rip_city_swagger

insider article - but main part included below. Blazers need more speed, shooting, and perimeter shot creation, this guy is now ranked #22 and would solve some of those needs. Someone we could take at #21 with "steal" potential Every year I stumble across a player who causes me to radically re-evaluate where I have him ranked. This year that player is Providence guard Marshon Brooks. Within minutes of walking into the gym, it was clear that Brooks was playing at a completely different level than I'm used to seeing from college prospects. As I moved over to Grover, I began to grill him.

Rick Reilly takes a look at where players drafted in the first round from 2006-2008 would be taken if those drafts were held again now. Green Bay finished 3rd overall with a +224, meaning that our players should have been drafted a total of 224 spots higher than where they actually went. Leading the way in the value department were Greg Jennings, Desmond Bishop and Jermichael Finley, with Mason Crosby actually being the most "value" pick at +163

Chad Ford has his first mock draft of the year on ESPN Insider and gives his guess for who the Portland Trail Blazers will select in the first round... -------------------------------- Portland - Kenneth Faried, Position: PF, Height: 6-8, Weight: 225, Age: 21, School: Morehead State Analysis: The Blazers were very high on Faried last year when he entered the draft and likely would have taken him in the first round. Faried withdrew, however, then came back to have another terrific season. I find it hard to believe they'd pass on him if he falls this far. He was the best rebounder in college basketball, plays hard every night and brings some frantic energy to the court. A steal at No. 21. -------------------------------- ed: bumped to front page

Behind only Troy Polamalu and Ed Reed....not too shabby!

55. "As rough as that neighborhood could be, we had us a community. Nobody, no victim, who didn't matter. And now all we got is bodies, and predatory motherf**kers like you. And out where that girl fell, I saw kids acting like Omar, calling you by name, glorifying your ass. Makes me sick, motherf**ker, how far we done fell." One of the show's most poignant moments (Bunk laying into Omar and everything he stands for) goes to the most poignant moment of Round 1: Brandon Roy's unfathomable Game 4 performance, when he dragged Portland back from 20 down for an astonishing comeback victory that doubled as "The Round 1 Game You Would Have Most Wanted To Be In The Building For" and guaranteed him a free trip to the 2011 ESPYS. I wrote once that true sports fans feel obligated to watch everything hoping they might catch one of those rarer than rare sports moments -- something that might happen once every 2,500 times -- and that we put up with the other 2,499 times for that 2,500th time when something magical might happen. The Brandon Roy game was definitely a 2,500th Time Game. There's no question. I will always remember watching it. That specific player, in front of those specific fans, at this specific point of his career? I still can't believe it happened. Quick tangent: During the tail end of Larry Bird's career, after his body had betrayed him, my father and I went to a playoff game against Detroit when Bird couldn't hit anything. Then a bird flew from the rafters, parked himself near midcourt and wouldn't leave. The crowd started chanting, "Lar-ree! Lar-ree! Lar-ree!" They got rid of the bird. Larry came out and started making jumpers. A bunch of them. The fans were beside themselves. We won the game. And as we were leaving, my dad looked at me and said, "Did that just happen?" Anyway, it's one thing to watch a game like that on television -- but being in the building for a "Did that just happen?" game. You never forget. You just don't. The Blazers may have lost in Round 1, but their fans will always have that game.

It's an Insider article - but the Packer's part is quite the endorsement: Randall Cobb, WR, Green Bay Packers: The rich, pass-happy Packers got richer with this selection. Cobb is a jack-of-all-trades whose future could eventually be as one of the premier slot receivers in the league. But for now, Green Bay can bring Cobb along slowly. In the meantime, the Packers' return-man situation was enhanced a great deal. Cobb never should have lasted to the end of Round 2, and as usual, the Packers pounced on another great addition to their squad. Packers coach Mike McCarthy and QB Aaron Rodgers will soon find ways to get this kid the football in a multitude of ways. And, by the way, this is about where Green Bay selected Greg Jennings when he came out of college. I also strongly considered putting RB Alex Green on this list. The Packers' offense is going to be amazing.

ESPN's David Thorpe breaks down Kyrie Irving's game, and compares him to Brandon Roy in several facets of his game. While understand his thinking, I personally don't see the connection "When watching Irving on tape, I see a player who looks like Brandon Roy with better natural playmaking skills. I mean the All-Star Roy with healthy knees, not the guy who is fighting his knees most nights and can't move anywhere close to the way he used to on every possession. A healthy Roy used his strong body, great balance and crafty ball-handling to create shots for himself and others. He was a solid perimeter shooter and a devastating mid-range guy, with a true talent for finishing in the paint but away from the rim"

I definitely don't agree with his premise, but there is a small amount of the logic that I agree with in a way. Kind of like Jordan hitting that shot in Game 6 of the finals, could have been his ride into the sunset

It's a pretty good read, part 1 (non-contenders) was put out last Friday, and today he does the rest (contenders), he puts Portland at #8 and gives LMA some love!

Sounds like Marks is being released...I wonder if the Blazers would consider bringing him back with our last roster spot

The Miami Heat are releasing Carlos Arroyo to sign Mike Bibby. Arroyo isn't a stud by any means, but he's a vet and can run a team, and I don't think he'd be a bad option behind Andre Miller for the Blazers. Thoughts?

They name LMA #2 on the Most Improved Player list, right behind All-Star game slot rival Kevin Love

it's an Insider article, but decent debate on which guy should get in between Chris Broussard and Ric Bucher

it's official - he's been called up and signed!

ESPN's Marc Stein does his NBA trimester awards, with Wes Money named the Most Improved Player so far... Ed: bumped to front page

It's and Insider article, Chris Broussard and Ric Bucher debate the Blazers drafting Oden over Durant as part of their ongoing debate series. Beating the dead horse!

Quick reports that Rudy wants out for good ,and is prepared to be suspended and sit out the last 2 years of his contract.

Chris Paul has NYK 1st on his wish list (presumably to eventually team up with Amare and Melo), followed by Orlando Howard), Dallas, with Portland being the 4th and final team he has specified. Makes sense, he'd team up with Amare, Dwight Howard, Dirk, or Oden/Roy

Swingman jerseys down to $39, replicas at $24...in case anyone is already looking to gear up for next season

It's an Insider article, but Portland is named #1 as far as a team that has what they think it would take to beat the Miami Heat now that they have the 3 stars...thought that was pretty cool

Dan Gilbert, the owner of the Cavs, also owns Fathead, and lowered the price of the Lebron Fathead to $17.41 (usually $99!). While I was there I also looked at the Blazers page, and the Brandon Roy Fathead (also usually $99) is down to $50 in case anyone is interested!