We did this last year and the year before and I was hoping we could focus on some of the positive aspects of the players on the roster this year.  The idea is based on the fact that the roster changes a little bit every year and we can assume with players retiring or coming to the end of their contracts or being moved in trades or not panning out and moving on, that in three years the roster will look significantly different.  So what six players from this year's roster do you want to see on the roster when the 2012-13 season opens?

The three  pillars are still solid in my mind.  I think the core is here for an exciting run at a championship.  I have read and listened to the angst over Oden's injuries, LA's softness, and Roy's selfishness.  I have thrown my two cents in on trade talks here and there and I have watched games over again just to try to understand some of the frustration over style of play, LA's defense and rebounding or whether Roy should have passed the ball in the last minute of a game. But my conclusion is that the core is solid.

Read more after the jump and chime in...

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I know we all want more than just to end this season above .500.  The playoffs? Certainly!  Winning a first round series? Why not?  But can we pause for a moment and celebrate the fact that this team will not finish below .500 for the first time in five seasons?

I know this might sound lame to some, but I think it is a good reminder of where this franchise has come from, and hopefully will not sink back down to for quite a while.  There will be time for criticism of certain players, the coach, the GM, the ticket prices, and a lot more nail biting before the playoff spot is clinched.  Just think about where we were four years ago and where we are now...

Doesn't that feel good?

Sorry folks.  With the back to back and then working late tonight, I missed my opportunity to connect you guys to the Wizards site earlier.  Their discussion has slowed over the topic of Oden vs Mcgee but they are looking for more Portland fans to comment.

I know everyone has moved on to other topics and I saw Timbo's fanpost below but I haven't seen this linked yet:  Discussion of McGee vs Oden.

Here's is Timbo's post so you can catch up on the discussion that happened here.

Here is Pradamaster's review of the game as well.

I will try to be on top of their visit to Portland.

Sergio's agent is making some noise here in Portland by demanding a trade through a Spanish newspaper.  What would you give up from your roster for the exciting, young PG from Portland?  Would he get minutes from Eddie Jordan?  Do you guys even know who I am talking about?

That last question was not meant to offend you about your NBA knowledge but to try to guage what another group of fans thinks about a back-up PG from Spain who has been limited to less than 10 minutes a game since he excited Blazer fans (some more than others) his rookie season with some electrifying play.

I have been lurking in the background for a while trying to get to know your team and your site.  Our site leader (what are they called?) Dave from BlazersEdge has assigned some of us to check out other sites and see what kind of Blazer talk is going on out there in the SB Nation and help fellow BE readers get to know teams' strengths and weaknesses and their fans' points of view as match-ups with that team get closer. 

Basically, I think he is trying to give some of us something to do instead of put fanposts up on his site. 

Anyway, I have given my first update of Bullets Forever to the BE readers and thought you might want to check it out and maybe see what is being cussed and discussed over at the BlazersEdge. 

Enjoy your season and good luck against the Pistons tonight.

Does that title sound official enough?

As the BE ambassador to the Wizards' SBN site Bullets Forever, I have been laying low and reading as much as I can to get to know their team and contributors before making too many comments and it has been quite interesting.  The Blazers do not meet up with the Wizards until December 3, but I thought some of you might be interested in how Juan Dixon and Antonio Daniels are doing and what BF readers expect to get out him this season.

I also felt compelled to post because a topic was brought up that we have been discussing for a couple of years now: substitution patterns.  Pradamaster, one of their "Dave & Ben", even links to Dave's post about this topic last fall.  Nate could have an easier time this year with more possible successful options from the bench than in years past. 

The Wizards are in a bit of a different situation than the Blazers.  They are hoping to win enough games early to still be able to make a run at the playoffs when they get Arenas back.  They have a mix of veteran stars, Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison, and young hopefuls, Andray Blatche and Nick Young and JaVale McGee, and some role player types that they hope will gel enough to keep them close.  But their hopes for a sucessful season are tied directly to Arenas' return and I imagine if they have a slow start, their readers will start calling for a lot more playing time for the youth on the team and thus a better shot at a good draft pick next year.  A couple have already expressed this opinion.

I will keep you guys posted if anything Blazer related pops up. 

UPDATE:  I just posted first fanpost as "ambassador" over at Bullets Forever.  Not that exciting; but if you want to say "Hi" to Wizards fans on behalf of the BE, here is the link.

Let me preface this with a hearty, "I know this isn't a huge topic and really doesn't matter that much."

But I am curious because I have not seen much of either yet.  Does anyone have any idea if Randolph has passed Diogu on the depth chart or does Nate know what he is getting from Diogu so he isn't playing him much in the pre-season.  I understand playing Frye 30+ minutes to get him in shape but 40+ for Randolph and 15 minutes for Diogu might indicate Diogu will be in street clothes on Tuesday.  Maybe I missed an injury or this was dealt with in the game thread.

The poll is meant to be based on your opinion unless there is knowledge of Nate's decision of which I am not aware.

Update: Freeman article I missed.  It doesn't really answer the question but it is a good update on Diogu's handling of the exhibition season Pre-Utah game.

I am a long time BlazerEdger and I have decided to check out some of these other NBA blogs and maybe get a broader base of what is realistic for trade talks.  I noticed Magic fans seem to be talking about the need for a power forward in a few of the posts on your site.

How realistic (and I know the sign and trade aspect of the deal would make it a bit tougher in reality) is the idea of a trade with the Blazers for Dooling?  Channing Frye might fit your needs at PF and the Blazers would include Steve Blake or Jarrett Jack to match salaries depending on what Dooling is going to sign for and/or which one the Magic are interested in to replace what Dooling brings to the court.  The Blazers could even throw in one of those second round picks the Magic are allegedly interested in to make the deal work if they needed to.

What are your thoughts on Dooling and the Blazer players?  Is this a trade that could benefit both teams or am overvaluing or undervaluing what Dooling contibutes to the Magic's success?

I don't have a lot to say in this post but wanted to make you all aware of a great video over on Bullets Forever.  It is an instructional video by Red Aurbach using 70s players from the Bullets and Celtics to demonstrate the virus that is flopping.  It is interesting to put flopping in historical context and realize it isn't just a modern day problem.

If all refs took the approach that the ref in the video does, we wouldn't need rules cracking down on handchecking or that ridiculous half-circle in the key that rarely clarifies what is a charge or a blocking foul anyway. 

I hope you enjoy the video asuch as I did and that someone else hs not referenced this yet.  I found it via Truehoop.  Here is the link to the Bullets Forever Fanpost:

http://www.bulletsforever.com/2008/5/29/541671/flopping-blame-it-on-mike

I realize it is a year away and the Hornets will be a slightly different team next year with a few minor tweaks to a solid team in the off season...But, are the Hornets going to get better this summer because of this series with SA or will they lose their edge and take a step backwards?

I am of the opinion that they may not respond well to this thumping by the Spurs in Game 7.  They expected to win this series and if wins are hard to come by early in the season next year, look for the emotionally volatile Hornets to implode in a storm of backbiting and fingerpointing.  Chandler, West, and even the mighty CP3 let their emotions get the best of them in game 7 and they could have a tough time bouncing back.

That isn't to say that they can't right the ship and have a strong team over the next few seasons.  I just think their stock was overvalued and it may take them a while to rebuild their confidence.

Reading the comments on Dave's post regarding Avery Johnson and Mike D'Antoni got me thinking about expectations we have for the future and what would satisfy us as fans, as far as Nate's legacy is concerned.

Jerry Sloan has had a fantastic run in Utah.  They have won way more regular season games than they have lost, the team seems to have a healthy relationship with its fan base, they have made the playoffs most of his years, they have seen some great players come through who played the game at a high enough level to elevate the games of their teammates, and they had a legitmate shot at winning a championship maybe five of  his 20 seasons coaching there.  But of course, they have never won it all under Sloan and there have been down times where the fans were calling for his head.

Is this a legacy that you could accept from Nate?  Obviously every fan wants their team to win a championhip (or a string of them for all time), but there is only one championship awarded every year, and they are a tad more difficult to come by than we like to think. 

I knew Channing Frye had a philosophy behind blocking shots after the whistle had blown.  

http://trailblazerscentercourt.blogspot.com/2008/03/channing-frye-is-messing-with-your-mind.html

It has been a joy to watch him lead the team in this stat this year, although James Jones might rival him if he had not missed so many games.  I am happy to see Casey making all Blazer fans aware of this unique committment to excellence by Channing.  I brought this up months ago as a reason to not trade Frye.  My comment is the ninth from the top.

http://www.blazersedge.com/story/2008/1/16/19051/0185

I especially enjoy how coach Monty thinks it is stupid but Channing sticks to his guns and keeps knocking away meaningless shots.  Maybe Frye has contributed to a win or two this year by simply keeping guys from gaining confidence in their shot.

Peter Vescey was talking about Miles' wanting to return to action and mentions a deal that Nash and Patterson were pushing for but Paul Allen rejected.  Here are the details below with link.

"Jeff Wechsler, Darius Miles' agent, is pushing Portland hard to activate and play his client, out almost 11/2 seasons following dreaded micro-fracture knee surgery. A Paul Allen favorite, Miles would never have been re-signed by the Blazers had the owner not overruled the front office of Steve Patterson and John Nash on a deal (including Theo Ratliff) to the KnicksNew York Knicks  during Larry Brown's glory year. Isiah Thomas had signed off on Jalen Rose, David Lee and, yipes, a No. 1 pick."

http://www.nypost.com/seven/01252008/sports/no_defense_for_upsetting_suns_96539.htm?page=2

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I don't know about you guys but I liked what I saw tonight.  They didn't play the kind of game they needed to play to win but they hung tough in spite of some frustrating plays (the bounce to Allen for the three) and some calls that probably go a little different if this game was played in the other Garden.

I got the sense from watching the Blazer players that they were taking it all in and instead of losing their poise when Garnett was chattering like a jack#@@, they were filing it away for the future.  They will remember this game and will respond by playing hard against Miami on Friday and will be focused when he Celts roll into Portland thinking they have schooled the youngsters and put them in their place.

This will be good for them.

By the way, I lost a lot of respect for Garnett tonight.  He acted like a fool and it could come back to haunt him.

I just talked to a friend who sat behind the Toronto bench on Wednesday night.  He got to hear the Raptors' reactions to the Blazers throughout the game and it was interesting.  

They were brimming with confidence for three quarters.  Sam Mitchell had nothing but good to say to his team and they were very business like in their approach.

In the fourth quarter, as the Blazers stepped it up, they fell apart on the bench as they fell apart on the court.  Mitchell was chewing them out and trying very hard to get them back to what they were doing the first three quarters.  The Raptors just looked sapped of all confidence and they couldn't respond.

The Blazers are making coaches yell at their players.  They are facing good, confident, playoff bound teams and beating them all kinds of ways.  On top of all that, the response from them really seems to be, "one game at a time" and "don't get too high, don't get too low."  

No more predictions from me.  I am just going to enjoy the ride and see where we end up this year.

You don't have to respond here.  I know you are living up to your word and everything...

But I have to ask:  

Is Memphis still on your list to finish 6th in the West?  
Will Houston pull it together to win the championship or at least make the playoffs?  
How about that Webster kid?  We homers are enjoying him starting to look like he belongs in the NBA.  You still think he will never pan out?

No animosity here, just wondering how your "book" is working out this season.  I hope all is well.

Dave will probably put this link in one of his diaries but in case he doesn't:  http://www.columbian.com/sports/localNews/2007/12/12092007_The-Real-Roy.cfm

It is a great story on Roy.  It is nice to have a guy like him be the focal point of the team after so many other "stronger" personalities.  

Thanks to KP for putting together a team that has great potential for winning in the near future and a high likability quotient.  

I live in North Portland and get video blogs from The Sentinel from time to time.  I thought some of you might appreciate the footage of the dedication of Roosevelt's new court provided by the Blazers.  Oden and Raef were there to take part and received honorary letterman's jackets.

http://www.stjohnssentinel.com/blog_bullpen.php

Its nice to see Oden walking around and taking part in the PR/charity side of things in spite of the injury.

Oden might be the guy that brings toughness to this team next year, but they need someone to protect the guys this year.  I am usually an advocate of brushing off hard fouls and cheap shots, stepping up and winning games instead of fighting back but I am seriously rethinking this after the Blazers' last few games.
Josh Howard tonight, Jeff Foster and Brad Miller in the past week have all roughed up the Blazers with no help from the officials.  
Joel has stepped up in the past and gotten in guys faces over hard fouls but I would really like to see the players defend their teamates, especially if the officals will not call flagrants or technicals or sometimes even fouls when the Blazers are getting manhandled.  Maybe if they got in these guys' faces after the cheap shots, the refs would take notice and start calling some of the fouls.
I'm not calling it a bias or even bad officiating.  They just aren't protecting the players and the Blazers need to make them aware of that. At the very least, these guys that make their living intimidating guys need to know they are messing with the wrong guys instead of walking away unscathed.
If Jack, Joel, and Raef don't step up and protect the younger guys, Roy will keep getting manhandled, LMA will keep getting held and pushed out of position and the Blazers will keep losing games.  Where is the fire to win? The unity they feel from working hard together needs to be expressed by stepping up and protecting each other when opposing teams are roughing up their brothers.

Is anyone else out there wondering why the most consistent performer night in and night out isn't getting more plays run for him?  I mean 12 shots isn't horrible but when you think that Outlaw put up 13 it seems a bit out of balance.  

I will admit that I have been waiting for Webster to come back to earth, and he has not been shooting as lights out as he was to start the season, but when they run him off of screens and set him up he produces.  

He has been the brightest spot on this team this year so far.  Eight boards, 2 steals, 2 blocks (one a monster block on Howard), to go with his typical 13 points.  Let's get this man some shots instead of looking to Roy and Aldridge everytime down.  If we get him going it can only help open up more opportunities for the Big 2.

http://hoopshype.com/blogs/johnson/index.php

Eddie Johnson of Hoops Hype lists the Blazers in with his teams that will surprise.  I like his last comment on how scary the Blazers will be if they don't make the playoffs and end up with a chance at getting OJ Mayo.  Maybe down the stretch teams will be throwing games so the Blazers make the playoffs and lose their chance at another high first round pick.

(I just noticed this is from November 2nd.  Ignore this if you guys have already discussed and I missed it.)

I was a bit confused to hear the Mike's refer to Roy's seeming pass off the backboard to Aldridge in the fourth quarter for a dunk as a missed attempt.  Is it just me or was that a pass?  I have seen the replay numerous times and it seemed like Roy drew the defenders and tossed the ball toward the hoop with Aldridge in his sights.  Jason quick also noted it as a dunk of Roy's missed layup.  Did anyone else think it was a pass? Are there any other interviews out there where this comes up?

Thanks for the help.

I hadn't checked yardbarker in awhile and thought I would see if there was anything new from Greg.  There is a video of him doing rehab in the pool that just went up tonight.  It is encouraging to see him moving the ol' knee around.  I couldn't help day dreaming about next year.  

http://yardbarker.com/users/gregoden?gclid=CKOx2Za7_YwCFRUHWAodJWG6gg

It is easy to get caught up in all the talk of the next trade and the needs of the Blazers at the SF position.  I was taken back a bit when I saw this listing in the Behind the Blazers Beat blog.  

Read this list and tell me if you think the Blazers (even if they stop here) made themselves better now, and into the next few years, with all the moves they have made.

Full list for all teams is at :  http://blog.oregonlive.com/behindblazersbeat/2007/07/nba_player_movement_chart.html#more

Portland

PLAYERS ADDED
VIA DRAFT
Greg Oden (No. 1)
Rudy Fernandez (via trade w/Phoenix)
Petteri Koponen (No. 30, via trade w/Philadelphia)
Josh McRoberts (No. 37)
Taurean Green (No. 52)
VIA TRADE
Channing Frye (from New York)
James Jones (from Phoenix)
VIA FREE AGENCY
Steve Blake (from Denver)
PLAYERS LOST
VIA TRADE
Dan Dickau (to New York)
Fred Jones (to New York)
Demetris Nichols (to New York)
Zach Randolph (to New York)
Derrick Byars (to Philadelphia)
WAIVED
Steve Francis
VIA FREE AGENCY
Jamaal Magloire (to New Jersey)