Here on this most marvelous of Spring days, we gather to say our last goodbyes to Christians everywhere, but especially those with a jump shot. Fabled rebounders who pray with their kids, and donate to inner city relief organizations, smiling, and waving to the crowds, while earnestly keeping their peccadilloes to a minimum, I, speaking not only as a fan, but as a human being. Well, I got to tell you, you guys are gonna be missed.    

You see, I never bought into that camel, the needle, and rich guy parable, the one about the difficulties of the wealthy procuring land in the heavenly father's fancy gated community.  I believe, and Ben Stein would agree, that you rich guys are the chosen, and that wealth in and of itself makes you better than the rest of us.. 

What concerns me though, as well as the rest of the peasantry, is that David Stern, who will undoubtedly be passed over this early evening, appears unwilling to make allowances for teams that have collected good Christians instead on the hedonistic, and the selfish. The Trail Blazers, for example, and most people don't know this,  are chock full of believers. In fact, the 'three goggles' is actually an aboriginal expression of thanks to virgin mother, and the reverse high five, to spiritual purity.

And when asked about  losing a good portion of our roster to the afterlife, Stern insists that while the players may be gone, or simply missing (as is the predictable diatribe among non-believers), their contracts still remain, and copies are available through the league office.

It's just another slap at small market franchises, and those ghost town rural communities all across this great land, because if those people weren't gone too, cousin Earl would be pitching a fit.

The NJ Nets have been adversely affected by the trade rumors that have them possibly picking up Carmelo Anthony, in exchange for several key members of their present rotation. The Denver Nuggets are as talented and healthy as they've been in years, yet their record has suffered as well, a veteran team, w/ a veteran coach, a team that understands the business of the game to a man.  The Knicks are not playing great ball lately, either. And that's just one player, one big maybe of a player that many peer upon w/ caution. 

Utah is in a terrible funk, one that saw legendary Coach Sloan, after 20+ years, leave the team unexpectedly.  This change brought in Ty Corbin who saw his coaching debut spoiled at home by the Phoenix Suns, another Western Conference team that has it's best days rooted in days gone by. 

Houston has not come close to overcoming the loss of Yao Ming. The Lakers look like same the broken Laker team that lost to the Pistons at the end of their last run.  New Orleans has not looked all that good, not consistently, anyway, since about game 16. 

The point is that there are no juggernauts, not this year. And w/ so much uncertainty, teams like the Thunder and the Spurs, each w/ dramatic, quantifiable weaknesses, look pretty strong, which makes a case for the Blazers, all that much easier to make. Of course, there's no sense in making this case, if management doesn't make the case first, dedicating itself to supporting this team, and easing the tension that must manifest in the form of Andre Miller, Marcus Camby, Joel Pryzbilla, and anyone else mentioned on Twitter.

Cho knows essentially what deals are out there, the pieces on the move, and that feeling when someone's trying clean his wing tips on the back of his jacket. If that's the case, shouldn't he declare his intention at the earliest convenience, and set his team's mental positioning right for the stretch run. It could be the difference of 2 or 3 wins, and one or two spots in the conference hierarchy, when it's all said and done. 

I'm simply NOT convinced that this season ended w/ Oden and/or Roy, and I think there is very good reason to be optimistic that good things could still happen, this season, here in Portland. This is a great bunch of guys. They're having a very good season. If this is going to be our team in April, there's good reason to let everyone know it, now. Uncertainty? That something we should reserve for the other teams.

I'd like to nominate Darnell Valentine.

First, he actually played in the NBA, and is a former Blazer. I think having a former player's input would be desirable. Many of his contacts around the league would also have NBA experience,

He's very well spoken, and he's very professional. He has an outstanding reputation.

Also, he was a victim of the Patterson Purge, something that has never been effectively dealt w/ by the franchise. This would go a long ways toward righting an old wrong.

Finally, I think he'd be asset to the team. He'd do a great job.

What do you think?

So often, professional sports figures turn out to be pirates. The metamorphosis of these raping, pillaging, money hoarders into romantic, independent-spirited, small business men is absurd. When one considers the possibilities for LeBron James-Chicago, New York, Miami-all I hear is "the LeBron James brand". "Spice must flow." "Show me the money." All the itinerant perks have been carefully explained to me. Yet, this has all the skanky underpinnings of a woman chosing a husband based on his bank account. I just want to know, WHAT KIND OF MAN IS LEBRON JAMES?

He's going to make buckets of money wherever he lands. The conflict between good and great is tangled up in the struggle between the pursuit of rings, and living a meaningful life that transcends ones on-court accomplishments. Is the measure of a man his quantity of championships? Is the value of a career based on the collection of high dollar sponsors? The difference between super stardom and a lasting legacy is what a man does outside of those 48 minutes when he is on the court.

LeBron James has an opportunity to rise above being just another burger-hawking, tennis shoe pimping, corporate shill. He can stay in Cleveland and be the hero of his community. His mere presence single-handedly changes the economic circumstances of many thousands of his neighbors. John Stockton, Buck Williams, Steve Nash and Dikembe Mutombo didn't need some gaudy piece of bling to be some of the most highly respected players in the game. Even the much-maligned Sam Bowie considers his most important role in life to be a steadfast and loving father to his children.

In these times of drive-thru divorce and talentless entertainment contrivances, there is much to be respected in the honor that it would take for LeBron James to step away from the glitz and glam of the big city and stay put. Integrity. Loyalty. Goods works. There are many lights that shine even when the arena is dark.

This mom wants to know. LEBRON JAMES, WHAT KIND OF MAN ARE YOU?

Note: that's how my wife plays it.

Trades don't materialize out of nowhere. They are carefully cultivated by professionals. The best trades involve professionals that respect each other, and want the best for each other. This may seem a touch Pollyanna, but a trade is not a hit and run, it's a chance for adversaries to help one another meet their respective goals.

For example, this week Golden State was willing to improve their bottom line to the tune of $1,000,000.00, by trading 2d round picks with PDX. The Warriors get their fair share of 2d round talent out of the D-League, and the cash money helps them do whatever it is they do down there. 

What they don't do is win, but that was not what this trade was about. KP was able to improve his chances of once again striking gold w/ a value prospect, while the Californians were seeking more immediate gratification. It's what they wanted, and they got it.

Personally, I think solid talent assessment should prevail, and in Portland's case; it probably will. The Blazers staff is second to none, and nothing illustrates this fact better than the offer of the 4th pick in this year's draft for Nic Batum. They're not going to do the deal, but the fact that it was offered shows that Portland knows how to find value assets, groom them, and then parlay them into potentially even better assets. 

In 2008, Portland traded the 27th and 33rd picks to Houston for the 25th pick, which became Batum. Were they to accept the offer for the 4th pick, one could graph the success Blazer management could rightfully claim.

Of course, this post is not about superiority, but rather a tip of the cap to the work that goes into a successful trade event. I'm sure you've noticed that certain teams tend to deal w/ certain teams. It is also true that certain teams never cooperate. This is true in all sports. The Red Sox and the Yankees haven't done a deal since 1919, and the Sox only did that one out of fiscal desperation. And they called it The Curse. 

True, rivalries tend to minimize trade opportunities, but relationships play the largest of all roles. As I said before, trades are cultivated, and they are done so through interaction: phone calls, conferences, golf, lunch, basic business activities. In the NBA, where the names tend to remain the same, former teammates, budies, clicks, these relationships persist right into the boardrooms.

You call, keep in touch, share stories, old and new, and suddenly McHale is sending KG to Boston. Jerry West's former employer sending Pau Gasol to the Lakers.

The truth is though, these weren't buddy deals. These were trade events, made by professionals that understood what the adversary was seeking. They understood their trade partner’s motivations. What do they wanted, whether it was prospects, cap space, or financial relief. They took the time to understand their positions of need. Why would they let a star get away. There was a complete knowledge of the direction their trade partner was heading.

And they had to cooperate in what was essentially a legal agreement.

If NO was actually ready part w/ CP3, for example, one could somewhat safely deduce that they were going young; they were going to rebuild.  Or perhaps that their back-up PG, Darren Collison, was ready to start.  If that's it, Miller's of no interest to them. Maybe it's about money, and if it is, that means LMA would likely not be a target for them. His base year contract would only count for about 9 mill in the trade, yet they'd still be on the hook for his actual salary, and for 5 years. Yes, they'd want Batum; everyone wants Batum, but that's a long way from the 15 mill in assets required to get the trade done.

The bottom line is that KP and NO GM, Jeff Bower, are not strangers. They've been linked on several occasions, regarding several trade discussions, and they no doubt had conversations regarding NO's hiring of Monte Williams. It would be hard to successfully recommend Williams if KP had no idea as to the direction the NO franchise was heading. The two talk, and they probably confer on all sorts of topics.

No, the Blazers probably won't land CP3, but there's good sense in trying. If however, there is a deal, you can bet that KP will find himself obligated to help NO reach it's goals. That is if you have to do to get a deal done. After all, he’s not Chris Washburn. He’s Chris Paul.

When KP gets off the phone w/ Jeff, R.C. Buford is on line 2.

The Blazer Brain Trust has a working,evolving plan. The draft, free agency, and then summer league.  It gets busy from here on out. I'd like to deduct THE PLAN using all the available resources (that includes you).

This post is designed to illicit discussion at to what the brass intends to do, now that the summer of 2010 is finally upon us. Note: This is not a trade drawer. There is a place for all the ingenious trade ideas Edgers have been formulating. This isn't it.

This is intended as an examination of many things, including motivations. There are so many issues, so many questions. The first of which could be our 'championship window," and when it opens. How will the team address needs? What are those needs?

The Players:

Paul Allen, and his shadow government

Kevin Pritchard

Nate McMillan

I didn't include scouts or assistant coaches because they shouldn't have motives.

The Pieces:

1: Andre, Bayless,

2: Roy, Rudy

3: Batum, Martell, Cunnungham

4: MLA, Pendergraph

5: Oden, Camby, Prysbilla

I left Mills & Howard off because they are unsigned, and there is very little reason to think they'll be back, or that they'll occupy important roles should they make a return. Yes, we said that about Howard last year...

Paul Allen is rich, but not as rich as he used to be, and he's put up some road blocks to assure fiscal responsibility, namely the sister, and the Vulcans. He meddles, but he's no Mark Cuban. Generally, he's let the professionals work. He's been the big man here for two decades w/out the big prize he so desires. He's responded to past failures w/ a new, character matters culture, and the city of  Portland has embraced the team once again. Sell outs are the each and every game norm.

Still, you know what he wants, what he craves, and first round exits must eat at him worse that they do us. For those that think he's bitter over the Durrant/Oden draft conundrum, I doubt that he's deluded into thinking that we would have otherwise grabbed the big prize by now. I would like to avoid this question as I think it has been over done, pointless, and it's not going to change 30 GM's minds anyway. He's looking ahead, and so should we.

I would suggest that he is not all that interested in the draft this year. His health is questionable, his mortality tangible, and I'm thinking he'd like to throw the window open. NOW. There is no one that he can acquire through the draft that can help him win a championship next year. Even if there was, this piece would require a purchase price that would likely preclude said championship. The draft is not where you look when your looking for immediate gratification (and don't tell me about Magic Johnson, 200 years ago)

If PA's interested in anything, it would be free agency, but he got beat up pretty good last year, which I'm sure we all remember. Since there are going to be few or no major deals that don't include a sign & trade, I would be surprised if Batum was not required to get a deal done. The Blazers have some mediocre assets to offer, sure, but don't be fooled Edgers, no one is going to let us take the trash out on them, not now. One sided deals are for the trade deadline, and now, there are going to be a lot of offers in play, competition.

This Batum thing presents a problem. The Blazers are set at the 3 w/ him, and over-matched w/out him. Martell is not the answer, and just about everyone is in agreement here. Cunningham is a nice change of pace, but I haven't seen anything to suggest he's special. Since there's only one 3 of note in FA bonanza, and he ain't coming, I'm wondering why we'd make a move that included him. This would mean we don't make a major move at all then.

KP's had a rough year. I'd say he's underpaid, and he's had his legs cut out from beneath him. The draft, however, is like his personal New Years Day. This is where the PA and KP need to come together. One of them has to win this discussion, and the easy money is on big PApa. KP will sift through prospects, but if PA wants to make a splash in FA, or put some distance between he and the luxury tax, the first rounder is likely a thing of the past. I'm sure KP wouldn't mind a shot at the big prize, along w/ keeping his job, so he'll content himself playing Moneyball down in the 2d round. He ought to be paid $850k just for the gems he unearths anyway. He's worth it.

Nate is a different animal. He wants to win now, also, but he may be convinced that he needs to change out a few guys. I'm certain that Nate no longer wants his tenure linked to the performance of Senor Fernandez. KP has also made this jump as well. PA could not be please w/ the Armada either. Things happen. Any move that happens this off-season will likely include Rudy. That is, I would believe, part of The Plan.

But back to Nate, I think he'd also like to bring in another vet. He's got two in Andre and Camby, and I think he'd like to replace Howard's leadership role with someone who can actually defend. This is not a swipe at Howard. Thank you Howard. You were great, and I mean that w/ absolute sincerity. Perhaps you'll take a coaching position. What Nate really wants is a savy. reliable, off the bench scorer, preferably someone who can play 79 or 80 games. Pendergraph can do the fouling, if that's what's needed.

Roster: Potential stars at every position.

1: Andre has plenty left in the tank, and Bayless made progress last year. Point guards need additional seasoning anyway. There's been a lot of discussion about Bayless, but I think it's only fair to point out that a good many PG's have taken a while to mature (Chauncy and Nash come to mind). It's the toughest position on the court to master, mentally, and Bayless is one tough, and determined customer. I don't know who'll be eating crow, but when it comes to THE PLAN, I think he's bought himself some more time.

2: Roy's max contract is in THE PLAN. Rudy is gone. As 2forlarue pointed out:

"Rudy has committed the unpardonable sin—he’s indicated that he would be “happier” playing elsewhere. When this has happened in the past (Jack, Sergio) KP has made a deal to move the player along, usually on draft day."

3: Batum is money, and Cunningham consistently delivers large in short periods of time. They're both cheap for a while too. This is the bargain PLAN, and I thing most everyone is pleased here. Martell presents a bit of an issue because his lack of consistency makes his $'s per minute pretty high. My guess is they wouldn't mind finding a taker here. He's signed for a couple more years, which makes him more attractive to teams that aren't FA destinations.

4: LMA's contract is base year (after July 1), he plays every game, and his ceiling is so high.... I'm pretty certain he's part of THE PLAN. Besides, if you wait him out for one more year, and he is still leaving management wanting, you get full value on his contract, $12 mill in assets. Pendergraph is a cheap, anti-LMA if need one, physical, goes right to the basket, probably worth developing, at least for a while to make sure.

5: Oden is in THE PLAN, and if you disagree, just please save it. I feel you, but this isn't the place. Camby PLAN too, obviously. Joel is interesting, because of everything, but to me he seems like a deadline deal if he's going to be moved- losing team trying to save a few bucks.

So the backup 2/3 FA or straight up trade seems to be THE PLAN? What do you think, and why?

The Trade Route is a perilous journey, where intrigue and danger lurk at every turn.  You study, learn, and listen.  You use everything at your disposal to make the best decision, but the end result is your best guess, nothing more.

Isaiah Thomas made a lot of deals, and a good many of them ended up being regarded as failures. Several players quit. They took their monies and quit on themselves. They quit on the Knicks. They were generally bad teammates, often bad citizens, and as a group, bad ambassadors in the NBA's capital city. The Knicks were, to my mind, the best reason since the Jail Blazers to systemically extinguish the guaranteed contract. The team paid for things they never received.

It, quite simply, was not all Isaiah's fault. Sure, he got the blame, and he deserved a lot of it, but he was not alone. He had a staff of fellas, men who knew the game, guys versed in team building, assistants, scouts, films guys. It's the Knicks and their mega millions- Isaiah had resources. They even had Larry Brown, one of the best coaches ever. Coach Brown could not make a team out these guys. There were selfish "me first" guys, opportunistic money takers, and heartless punks. You name it, Isaiah could find a bad deal, and consummate it.

Isaiah didn't bring in nobodies though. He brought in some pretty good names, guys that had made a name for themselves playing the game. Steve Francis, Starbury, and to a lessor degree, Eddy Curry. The Jerome James and Jared Jeffries signings were terrible, but at least partly because ill-health brought poor production. This, as we know all too well, could happen to anyone.

I'm not lecturing Knick history because it's particularly interesting, but rather because it's pertinent to our current situation here in Portland. Folks pondering trades of three and four rotation Blazers for Bosh, Harris, Parker, or Fill in the Blank, have lost their collective minds. Dude tears his knee, and we are potentially done. No depth. No youth. And a bunch of D Leaguers on our way back to the lottery, or more likely, mediocrity. This is perhaps an exaggeration, but not out the question.

There are other options. Serious options. Trading multiple rotation players seems to me, desperate. This is a good team, a roster well stocked w/ terrific young talent. Standing pat has so many advantages,  more than simply the old and tired patience sentiment.

STANDING PAT? There's more at play than simply letting the market pass you by. Remember last year? KP was a pretender in the market, essentially setting the market value, but having no chance at acquiring any of the few, completely average, moving pieces (the Utah kid & Peja) in the FA bonanza. We ended up w/ a great piece- albeit the one no one else wanted, but regardless, this is a year to stand pat.

The reason: Teams are going to go crazy trying to reinvent themselves. There is going to be a lot of talent trading places. Crazy deals- see real estate, circa 2006. Some of these guys are going to work out, some, not so much. This ballyhooed FA class, the one that has had teams shedding talent to make room for players that aren't coming, is going to make for a wave of insanity, and I would move out of the way, far away.

Come February, when the truth is plain, and the deadline is at hand, our expiring contracts are going to be low hanging fruit, much like the jobs of the men who made bad decisions, bad signings, and/or bad trades. Mediocre teams, bad teams, underachieving teams, and/or bad chemical experiments, KP is going to have the pick of the litter. Joel, Andre, or at worst, Martel, that's all it's gonna cost to bring in a very nice piece, or two. Teams with empty seats, bleeding balance sheets, you know who gets rich? The rich get rich.

Bottom line: Buying in a Sellers Market is for Suckers. Ask Isaiah. He should know.

Thursday's Oregonian sports page will feature a Canzano breakdown on Nate McMillan. He won't say Nate sucks, or any such foolishness, but will implore a better, less imperfect substitution pattern, and a better strategical performance. He'll say that he's been out-coached , and he'll make a personal outreach out to the man, to the competitor, telling him how Portland needs his best coaching effort.

Never mind that some like McMillan, and others find his offense offensive, Canzano fails to understand that at this point there is very little Coach can do. They've watch all the film. They've played the Suns 8 times this year. They've won a few times, and they've been blown out repeatedly and recently.

Preposterously, what Canzano will insinuate, is that Coach watch Brandon Roy and pull him from the game if he's struggling. And I ask, "Who are you kidding? Don't you know anything about the team, or the sport you're covering, or sports in general?"

When the game begins, if Brandon is in the starting line up (as he says he will be), Coach will be all in. The fate of the team will be on Roy's shoulders, and Coach will ride him hard, for better or worse.

It is the nature of the star player/entrenched coach relationship. Coach goes w/ the guy who got him there. It's an elimination game. Coaches always ride their stars in elimination games. They have to. Explaining afterward, especially if they lose, which they almost certainly would, is unacceptable.

"I thought that going with Jerryd Bayless gave us the best chance to win, but unfortunately, it just didn't work out. They had the guns, the all stars, and they got the benefit of the doubt." Translation: we just got disrespected out of the playoffs.

A coach of McMillan's stature has vision, and that's not going to be a speech he gives, ever. In fact, I'd say he's far more likely to explain BRoy's 38 minutes played.

"Coach, Brandon looked a little slow out there tonight."

"Brandon's 85% is better than just about anyone else in the league at 100%"

"But 2 for 16?"

"He's our franchise player and I'd go to battle w/ him any day." Translation: I'm looking forward to a solid and prosperous long term relationship w/ this franchise, and it's franchise player.

Everyone does it. It's not only how things are are done, but the only way things get done.

Think Riley would have pulled Kareem or Magic? Jackson pull Jordan?

Because this isn't just about one game, or getting a seventh game, or moving on to the second round. It's about TRUST. It's about commitment. It's about standing up for who you are, and what you stand for. Coach would never sit his star, no matter what. The star won't ask to sit (or he's not really a star). Ask Grady Little,

Just don't ask John Canzano

I just read Bullpen Gospels by Dirk Hayhurst.

Kick ass read. It's incredibly funny. And I found myself embarrassed for the explicit young manness in the stories, and how savage we guys are as a group. We are morons, and I can't believe that women love us so, but....

Its among the best baseball books ever (I've read so many), and I especially appreciated that the stories came from the minor leagues, and about how being a man is so much more important than the games we plays. Dirk lives inside baseball, but he grows through incredible failure, and his perseverance is a thing of beauty. This is no steroid expose.

I mentioned that it was funny, but what I really meant was FUNNY. I laughed so much, so often, and so hard, that my wife, who thinks baseball is like doing time in the worst criminal institution, is making her way through the book now that I'm done w/ it.

Oddly, I feel like a better man for reading Bullpen Gospels, which nearly kept me from recommending it. That kind of crappola just doesn't sit right.

Please rec this post if you loved the book too, and want to spread the word.

Its in paperback and its cheap.

Oh yeah, I almost forgot, see ya at the game. I'd love a seventh game in Phoenix, w/ a healthy Brandon. So lets get it done, Blazers.

As we take a look at the multiple game 5 scenarios in the NBA first round playoffs, there are many basic irregularities playing themselves out. The script is being written w/ small market teams more than holding their own.

The LA Lakers are in danger of under-performing their way out of the playoffs early, Nike be damned. David Stern can not make them hit their open looks, or calm the storm brewing in OKC. I have written many times that young teams are not good teams, but the Thunder-Sonics seemed to be thumbing their collective nose at this generally accepted axiom. They are extremely active, and Russel Westbrook is a hand full. Zen Dr. Philip better know it. LA is on the brink, and this unimaginable fact is a slap in face of every "everything is rigged" guy on the information super highway.

San Antonio will not die. All they've done is produce the worst TV ratings since 1978, and consistently so. The are, however, poised for yet another run that few will enjoy. How much would it cost to stop them? Don't ask Mark Cuban. He's apparently all tapped out.

Utah? Talk about crickets.  All they're doing is taking down a team w/ true star power. Denver has Carmello, and a cancer survival story built for prime time. I also think America likes Chauncy. He a winner, actually a draft bust, rags to riches winner. 

Don't let Portland win. What a nightmare. Their star, Brandon Roy, wouldn't get anywhere near an all star game if it wasn't for all the respect he's earned from opposing coaches. We'd get beat by $10 Meals on the Food Network.

Who's betting against the Orlando Magic to repeat in the East? Cleavland is a beast, but Orlando is a TEAM, and I like their chances.

Somewhere, at some sports themed, beer & chicken wing outlet, Phil Knight is trying to make the blimp crash. The anticipation is killing me; I hope it lasts.

So the first back-to-the-wall game has come and our team stood up under the intense pressure.

Surprise. Surprise. Brandon Roy shed his street clothes and performed admirably, doing what he does so well. And Nicolas Batum looked pretty healthy, and totally game.

What a sweet afternoon. Every Blazer that checked in played no worse than fairly well, and collectively, they played with an urgency that spoke volumes about their desire to continue playing in these playoffs.

The odds are still against the Blazers, when it comes to advancing, but Phoenix is now the team that had best respond to the pressure. It sure didn't look as though that would be the case after those two dreaded blowout losses, but the Blazers really stepped up the effort this afternoon.

The teams looked better matched with Brandon back on the floor, and I thought that Bayless looked like a competitor, and Rudy was better in his back up role.

Phoenix missed a lot of shots, and Portland was much more aggressive on the defensive end, which was, I suppose, why. J Rich had to work. Amar'e had to work. Nash too, had to work. When the game is messy, and difficult, Phoenix has decidedly fewer advantages.

Fouls, more fouls, hard fouls, flagrant fouls, and technical fouls- this series is getting chippy. How many games does one have to play against the same team before dislike evolves into hatred? It seems to me that PDX should get very physical on Monday, and see how it turns out. If we can get them frustrated, a second road victory is not beyond the realm of possibility.

I stated that this series was all but over after game 3, but I had no idea that Brandon would return- He really is quite the equalizer, and perhaps more. It was awesome to watch him compete, and see his same old style at work, so economical. He worked in short bursts, and then did quite a bit of standing around, playing in space. Then he'd explode to the hoop, or go to the loose ball, and with such success. I watch his every move, and yet its easy to forget how amazing he is, and how often its beauty lies in the details, the little things. Detail orientation is not to be underestimated.

So the big question is: Can they win the series? The big answer remains: Yes, but its going to take some amazing team basketball, and a few amazing individual performances.

Make no mistake, today's victory wasn't going to happen w/out Roy, and the Blazers still might not advance anyway. He has to play strong, and his health has to hold up. The fact remains that his presence trickles down, and throughout, everything that this team does. The battle over pace, I could not imagine the emergency required to get him moving. And that suits me fine.

With only 2 or 3 games to play, every rebound, every box out, every patient possession, etc., etc., this is what its all about, is it not?

That didn't take long, did it?

The season has run it's course, and now we await the inevitable slow walk to turnstiles. The series is over. Mark it down. There are games to be played, but they are a formality, because so many of these nice boys (the kind fans demanded) lack the competitive fire. I think our second round rookies have some heart, but they're too green to make a difference. Plus, Pendergraph might not have talent anyway, hard to tell at this point. Besides, this paragraph is an RIP, so talking about rookie 2d rounders seems to be what it actually is, alone time on the romance circuit.

The youth movement is over. This team, if it is to succeed, has to continue to age, perhaps violently. Thank goodness Pritchard isn't as complacent as he once was. I believe he'll sacrifice some of his accumulation of young talent in order to bring in additional hungry veterans, the hungrier the better.  Blazer basketball ending as the Pritchard maneuvers and machinations begin, it's the cycle of championship life, BEers.

Watching Amare, it occurs to me that the Blazers could really use some extra video sessions. That dude, as poorly as I think of him, wants it bad. How hard is that? Of course film sessions can't make you want something in your bones, but you can at least see what it looks like. Can you grow heart and desire through failure? Some do. Others do not. That's the tough part, the sort. I was young once, wasting my advantages. Who knew that I would continue down that path well into middle age? But I digress.

The draft and free agency (which will actually be the resign, or the sign and trade, period this year), these things will set the stage for next years run. The Blazers have a lot of pieces to play with. The championship window should be open NEXT YEAR. After all, most teams manage to stay relatively healthy throughout the season, losing but a player or two to injury. Pritchard has a bounty of resources at his command. There's no time for despair, just improvement, because the lottery is for losers, oh, and Utah, which seems fair.

The pressure in now firmly on the Rose Garden.

I attended game 1 v. Houston last year and let me remind you of OUR performance. Not the team's, mind you, but OUR performance. Blazer maniacs were out of their minds after enjoying 54 regular season victories. The celebration seemed to go on and on before tip off. There was the Pioneer Courthouse deal. It was as ridiculous, in retrospect, as thinking that OKC might advance this year.

We should be forgiven, though. It had been a long time since we'd drank the cool, clean water. We'd endured a sustained, and serious, all-around foolishness since enjoying our last splash. But that was under the bridge. And we had the home court advantage, GO was healthy, LMA had his sweet jumper, we were deep w/ talent, and we had Brandon Roy, you know, the guy w/ the 680' jumper for the win. Yeah, the team was young and exciting. The fans were delirious. We dared to dream, and we proved, as fans, to be just as immature as our team.

By tip off (remember how beautifully warm the day actually was?), the Blazer fans had already poured it all out (or drank it all down). We were a terrible, irresponsible, and vulgar mob. We embarrassed ourselves. And worst of all, we failed to rally our wide eyed youngsters. We focused on the refs, and we watched helplessly as a brilliant season of unexpected triumph slipped away. Our season was effectively over.

This team, although very different in its present, reasonably unhealthy construction, is actually in a remarkably similar situation. One home loss will likely precipitate another first round exit. These are the facts and they should be embraced, And we, as fans, must do better this time. Every possession. Every defensive stand. We gotta bring it. The Suns don't matter. The officials don't matter.

Do not underestimate the power of our force. Let it flow through us, and on to the court. And let us show that we've been here before.

The team needs us. Let them feed upon our energy. If we bring it, I firmly believe that the Blazers will prevail.

It seems to me that the Lakers don't have one single player having a career year.

It's the eye test, and don't look like championship material to me. Yeah, I know who they got, and I know how they got 'em (not that it matters), but they do not look like a juggernaut to me; no, they do not. They finished w/out a flourish and I'm not sure the chemistry is there. There seems as though something is missing and I wouldn't bet money on them, not my money anyway.

Ya know, when it come to dominance, the Jazz are dead. The Mavs have talent, but I'm not sure they've meshed.The Nugs have problems at coach and character.

OKC? SA?  Not likely.

Orlando and Cleavland look better than any of them but luckily those teams aren't trying to get out of the West. 

What I'm really trying to say is: the Blazers have a pretty good chance to advance.

IMO, the Blazers will miss Brandon Roy less than the Suns will miss Robin Lopez.

This might border on blasphemy, but In the playoffs, DEFENSE RULES. And the Blazers don't play old school, body up defense, except for Andre. They play new school, long arm, passing lane, shot blocking, hand in your face defense. And as long as they can score (which I think they easily will, in part because of Lopez's absence), this is a killer recipe.

I think Phoenix just might struggle adjusting, and if PORTLAND REBOUNDS on BOTH ENDS, why wouldn't they be favored? Phoenix is not built to respond to what this team brings.

I'm just sayin'.....

When Clyde Drexler was drafted in 1983, 14th over all, it took 6 years, and a whole lot of hard work, before the Blazers got to the second round.

For younger fans, the legendary 1990 team was TRULY as good as avertised, tremendous really. Part of what made for such an amazing playoff experience was THE WAIT. Year after disappointing year, each and every first round dismissal, it made for an explosion of Blazer Mania when the good times finally arrived. This one horse town went crazy and to a degree that you can only imagine.

It wasn't like the elation of the 1977 championship, which crept up upon this town as unexpectedly as the Mt. St. Hellens eruption. It was more like a rock opera, one that took us ever up, down, up and through each series, higher and higher, until your brain almost exploded. Yeah, almost.

Terry, Buck, Clyde, Duck, Jerome, Cliffy, Drazen, Adelman,

YOU WAIT, and you'll know what I'm talking about. As the rounds pass, and the fever sets in, you won't be able to turn your head without a new and creative Blazer sign of excitement. It is truly THE BEST OF TIMES. You'll never forget it when it's your turn to live those moments as fans.

This probably isn't the year, but don't let that dampen your enthusiasm, This has been quite the ride so far, and this team has tremendous heart, much like that 1990 team did, just not the same fortune.

Of course you never know....

If last night's game against Dallas was any indicator (and I think it was), the upcoming playoffs look to be quite the ugly affair.

The Trail Blazers, mostly because of injuries and the trade, are not classically armed in their present incarnation. In fact, the back court is more adept at scoring in the paint than the front court, where defensive specialists and jump shooters roam the paint and the arc. This lack of balance on the offensive end is the Achilles Heal, but this perceived weakness is not the end of the world, nor is it a guarantee of an early exit. Kevin Pritchard has brought in high-quality components, and Coach need only to combine their formidable skills. The key is, of course, Brandon Roy.

Brandon is going to face a double team on each and every possession, much like he did last night. If the Blazers are to succeed, this must be transformed from a liability to an advantage. Roy has to keep his dribble, and use his savvy to create contact, put the opposition in foul trouble, and do right by the charity stripe. Giving up the ball plays into the opposition's hand. The double team is designed to force jump shops from Camby & Miller, and this is a winning strategy. Brandon's penetration is absolutely the the path to victory, perhaps the penultimate path. This is the playoffs. Playoff teams rotate on defense. They exploit weaknesses. On the offensive end, anyone with ball besides Brandon, and the Blazers weaknesses have been successfully exploited.

Brandon is so respected that this creates several advantages. When Andre Miller is orchestrating the offense, he sees one on one opportunities. He's a tremendous finisher, and man can he dish. Andre has played so well this season, particularly in the second half, that I am loathe to criticize. He does, however, have to remain aggressive. When he takes the low percentage jumper (which he all too often does), this also plays to the opponent's desires. Know what you do. Know what your opponent wants you to do. Thankfully, his IQ is plenty high, and he knows how to fulfill his obligations, IE Nate's game plan. 

This means, of course, that the Blazers will see a steady stream of zone defenses. Zones are designed to entice a jump shot; it is, for the offense. the path of least resistance. The Blazers, however, shoot a better percentage when they're in motion, not standing around. Nate has to get the guys moving, cutting, executing. And offensive rebounding are never easier to get than when the opponent in utilizing the zone. Most NBA teams barely practice a lick, and this means that zones, while tricky in their gimmicky brilliance, are not impervious to PENETRATION.

On the defensive end, creating transition buckets is at a premium. Camby rebounds, outlet to Miller, and ahead to LaMarcus, this will wear them out, whoever they are. Plus, we will see additional trips to the stripe. This is classic defense to offense, and I'm not buying the old playoff slowdown excuse. This, like so many aspects of the game, is a matter of will.  You can't run all the time, but you must look to go at every opportunity, especially if the opponent is looking to hit the offensive boards.

It also seems odd to me that Batum is simply a jump shooter. I know that it too late in the year to develop a completely new strategy, but where are you Nate? This team has only a scant few, high percentage scoring avenues. Batum seems to me, an undervalued, and under-utilized asset. I guess time will tell. 

That leaves Aldridge, who has had a very good year, while not a breakout season. I'm not going to ask LA to become a post player because that's like asking Bayless to play the point: it ain't gonna work. He could, however, step up his rebounding. Coach had him do this when Howard was playing 35 minutes, so I know he can do it. Defense and rebounding, because it's winning time.

Nice to see Rudy again...

So here we go, bring on the Suns, or the Nuggets, or the Jazz, or the Lakers. It's not gonna be pretty, but it's not about them anyway.

Note: if you like these observations, feel free to rec for others. thanks

When it comes to Greg Oden, many in the BE community seem fairly skeptical that he'll ever amount to much. Yes, there are some that still believe, but certainly there's a split. And considering the last three years, I, personally, am surprised to see as many optimists as I do. I might be one of them, although this is a bit embarrassing to admit at this point.

When it comes to Andre Miller, there is also a split, although his play in the second half of the year has helped to silence the critics. One thing the community would probably agree upon, however, is that Miller is old. He has a lot of miles on the odometer. He is not the long term answer at PG.

I have written at length on the Blazer business model  (see: Vilgax, risk assessment, and the long term contract), and it seems to me that professional basketball, more than anything else, is a contract game, law, and stuff like that.

It also seems to me Prysbilla is unlikely to return soon, if ever, and who knows to what form. It also seems as though Camby and Portland are enjoying a full orchestra style honeymoon. Interesting. Being as it's going to cost o'plenty to continue this love affair, I think something groundbreaking is on the horizon.

Prysbilla's contract will be expiring next year, it very well could be covered by insurance as well.

Miller's contract is also expiring, technically.

Oden will be a restricted FA at the end of next season.

Will anyone be surprised if this summer Pritchard signs Camby, trades Oden for a high draft choice (for a "Dre's replacement,), and waits out Prysbilla, perhaps for free. He'll also be in position to trade Miller's expiring contract at the deadline, if the pick is ready for the big time. After all, winning isn't something that happens on accident, and it takes quite a structure to sustain excellence over a prolonged period. And discipline. 

In my latest Fan Post, "Evaluated At The End Of The Season" I wrote that guaranteed, long term contracts make a man soft, and I was impressed by the responses from the community. Sure, there was the guy who thought that I was one man, Obama death panel, and the requisite hyperboloator who thought I was advocating the idea that the entire team should play on 10 day contracts, and by extension, that Summer Leaguers should play their games between shifts at Mr. Smoothie's, still, I was impressed with the discourse.

The bottom line is that life offers very few certainties.  One thing I'd certainly bet on, however, is that every NBA team has ended up regretting at least one long term signing, and probably more than one. The team guarantees the big time cash, and the player does whatever it is that he does. The performance of the player, the effort, the cooperation, the on and off court behavior, and the grace with which he carries the fortune that has been bestowed upon him, it's the classic buyer beware scenario (see: the frog and the scorpion). The compensation is guaranteed, health and commitment to conditioning of the player is not. The contract is pretty much iron clad, and the club is stuck w/ what the player decides to give. Sure, the team can trade the contract, but as the Trail Blazers know all too well, paying Steve Francis $20 million not to play amounted to a poor return on their investment in The Hoops Family Cock Fighting Syndicate. One could refer to it as the price of doing business, but I see it as a problem that could be, and will be, eliminated.

As a fans of the home team, we have our collective spirits crushed when valuable cap space is absorbed by substandard performers- guys who take the money and give little in return. Take Darius Miles, for example, even after every last dime was gifted rather that earned, he still signed with Memphis (which was his right, at least technically). This was not only a cap buster, but also a breach of loyalty, a gross example of absolute selfishness, and lack of  integrity, in the extreme. You can argue this point, but Darius knows. We all know when we take more than we give.

You see, PA's money is really important to us, the fans, and I would argue that he is getting more careful with it every day. The Moneyball paradigm, where low priced assets play huge roles (see Rudy, Nic & perhaps Dante as well), is in play. Working the draft from the bottom of the first round down is so much more efficient than the free agent market. Phoenix has a broken business model. So does NY. Portland's strategy, with KP's instincts in play, looks to have legs. It's true that the trade market becomes difficult because these players make so little money(what with the salary matching +/- 10%), but the bottom line is that these role players make so little money (for a professional athlete, anyway). It's good for management. It's good for fans. And there's no crying for these athletes. They make a very nice living within the confines of the rookie contract structure. It's a good deal for everyone.

KP has adjusted. He knows exactly what he's doing. He looks for college grads who are mature. Foremost, he gets players that can actually play, and play right now, not 19 year-old phenoms who might, if they don't get ruined, or addicted, maybe, hopefully end up being great someday, for someone. They play. They develop. And maybe they get paid here, eventually, or maybe they move on. It's about the needs of the team. Great coaching, star players, a steady stream of young, talented role players, roster flexibility, and the cap management required to bring in a veteran piece, winning isn't something that happens on accident, and it takes quite a structure to sustain excellence over a prolonged period. That is Portland's path, and it's solid work because the lottery is no place to be.

Pritch also has a taste for the exotic. His low budget forays into Europe has produced some beautiful fruit.  If Victor Claver is awesome as well, public deification just might be the reasonable expectation. So, the Trail Blazers are resurrected in fine time, absolutely competitive at this moment, and well on their way to the promised land.  The problem is, however, that every team has not the same level of organization.

Detroit spent a ton of money on last years free agant class. Ben Gordon & Charlie Villanueva have led a solid core of players, Rodney Stuckey, Rip Hamilton, and Tayshaun Prince, to 23 wins so far this season. The Celtics have gotten a mere shell of what Sheed used to be, and for 3 years. Toronto (and yes, we probably got lucky here) did not improve with their $50 million investment in Hedo. Oddly, or perhaps as matter of incredible foresight, the Blazers low budget pick up (Andre Miller) was probably the best of them all, and certainly for the dollar.

Which brings us to the Lock Out. It's been written that life offers very few certainties. Another thing for certain: There Will Be A Lock Out. A year from now, we won't be talking about Tom Penn. We might not even be talking much about the playoffs. We will be talking CBA, and the bad management teams that gave too much good money to players who weren't good enough, or committed enough, to earn it. More than anything, owners will look to make dramatic changes in order to protect themselves from themselves, and we will be the ones that pay.

At least I'll have my wife, and I'll have my son, and we'll be watching Ben 10 reruns. It won't matter one lick that we won't have Comcast.

Maybe I'm a little old school, but being evaluated at  the end of the year seems reasonable to me. PA owes KP nothing. I, myself, get evaluated everyday- my wife, my kids, whoever has hired me for whatever project,
Dude, guaranteed contracts? Votes of confidence? Come on! How about prostate cancer? That's sounds like a guaranteed contract. Otherwise, lock down job security makes you soft, like the NBA itself, which has a broken, unsustainable business model.

Zach Randolf was not enhanced, nor enriched by his guaranteed max contract, not in my mind. Gilbert Arenas? The list goes on and on. These contracts for the players will soon be a thing of the past, and it's probably the best thing that could happen for The Game.

As for those that orchestrate rather that play, well, doesn't Nate play it year by year?

So tell you what: Go to Work. Get Paid. Get Paid Well. And when you find that your voices no longer mesh, find a different choir. KP's a good singer, amazing maybe, but it's not about the singer; it's about the choir,

And if that's not enough, we all love and respect B Roy, dude's got perfect pitch. But if KP thought that he had to trade him in order to attain that elusive second championship, Roy'd be gone, wouldn't he?

Most every year, some previously unheralded role player steps up and produces in clutch, save the universe, situations. The common wisdom is that stars dominate the post season, but LBJ. if you recall, desperately needed Daniel Gibson's heroic contributions just a few years back. In the post season, role players step up, or teams go home sad. See; Sean Elliot. Norm Nixon. Robert Horry. Steve Kerr.

My point is: I just might, kinda sorta, like Andre Miller in tights and a cape.

In my most recent FanPost, "Ultimately, It's About Oden," I more or less disrespected Miller's game, but mainly his terrible jump shot.  Miller, though, is a good choice for player most likely to surprise in a playoff run, and produce numbers well above his career norms.

You see, Andre is delusional. He thinks he's a great player. He's always thought so, and he never let the facts get in the way of this belief, but that's OK.

He's played for 5 NBA teams in twelve years, and has been twice traded. He has lead 5 playoff teams. None of these teams tasted the second round. His last employer, the Philadelphia 76ers, had a veteran roster including Andre Iguadala and Elton Brand. 76er management, however, thought so little of Miller's contributions that they drafted Holiday, Jrue Holiday, JrueJrue Holiday, with the 17th pick in last June's Draft, and let Miller walk, receiving nothing in return. Holiday, no sure thing, was the 5th or sixth PG drafted. An unrestricted free agent, Andre waited as household names such as Turkoglu and Millsap were wined and dined. Plan C, he was called.

Bottom line: Miller gets no pub. He is regularly marginalized. And in his secret dark heart, that place where he crams all of his feelings on these painful matters; it is a deep freeze, and this has made him a very angry man, sullen, and solitary.

Still OK, you ask? Yeah! It's OK. It's OK because Andre is poised for a break out w/ a player like Brandon Roy. Some people wait their entire lives for that special moment. They work, and they press, and they work some more, desperate to put the doubters and the naysayers in their place. They know that they are great at what they do, no matter what anyone says, especially the bloggers.  Andre knows with all his being that he was born to lead, to be a champion, and that he's simply plotting his next opportunity, imagining how its going to taste, and savoring the dream of serving it up cold.

The Lakers and the Nuggets have multiple tough and talented inside presences. These two teams make for unfavorable match-ups, home court disadvantages, and probable elimination. Both of these teams would have an easier time scoring against the Blazers than the Blazers would have against them. And The Jazz would also present serious issues. These three teams are better balanced than Portland. They are not  jump shooting teams, although they do shoot a high percentage from deep because they set themselves up, playing from inside out. The Blazers would likely elect to close the lane and make them beat them from outside, which they would oblige, taking and making their open looks. Anything else would be a beautiful surprise, kind of like that hockey game back in 1980.

It is on the offensive end, however, where their most serious of the problems arise. The Blazers, too many of them anyway, make their respective livings from the perimeter. Should their opponent tighten up their perimeter defense, only Brandon Roy is above average at creating off the dribble.  The book on Andre is to let him shoot, and the book is right. Sure, he put 52 on Dallas, and there was that DUNK against Denver, but these weren't performances the Blazers can bank on. He is an asset, and as the season progressed, he has clearly exceeded expectation, but one must temper any thought that he is more than he is. 13 years and never an all star. He was the Blazers' plan C. These are simply the facts. He can't shoot. Batum, on the other hand,  is making his shots and his %'s are joyous, but will he play loose in the playoffs? It's a lot to ask, especially as the games wear on. Camby is not any part of the offensive game plan and that is perhaps for the best. LaMarcus' problems have been well documented. He's been blogged and flogged, and it would be remarkable for him to suddenly transform into a 4 quarter force, or muscle down low. He's a terrific player, a great yin to Oden's yang, but he doesn't provide, that which is so badly needed.

Portland's greatest asset, Brandon Roy, should be equalized in the form of Kobe, Chauncy, and Deron.

When the Blazers played, and barely beat, the Warriors the other night, I though that Portland was exposed. Actually, the idea occurred that Portland would look like Golden State in a match up against the Nuggets. Small ball just ain't gonna get it done in a series, and that's what the Blazers have been playing on offense lately. They are scoring the basketball, which is nice to see, but they've made this recent move against inferior competition. It looked like they were ready to graduate prior to their last game in Denver, but that went poorly. There are some good teams coming up on the schedule, so we'll soon see whether or not they're ready to be a better team than they've been this season.

Bottom line: The Blazers need to position themselves for a Dallas, OKC, or Phoenix, first round match up, and there's nary a cupcake on that list. They're in a spot, because it's pretty late, really. Too many injuries. Too many losses. And not enough Oden, unless you're into his reality show. How about this one?

1995- On our way through Sacramento, CA, my ex-wife surprised me w/ tickets to see the Clippers and the Kings. It was a great game- went to overtime. I was wearing my white leather sleeved, officially licensed, letter-men jacket- a true Clipper fan. The team was the pretty much same as always- rebuilding. With Garry Grant, Loy Vaught, & Elmore Spencer- the new franchise cornerstones, I could travel to see my team, proudly working my well-branded leather, and not elicit much more than pity, if not awe. The Bay City Rollers probably had a huge fan club in their day, so why wouldn't the Clippers have at least a few dozen stubborn, refuse to stop believing, believers. I guess that others might have thought me a team employee, or perhaps part of the organizational family. I didn't care strangers thought. It was a very nice jacket, and I was wearing it. No one threatened my life. It wasn't a Baltimore cap in the Yankees' bleachers. It was the Clippers.

But this insane fanness was not entirely my fault:

1979- I got a free Clipper ticket to opening night at the San Diego Sports Arena- descent seats, especially considering the price.  Lloyd Free, Sidney Wicks, Bill Walton, and they were playing Magic's Lakers in his very first game as a pro. Magical was right.  And when Jabbar hit the buzzer beater in the 4th quarter to close the deal, the Clippers were mine.It was a sky hook from the middle of the key, drawn up during a last second timeout. Walton defended the shot well, but it went in. Magic went crazy, like he'd won another championship, but that would have to wait until June.

It was, as it turned out, my first NBA game too, and I fell in love, but somehow I picked the wrong girl. It could have happened to anyone. It happened to me.

But to prove the existence of free will:

2010- I've had a new wife for so long that she's not all that new any more. That game back in '95 was great time, and a very thoughtful gift, but I made a much better choice my second time around. Life in Portland, well, I've been here many years. I'm a Blazer fan. KP sure could teach the Clippers a thing or two about rebuilding on a schedule. I've been Rip City through the Porter/Drexler teams, remembering fondly, the day they traded for Buck Williams. It was a signature stroke. I remember Sabonis w/ much love. Roy and Batum, on and on- they're my favorite team, my only favorite team. I mean, what kind of guy has a second favorite team. It's like having a second favorite liver cancer, like a second favorite personality disorder, or allergy. Besides, that old jacket in the back of the closet is way too beat up. It doesn't fit anymore. And it's not for sale.

That nearly ended up being a disaster, playing rat ball without an offensive post presence to speak of.  What good is it being tall, if don't know how to be tall? The Blazers, even in victory, were totally exposed.  What's it gonna take, and how much time, before LaMarcus learns how to play at the rim. He should have killed those guys from start to finish. He's not a rookie, not even close.  When he extended for 6 years, demanding, as he did, the big money, it also gave fans the right to demand, to demand more. LA has not delivered. Moreover, he should be taking Rudy and Brandon out for dinner, saving his face the way they did. Shameful. 

Brandon was great, and it was nice to see that again. It has been a while since he was last able to demonstrate such greatness. It's also been a while since he played against seventh graders, so we'll have to wait and see if he's truly back to form.

The question that requires the most attention is why the road team, that road team, they of 17 or so wins, was dictating tempo.  Embarrassing. The Blazers are a veteran team. Someone please explain where their patience went. Where was the leadership? Andre Miller? Nate McMillan?

There's a reason the Blazers are so successful. They're efficient. They walk the ball up and work for the best opportunity. This naturally slows the game for the much younger and less wily opponent. The young, they drift off. They think about the ladies, or video games.  They worry about their 10 day contracts. The young often fall prey to mental lapses. There is, after all, a reason why you don't run down the hill. You walk down the hill and....