This will be the first home game where Greg Oden is ready to play, and it should really be an incredible atmosphere. In order for it to truly be special, it is time to start the big fella. 

Let's Imagine the buzz surrounding the RG...

The rumor begins to spread throughout the arena prior to the lineup announcements that Greg Oden will indeed be starting. Nobody can confirm nor deny... but the euphoric feeling begins to arise in the hearts of the Rose Garden faithful. Then, the lights go off... the music begins its arena thumping vibrations... the first four players are announced to rousing receptions... Blake... Roy... Batum... Aldridge... and then, a brief delay... the music builds... "At center, standing 7 feet tall, the big man in the middle, from thee ohio state university.... GREEEEEEEEEEEG OOOOOOODEENNN!!!!!" The crowd goes wild!! A standing ovation ensues...  they're chanting "ODEN, ODEN, ODEN, ODEN!!!"... signs in the rafters declare "Oden '08, worth the wait!"... "odEn Shakes Portland's eNemies!" (ESPN... get it? ok, that was the best I could come up with)... "Put on your O face!"... "Oh-Yeah Greg Oh-den!".  The crowd buzz will not die... the tip-off is approaching and Oden is making his very first tip at the Rose Garden in the regular season. The ref bounces the ball and declares "i'm going high, so let it get up in the air"... The excitement rises higher and higher and at the very tip of the ball's summit Oden is half an arms length above Drew Gooden, sending it back to Blake to begin the legendary career of Greg Oden at Portland's Rose Garden.

Yes, the crowd knows it. Brandon Roy is the leader of this team... but the Rose Garden is Greg Oden's house. It's his domain. Here, he will protect the paint. He will intimidate those who dare to contend. His first rim rockin' dunk will send the city into a 7.2 quake that will be felt for years and years to come. Greg Oden has arrived... and the fans will stand with a smile on their face... and grown men will pretend to choke or sneeze after Oden sends his first Rose Garden rejection into the 10th row, because a tear of joy will begin to surface. 

This is Oden's house. Give him the keys to start the game... and set forth the incredible career that will follow.

There's so much to break down with the personnel of this team, and I believe the first thing management needs to get serious about is transitioning this franchise from youth movement mode to legitimate franchise mode. To kick things off, shake loose a good portion of the young players and look towards building with some experienced veterans.

Who to let go:
Sergio, Frye, and Jack. (Webster, you're on thin ice)

Sergio: Has no idea what his game is... and he can't knock down shots or control an offense. Basically, he's Sebastian Telfair. Sorry Surge, but it ain't happenin for you.

Frye: Too soft, and too similar to Lamarcus. Replace Frye with an 8mpg bruiser.

Jack: There is interest around the league for Jarret. Get what you can for him while he's got some value. He's not going to be the starter at pg... so he's replaceable.

Webster on the fringe: Frustrated with this guy. But afraid to let him go.

Who to sign (ignoring cap issues, for now):

First, the wish list: Gilbert Arenas, Shawn Marion, Jose Calderon, Andre Iguadala, Josh Smith, Luol Deng.

On this list, Luol Deng would seem to be the most likely to be able to sign. But all of them are a looooong shot... just my wish list of possible FA's this summer. That's all. None will be in Portland.

FA we have a shot to sign (who fill a need): Juan Carlos Navarro, Mikael Pietrus, Beno Udrih, Matt Barnes.

Now, I'm not one who's all gung ho about getting a SF. I like our prospects of sticking with Outlaw and Jones, and possibly Webster. So, if Portland is able to throw money at any FA's this summer, it's gotta be a point guard. Widdle it down through all the names I've listed, and Juan Carlos Navarro just might be the most likely to sign, and the best prospect to fill our needs. He brings the kind of game we've expected from Sergio, and he's got more upside than Steve Blake.

However, the #1 priority, IMO, is signing James Jones to a long term contract. There is no way you let this guy get away. He brings everything that this team has desperately been seeking in the last couple of years... vet leadership, upstanding citizen, deadly 3pt shooter, and a very solid defender. All-in-all, I'm not sure why Jones doesn't play 25+ mpg. Get him a 5 year deal and watch this guy become a championship role player for the Blazers. He will probably soak up any money Portland has to offer this summer.

So, here's who I would roll with for next year and into the future.

Back court:

Steve Blake, Brandon Roy, Rudy Fernandez

SF:

Travis Outlaw, James Jones, Martel Webster

Front court:

Oden, Lamarcus, Przybilla

Locate and attain your PG of the future and let Steve Blake back him up. Then, add two more ingredients to this mix... a veteran SG and a veteran PF with championship experience.

BTW... I didn't include McRoberts, Wafer, and Miles because I really don't know what to say about any of them, and I doubt they are in future plans. As well, Freeland and Koponen are really just minor league players.

It's a very small mention, but in his new blog post, http://blog.oregonlive.com/behindblazersbeat/2007/07/some_final_thoughts_as_i_fade.html, Quick gives mention to a conversation with Trout. Outlaw says he is close to signing, but does not tell with whom... but his general tone sounds like he is looking to return to Portland.

I sure as heck hope he re-signs with us... I have grown quite fond of the Outlaw. I just hope that he doesn't tip the salary scale for us.

And hey... here's a good time to post my very first poll... woohoo...

Don't kill me if the salaries aren't exactly right... Did the best I could to get contracts from the current free agency period.

Poll

What would you pay for Travis Outlaw?

0%

Mo Williams-esque: 5 years, 52 million

0 votes

17%

Luke Walton-esque: 6 years, 30 million

29 votes

36%

Steve Blake-esque: 3 years, 15 million

60 votes

36%

Amir Johnson-esque: 3 years, 11 million

60 votes

7%

Grant Hill-esque: 2 years, 4 million

12 votes

1%

Let him walk

3 votes

164 votes | Poll has closed

http://draftexpress.com/viewarticle.php?a=2116

This is a good read, and something to think about for Al Thornton and Jeff Green fans. Of course, none of this is completely accurate, but is thought provoking nonetheless. The workout season can produce some fools gold, and we see it happen every year. There is always 1 or 2 players who suddenly leap from the 2nd round to the lottery (sorry Duck fans, but Luke Jackson is your prime example).

It's a near difficult task avoiding the land mines throughout the first round... but it's fun to speculate.

And a disclaimer to Martell Webster fans (myself included): the name of our beloved young prospect is dropped into the the list of bust examples.

I lieu of the magnificent front page of espn.com today, I thought I'd jump in with my review of the book, "Red Hot and Rollin" and the film "Fast Break."

I received this little slice of Blazer glory about 2 weeks ago for my birthday. It so happens that I have a bit of a connection with the editor of the book, Matt Love. My brother played a small part in helping him with ideas and research, and he has a close relationship with Love, being his former high school English teacher.

This book is grassroots literature in its purest form. There is nothing corporate or mainstream about it; and I can't see it being any other way. It is completely organic.

The most fascinating piece of the book is Love's interview with The Enforcer, Maurice Lucas. He reveals a bounty of information that will put you right in the center of the '77 team. He drops great stories about socking David Thompson in the kisser, the "what could have been" regarding Moses Malone, and plenty of other candid info that you won't find in the mainstream media.

It is beautiful to read the many perspectives from Blazer fans and those connected with the franchise at the time. Just when you think you've heard everything there is to know about the team, another story pops out and completely captivates your spirit. I was born in 1980, and was not a conscious Blazer fan until i was about 7 years old. Reading this book, I feel like I was alive and kickin' in 1977 with all of Blazermania.

The film "Fast Break" is worth the price of the book itself. I can not believe that Love was able to include this film with the book and keep the price at a mere 20 bucks. I would have paid 50. This film is by all means a diamond in the rough. Over the past 30 years it has sat virtually unknown and almost completely forgotten. In the TrueHoop blog today, Henry Abott did a nice job reviewing the film. For clips of the film, check out his blog on espn.com.

It should be made a law that all Blazer fans must read this book and watch the film. For me, it has increased my love for the Blazers even more... which I never thought was possible.

Tip of the cap to Matt Love... I strongly believe that your book is going to infuse new life into Blazermania. Not because it is nostalgic and causes us all to long for the "good ol' days", but because it reminds us all what this city can do for its only pro sports franchise if a unique product is put on the floor... it will embrace it like no other city in the United States can.  

I hope that Kevin Pritchard, Paul Allen, and the rest of the Blazers' management team take time to read this book and get a glimpse of what Blazermania is all about.

Get the big man.

How many dominant centers are currently in the league? You'll have plenty of fingers left to include Oden after you count them on one hand.

How many hot shot perimeter players are there in the league? Way way too many.

They say the league is headed towards the Phoenix style. That's the evolution of basketball... yet, who is still alive in the playoffs? That's right, teams with big men who can play effective half court sets and dominate the paint. Duncan is going to win his 4th championship in 9 years... and people still want to shift their style of play to the Suns? Even when the rest of those championships, besides Detroit's, were won by Shaq? Up-tempo is an exciting brand of basketball, yes... but championship caliber basketball? no. You have to be able to play both styles while dominating the paint if you want to win it all. Go for the championship... not the flare.

Kevin Pritchard sees the writing on the wall. He knows the right choice is Oden. And why? Because he knows he can go out and grab the appropriate player to fill needs on the perimeter... but he can't go out and snag a dominant center quite so easily. Yes, Durant will be a stud... and yes, he will win ball games and change the fortunes of a franchise... but he will never make up for the gaping hole at center left by a decision to pass on Oden. That type of player comes around maybe once every 10 years. And a franchise gets a chance at that player once in a lifetime.

Don't pass up that chance up.

In light of Lionel Hollins having his # retired, it brought me to a realization....

It would be nice to come to a point where we aren't celebrating every little bit of that '77 championship. 20 year anniverary, 25 year anniversary, 30 year anniversary, every player's number being retired... and so on. It was a great accomplishment, and something to always hold dear... but now, with all of it's fanfare in Portland, it only reminds me of our futility. We had about 3 or 4 very legitimate chances to win another title, and the team crumbled. Continuing to bring such beloved attention to the '77 title team only serves to remind me of those other blown opportunities.

Let's hope we don't have to celebrate the 40th anniversary of that title team. It was wonderful and served to develop a great culture in Portland... but I don't want that culture to be considered a losing culture.

This draft is the next critical step in the development of the Blazers. A solid pick could yield 45-50 wins next season... a wasted pick may keep them stagnant. The Blazers have a prime opportunity to land an impact player anywhere in the top 10. The Blazers glaring need is for a star quality player at the 3 spot. Ime will be a very solid backup for years to come, and Travis will serve to be a strong backup at the 3 and 4... but the answer to the long-term needs at the starting 3 spot is not currently with the team. Enter the NCAA tourney and an opportunity to scout out one of the strongest crops of small forwards in recent memory. I will be glued to my chair watching intently as some prime talent takes the floor and carries with them the possibility of playing for the Blazers next season. Here are my top candidates to be blessed with dawning the scarlet red and jet black of the Portland Trailblazers come June...

#1: Kevin Durant: Needs no introduction, and we will have to wish upon the luckiest shooting star in the universe to land him. I won't elaborate, as it is only self-inflicted torture.

#2: Jeff Green - Georgetown: Great size for a 3 with the ability to pound with the big boys on the blocks and run with the scorers on the perimeter. With the limited action I have seen this guy play, I have been impressed. He has the game and size that is easily transferable to the NBA. He takes what we have in Ime and pushes it to a much higher level. His prospects remind me a lot of Brandon Roy... not flashy, is very unselfish, and is currently underrated as a pro prospect. He comes in with solid college experience and ready contribute.

#3: Julian Wright - Kansas: Again, great size for a 3. Dude is a beast. He has a great combination of size and speed, giving him the ability to match up with any 3 on the floor, and able to slide down and guard just about any power forward. His numbers with Kansas are not overly impressive, which is due to the overwhelming talent on the roster. He isn't required to score much... but he is certainly capable of doing so. Julian looks to be an intimidating force on the court. He causes mismatches on both ends of the floor and would bring that killer instinct to the Blazer roster.

#4: Corey Brewer - Florida: Plain and simple, this guy is a proven winner. He brings all the intangibles needed to win: passing, shooting, defense, hustle, and heart. There isn't much this kid can't do. When it's on the line, he is at his best. The Blazers have missed that element of crunch time production. I can see Brewer as a role player on a championship team in the NBA.

#5: Thaddeous Young - Georgia Tech: He is my darkhorse for this tourney. Durant has stolen all of the fanfare for the great frosh class of '06-'07, and Young has been lost in the shadows after a slow start to the  season and inconsistent play throughout. However, he has some serious skillsets that could be deadly on the pro level... great handles, long and athletic like a Tmac, rare southpaw, and great quickness. Watch out for Georgia Tech, as Thaddeous Young could come out of the shadows to make a deep run in the tourney.

#6: Alando Tucker - Wisconsin: Probably the Brandon Roy of this year's senior class. He has remained in college all 4 years and has elevated his game to the level of national player of the year consideration. Tucker is listed at 6'5", which seems much too small for an NBA forward... but he might be able to make up for  it with athleticism and speed. He is also a noted leader... being the best and most effective player on one of the top college teams in the nation.

With the exception of Tucker, none of these players are guaranteed to be entering the draft this year. But it is very likely we will see each of them declare... as their draft stock is as high as it may ever be. Thaddeous Young could help himself with another year in college, but the rest of them are almost certain to declare. I don't really believe the talk about Durant staying. What else can he do on the college level? Sustain a career ending injury... that's about it.  

So, sit back and enjoy the tourney and keep an eye on those potential future Blazers. I will have fun imagining them wearing a Blazer uni and deciding if they are the perfect fit for this up and coming franchise.

Very insightful article by the canzano this morning. And you can't say the guy doesnt work hard... notice the 6am post. http://johncanzano.blogs.oregonlive.com/default.asp?item=503219

Key quote from the article:

"Portland is 5-1 in its last six games when Dickau plays eight minutes or more. And the Blazers are 4-0 since Dec. 1 when the veteran guard plays 13 minutes or more."

Maybe it's not Sergio he has to beat out for minutes... maybe it's Dixon.

via www.hoopshype.com, sources out of memphis say the grizz are hard after the expiring contract of Jamaal. The pieces they are rumored to be offering are swift and dahntay jones.

1st question about this...

Does this trade fit with what Portland is trying to do?
a. acquire young talent? yes.
b. keep from taking on huge contracts? yes, but a small commitment is required for swift (2 more years)
c. acquire high quality character players? Not really. Swift's character doesn't seem to command much respect.

The character thing makes me think this probably would not happen.

as the snow blanketed the great city of roses this morning I shunned work and bundled up next to the fire. (I'm about to get poetic and pensive) As I stared longingly into the flames (cue Kenny G) I took notice of the red hot embers which provides the kindling for the larger logs. When the kindling dies down and the embers get smaller and break off from the main bundle, the fire begins to fade and the larger logs don't burn as profficiently. As I continue to stare into the flames, it dawns on me... who will be the kindling for the Portland franchise as the future unfolds? Who will generate that spark when the whole bundle is fading?

This brings me to the hot hand (pun intended) of Sergio Rodriguez. Now, this isn't a bandwagon post. I am not going to annoint Sergio as the point guard savior. One great performance does not make a great player. However, his performance on MLK Day brings Jarret Jack into question. Can we count on this same type of performance from JJ on a nightly basis? Can we rely on him to consistently perform? Is he capable of more than averages of 12ppg, 5apg, and a few rebounds? For one thing, as the season has gone on I have never thought it was a good sign for Jarret that Sergio had been touted as a "spark off the bench". If Jarret were playing well consistently throughout this season, would he need a guy to come in off the bench to replace him and be the spark? Shouldnt JJ be the spark from the start? The backup point guard is supposed to be a stop gap so the starter can get some rest. Yes, he should bring instant energy and strong play... but he shouldn't have to be the player to pick things up and get the team headed in a better direction. The team should already be in good shape as the backup comes in.

There are things that I love about Jarret... great locker room guy, a soldier every night, and an adequate role player. I don't think the Blazers should look to trade him. In fact, I believe he should be a mainstay on this team. However, I think Nate should begin to consider whether or not he is the man at the point. From what I've seen of Jarret, he would make a very solid backup at the 1 and 2. He is the kind of guy you want around to support a great starting 5. At this point, does anybody see him being the franchise player at PG?

Main point: It's the kind of performance that Sergio dished out against Denver that should be expected from the PG position. Can Jarret be at that level?  

(This is in response to Scotty's post below. I was going to post as a reply, but it ended up being longer than a normal reply, plus there are some questions i'd like to hear thoughts on.)

I blame the poor defense on inexperience and coaching. I list inexperience first because the young guys still don't understand what the NBA offense is all about... penetrate and find the open man. They are so easily sucked in to the middle, which leaves multiple players wide open on the perimeter to knock down easy J's. I list coaching second because I don't think Nate has always put them in the right position to be successful on defense. Now, that might be a little unfair. Which is why I list it second to inexperience. Nate might have the right idea on defense... but his players' lack of knowledge on defense is thwarting that possibility. I cringe every time I see somebody drive on the Blazers, because there is ALWAYS a guy like Bruce Bowen hanging out in the corner ready for an easy dish and shot.

We have seen some games where the Blazers play great defense and show what they can really do. However, that inexperience creeps in as teams adjust and take full advantage. Their execution of the match-zone is horrific.

I could be in the wrong... but I hate the NBA zone defense. Especially for the Blazers. They spend most of the time worrying about avoiding an illegal defense call than about guarding the right man. Is it possible for them to play a straight up man defense? I'd like to see them match up and stick to it, rather than switching on every little cut and screen.

However, while I hate the NBA zone defense... I love zone defense in its purest form. Any arguments against being able to play any defense your heart desires in the NBA? I dont know the history of the illegal defense... but I'm willing to bet it was installed in order to give a little boost to the MJ's and Magic's of the league. I think the rules have improved... but, IMO, it's like trying to revive a dead horse. I enjoy the college game where a 7 footer is put to greatest use and allowed to dominate the middle. That's good basketball to me. If you disagree, I urge you to watch Greg Oden. It's quite a site to see a huge chunk of humanity such as Oden dominate the paint and completely take over a game. And, if I'm not mistaken, the NBA offense was at its best when there was no illegal defense rules. From watching classic games from the 70's and early 80's the game was much more open and free flowing. Why NBA management has continued to pile on rule after rule to get back to that style of play is beyond me. Just get back to the basics.

If somebody has strong knowledge of the history of defense in the NBA I would love to hear it. My knowledge goes back to about 1988... and I was 8 years old then. So, I have to speak in generalities in posts like this.

First of all, I have to call out Martell Webster. The most frustrating thing to watch last night was Web standing in the corner and doing nothing with the ball except toss up bricks. I understand he has a roll to spread the floor and get open looks from the corner from time to time... but he set up camp and made s'mores from that spot all night. The only time he moved off the ball was to receive it on the wing and proceed with his single threat position of passing it to zbo on the post. I am not placing complete blame on Web for the Blazers' horrible play last night... but his stale play was indicative of where this team is at right now. Web FINALLY woke up in the 4th quarter when the game was already out of reach. He suddenly realized, "oh I get it, we're playing basketball", and he proceeded to take the ball to the freakin' hole. Then what happened? Oh wow... you can draw the defense in and kick it out, you can take it hard to the rim and get to the charity stripe, or you can power it all the way and get a layup. That was the Webster I envisioned for this year... but his passiveness, immaturity, and timidness has him floating in no man's land right now. Get him some tape of Corey Maggette. That's the kind of aggressiveness he needs to play with. Get to the rack and get to the free throw line. That's 8 or 10 points a night... easy.

Jarret Jack played his game in the first quarter. He was aggressive on the drive and in setting guys up. Everybody was getting looks at the basket and the team was rolling. Then, the zbo iso set is put into action... the offense stalls and NY is allowed to do as it pleases. I'm in favor of zack being a part of this team... but it can't build it's offense through the post. The team becomes too predictable and guys like Martell Webster are left frozen in the corner all night. Once Jarret stopped penetrating and moving off screens, the team shut down. I can also understand why Jack isn't getting any run in the 4th. He was completely ineffective at the end of the 3rd... he had no command over the offense.

Things I'd like to see happen:

- Sergio as the first PG to replace Jack.
Keep Roy playing off the wing. We need Sergio's spark in each half... not just when the game is already decided.

- Lamarcus playing 10-15 EVERY night.
So much energy and athleticism... how do you keep him collecting splinters?

- BOX OUT!!!!
dang... i could of jumped down from the 300 level and tossed some elbows around and done a better job boxing out than this team. Isiah has his guys playing with some hustle. Give Lee and Balkman their props. Of course, anybody could have looked like a monster rebounding team against the Blaze last night. horrible.

 

The day will soon come when the Blazers look more like the Pistons and Spurs than the... well... the Blazers. Year after year the blaze run into position logjams, leading to a vicious cycle of unrest in the rotation and in the locker room. The franchise has not established a true core unit since the early 90's. It ran into some success in the late 90's and early 00's, but the team never set a true foundation. This is where the Pistons and Spurs come to mind... both have established their core and have remained committed to building around it.

That luxury has eluded the Blazers as a multitude of on and off court problems have halted any progress toward an established core group. Mostly, I place the blame on the freelance moves from the Whitsitt era that set forth a culture of unrest in Rip City. As of late, Patterson and Pritchard have done a commendable job of changing the ways of the previous "Jail Blazer" regime while making strides toward a true foundation that one can depend on.

Terry, Clyde, Jerome, Buck, Duckworth. That was the starting 5. End of discussion. Since the departure of Clyde the Blazers have penciled in a starting five that was never without questions and doubts. Some stability came during the 2 runs at a championship in '99 and '00, but the wheels have long since fallen off.

This brings me to the return of Brandon Roy (thank you lord). For the first time this season the Blazers take the court with everybody healthy (i really don't consider Miles a part of this team). With Roy's return, do we witness a true starting 5 that does not face any controversy for the remainder of the season? Jack, Roy, Udoka, Zack, Joel. Can we pencil this in as the 5? Does Sergio find himself starting when Jack hits a rough spot? Can Outlaw or Martell play themselves into the starting role at the 3? Is it possible for Lamarcus to unseat Joel at center? For me, I would love for the current starting 5 to maintain their starting roles for the remainder of the season. I believe such consistency would signal tremendous growth in the organization for a couple of reasons...

1. It shows that management pays less attention to potential and raw athletic ability when determining the rotation (telfair, qyntel, outlaw, martell, Miles... etc.), choosing instead to focus on experience and results (Ime, Roy, Jack). Also, it shows that potential takes a back seat to chemistry. On paper, Martell and Outlaw should be better than Ime in the long run. However, Ime is a perfect fit to start games and play 30+ minutes as he is a complimentary player. When you look at organizations like the Spurs and Pistons, Ime's role compares to players like Tayshaun Prince and Bruce Bowen. Neither are going to be star players, but they are going to help their star players become superstars. I think Zack's success this year has alot to do with Ime's consistency at the 3. He is a calming force on both ends of the floor.
2. An established starting 5 is evidence that management is making the right moves. One poor move after another leads to one lineup change after another and ultimately leads your team to a tumultuous season (see previous 3 seasons as evidence). If this team wins 35+ it is because management made correct off-season moves which lead to an established starting 5 and rotation. If the lineup and rotation fluxtiuates, the team doesn't win. I attribute the 11-14 record to Nate's ability to establish a rotation and allow the team to operate in an atmostphere of certainty. There are team statistics that place the team at the bottom of league rankings... but they are canceled out by the establishment of a rotation.

Brandon returns tonight and we get a taste of what a true core group feels like. Sure, a few questions remain regarding the future status of a few players on the current roster... but the potential to begin building atop the team's foundation finally exists.

p.s.
I get the feeling that with the portneital trade of Magloire Pritchard is looking to go blockbuster with it, or do nothing. Trading Magloire straight up for another player doesn't really do much for this team. If I were Pritchard, I would rather hang on to Magloire as insurance at center and take the big savings at the end of the year. With this current team you either need to make a big move, or make no move at all. What do you get in return for Magloire? Another big man that is less talented and has a longer contract? What piece can he bring to the Blazers that can improve the squad? Make a big move. Couple Magloire with another player or 2 and bring in one good player that provides experience and allows the team more PT flexibility. If Portland was able to grab Magloire for 3 scrubs what could they get for Magloire and 2 others? Get a killer deal, or do nothing. And I am fine with them doing nothing. Magloire has his hangups, but how many teams have a backup like Mags in the frontcourt?

8 minutes to go in the game, San Antonio is closing in on the Blazers and flexing their championship muscle. I turn to a friend and ask, "where's Aldridge?"...

5 minutes on the clock and the Blazers have lost their grip. Again, I turn to my buddy... "why isn't Aldridge in the game?"...

The clock melts down to 3 minutes and I finally get my wish... but it's too late. The Spurs have closed it out, Aldridge doesn't get a chance to make a difference in crunch time.

Now, back it up to the high point of the game...

Lamarcus starts the 2nd half and the Blazers hold serve. They expand the lead to 10 points and have every angle of the Spurs gameplan in check. Duncan is kept off the blocks, and the driving lanes are closed for business.

Exit Lamarcus, and enter the Spurs greatest weapon... interior penetration. The flat footed Magloire is too slow to react to the quick drives of Ginobili and Parker, which allows for one uncontested layup after another. Jab, jab, jab, body shot, jab, uppercut... the Spurs methodically cut down and stun the Blazers.

We are witnessing the emergence of a very bright future. Scrap the plans to bring Lamarcus along slowly. We all subscribed to the theory that LA was a project and needed a year or two of development before he was ready to assume a significant role. That theory is dead. LA is ready now. He is the starting center for this franchise... and will be for years to come.

Right now, with limited practice and game experience, Lamarcus is proving to be a difference maker and bona-fide future star. Fresh off surgery rehab the rook is averaging 10 pts and nearly 6 boards in just 25 minutes per game. Sans calculators and equations, LA's per 48 minute averages are somewhere around 18 pts and 12 boards. Not too shabby for a player that most viewed as a raw, undeveloped talent.

Magloire is a decent backup... he'll bring you some toughness and will keep opponents off the boards. Przybilla, when healthy, is a strong defensive force in the middle and one of the Blazer's most valuable assets. However, Lamarcus Aldridge is the best center on this team... and will be one of the best centers in the west for many years.

Nate, you've made a step in the right direction by inserting Lamarcus into the starting lineup. Now, make the next crucial step and play Lamarcus big minutes.

http://hoopshype.com/columns/caste_hans.htm

I highly recommend taking a few minutes to read this essay recently posted by Hoopshype. It reveals a caste system within the NBA that has developed through the many rule changes over the last few years. To me, it is all based on the NBA's desire to raise up another MJ. Imagine what Jordan would have been able to do with a no tolerance policy on hand-checking.

       The mysterious curse on the Blazers now shifts from mental health to physical health. Your two hot rookies, one of which is the franchise, begin the year limping. The list of injuries on the team reads like ingredients for another tumultuous season. The talent is there, the character change is in place... but a lack of healthy bodies equals another sub 30 win season. In the past we sat with dreaded anticipation of the next screw ball incident that surfaced in the police beat. Now, we sit with dreaded anticipation of the next major injury to another key player. At full strength, I honestly believe this team can flirt with 40 wins. At full strength you have a plethera of effective big men, a deep backcourt, and a consistent rotation that can contend with any team in the NBA on any given night. Joel is out, Roy is out... stop the list right there... you are already in trouble. 2/5 of your starting lineup is hobbled or leaning over, cringing with the most agonizing pain a man can experience. Zack Randolph had his game at a level where he could keep his shorthanded team at bay against a multi-talented Clipper team at full strength. However, it was obvious that without the headstrong perimeter play of Brandon ROY the team lacked the punch to knock the Clippers down. The likes of Maggette, Cassel, and Mobley became too much for the Blazers to handle.

     Of course, injuries are simply a part of the game. You can't go through a season with every player healthy for every game. An injury or two here and there is manageable... but this is getting out of hand. Only 4 games in, and almost half your team is spending the day  arranging their dress-code friendly suit for the game. Zendon Hamilton may have a spot on this team afterall.

    The biggest improvement I saw last night was attitude. Martell Webster is a nice guy and he's got a great smile. However, when it is game time, I am now seeing a different Martell. The focus in his eyes is striking... and when he hits a big shot, his stare is a dagger. I love this. I love seeing the fire and determination. Martell can be a big time scorer, only a lack of fire will get in his way.

    About 2 years ago I dropped a post in the OLive forum making the prediction that Outlaw would one day be a more effective Power Foward. At the time, I noticed a small similarity in body type to that of a young Ben Wallace. Travis won't ever put on that kind of bulk... but I saw a similar frame that possessed broad shoulders, long arms, and huge hands; all of which lacked discipline, strength training, and maturity. Couple that frame with his insane athletic ability and you could have yourself a monster on the blocks. Fast foward to last night, and to the forefront arrives Travis Outlaw, Power Foward. The raw ability was there, but lacking in ingredients were those listed above. Identity was also missing from Outlaw's game... I don't believe he had figured out who he was or could be. Give credit to Blazer management for continuing to develop and believe in Travis when they could have easily dropped him off in a trade.

   

It is difficult for me to remain calm and logical in describing the win last night by the new Blazers. Immediately following the clutch performance I received calls from all of my closest friends about the game. I tried very hard to hold back the excitement and keep the "it's just one game" mantra in mind. There were so many good things that I could get carried away with... Brandon ROY, Zack "the garbage man" Randolph, and the inspiring performances from Ime, Travis, and Juan Dixon. "It's just one game," I continued to tell myself.... "there is 81 more... it's a LONG season." So, I subdued myself, gave my wife a high five, and calmly fielded the phone calls and reserved my Christmas-like excitement for another big game. I put down the Kool-Aid and went to bed with a smile on my face.

I will say, it is nice to be writing comments about a game the following day and not having to say, "yeah, they lost... but I saw alot of positive signs from this team." Today I can say, they got the win... and they looked good doing so. It will be nice when we can expect this kind of performance EVERY night from the Blazers.  

I am a huge fan of anything Oregon. Ducks, Beavers, Vikings, high school sports (Hilhi alumn), etc.,... I love checking in on the hometown heroes. Rid, Freddie, Brent Barry, Payton, Joey, Stephen Jackson... list goes on. It is great to see them succeed and bring some pride back to our humble state.

The Blazers' recent disconnect with the community has brought on an unusual outcry for desperate moves to bring in any player with Oregon ties. There has been this idea that a hometown guy who comes in and succeeds, or just suits up for that matter, is going to help reconnect the team to the community and sell tickets. We hold fond memories of these players when they were unstoppable at the college or high school levels while in the state of Oregon. Currently, the Blazers hold 2 homegrown players on the roster (udoka, and dickau), and they certainly conjure up warm feelings. However, their local ties will have little do with reconnecting the Blazers to the entire community. If you have a team full of Oregon heroes, and they finish last every year, you will still draw under 10,000 per game and the buzz around the team will be calm.

This brings me to a recent transaction that has local fans on the edge of their seats hoping for the return of a hometown hero... Duck great, and currect NBA free agent, Luke Jackson. I certainly loved this guy when he was dawning the yellow and green. He helped lead Oregon to their best season since the Tall Fir championship.

Entering the draft, I was on the bandwagon that hoped the Blazers could grab Jackson at #14. He was snatched up by Cleveland at #10, and it was certainly a bummer. Fast foward to 2006 and Luke has been the poster child for injury prone. Being a tweener, unavailable, and stashed at the back of the depth chart, Jackson was cut after a trade to Boston. He has been a disappointment and hasn't shown much promise even when avaiable. Despite all of this, Blazer/Duck fans act like the girlfriend who swears that her jerk of a boyfriend can change his ways and be the knight and shining armour. The nice guys with more potential are right there in front of her (webster and roy), but she sticks with her fantasy. The fantasy that Blazer/Duck fans continue to hold about Luke is that he can be Larry Bird. Sorry to burst your bubble Duck fans, but that will never happen... not even close to being half the player Larry Bird ever was (I'm not so sure that anybody in the league right now could make that claim anyways). The truth of the matter is, Luke Jackson will be lucky to play 8-10 years in the league as a journeyman swingman. In fact, I am sure he'll eventually sign a non-guaranteed contract with Portland at some point in his career.

Word is that Luke has guaranteed offers from several teams (source: 1080 the fan) and will not even consider non-guaranteed money (which is all the Blazers would likely put on the table). Would you give guaranteed money to a guy who hasn't played a meaningful minute in an NBA game in his first 2 seasons? A guy who just adds to our jam of young but unproven talent? Are you willing to strip minutes from Webster, Outlaw, or Roy so you can have a hometown hero on the roster?

My point is, forget that Luke Jackson is from Oregon. Forget the idea that a hometown hero is going to put butts in the seats. Put the blinders on when evaluating such players and examine their abilities as professional basketball players.

Dave, I think you could ammend your list of benchmarks for when we know the Blazers have made progress... "Fans no longer form picket lines to promote the acquisition of any player with local ties."

First, the bad news...
Turnovers are horrific, Magloire hasn't shown up, Zack still can't pass out of double and triple teams, Jack has been inconsistent at PG, Miles is still on the team, and on and on...

But now, the good news...
The Blazers have competed in EVERY preseason game thus far. No 30 point blowouts to this point. For me, that is major progress. Management has fielded a team that has the ability to sniff victory in every game. The Blazers' ability to remain competetive every night is due to the inspired play of both Travis Outlaw and Brandon Roy. It does my heart good to see Travis begin to find his niche on this team... which is to relentlessly attack the rim on offense and then perform his best Captain Choas impression on defense. That has been my exact vision for who Outlaw can be to this team. Finally, I see glimpses of that vision manifesting itself in T-Law. I see less of the lazy and lost Outlaw that we have seen in his first 3 seasons as a Blazer. He is playing less like a rookie every game and more like a bona-fide NBA player. As far as Brandon Roy goes... what hasn't been said about this guy? We all saw it coming, and he has not disapointed in the least bit. He is the MVP of this team... and, to me, this is his team. He is on the verge of being a special player. I'm never one to jump on the prediction bandwagon... but the ROY is Roy's to lose. The guy already plays like a veteran... especially in comparison to this young team.

In closing, I will submit my plea for the signing of Ime Udoka. Hometown biases aside, this guy is a nice fit for Nate Mcmillon. I love his calming demeanor and controlled play. He also does one thing that this team has missed in the last few years... he can hit a 15 footer in crucial points of the game. That is deserving of at least a one year non-guaranteed contract. I will picket along with Jarret if Ime is not retained.