Not sure why this hasn't been brought up for last night or if we meet the Oklahoma City Thunder in the playoffs, but in the 4th quarter with the game close is a good strategy to " Hack A Perkins "? Hear me out. Perkins shoots .526 from the foul line and is 2 of 13 from the line in his last 5 games. Last night he was really giving Aldridge fits in the paint and forcing him into jumpers all night long when he was on the court.

The Blazers can intentionally foul him up to the 2 minute mark away from the ball and make him shoot free throws. Would this have been a good strategy last night to either make him shoot free throws or force Scotty Brooks to take him out of the game. At the 8:19 mark in the 4th quarter Perkins enters the game for Nazr Mohammed with the game tied 79-79. Knowing that the Thunder and especially Westbrook and Durant average more than 1 point per possession would a good strategy be to intentionally foul Perkins and send him to the line every time up until either they take him out, thus giving the guards more room to penetrate and Aldridge to go inside, or if he starts making more than 1 outta every 2 free throws. Should the Blazers have done this last night when down 6 with 5 minutes left or down 4 with 3:45 left and Perkins still in the game? When the Blazers were down by 6 and the Thunder were hitting shots wouldn't it be smart to have more offensive possessions and limit the points they score on offense each possession to likely 1 point or at most 2?

The Blazers were outscored 20-11 in the last 8:19 of the ballgame and had only 12 possessions to the Thunders 14. If they had fouled Perkins each time and had more possessions I think the Blazers win last night. What do you think?

The Cake has been baked and is just now setting. The icing will be a healthy Oden and Roy as the 6th Man of the Year next year. So why destroy things now to start another cake?

Imagine Andre lobbing to Oden and Aldridge next year. Camby off the bench behind Oden. Two perfect veterans that this team has desperately needed to help our young Blazers mature. And all the talk is how the Blazers need to get younger. I know we have been saying for 4 years now that next year could be the year. But never more so than before this trade deadline does it seem possible.

Can the Blazers get to the 2nd round this year with Camby and Roy coming back and the new beastly Aldridge? I think so. If all the talk is of getting pgotf then why not wait and have cap space in the Summer of 2012 when Paul and Williams will be free agents. Would either of those players want to join a team with Oden, the wild card here obviously, Aldridge, Batum and possibly Roy? The Lakers will be done and the only other team I see in the West that has the opportunity to build a dynasty will be OKC.

I say give it one more year Cho. Let's see Andre and Camby with Oden, and his qualifying offer, and if Roy can still be productive and the Aldridge we always wanted. Miller and Camby compliment Oden and Aldridge to the T so why trade for a guy like Harris who does not shoot the ball well and cant post up and still has 3 years on his contract.

If next year doesn't work out then Oden, Camby,and Miller come off the books and the Blazers are looking at 30 million in Cap space after qualifying offers to Batum and Rudy. Then the Blazers could go after a Paul or Williams or do a trade at the deadline for one of those guys with the expiring contracts of Camby and Andre.

We have waited for this cake for 4 years to bake. Can't we wait just a little longer to see how it taste with the icing on it. Why mess with the chemistry that this team has developed when all management and Nate have talked about is building a good team chemistry which this team has in spades now.

Im looking forward to the second half of the season and playoffs and especially next year, barring a lock out, with a healthy Oden and summer of rest for Roy. No trades for trade sake and this team does not need to get younger. It needs it's veterans like Andre and Camby. They are the the cake mix and without them this cake is going to fall apart from all sides.

So do the Blazers need a trade now or can we hope for a healthy Oden and Roy and Beastly Aldridge with Andre throwing lobs and posting up with Camby off the bench and Matthews and Batum on the wings? If it fails next year the Blazers have 30 million in cap space to try the cake again.

Keep Camby and Miller Time! Devin Harris and Troy Murphy...FRAK THAT!

Rudy Fernandez Trade Drawer:

What hasn't been brought up in the bagging on Rudy is the fact that maybe he resents the large contract that the Blazers signed Wesley Mathews too. Remember Wesley Mathews was an undrafted rookie last year and now is making 5.7 million this year. That has to eat up Rudy who is still basically playing for nothing here after his $5 million dollar buyout in Europe to come here and being on the Rookie scale.  Rudy had a terrible year after his buddy Sergio left and he vocalized that he didnt have any friends on the team and was homesick. I wonder if playing with someone from his Spanish National team might reinvigerate his motivation in the NBA and he would be willing to playout his remaining contract with another team with one of his friends on it, not the Blazers.

Rudy's Rookie Year Stats :

Wesley Mathews Rookie Year Stats :

Rudy's Salary 2010-2011 - $1,246,680

Wesley Matthews Salary 2010-2011 - $9,200,000 including the front loaded payment actual salary $5,765,000

One would argue that Rudy had the better rookie year and then had an off year after being hurt and the obvious head and heart troubles. But looking at it like that it's not hard to understand that Rudy resents being a 1st Round Draft pick and the 4 year NBA committment on his current salary in which he wont really be making any money until the final year of his contract. Meanwhile an undrafted Rookie with lesser stats in his rookie year is making 5 times what Rudy is. I think the only way Rudy stays in the NBA is to go to a team where he has a Spanish friend to confide in and get him through the season away from his girlfriend and family and there happens to be that in Memphis.

Memphis just overpayed to keep Rudy Gay and has been very non-commital to Conley as their future point guard and even had OJ Mayo specifically work on his point guard skills in the offseason and play point in the Summer League. With Conley's contract, like Oden's, up for extension this summer I think they are looking at waiting out the year and making him a restricted Free agent like we are with Greg.

So my proposal is Rudy and Bayless for Conley. I know Conley has been talked about at nausium here but I really think the chemistry he has with Greg is what will bring us a Championship and also drive Greg back into the passion he had for Basketball when he had with Conley. Also I see Conley as a much better point guard and 3-point shooter than Bayless will ever be. Conley is a pure point guard while Bayless is a shooting guard in a point guard body. Oden has also admitted that he has no friends on the Blazers and no one he confides he. Conley adn him are best friends and I think that and the fact that they played, and won, together since they were 8 years old is enough to take a risk on this trade.

Rudy gets to be the 6th man and have a friend in Marc Gasol on Memphis and we get Conley as the future PG to replace Andre, although I would like Andre to stay on as the backup and teach Conley after we dont pick p Andre's option next summer.

So the Trade is : http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=278g5tu

Blazers Trades - Rudy Fernandez and Jerryd Bayless

Memphis Trades - Mike Conley

What do you think about this trade or the chances of Rudy staying in the NBA if he goes to a team with a Spanish National team friend and commrade that would help him during the season with his homesickness from Spain?

Sure Rudy had an off year. His best friend was traded and he admittingly was down in the dumps with no family around and his girlfriend in Spain. Rudy also missed 20 games due to his back injury and it was obvious he wasnt his self and not getting into the lane and being aggresive like his rookie year.  Yet Rudy was 98-266 from 3 point range in 62 games while Martel was 124-332 in 82 games. Rudy played 1,441 minutes while Martel played 2,005. Thats 222 3 pointers combined between the 2 with the rest of the team accounting for only 269 3 pointers. Thats 45% of the Blazers 3 pointers that would be gone next year if Rudy is shipped outta town.

Besides a Greg dunk, nobody electrifies the crowd like a Rudy 3. His 5 points in 2.7 seconds was one of my favorite moments from his Rookie year.  Without Sergio throwing him alleyoops, something I think Andre coulda done more of and Rudy was open several times calling for the ball, he didnt attack the rim as much this year probably due to his back issues.  But Rudy can redeem himself I believe and his contract is cheap for another 2 years.  Why does everyone want to dump this guy? Is it because Rudy himself doesnt want to be here? I think Rudy is depressed in Portland and the Blazers should do everything they can to get the old Rudy back.  He brings energy off the bench and the rotation of Roy Batum Rudy Greg and Aldrige was our best lineup last year in limited minutes.

If we trade Rudy we lose him and Martel, our 2 best 3 point threats and Nate has said its all about spreading the defense. With Andre an abismal 16-80 from downtown that would leave Roy and Batum as our only outside threats with the unproven Babbit.  Sure we could sign Kover but does he bring the passing and court savy that Rudy does?  Roy shot 73-221 from downtown last year which was way down from the year before.  Rudy brings a lot of intangibles to the offense and I think that if Nate let him loose more to run the offense, remember his passing in his rookie year ( between Shaq's legs anyone? ), that the Blazers 2nd unti could run with more. Rudy is an uptempo guard and does make poor decisions a lot like a point gaurd named Nash.  I believe that Nate has stunted Rudy's growth and that he will flourish on another team that will trust him more. But why not here? Im tired of hearing that our players will do well on another team because we have too many good players and not enough  minutes. That bull!  Nate doesnt define roles well at all.  I think if Rudy was told he was the 6th man and would play 28-30 minutes filling in for Andre, Roy and Batum and that the Blazers were going to help him move his family or girlfriend here that Rudy would be very happy here for the remainder of his contract. His trade value is very low right now and like Greg, he is worth more to the Blazers than other teams.

I dont want to see Rudy traded.  I love his no look passes and energy and defense. Yes I said defense! He was #1 in steals per minute off the bench last year and had 62 steals to 61 for Roy in just under 1,000 minutes less than Roy. Roy's defense also leaves alot to be desired but Rudy also only had 72 tunrovers compared to Bayless' 94 and Bayless played 137 less minutes.  I think the Blazers would miss Rudy a lot if he was traded and so would the fans.  So why not try to make Rudy happy here?  Have the Blazers done all they could to aclimate Rudy to the US and to Portland and the rain?  I hope that the Blazers at least try to keep Rudy and make him happy not only for the fans but to the Blazers 3 point shooting which will dissapear with Martel and Rudy gone.

Another option would be to sign Felipe Reyes, one of Rudy's good friends and fills a position we need in a banger backup PF. Felipe is a good rebounder and gets to the free throw line unlike a certain power forward making 11 mil this year.  I think if the Blazers were to sign Reye, he would be really cheap doesnt have a buyout, and define Rudy's role and make him feel like and integrate player in achieving a championship here in Portland, that we could still turn this all around and get our old Rudy BACK! 

What do you Edger's think? Do you still want Rudy here if he was the 08' - '09 Rudy? How can they turn this around and make Rudy happy again?

Metaphor Blazer Class Style - Hypothetically :  

Say you and your twin brother are entering the same year of grade school.  You are the older wiser brother to the taller and more athletically gifted brother.  You being Older and Wiser have been on the Honor Roll twice already while your brother is good at sports and P.E. But he is the ying to your yang.  You need him to have your back and he needs you to be the older wiser brother to keep him in line.  Your parents, while loving you both, show you how proud they are by giving you, for your achievements, a brand new Ipod Touch during the summer.

School comes around and your brother suddenly gets sick for a couple weeks right before the start of school.  You're not sure if he is faking but he is hurt that your parents dont think he can make the honor roll like you and dont love him as much as they love you.  They had offered him an Ipod Nano but he wanted the Touch and now was gonna show them up by making them and his teachers concerned about him.  

This not only affects everyone around him, including those he plays with everyday after school because they miss him and it isnt the same without him, but it effects you. The Older Wiser brother.  You begin to worry about him as well and it starts to affect your grades.  He isnt himself and you want him to be happy and get things back the way they were with him having your back and you leading the way.

Everyone notices your not the same without him walking you to school and having him around.   They are worried about him and want to make it all better.  They go on craigslist and surprise him with a Ipod Touch 2nd generation used model on his sick bed.  It isnt a new 3rd generation model but he is stoked that him and his brother can share music and games and not worry about who doesnt have an Ipod Touch. 

Suddenly he is better.  The days are brighter. The brothers are together again and everyone around them notices the extra spring in both their steps and happiness when around their playmates.  You and your brother work as a team...you are brothers.  On the way home from school that day, you turn to your brother and say..." See LaMarcus..I told you we could get them to fold to us." Both of you laugh.  " Dont worry man...I never had a contusion and that story about me telling them I was afraid of the that painted area at school so I drifted away from it but with an Ipod Touch I wouldnt mind running through it to class and make that honor roll with you brother...It all worked Brandon. "

The End

P.S. - I was at the game last night and Nate should have stood up for his players, no matter who is playing, and got T'ed up at least once if not thrown out to show them he had their back.  The refering was ridiculous to say the least but if Nate isnt going to show his players he has their back then he wont get the respect of Andre Miller and other new comers and Roy will be forced to yell And 1 every time he penetrates the lane trying to get a call.

So it's pretty ( or Ugly ) obvious that the Blazers are not playing freely or with emotion during this playoff run.  I havent seen any emotion from the Blazers rallying the team or team huddles after a big stop or big offensive play.  It makes we wonder if Sarge is back.  No alleyoops, no smiles, no bench jumping up and down rallying the team.  Where is the fun that this team so adamantly displayed the last game of the season against Denver heading into the playoffs.

It seems that Nate turned into Sarge after the first playoff loss.  I wish he would get into the refs and show the emotion and the passion that we all feel for this team.  If he wont let them play with passion and emotion then it is his job not only to lead the voice but stand up for the team.  The foul discrepancy has been widely talked about and Dwight Jaynes even mentioned today how Nate should have at least 2 technicals during the games in Houston.  Yes Rudy should be playing more than Trout and I also beleive that Mo Lucus being away from the Bigs have hurt their game expecially in preparing for this series.

But PLEASE NATE...Stand up for this team like we have all season.  Do not let the refs treat them like rookies or let them dictate the game.  If you feel it is being called unfairly then STAND UP and get in their face and take one for the TEAM.  You are the coach and have said to the team to let you deal with the REFS...SO NATE for the sake of PORTLAND and our fan support and for your talented players that have worked so hard....F'IN DO IT and STAND UP FOR THIS TEAM! 

Thanks to you IKE!  You tried so hard to represent the Blazers and you did it to your utmost!  Unfortunately your team shoots poorly from outside and even though you were shooting 11-14 they launched 4 three's in a row which lead to long rebounds for the Nuggin's which lead to either a 3 by JR or an easy layup.  But Blazer Nation appreciate's your effort and your loyalty to the Blazers!  Thanks IKE!

Things This Season Has Taught Me:

1. Roy will win more Championships than Kobe

2. LaMarcus will be better than Bosh

3. Rudy is as WE THOUGHT HE WAS!

4. Nicolas was our Rookie of the Year

5. Joel is our CO-MVP with Roy

6. It's ok to doubt Nate . . . But it's ok to Praise him too

7. Blake is the perfect point guard to lead us to a championship

8. Travis' No..No..No...Yes shots can bring Heart Attacks on

9. Oden will be better than Dwight Howard in PER in 2 years

10. RIP CITY IS HERE TO STAY.... no offense Sheed lovers but CTC is a distant memory thank goodness!

Things I Hope Nate Learned : Gonna Go with Only one Because I Trust Nate Now ;)

1.  Foul when Down 3!  Please see Orlando game and Clippers games at Home...If we win these than we win the DIVISION!

GO BLAZERS....SEE YOU IN THE PLAYOFFS!