as they call it "pick and rolling") from game to game; much like March Madness on CBS.

Every week during the show they hold a competition between two player's highlight reels and have the fans vote. This continues through the season until someone is named the King of Court Cuts.

 I bring it up because this week our two time All-Star Brandon Roy is up against Josh Smith of the Atlanta Hawks. 

I know I can count on Blazer's Edge to get the word out to everyone to vote for Brandon Roy! 

**UPDATE 2: 6:27 PM PDT**

Make sure to also vote against Chris Bosh! He's Canada's favourite, and Roy's greatest competition!

Let's keep him from leaving the first round!

***UPDATE***

As of Monday morning Brandon Roy is up 51% to 49%

Please VOTE!! Help Brandon Roy continue the online dominance of The Blazers!

Voting ends tomorrow around noon Eastern!

Here in Canada we have this awesome network called The Score. Being the smallest Canadian sports channel it doesn't carry many hockey games leaving lots of room for the NBA. If anyone is familiar with Tas Melas of TheBasketBallJones, he started on The Score a few years ago and now live-blogs for them

One of the programs they run is a Tuesday show called Court Surfing. It consists of highlights from the previous week and bouncing (or as they call it "pick and rolling") from game to game; much like March Madness on CBS.

Every week during the show they hold a competition between two player's highlight reels and have the fans vote. This continues through the season until someone is named the King of Court Cuts.

 I bring it up because this week our two time All-Star Brandon Roy is up against Josh Smith of the Atlanta Hawks. 

I know I can count on Blazer's Edge to get the word out to everyone to vote for Brandon Roy! 

Also if you don't feel immoral for doing so, vote against Chris Bosh. He'll be very stiff competition for B-Roy!

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On another note, 2 games tonight consist of our Western Conference rivals playing each other.

Rockets play the Jazz in Utah, and the Spurs play the Mavs in Dallas.

So the poll for today is: 

Which team would you most like to lose their game this evening? If only they could all lose....

It's not actually spooky. I live on the 13th floor of my apartment tower.

I didn't see a junk drawer yet, probably cause everyone is busy asking Dave questions in his late night open thread. Mad Props Dave!

but this is much more pressing and not even really basketball related.

it involves me buying a new pair of shoes. And what better place to get opinions than here.

so do i get these awesome Retro Jordan 1s: Sole to Sole (Tribe Called Quest - Tribute) better pictures here

or these equally awesome Jordan3 Air Force 1 fusions?

i don't have the same in depth pics for the second.

Man reason for the question is that my local Sneakershop here in Vancouver (LiveStock) is holding them for me till tomorrow at noon.

4 hours after my tax return comes through. and tax return means new kicks.

**Edit to make this more Junk Drawer conversation friendly and not a lame ploy to help me blow my tax return on shoes.**

So in honor of tax return season -- AKA new shoes season -- what are your favourite pair of shoes you've ever owned? I have to go with an old red and black pair of Nikes i found in the bargain bin when I was ten; Just old enough to wear adults shoes and they were super cheap cause no one wears size 3 or whatever they were.

But i got one signed by Brian Grant when he visited my primary school (he lived in West Linn at the time). still have it somewhere. sadly lost the other one.

In honor of all the rediculous trades being thrown around I've decided to put forth this to ya'll; and it's guaranteed to kill the Western Conference.

Not only does this trade destroy the Lakers, Spurs, and Suns (who really should be blown up), but it brings Lamar Odom to the Blazers, who would just ruin the chemistry of our team.

At the end of this trade, no one wins.

oh... did I mention it puts Shaq and Kobe on the same team? (this link is my trade, what do u suggest?)

So as the deadline approaches; do you fellow BLedgers think any trade, let alone something this ridiculous will happen involving the Blazers? Or for that matter the Suns?

via cache.daylife.com

Rudy Fernandez has officially been announced the winner of the 4th slot in the Sprite Slam Dunk Competition. 

Of over 500,000 votes, Rudy won over 250,000. Runners up Westbrook and Alexander split the rest for about 125000 apiece.

In this new video Rudy thanks the fans for voting him in and more importantly:

Swears he will shave his beard if he wins the contest!

So I say this: Let's not shave, along with Rudy until after he wins the Dunk contest!! 

And as part of the contest is based on fan voting, it's up to us get Rudy to Shave!

Enough of the Scruff!

So, as Jerryd has officially broken out, I ask you all: what is your choice for nickname? I personally have always loved B-Rex (to the point of adding it to his wikipedia). Even though the wiki editors keep deleting it, a nickname will stick.

So is it B-Rex? Or is J-Bay the name of the day? A decision must be made!

Let the great naming begin:

Add your other choices to the comments! 

So here is the New Rudy Fernandez Dunk Footage.     

It's pretty funny. 

I'm not sure if Rudy really wants his dunks to be a surprise, or if he isn't prepared to show any yet....The one self-oop of sorts is pretty average, though you can tell it wasn't full power.

This video is more fluid, none of the annoying jump cuts NBA.com is so accustomed too. He speaks for awhile in spanglish, which i love. Is it true that his first language was Catalan, and Spanish his second?

I still see potential for him in the dunk contest; though with this Darius hoopblah, the team doesn't need extra exposure.

Thoughts?