The Coach of the Year award is interesting this year, with Nate McMillan being part of the discussion.  Most national analysts will say he deserves a look while stating that he's done it quietly in the same breathe.  I believe this is code for, their on the west coast in a small market and we never get to watch them.

So what are the criteria for coach of the year?  To me, its not an award for the best coach.  Its an award for the best job with what they have to work with.  I first should state that being a Blazer homer allows biases, but I believe Nate should be being considered more than he is.  Listening to the national media, to my ear, he has no shot. 

I was just watching the Hornets Mavs Easter Sunday game and they brought up the discussion.  Hubie Brown reiterated what i said above, "The job Nate McMillan has done in Portland with that young team is impressive, but I like Van Gundy, Mike Brown, and then George Karl to win the award for the job he's done in Denver with that team and the injuries."  Is this not a contradiction?  He said he liked the job Nate has done with that young team, but gives it to George Karl.  At the time of this statement, George Karl has brought a team that added Chauncey Billups (after surviving cancer (Iverson)) to exactly one more win than the Trailblazers, with an outside chance they will play for the division title on the last day of the season.  A Trailblazers team that without LaFrentz is the youngest roster in the league!  A Trailblazers team that was .500 last year!  A Trailblazers team that noticeably and statistically endured the NBA's toughest schedule!  But George Karl has one more win with vets such as Billups, Anthony, and the first mostly healthy season for Kenyon martin in some time.  Brown also talked of the injuries endured by the Nuggets.  What about Greg Oden missing tons of games?  We dont even have a back up center!!  How about our starting small forward sitting out the season and being replaced by a 19 year old rookie?!!

So, if nothing else, with Hubie's criteria, he has proved to me what an amazing job Nate has done this year.  With two games to go, the division, 54 wins, and 2nd in the West are still alive.  

Here's to Nate McMillan for what sounds like a new approach to things this year with careful management, not too much Sarge, and regular rest as a reward for playing well against this tough schedule.  Nate also ranks amongst the best for points out of timeouts (thanks Brandon) 

All of that being said, as far as handing out the award?  I have to give it to Mike Brown.  It looks like they will only drop one game at home this season and may tie the Celtics for the best home record in NBA history.  They too, have endured injuries to many starters.  Hard to argue with that record.  But in the west; it goes to Nate. There is no way anyone in their right mind thought we'd be pushing 2 or 3 in the conference and getting a look at a division title.

If for some reason Denver lost to Sac and we won the division Wednesday night, I think Nate would win it.

Go Kings, Go Blazers, Riptastic City!

~Updates~

Nate finally gets some love via Marc Stein

But Brian Hendrickson says, "Writers' survey: McMillan getting little respect in COY voting

Even the jaded Wendell Maxey can't understand why Nate gets no love.

I'm sure you all are catching wind that Portland State BEAT Gonzaga last night, in Spokane.  I know this is a Blazer's fan site, but as Portland fans, and basketball fans in general, I have to acknowledge the fact that our city's public college just beat the #7 school in the nation!  This is big news!  Gonzaga was a preseason favorite to contend through March Madness, and had all they could do to lose to #2 ranked UCONN last weekend in overtime.  

PSU (9-2) couldn't get out of Portland on their charter flight because of the weather.  They finally chartered a bus to Bellevue where they spent the night, and then took a bus from there Tuesday morning to Spokane.  Arriving around 1:30 in the afternoon, PSU had little time to eat and prepare for the game after 2 long bus rides.  Apparently the perfect recipe for taking on a perrenial power on their home court where they were 58-2 coming into the game.

Although many of us will be bandwaggon going to check out Vikings basketball, I think it's worth while to go support these guys.  The continued success of this program could push it to a serious perrenial mid-major contender considering their conference, and this could be something very good for the school, the city, and all of us hoops fans.  After making the tourney last year, and looking even better this year, Portland has another reason to get fired up for hoops. 

Also, remember...after shedding the Sports Action Football Lottery, we should be getting some March Madness games at the Rose Garden!  Imagine if we get to support PSU there?!  That could be some fun $hizzle!

Does this fire you up for the Vikings?

Happy Hoopzydays!

I woke up feeling like a Cubs fan on Wednesday, that was a major blow.  But as the days tick off, we get relative good news about Oden, and I read this article by Quick about Roy & LMA's budding friendship, the excitement is brewing again.  The Rose Garden is about to be rockin, and even though we've been taken down a notch, the night we've been waiting for is finally here!

What about you?  Are you gettin' fired up? Earth Wind and Fire is doing the freakin introductions!  What the heck we have in store with that, I have no idea....Will you be adorned in red? Or Blazer paint for halloween?  Or perhaps a good wig? 

I'll be working, but certainly feeling all of you're energy.  Will you be able to bring the same energy you had before Oden was out?  I think this still will be a riviting game, not an easy one, but one the crowd can put over the top.  I think Roy and Aldridge will be happy to be in the Garden and put on display the growth they've gone through this summer.  LMA will have his hands full with Timmay (not a BEdger) but there is no Ginoboli, and we've got Rudy! 

I'm just fired up to bring the official season back to the Garden with or without Greg.  He'll be good soon, we just have to practice patience.  Treat you're patience like KP would answer media questions, and meanwhile give the guys we've got out there all the positive support you've got.  We have a young core we only could have dreamed of 3 years ago, so let's just enjoy it.  Keep it in perspective. Getting ahead of ourselves may only lead to disappointment.  One night at a time, and tonight should be a good time to start making the garden the toughest place to play.

Spill your feelings of the home opener and you're new hopes and expectations below!  Rip City is back tonight!

Happy Halloween!

~Z

via blog.oregonlive.com

Hey there Rip City,

This is Rudy's official "Welcome to Portland and the States" post.  As many of you have heard,  The Oregonian reports that Rudy is coming to Portland this Sunday!  I for one would like to be at PDX to give him a proper welcoming, and I want all of you to join me.  There's one problem, we have to find out what time his flight comes in.

So, as soon as we gain that information, which I hope the Blazers would be happy to reveal, post it here and we can plan our welcoming party!  Roy and Aldridge welcomed Kevin Durrant to Portland, the least we can do is be there for Rudy!  Maybe if this becomes a large enough crew the team will chip in a Sergio appearance!  anmlart1 has already informed us that Rudy wishes Sergio to be like a brother to him.

This is the place to organize the event.  Submit your excitement and ideas below!

~Zach

Edit:  Thanks to SyderRyder for posting this Quick Chat below informing us that the Blazers are expected to announce his arrival time and are encouraging fans to be there!  If this gains momentum, maybe they'll be some Blazers there with us!

Update: 9-17 10:00 p.m.

I inquired with Jason Quick about our interest in getting together at the airport for Rudy.  Here's his response; 

"Zach - Already a step ahead of you. I talked with Pritchard today and asked him for Rudy's arrival information because I had been getting so many requests from fans such as yourself. Pritchard liked the idea, but wanted to run it by Rudy's agent first. The agent was all for it (and quite impressed), so I had further conversations today with the Blazers PR staff. They are working to get the particulars, but assured me they will release the information as soon as it is solid.
Should make a good first impression for Rudy."

It's in the works!  Now we just have to show up!  ~Z

The Real UPDATE!

Big Thanks to QualityPie for posting the link below to Quick's announcement that Rudy will be arriving at PDX on Monday at 11:55 a.m. 

Quick says that, "Fans interested in greeting Fernandez should congregate at PDX's International Meet and Greet area, which is located at the north end of the baggage claim (or by carousel No. 10)." 

*Note: A source says the flight that Fernandez will be on is often up to 45 minutes EARLY, which included three times this week. In that case, fans wishing to greet Rudy should arrive a little after 11 a.m.

Rudy has never been to Portland, so let's give him a proper welcoming as soon as he touches down!  I know this is difficult for many of us, as it is mid-day Monday.  But I know many of you spend all day BEdging at work so why not take it to the next level for one day!?  Lucky for me I'm a student at PSU and for some reason we don't even begin until Sept. 29th.  I'm not scheduled at work either so I'll be there hoping to meet some of you die hards.  I'm also confident that Portland's culture of "play first, work second"  (the nice way of putting it) will shine through, and there will be a large crowd there.

Tonight I met a gal that works in Blazer marketing.  She does a lot of web stuff for the team including managing Barrett's Blog.  She said that their office has been inundated with interest in Rudy's arrival by people wanting to be at PDX.  I also heard them mention it on courtside last night.  So, don't be scerrred! Get out there if you can, meet some BEdgers, maybe enjoy an airport cocktail, or just have the best lunch-break ever, and meet Rudy Fernandez for the first time! I'll be the only one wearing a red Roy jersey.  Hope to meet you there!

RUDY! RUDY! RUDY!

~Z