Assuming that Joel and Greg are done for the season (Joel's injury definitely looked bad enough), the Blazers are probably going to do some shopping for another big man.  My suggestion is Marcin Gortat.  The rumor mills around the web have been saying that Gortat and Bass are both possibly available, and I urge the Blazers do go after either.  Both players are big enough and have enough talent to fill that spot, and we have enough people at that position to make it work.

The next step, which is in fact part of the first, is a trade.  We need to get rid of Steve Blake.  It is not that I think that Blake is a bad player, but rather that Andre Miller needs to know that he is starting point guard, and Jerryd Bayless needs minutes.  Since the recent string of injuries and Jerryd's increased playing time, Blake has been looking more and more complacent.  His numbers are down, and he does not look like the 13 assists in one quarter Steve Blake of last year.  Miller needs to be comfortable as a starter and someone with consistent minutes, and Bayless needs the minutes to develop into a potentially great NBA point guard.

The next step is also very similar to the previous.  In order to get Gortat or Bass, we will need to give up more than just Blake.  I suggest Travis Outlaw.  I have always loved Trav, and have never really wanted to see him traded, but we are now in dire straits and something needs to be done.  Another upside of trading Travis is that it will solve a lot of the chemistry issues that are sure to arise when we are back at full strength with Batum and Rudy.  In my opinion, they both should get more playing time than Outlaw, because they both have such great potential.  Batum specifcally is someone the Blazers need to develope.  In all honesty, I think that Rudy will be gone soon (not enough PT behind Roy and possibly Bayless), but Batum is someone I hope the Blazers hold on to.  His defense is impeccable, is athleticism is freakish, and his offensive game is rapidly improving.  He may have the highest ceiling of anyone on the team (besides maybe Oden).  I love Outlaw, but we need help, and we really do not need chemistry issues when people get back.  We will surely need a late season push to compensate for our less-than-spectacular start of the season (and the potential extra losses that will probably happen because of the injuries), and having players confused about their roles and wanting more playing time is not what we need.  

Lastly, I think we need to revamp the offense.  I am not going to go in depth with this one, because it has been covered extensively recently, but in short, we need more inside plays, more movement, and less dependence on Roy.

The season just got really interesting, and I hope the Blazers will respond.  Honestly, even if we make no trades and everything stays as it is, we may indeed still make the playoffs.  This team knows how to play together, and barring any new injuries, they can definitely pull it together and get back on track.  

In summation, somehow get Gortat/Bass, trade Blake and Outlaw, give Bayless the minutes he deserves, implement a more team-orieanted offense, and STAY HEALTHY.  

Hum now Blazers, we got this.  

What is the best way to watch games, if you do not live in Oregon and can not get the comcast games?  Last year I was able to watch almost every game on justin.tv or a similar site, but I want better quality.  Does anyone know where to find a schedule of games on league pass or nba tv?  I am willing to pay to watch this season, but want to make sure that I will be able to watch a lot of Blazer games.  I am in the states, so I can get the nationaly televised games.  Thanks

I currently go to school in Colorado and will be in Denver tomorrow night to see the Blazers claim first place in the Northwest Division.  Whenever I am back home in Portland and attending a Blazer game, I go out of my way to heckle fans of the visiting team, and they usually (and rightfully) heckle me back.  Tomorrow, for the first time, the tables will be turned, and I will be that obnoxious fan, decked out in all my team's gear, standing and cheering loudly for them on every play.  I absolutely can not wait.   I will do my best to be respectful and not ruin the game for anyone else, but myself along with the twelve other Oregonians also in our row, are going to make sure Melo hears us when he's shooting free throws. 

What experiences have you had either as an away fan, or as a home fan dealing with away fans, that are memorable?  Any words of advice (or good Nuggets disses) for tomorrow night?

Why did the team not tell us the truth?  I guess before I launch into this tirade I should suggest the possibility that they did not know all the details from the get go.  This may have been the case at the begining when the swelling prevented them from seeing anything, but the NBA has good doctors; there is no way they did not see this chip and understand its consequences. 

Considering Oden's rep about injuries, it is understandable that the team wanted to publicize that it was not a serious injury.  However, the team also knew that Oden is injury prone and delicate.  They knew that rushing him back from an injury would be stupid, and never had any intention of letting him play if it was not 100%.  What they did instead was deceptive and ultimately harmful the fanbase, Oden, and the team itself.

First it was reported that he was "experiencing discomfort in his left (non operative) knee," and would miss the rookie challenge.  The next they told us that he would not be playing in the first few games back and in an odd move the team anounced that surgery was not an option.  The fact that this was mentioned worried me at the time, and it has now been concerend with the anouncement that he will miss at least 7 to 10 more days.

It is not necessary ot this site to go through and list every little bit of information that leaked surrounding the injury.  Many people have mentioned that they felt the team was not telling the whole truth because of the constantly changing information people were receiving.  I do not claim to know the truth, but I do believe that the team withheld information, and in doing so made the entire process much worse for everyone involved.

Baron Davis just said in an interview for NBA Action on Vs. that the most embarrasing moment of his career was when he was got crossed over and fell.  He didn't mention the name of the player, but the video they showed was of Brandon crossing him at the top of the arc and hitting the jumper after Davis falls.  You gotta love when it's a Blazer doing the crossing, but I'm sure we've all seen the videos of Blake gettting done by Nate Robinson..

So..which Blazer has the best crosses and is most likely to make someone fall?

Who has done it the most?

Who has had it done to them the most?

I think its Blake for all of the above.  My proof:

Blake getting crossed: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSNywWvNnFU

Blake crossing:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2gtMSzB-cs&feature=related

A few nights ago at the YMCA a thought popped into my head.  Are any of the guys around the gym members of BE?  The two courts at the Y that night were not packed like a Saturday morning, but with 20 or so people it wasn’t a bad showing for a Tuesday.  There was a good amount of people wearing Blazer gear, and maybe that was what got me thinking.  So here is my question.  Do you play basketball?  What parks? What courts?  Did you play in high school? College? The occasional game of horse?  What is the extent of your basketball “career”?  I am not suggesting it is important that you have any experience at all, I’m just curious.  I played for my high school basketball team and now frequent many of the parks in southeast Portland as well as the YMCA.  I try and play as often as time and weather permit.