I'm borrowing this idea from this ESPN piece based on "experts" predictions.  Fans can also vote there on how they perceive the "experts" picks.  Fans thus far have largely voted in agreement with the "experts" however many who bothered to comment had loud disagreements.  Many thought the Rockets were overlooked and the Thunder overrated.  Some were homers (a Kings playoff appearance!?)  

It may be a bit early, but I wanted to bring the discussion here because I think we can settle a few questions. Most notably; will the Trail Blazers really digress (from 52 to 49 wins) with the addition of Matthews (dont forget Camby) and the real possibility of being much healthier than last season?  Are the Suns really not a playoff team without Amare? How good can the Spurs be with the aging roster?  The Jazz lost Boozer but replaced him with AJ.  They still have Millsap and D-Will should be healthier. Could they possibly be better?  Or do the experts have it right putting them in the bottom of the West playoff positions? How will the Nuggets fare if Karl doesn't return? Are the Lakers certainly running away again?

One thing we've learned the last few years in the West, the seedings will be extremely tight.  Positions can be determined by a freak shot in December or a sleeper making a run in March.  That being said, its difficult to determine exact win totals.  The NBA schedule has been released and we can carefully analyze probable wins. We know all too well that injuries and other extenuating circumstances such as trades will shake things up.  So lets think of this in a broad manner.  Who do you think got better/worse in the West?  Did the East get so much better, that the 4 seed in the West only needs 49 wins?  If so, where does that put the Blazers?  

Its the dog days of summer, but the Blazers are only weeks away from training camp and will play in the RG in less than 8 weeks.  Predict the Blazers seed below, and hash out the West in the comments.

Rip City knows best.

Holiday Ode to Portland and Blazer fans:

Thank you for all of the electricity that has filled the building and the city for the past 2 seasons and more. Thank you for the passion, the love, and the excitement.  It has been a whirlwind really, but all of it has kept me captivated and fired up every night the Blazers play.  I am grateful.

My basketball fandom began as a young kid outside of Boston where a father, who could care less about sports, introduced me to Larry Bird, McHale, Parish, DJ, and Ainge, because it was his duty.  I took those amazing games and ran forward, a basketball fan forever.  As I grew a bit older I would follow the Celtics through the years of Bird’s decline, Reggie Lewis’ death, and the onslaught of Michael Jordan.  It was a blessing; really, to grow up at an age when I could forget about the home team and be a fan of who was good, appreciate the talent from my book of basketball cards rather than just the home squad.  For some reason, as a kid while the Celtics and Lakers rivalry faded, I found myself keenly rooting for underdogs.  I was naive enough that I didn’t understand that a kid from Boston should not root for the Knicks.  I simply wanted to see Jordan get beat.  It was weird.  I loved MJ; I had posters splattered around the room, my favorite being “wings” heading up the staircase.  But when that ball was tipped, I couldn’t help but root for the underdog. In 91 it began…Something about those Trailblazers…with a stadium that looked extra dark on TV, in a far away city named after one I lived close to in Maine, appealed to me.  I’m not sure why to this day, Underdogs? Clyde? Kersey? The jerseys?  I don’t know why, but I arbitrarily picked that team, I suppose as many kids do. They couldn’t defeat Jordan but the summer of 92 had me marking the driveway with chalk so Porter could drain threes and Duckworth could hit turnarounds on the baseline.  I'd heave the ball around while announcing the players' names always making sure the Blazers won.

If it weren’t for those days I’m not sure I’d live here now…Growing into my teens my love for hoops remained, while a love for the outdoors grew as well. Family subscribed me to Outside magazine every year as a gift.  Oregon was in EVERY issue, and I always noticed.  Eventually I reached a crossroads in my life and needed a change, an experience.  Not even old enough to drink (legally) two close friends and I packed up a couple vehicles and headed west, destination Portland.  We needed out, manifest destiny, whatever you wanna call it, we were west coast bound and without ever coming to the Northwest, we (I) was ready to make it home.  Into the great wide open….

Was it a childhood appreciation for the underdog Trailblazers? Growing older and fond of nature and a city that incorporates it? A combo? Yes, but once I got here; it was also you, the fan-base, the passionate citizens who take pride in their place of rest and their neighbor’s well being.  This pride grew ten-fold for me when I witnessed you all stand up for your morals and your values and ask for something better.  This was not a city/fanbase that should have been disgraced the way it was by our players and management.  But unique to most cities worldwide, the fans were able to change it.

When I first moved here I got a job as an in-seat server at Trailblazer games.  I wanted to be there every night, and wanted a position where I could see some of the action.  My first season was the last the Blazers would make the playoffs after their tremendous run through the late 90s and early 00s.  After that I was lucky enough to move to courtside as a server, but unlucky enough to see the first seasons in Trailblazer history where the stadium resembled a large library.  Where fans showed up to see opposing teams’ players, and our players were the ass-end of jokes.  It was hard for me too.  I was new, finally got close to the game courtside, but was ashamed of the product I had grown to love.  I was growing to love the city, but couldn’t believe I moved here at the team’s demise…But I see now, that demise was intentional.  It got us somewhere great.

The amazing thing is, I’ve been serving the same section at mid-court for 7 seasons…Through all these years, you, along with some of the wealthiest fans, night in and night out hung in there. You demanded better, with passion, resolve, and hope for something great.  Most of my customers have been there before and after the Z-Bo daze.  They high-five me the same as they did with a Roy buzzer beater in his rookie year, as when he hits one now....Perhaps with a bigger smile, and with more pride, but they've hung in there, through thick and thin, just as all of you have. 

One of my best friends just joined us out here in Portland from New England.  He's a huge Celtics fan, growing up near the team, but, like I, after coming to Portland, is blown away with the true love here.  He’s already shedding shamrocks;-) Its unique here, it's Green Bay Packer-like, every detail analyzed.  We compare to Red Sox nation BEFORE the championships and the bandwagon.  Every player under the microscope, scrutinized, analyzed, dissected, projected, rejected, and/or accepted...THIS is being a fan.  With pride in your city, comes pride in your team and vice versa. With a team you’ve demanded disassembled and reassembled to greatness, lets not lose sight of how good we have it.  Take a step back; remember why you’re a fan.  Celebrate Portland as truly a unique place in sports, anywhere in the world.  A place where one team helps define a whole people and one love for a city helps define a team.  Lets enjoy it.  We’ve had great misfortune this season with injury, but now are given an opportunity to enjoy the depth we analyzed into oblivion.  Now’s the time to pack the Garden, scream, shout, dance, and support.  We all know we nearly have the exact personnel we could have only dreamed of three seasons ago, but we need not take our good fortunes for granted.  This holiday season give thanks to Trailblazer fans by being the best one you can be by supporting them through thick and thin, this IS the team you’ve been waiting for….

By supporting the guys who can actually play, you’re also supporting our amazing front office, our injured players, Mo Lucas, Paul Allen, all the while supporting the integrity of a truly amazing place to live, and the best team in the world to be a fan of.  Thank you Rip City for having me, I am so ecstatic to support this city and this team with all I've got, and with all of you.

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

I've been thinking about having some Blazers on the Olympic team in London 2012.  I was thinking by then Oden and Roy will be obvious choices.  Roy said in studio on 95.5 the Game (Audio titled "Joy of Roy") that he would want to do it, even at the cost of summer rest. I'm also wondering if by that time LMA could be the type of big man wanted on the team?

With Oden and Roy seemingly obvious choices and LMA a probability, I'm wondering how you all would feel about that prospect.  The Olympics have been great, the coverage above average, and Costas...so good.  Really missing NBC basketball and world series coverage about now.  With that said, having our guys there would be truly amazing.  Just look at how we followed Rudy through the middle of the night!  The question though becomes, would we be fully behind it?  Knowing the injuries of Oden and Roy and where we might be sitting in four summers...What if we're coming out of the finals and those guys had to go straight to the Olympics?  It's an amzing possibility to have three Portlad players playing at once but there is that Blazer selfishness in the back of my mind wondering what the cost may be.

What are your feelings of this possibility?  Would you go to London?  Screw summer league, we're sending dave and Ben to the Olympics!  Would you have all three jersey's?  Or would it be cool to see 'em but you'd rather them stay here and rest?

There has been so much talk this season about cap space and what we can do in and under it.  With Global Spectrum efficiently running the Wells Fargo Center into profits and Rip City pushing sell outs nearly every night (especially next year + Oden and hopefully + Rudy) I don't think it is unrealistic to think Allen may get a little spendy if the piece they like is available.

We have seen in recent drafts that if there is something available they like, he'll spend.  I'm not saying they'll go nuts but if they think a player is available now who is the piece we need I think they will get him even if it means pushing the cap.  I can't imagine them passing him bye for  the sake of cap responsibility. Again I think they would stay reasonable but Allen's dough has to make KP salivate some days.

I like Calderon a lot as I'm sure most of you do, and as we've heard, KP does too.  I think they will continue to pursue him.  I think Toronto can match any offer, but will they with TJ Ford's large contract on the books?  TJ will be hard to move too (knicks exempt) due to being injury proned.  Calderon theoretically would match well with Rudy with style and he sees the floor very well.  He's the player we envision Sergio being but don't know if it will ever come to fruition, especially we are weary of spending tons of developmental minutes.  

I also love Monta Ellis.  He is a gamer who attacks the rim for a little guy.  He deserves the reigns somewhere.  Perhaps they let Baron fly and keep Monta but imagining his up-tempo aggressive style alongside our young talent sends me shiverin'!  He would ignite the Garden with those jams.

So here's to Paully going and getting that player KP (and I would love to throw Nate in there on the decision) think is the guy we are missing.  I think Calderon or Ellis are those guys and poppin over the cap shouldn't stop Allen from getting one of 'em.

Who is the player you would risk going over the cap for?  Can we can think or wish this way?  Or is the new mantra of fiscal responsibility going to stick through the Oden years?  San Antonio manages it pretty admirably, their payroll is 12th highest.  Go ahead and dream...

Meanwhile, see you tonight for an exciting win over the Suns similar to the high scoring Laker game.

RRRRRRIP CITY BABY!

Brian hendrickson reports that Roy and Jones are BOTH expected to play tonight!

Read Here!
http://www.columbian.com/sports/localNews/2008/02/02292008_Blazers-expect-Roy-Jones-to-play-tonight. cfm

It will be so nice to have the whole team together again!  Beat LA!

As of this morning Roy says his ankle feels good enough to play, and you know if Brandon can play he'll probably be starting.  I think this could just be one of those memorable Friday Nights.  Lakers playing in the second of a back to back, against a full Blazers squad (apparently now deeper with V Wafe) and the ruckus RIP CITY crowd!

Let's just have a good time tonight and will them on to victory!

The other day BlazersOrBust posted the link to Bill Simmons Trade Machine, suggesting a deal to trade Aldridge and Rudy.

The responses and comments were plentiful and entertaining, mostly questioning Simmons sanity.
Many of us barraged Simmons with links to the blog and emails.

Well enough of us got to him, landing us a heartfelt response and the title of "Most Irrationally devoted Fans in the NBA."

Here's his rant: http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/links/080221

What do you think?  Did Simmons justify his rationale?  Or do we still think he's nuts?

I personally think Aldridge should be considered mostly untouchable.  His versatility and athleticism is worthy of developing  rather than using as trade bait.  Yes, he may be a 20 and 8 guy but that doesn't make him Charles Smith.  His shot blocking ability combined with Oden will be nasty and raw in the coming years.  I can't trade Aldridge before seeing those two together.  Furthermore, his sharp shooting will spread the floor with Oden in there.

As for Rudy, with all of the upside we keep hearing about, and murmurs of "The Best Player in Europe" I ask, again, why would we dump that potential for Mike Miller and more unproven potential in Conley Jr?  Especially when we have time on our hands!  Remember that Portland, we have the third youngest NBA team EVER!  We have time to let these guys play and grow, and enjoy watching it.  No need to jump ship.  

We have the feeling back of winning,  let's enjoy that and build on it.

Zach Randolph returns Friday night to an arena he may hardly recognize...a ruckus sold-out Rose Garden.  
What I'm wondering is how will we treat Zach when he returns? Here's how I personally would like to see it play out.  We are in a position now that was hard to imagine happening so soon.  The days of the break down, character issues (top to bottom) broken financial model, team for sale/moving conversations and even assault accusations against Zach.  But here we are blessed with an extremely likable, young, and talented roster challenging for first place.
I believe we are so lucky and we have a chance to "be the bigger man" when Zach comes to town.  Zach was groomed here, and although he didn't fit into our long term plans or into our desired character attributes, he did star for us for a period of time.
I guess what I'm saying is lets not embarrass him or ourselves by booing him.  No matter what you believe you can just stand and cheer.  Whether it's cause you were glad to see him go, miss him but are glad to be where we're at, or you hate him, you can stand and cheer his good riddance!  
In any event we have too much to be grateful for to wish bad vibes onto someone who is no longer our benefit or our problem.

~Good Riddance, Zach
Go Blazers!

How will you react to Zach's return?

James Jone's came out and said he'd rather play in New Orleans.  Over the all-star break that is!  Jones said he would love to represent the rose city in the three-point contest this year, but is awaiting the NBA's invitation.  How much would you love to see that!!  He even said that if he gets in, he'd win the thing!  Check it out below.

http://trailblazerscentercourt.blogspot.com/2008/01/james-jones-wants-to-go.html

Hey y'all long time reader...first time posting.  Just kidding, I hate those callers.  Any way, here's some more Trailblazers pub, this time from ESPN and J.A. Adande.  It's a feel good read that will get you pumped up for tonight.

I'll be on the court in the blue shirt slingin beers!  See you there, and Gooooo Blazers!

RRRRRRRIPPP City!

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/columns/story?columnist=adande_ja&page=Blazers-080125