Two orders of business on my mind today. 

1.  NAME IDEAS

People have been dropping subtle hints lately that I should change my name on here because it's too confusing with tominhawaii.  I mostly agree with that.  Of course, when I created this name, TiH was using the name Dragline, so I didn't think it would be a big deal.  Then he waffled and switched back to TiH.  So, due to Tom's Kerry-esque flip-flopping on names, there has been some confusion and angst created.

TiH was here first, so I have to respect that and change my name.  Problem is, I don't know what to change it to! 

If you have any ideas, I'd love to hear them below.  Even if they aren't serious ones, you guys know I'm always in for a good laugh. 

2.  DAVE'S BIG SUMMER SUPRISE

So what's up with Dave this summer?  Is he leaving us?

He's been dropping hints (like bunker-busting bombs in March 2003 Iraq) about an upcoming surprise.  He did it on the Podcast once again yesterday with Casey.

Here's where he did it in an open chat thread:

http://www.blazersedge.com/2009/3/20/805557/open-chat-thread#13269801

Here's my theory--Dave has become worn out with the seemingly endless grind of preview, recap, moderating, rinse and repeat.  He's got another whole day job, a young kid and a wife to deal with.  Maybe he's decided to hand the reigns over this summer to somebody else and take some quality time out for himself and his family.

My theory is pretty far out there.  Does anyone else have any ideas about this big summer surprise?

As part of a broader effort on the part of Bedgers to micromanage Greg Oden's summer plans, I've perused through the Ohio State course catalog and found some courses that he might want to take this summer.  Below is a description, some of my thoughts and then a poll.  If he can take only 1 class, which should he take?

DENTHYG 351 - 0010 Restorative Dentistry II

Theory and technical procedures in restoration with compound cavity preparations (amalgam alloy/filled resins) and procedures utilized by advanced qualified personnel in basic and advanced restorative dentistry.
Su Qtr. 3 cl, 6 lab hrs. Prereq: Successful completion of 250.

Breakdown:  Greg has always wanted to be a dentist.  In addition, I have a feeling that the Blazers will have many encounters with Birdman's nasty elbows next season.  Restorative Dentistry may come in handy.

ATHTRNG 661 - 0011 Survey of Sports Medicine

Survey of sports medicine for non-professionals. Topics include the sports medicine team; risk management; and common athletic injuries, their causes, prevention, and immediate care.
Su, Au, Wi, Sp Qtrs. 2 2-hr cl, 1 1-hr lab. Not open to athletic training majors.

Breakdown:  This course is right in Greg's wheelhouse... especially learning how to prevent and care for injuries.  This will ensure that Rick Bucher will not be calling Oden an "injury-prone bust" 10 years from now.

CHEM 121 - 0010 General Chemistry

First course for science majors and engineering students, covering dimensional analysis, atomic structure, the mole, stoichiometry, chemical reactions, thermochemistry, electron configuration, periodicity, bonding, and molecular structure.
Su, Au, Wi, Sp Qtrs. 4 cl, 3 lab hrs. Prereq: One unit of high school chem and eligibility to enroll in Math 150. Not open to students with credit for H201. Safety glasses must be worn in lab. This course is available for EM credit with permission.  GEC phys sci course. NS Admis Cond course.

Breakdown:  Bob Whitsett famously said that he wasn't a chemistry major.  All championship winning teams need good chemistry.  The Blazers certainly seemed to thrive in that department this season, but Oden wasn't involved as much due to injury and foul problems.  Thus, we need him to master the team chemistry that Roy and gang have personified.

MILSCI 301 - 0010 Military Operations at Small Unit Level

Overview of military tactics conducted at the infantry squad, platoon, and company level; analyze military missions and plan military operations, train and lead squad in execution of battle drills.
Au Qtr. 3 1-hr cl, 1 2-hr leadership lab, 3 1-hr physical training labs. Prereq: 203 or department position.

Breakdown:  If you've read Sum-Zoo's "The Art of War" you probably already know the catch phrases used to describe preparing for battle.  The NBA game is a war in the paint.  Greg needs to learn the tactics and strategies.

WOMSTDS 326 - 0010 Women and Addiction: A Feminist Perspective

An interdisciplinary feminist focus on addictive consequences of sex-role socialization, substance abuse, addiction in intimate relationships, and eating disorders; medical/social consequences of addiction among women. Not open to students with credit for 301.

Breakdown:  Even if Greg never becomes good at basketball, at least he will be able to impress BlazerFan1 with his worldly knowledge.

[Update:  So was I right?  Or just 98% right?]

I'm looking forward to a great first round series.  Both teams have been playing great basketball lately and both teams have the best chance of giving the Lakers a run for their money in Round 2.

As far as predicting a winner, my heart says Portland, but my head says Houston.  Here are a couple reasons why...

• Home Court Dis-Advantage:  The Blazers have HCA, but I don't think this is that much of an advantage.  Here's the issue--if the Blazers fall behind by 7 or 10 points in one of the first two games, it may start to creep into their heads that they're supposed to win this game.  That will put more pressure on every shot and every decision.  That could cause them to lose their heads and HCA.  It might actually be better for them to start off on the road where they aren't supposed to win, as it would allow them to play more aggressively and loosely.  As it is, I think they will play tentatively in the first two games.
• Aaron Brooks:  This is a NW guy (grew up in Seattle and went to Oregon) who always seems to play with an extra kick in his step in the Rose Garden.  He might be sort of streaky at this point in his career, but I think he thrives when playing in front of friends and family.  He might be the smallest guy on the court, but I think he will be the biggest surprise key to the series.
• Girth vs. Length:  For those of you with your minds in the gutter, I'm talking about the relative size of Houston and Portland.  Portland is long and lanky.  Houston is strong and bulky.  There are exception (Oden and Pryzbilla are strong; Brooks is skinny and quick) but the general rule is that this series will be about length versus strength.  In a playoff situation where each possession is heavily contested, I think Houston's strength is more of an advantage than Portland's length. 
  

I hope I'm wrong about this.  Nate McMillan recently said that each team in the West would like to play the Blazers in the playoffs.  He claimed that if he was on another team, he'd want to play the Blazers due to their youth and lack of experience.  I think the coach is right, but I hope I'm wrong.

Prediction:  Houston in 6.

We've thanked all the major actors in this so-called "Manifest Dynasty."  Brandon... check.  Nate... check.  Paul Allen... check.

But we still haven't thanked the architect of this thing... Kevin H. Pritchard (by the way, I don't know that his middle name starts with an H, but you hear people say "Jesus H. Christ" and... well, you see the comparison).

Kevin Pritchard is still batting 1000 as far as I'm concerned.  The Blazers are something like 21-8 since the Trade Deadline, which is top 5 in the league.

I remember the Trade Deadline post mortem posts that criticized KP for not making a move.  The way Travis, Nic, Blake and Sergio have played over the last month of the season shows that the man with the "Golden Gut" (as coined by owner Paul Allen) was right once again.  That's not to say that KP won't try to add a better PG or SF during the off-season, but he was smart enough see that the current roster has a chance to make something special happen this season.

Thank You KP for a marvelous job once again!  Also, we should give a big Thank You to the people on KP's staff including Assistant GM Tom Penn, Jason Born, and Chad Buchanan.

------------

There has been considerable debate over the Thank You threads.  Criticizing the Thank You threads at this point seems ridiculous because we've already gotten through all the players, coach Nate, Paul Allen, and now KP and his staff.  If you people really thought it was a problem, you should have spoken up earlier instead of waiting for all of them to be posted. 

For all the Thank You thread haters, there have been many people who enjoyed them and/or supported them, including Dave.

HailDaBlazer said:

oftentimes the "thank you" posts were vague, silly, uninsightful or just plain bad.

blazerbeliever said:

there has been alot of negative feedback for something that was important for me and i thought was important to other fans, and that to express our gratitude for a freaking awsome year.

The 2008-2009 season was supposed to be YOUR year Martel.

You came into fall training camp in immaculate physical and mental condition.  KP said in several interviews that he expected this season to be your breakout year.  You've always had a sweet jimmy, a picture-perfect NBA body... and now you finally had the experience and mental framework to put it all together.  This is not to say that previous season had been disappointments.  You averaged double figures points and shot nearly 40% from deep last season.  You started focusing on defense last year (and have always been better at locking down on a guy than Travis ever will be). 

Your promise was perhaps evidenced best when KP extended your contract for four years and $20 million even though you sustained a stress fracture in the pre-season.  That shows confidence.  That shows faith.  That shows KP believed you would be an integral part of the Blazer's upcoming championship runs.

But the injury hit you, and it hit you hard.  After you kept your outlook positive and worked your tail off to return to action as quickly as possible, you were not rewarded with success.  Rather, you got knocked down again with another (re-)injury.  But you didn't let that keep you down either.  You hit the pool and the weights.  You joined the team for film sessions and meetings.  You kept your positive outlook and have been there to support the guys from the sideline and in the locker room.  You even helped a damsel in distress during a December snowstorm when her car was stuck on a hill and others merely passed her by.

What a tough, tough season for you Martel.  The record books will show that you logged 5 minutes of NBA action during the 2008-2009. 

What the record books won't show is the impressions you have made on our hearts, the inspiration you have fed to our souls, and the jubilation with which we THANK YOU for a terrific year of service.