SBNation.com User Blog: RayBourque

Bill Simmons Predicts: Steve Nash To Be Traded To Blazers

RayBourque — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 01:40:30 -0000

Bill Simmons Predicts: Steve Nash To Be Traded To Blazers

Grantland.com's Bill Simmons -- also known as "The Sports Guy" -- randomly makes the following 2012 prediction in his Week 17 NFL picks column: "[Phoenix Suns guard] Steve Nash will get traded to the Portland Trail Blazers." No further commentary is provided.

text edited, bumped to front page

Best schedule for the shortened season?

RayBourque — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 07:31:48 -0000

According to Michael Wilbon at ESPN the NBA is planning on a 66 game schedule consisting of 48 conference games and 18 non-conference games. While it is not as lopsided toward conference play as the NHL (they need to fix that system) I still find it disappointing. I think fans should have a chance to see every other team at least once in their home city (assuming they have an NBA team . . . sorry Seattle). Also, assuming you play those non-conference teams all at least once, who decides which three non-conference teams your team plays twice?

With this in mind, my idea -- no, David Stern hasn't called me yet -- would be a home and away between every team. This would fill 58 games of each team's season. With the remaining eight games each team would play the other four teams in its division in a second home and away. Viola! A nice, balanced, 66 game schedule with an emphasis on divisional play and a chance for fans to see each team. The four games against divisional foes is also the same as it has been in 82-game seasons. The only games missing are the other in-conference, non-division games.

The downside is this schedule would be even more brutal for the Blazers given less conference play.

Martell Webster could need back surgery

RayBourque — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 09:38:40 -0000

Martell Webster could need back surgery

Martell says he's been having back issues since last spring when someone undercut him in the playoffs. It has troubled him all summer and fall. He thought it was spasms but it may be worse.

A tidbit about 'Bassy Telfair too - Roy Hibbert landed on him. Ouch!

What happened to Casey Holdahl and the Center Court Blog??

RayBourque — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 08:17:34 -0000

What happened to Casey Holdahl and the Center Court Blog??

I keep wondering when Dave is going to do another chat with Casey when I realized that Casey has gone AWOL. He hasn't posted at Center Court Blog since Dec 15.

Anyone know what's up?

10/5/09 JD: Packers-Farvkings Edition

RayBourque — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 07:06:16 -0000

As a native Minnesotan and perpetually-in-angst Vikings fan I'm pretty excited for this game tonight. Farve coming over the Vikings made me kind of queasy at first (more angst) but since he's settled into the team and said the right things - especially about AD being the guy - I think it was the right move. We'll see if he can hold up for a whole season though - the Vikes line has been shaky (new center).

Farve, in his ESPN interview, today told the Green Bay fans "it was 16 great years. You can't take that run away. Enjoy it." Hmmm. Good interview though.

The media machine is certainly hyping this game beyond belief but I'm not sure it can be over-hyped. It really is surreal and unprecedented in sports. If you disagree or can name a more extreme example of a superstar going to an arch-rival please leave it in the comments.

Farve, in his ESPN interview, today told the Green Bay fans "it was 16 great years. You can't take that run away. Enjoy it." Hmmm. Good interview though.

Poll

Farvebowl I result:

Packers win big; Farve gets pounded

10 votes

Packers sqeak out a win in the dome

7 votes

Vikings squeak out a win at home

24 votes

Vikings win big; Jared Allen breaks Aaron Roger's leg

16 votes

I don't care - I'm a pacifist or have my head up a chunk of cheese

13 votes

70 votes | Poll has closed

Drinking Sessions (formerly Sept Twelve-pak Drunk Junk)

RayBourque — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 07:05:56 -0000

The weather in the 503 is getting steamy for the short run and liquid reserves are getting low. Anyone mix and match very often to clean out the cupboard and fridge?

On another note, the Wolves cupboard is looking very well stocked with some pretty tasty point guards. In fact, T-wolves fans should be screaming with joy. You could say they are coming up 7 & 7s, this even though untested Lime Ricky, err . . . Rubio Ricky, isn't coming over right away. Instead, they'll get a long chug of Ramon Sessions to quench their thirst since Milwaukee decided not to keep up. Whether they reach their threshold is unknown, but he should make for a intoxicating concoction with Jonny Flynn. If nothing else, it might make some Wolves' fans forget the recent past. And maybe K Love will get more action.

On another note, looks like A.I. is going for the kill. Who is going down is TBD.

Last-call junk: I sure hope we don't get another Duck Fart this weekend. One more might send me over the limit.

The weather in the 503 is getting steamy for the short run and liquid reserves are getting low. Anyone mix and match very often to clean out the cupboard and fridge?

On another note, looks like A.I. is going for the kill. Who is going down is TBD.

Last-call junk: I sure hope we don't get another Duck Fart this weekend. One more might send me over the limit.

Yet Another Fresh Start for Sebastian Telfair

RayBourque — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 08:16:15 -0000

Yet Another Fresh Start for Sebastian Telfair

Nice video of Bassy talking a bit about his career-to-date relative to the expectations and what he thinks he needs to work on.

Durant, Gay lead way in exhibition

RayBourque — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 08:06:37 -0000

Durant, Gay lead way in exhibition

Oden with seven points and eight rebounds.

Q & A w/ Joel Pryzbilla by Sean Deveney

RayBourque — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 10:38:51 -0000

Q & A w/ Joel Pryzbilla by Sean Deveney

Great interview with Joel, even though it isn't that long. Nice insight into his career and working with Oden.

Popovich: Blazers importance to Portland, and they are "back"

RayBourque — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 12:33:48 -0000

Popovich: Blazers importance to Portland, and they are "back"

For Portland’s sake, Popovich said he is happy the Trail Blazers have regained their status as one of the NBA’s top teams with a roster that represents the community in a first-class manner.

"It’s a heck of a team, and only getting better, week by week," he said. "It’s great for the city to have their team back, a team that not only wins, but does it with class. They’re as important here as we are in San Antonio.

"There’s not a whole lot of professional stuff going on, expect the Blazers and Spurs in their respective towns, so the people demand teams that compete hard and teams that operate with class, on and off the court. Now, Portland has that again, and I think it’s great for the town and great for the NBA.

"They’re going to be a tough matchup for every single team in the league every single night because of the coaching and because of the system. They’re good. They’re back."