We've got a few days to kill until the draft. Why not partake in a game of over/under. I'll present you with a category and a number. You get to predict whether the actual outcome will be higher (over) or lower (under).

1. Number of all-stars will the Blazers have in next year's All-Star game? Over/Under 1.5?

2. Number of former all-stars will the Blazers have on the team next year? Over/Under 1.5?

3. Number of games Travis Outlaw plays for the Blazers? Over/Under 1?

4. Number of starts for Jerryd Bayless? Over/Under 9?

5. Number of wins for the Blazers next year? Over/Under 55?

6. Number of new players on the team? Over/Under 2.5?

7. Number of games that Greg Oden starts? Over/Under 49?

8. Number of games Martell Webster starts? Over/Under 49?

9. Number of rookies on team next year? Over/Under 2

10. Number of trades on draft day? Over/Under2?

What's your guess?

I've noticed that quite a few games lately the opposition has come out shooting lights out. in the 1st Quarter.  It took me over an hour to do the research because I couldn't find team FG% by quarter, but check it out...

Last 9 games: Opponents shoot  an avg. of 53.6% in the 1st  Quarter
Dallas: 60% (48.8% for the game)
Toronto: 52.6% (44.9%/game)
Boston: 50% (40.3%/game)
New Orleans 53.3% (51.3%/game)
L*kers 60% (49.3%/game)
Detroit 50% (50%/game)
Golden St. 56.2% (50.7%/game)
Chicago 50% (43.4%/game)
Philadelphia 50% (46.1%/game)

Overall on the year, the Blazers have given up 50% or more in 1st Q.  20 times!

So my question to everyone: What's with the slow starts? The team started the season with "Defense" and the mantra. I'm reasonably happy with the record, but why can't they defend in the 1st Quarter???

As long as Brandon compared GO to Dwight Howard, let's take a closer look.. Here's a comparison of Howard's first year stats - converted to 48 minutes, compared to GO first 4 games - also converted to 48 minutes.

Points:
Howard; 17.67
Oden: 16.9

Rebounds
Howard: 14.7
Oden: 16.1

Turnovers
Howard: 2.94
Oden: 3.73

Blocks
Howard: 2.44
Oden: 6.21

Assists
Howard: 1.33
Oden: 0.75

Steals
Howard: 1.38
Oden: 1.24

FG%
Howard: 51.9
Oden: 44.4

FT%
Howard: 67%
Oden: 61.1%

Now consider that Oden has been sitting out for a year and is still getting used to his teammates. Oden a failure? His numbers look pretty decent compared to Dwight 1.0, and that's all we can fairly compare right now. If he stays healthy and continues to get better, he certainly could be as good or better.

Here's a few questions to warm you up until the contests start. (Sorry, no prizes) Ten questions to help you get your brain into regular season form...

Continue reading this post »

With the lottery only a couple of weeks away, I was thinking about our great fortune last year, and who might represent the team this year.

BRoy is always a good choice because he's such a great individual and will always represent the team and the town in a classy way. Do we dare mess with last year's mojo and send someone else?

Is this part of the continuing initiation for Mr. Oden? He's shown that he can handle the media.

Do we send our coach, or even have the re-energized Paul Allen.

Could we entice Rudy to sign if we let me go to Secaucus, New Jersey?

Does anyone have a pair of Blazer thunderstix (free throw noise makers) just sitting in your closet that you'd like to get rid of? While watching the game the other day, I thought that those would be a fun thing to add to my modest collection of Blazer gear. I live in Eugene and don't make it up to P-town very often. If anyone has a stack of these and would like to sell a pair of them to me, I'd pay postage+.

Has anyone every had to shoot free throws with anything like this in the background? Is it distracting?

I don't know if this means anything but I did receive a second email back from Comcast. The first was to acknowledge my writing to complain about the satellite situation. Late last week I received a second email asking who my provider was.

I take that as a good sign in that maybe they are trying to figure out who people are using and maybe how to proceed with the negotiations. I'm hoping for a follow-up message.

Anybody else get a message like this?

Just an interesting thought to throw out...

Next year when Oden is totally healthy and tearing up the Association, does he qualify as the Rookie of the Year next year - since he didn't play a lick this year - or is he a sophomore?

On All-Star weekend would he play for the rookies in the Rookie/Sophomore game?

Does he get to forced to carry veteran's bags, go tet donuts or get thrown in the pool like Green?

My guess is no on all these accounts - but what do you think?

The Blazers may have been thought of a "joke" through some of the recent turbulent years, but not to this extent. I was reading Supersonicsoul's blog http://www.supersonicsoul.com and their wrap-up of the many changes in the Northwest division teams.

"Steve Allen's hiring of Kevin Pritchard looks pretty good from here, and I'm guessing Nate McMillan will have quite a bit of fun beating up on the Sonics this year."

That could explain some problems we've had.

I'll take Paul and his financial muscle, although Steve has done some pretty funny bits.

I do however forgive "Soul" though, since a bit later he says: "Call me crazy, but a healthy Greg Oden puts the Blazers right there with Denver and Utah for the best in the Northwest."

Francis bought out link from O-Live. Steve Francis indeed does not put on a Blazer uni. Gets $30 million of the $33.6 million he was due

NBA announces new salary cap link from ESPN. The new salary cap is $55,630,000. The mid-level exception for over-the-cap teams is $5,356,000, and the luxury tax threshold will be $67,865,000