Recent  personnel changes and it's connected reporting have bestirred a few thoughts.  The first thing really is a question. Are we now the Portland SuperSonics? There'e no judgement associated with this question. It's simply interesting that Coach Nate, the original Mr. Sonic, hired a former Sonic head coach. Not just any head coach but the one who showed him the ropes and taught him a pro system. Then PA and his sports managers, the "Vulcans", presumably themselves dyed-in-the-wool Seattlites hired Cho, himself a Seattlite. Now Cho rounds out his staff with more Seatlle staffers to serve as assistants. These are all sound player personnel and coaching lifers so I have no complaints with their selection. In fact, this crew is a formidible basketball think tank. We may be fortunate indeed. Still, I find Coach Nate's selections fascinating. It is a safe assumption that Mr. Sonic's system was learned almost entirely in service to the Sonics. It is quite literally Sonic basketball that he brought with him to Portland. It is plausible that being relatively young and previously surrounded by the Sonic safety net he brought an incomplete version of the system with him to Portland. The hiring of Bickerstaff and the others will almost certainly provide a layer of depth and comfort to Coach Nate's system. For all of you who have been hoping for a wholesale change in the our current style I'm afraid you're going to be disappointed. Instead we are going, in all likelihood, to see an intensified and fully matured version of the same style. It's very promising in my view to expect to witness a fully implemented basketball system played by our current crop of fantastic athletes and defenders. I think we may be in for a pleasant surprise and it won't seem so bad being a Portland SuperSonic.

      Before you flame me for using a word you think not worthy of this wonderful language let me say, in defense of my choice I absolutely agree with you. The word is awful but it manages to convey a sad state of affairs. The conflict between Blazers management and Andre Miller comes from a mutual misunderestimation. Through an amazing feat of willpower I will resist the impulse to lecture you or say I told you so. Let's just say that a partial and mostly incorrect understanding by both parties caused this conflict, and that both parties underestimated the significance of their choices. This conflict now goes well beyond the "Andre is better than Steve" argument and has wandered into the land of far far away. 

      This will go down easily as the worst personnel move made by KP and Nate. But the Blazer fans are realistic and it's perfectly clear on hindsight that a high plains drifter can't fit into a congegation. Like it or not that's what the Blazers are; a congregation, a communally oriented group of players and coaches, the farmers and ranchers of the NBA. This team is a tight knit group and Andre is on the edges quickly drifting away. Ok, is my super-human effort working? Do you see a teensy kernel of truth that better living through chemistry really does work. It never stood a chance did it?  Still Andre, if you can hear me, it saddens me a little to watch you go your lonely way. 

Now you can flame away bedger buddies.