Dirty

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_02CZPJp9cU
This is one of the worst (most blatant without actually striking the other guy) fouls I've ever seen. Great for Brandon on sticking up for himself. Good thing West didn't start nothing or he'd have had the Blazermaniacs come down on him like a freight train on an egg.

Refs should have called a flagrant, you can't horse-tackle a guy in Football, you darn well can't do it in NBA basketball. The zebras should be ashamed.

Game 17: Smoke 'em out.

Well. That was unexpected. I was all ready for a nice nip-and tuck game, even with CP3 and co. playing a back-to-back. Yeah, these are the games that good teams are supposed to win, but I guess I've just gotten used to the last few years of... ah... not winning these types of games. Great job all arounnd by the Blazers, but especially during that 17-0 run that sealed the deal. That might have been the best basketball I've seen the team play all season.

I don't count the Bulls and Heat blowouts, this came against an elite team.

Blake continues to be the water for this team. 11.2 points and 3.9 assists aint sexy, to be sure, but this team doesn't really need more whiskey. Blake sets the offense, plays great D on the other PG so Brandon doesn't have to chase the Parkers and Pauls of the world all over the place. Sergio looks great on the second unit, and I'm not sure that starting him is a good idea. There's only one ball, and Roy needs it in his hands to truly play his whole game. Blake can hit the spot-up 3 ball, 42% clip on the season, which, really what else are we looking for out of the PG spot on this team?

Oh, and this trade possiblity, at least to me, seems stupid. If it goes down, I'd have to call it the first boneheaded move of the KP era. http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=AomV.oHUqxr1g9YuGFUl.UG8vLYF?slug=ys-conleyoutlaw112808&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

Why trade Outlaw for an unproven Point guard? Especially when you have to throw in Sergio so there's no jam at the 1? Stupid trade. Fortunately, once these "rumors" hit the web, there's usually nothing to them.

Add me again:

(To Bill Bradley)

Wow, what a one-dimensional reply. In what way is Oden one-dimensional? He's been flashing a nice turnaround jumper, filling the lane and getting some good boards and blocks. Yeah, he doesn't shoot threes, but that hardly qualifies him for the "one dimension" tag. What's so one-dimensional about Greg?

Brendan

The reply

Bill was gracious enough to reply quickly (albeit tersely)

Hi Brendan,

Thanks for writing,

Sorry you don't agree. But I don't like one-dimensional player. And it doesn't take long to see that Oden is one-dimensional.

Thanks for reading,

Bill Bradley

My letter to Bill Bradley of the Sac Bee

Mr. Bradley,
I almost spit my coffee all over my laptop when I was reading your article on how you would take Spencer Hawes over Greg Oden (http://www.sacbee.com/100/story/1428878.html#Comments_Container). I honestly could not believe that a credible sports journalist would make such a, how can I put this delicately, ill considered statement. If you want to do it right, you need to compare rookie numbers only, and not the numbers from this year since Spencer has spent an entire year getting up to NBA speed. You want (I think) the most telling stat? Greg Oden recorded a double double (along with 4 blocks) in his third game. Hawes didn't get his until his 60th game. As a matter of fact, it took Greg all of five games to record a 20 point effort, whereas Spencer had none. That's right, no games with 20 points his entire rookie campaign. And it's not because Hawes is playing behind Miller, Oden came off the bench behind Pryzbilla to record his.

Really, what research did you do for this article?
Here's Greg's game log
http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/playerGameLog?categoryId=466327
And here's Spencer's (from his rookie year)
http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/playerGameLog?categoryId=466345&selectedSeason=2007

look at the first 15 games and tell me Greg's ceiling is capped. I DARE you. Hawes has a sweet jumper, and he's a hell of a player, but he's no Greg Oden, sir. We're in the age of Google, and you just proved yourself an analog journalist.


Sincerely,
Brendan McMannis

Games 13, 14, 15: TMI

13, Portland/Sacramento:
Well... let's just say this was not a good measuring stick game for the Blazers. Missing Kevin Martin (who has been a Blazer killer) the Kings were merely mediocre. This was one of those "should wins" that everyone feels indifferent about unless the Blazers lose (then the sky is falling) Where's Aldridge?

14, Portland/Phoenix:
Too much Shaq.
And that's all I have to say about that.

15, Portland/Sacramento (ROUND 2!)
Too close. Just too close. Something is off with the Blazers. Yeah, they won, but it's almost too much hot then cold for this team. Still, a win is a win and at the end of the year it won't matter if they were by 1 point or 50, they all count the same. It strikes me though that the Blazers have been winning games almost despite themselves, which is the hallmark of a good team. And Brandon Roy is the man. His lefty layup is butter and should be used in my mom's cookie recipie.

Gmae 12: Domination

Well, I don't want to say I called it, but I did say this game wouldn't be close. I just didn't quite expect it to be this bad for Da Bulls. While everyone has been focusing on Oden and Roy, I was most impressed with Joel Pryzbilla, who finally got used like he should have all season when he rolls uncontested to the hoop 6-6, 14 points 9 boards and 3 blocks. Welcome to the party, Joel.

I was really loving that the Blazer's guards started to use their bigs effectively with Alley-oops from Sergio to Oden and from Roy to Aldridge. Looking at the +/- for this game is ridiculous, since most of the Blazer's were in the double digit plus. Rip city baby.

Even though the Blazer's outrebounded the Bulls 49 to 33, they allowed the Bulls 17 offensive rebounds (the same amount the Blazer's had) which was the Acchiles heel during the GS game. If the Blazers don't let that ball go through three red jerseys, Rudy dosen't get the T, and the game is completely different. Ah, 20/20 and all that.

First Blazer blowout... and they didn't even have Webster. The league is on notice.

Motivated?

Where has LaMarcus Aldridge gone? He's averaging fewer points and boards than last year. He started slow last season too, but not like this.

Freaking Bob Delaney. He just wanted to make up for letting the Blazers win on his watch in Miami.

Morrow fouled Rudy. And Delaney was way too quick on the T-rigger, but why didn't any of the other Blazers come and get Rudy away from the Ref? Where was Brandon's vaunted leadership?

Tonight, I bet the Blazers either come out motivated and flatten this Bulls team, or come out flat and get absolutely rolled. I don't think this one will be close either way.

In any case, I'm really missing my boy Webster.

Six and Four

I said a few days before the start of the season that if the Blazer's could finish off their brutal opening schedule somewhere near .500 (I was talking under) that we could view this as a potentially great season. Ten games in and the Blazer's are 6-4, with all four losses coming against teams with "Championship" on their minds, not "Playoffs"

L*kers
Suns
J*zz
Hornets

Not too shabby...


I loved what Roy had to say: "I've been telling people once he gets healthy and gets his confidence, this dude is going to be a force," said Brandon Roy, who had 24 points and six assists. "And I still think he is giving people just a taste of what he is going to do. I mean, he's good man. People just have to continue to be patient."

Again:
"People just have to continue to be patient."

Hear that all you fair-weather fans? Not that I think many of them read my blog, but I'll put it out there nonetheless. Greg still isn't old enough to drink, and I couldn't believe all the people who called him both injury prone (he stepped on Fisher's foot, it could happen to anyone) and a bust (big men traditionally take longer to adjust to the NBA game) That having been said, Oden has always played with a great NBA skill set, unlike most of the bust centers in the league who are forced into trying to do the things Oden alreafy does well: hold his ground, bail out his guards when they get beat off the dribble, and man up in the low-post.

Nate looks like he's settling on a consistent rotation, which is great considering the Lineup Two-Step he has been forced to do the last few seasons. I don't consider either McMillan or Brandon to be off-limits to criticism, but I haven't found much of anything to complain about. The win was McMillan's 100th as Blazers coach, so counting the six this season and the 41 last year, almost half have come in the last year +. Not too shabby coach.

Game 10: That's all she wrote

I'm loving the Nic Batum show. He doesn't force a shot. It is truly amazing to see a player who knows and accepts his role so well. He doesn't show up on the stat sheet much tonight, and he won't win the Rookie award, but 3-4 (2-3 on threes) in just under 10 minutes is spectacular.

Roy is... well... Roy. Simply amazing. I wish I could sit down with all the punks who were calling for him to be traded ofter the Hornet's game and "discuss" their problem. Zero turnovers for the Natural. So smooth.

13 points 8 boards ancd 3 blocks. Ladies and Gentlemen, Greg Oden has arrived. Still should have done a better job on Jefferson though. 12 of 16 shooting is just too much, and nearly cost the Blazer's here tonight, especially Greg's late turnover leading to the Jefferson jumper.

A good win, though this is a team the Blazer's should mop the floor with. Probably give the 'Zers a year or two of playoff experience and they'll manhandle teams like this... If the Timberwolves still had Ricky Davis I'd call them a bunch of cockroaches.

Adding Greg's totals to Pryz's and you get 23 points 16 rebounds and 4 blocks. Pretty decent production, but it can get better.

One Minute Left

Holy mackeral. I was hoping for a Blazer Blowout, not another nail biter (I'm down to nubs) but this is amazing... assists from Roy to Oden for big slams and Now we're talking comeback baby!!!


OUTLAW STEALS!!!! B ROY WITH THE JAM!!! YEAH BABY!!!!!!!

Game 8: Block Party

Oden Oden Oden and More Greg Oden. I really think this is a sign of things to come, 3-3, 11 points, 11 rebounds and 4 blocks. No Blocks Against and a BUNCH of great low-post D on Chandler. Chandler's line: 2 points, 7 rebounds... Great job, Greg! Watching the game you could see a new fire in his eyes.

I thought this was a game that the Blazer's would lose. The Hornets are going to be difficult to beat almost anytime, but at home and after losing 3 of their last 4 they were not going to lose easily. The fact that this game went down to the final seconds shows just how good this Blazer team has gotten.

A bit of an off-night for Rudy, just 10 points no rebounds and 2 assists. But it looked like the Hornets had scouted him really well and closed in every time he touched the ball. He still hit 2-4 threes despite the most aggressive D on him since the L*ker game.

Outlaw needs to own the second unit. He's got so many skills that he should me mopping the floor against the other team's reserves. He's gotten aggressive, but not consistently. Maybe some opponent will smack him in the face again and we'll all see the Outlaw we love.

Where oh where has my Webster gone? I really though this would be a breakout season for Martell, and it still could be, Batum played well, hitting on 1 of 2, (both three balls) but Webster can shoot the lights out for a whole game, and I was looking forward to seeing the defense that everyone was raving about in the preseason. Hurry back!!!

All in all, there were some great parts to this game, but the result just wasn't there. They'll get 'em next time.

Who all is going to the next home game?

Ohhhh Kay....

My link is just a signature, why are people freaking out? It's not like it's going to give you leprosy. Wow... Some people are quick to go nuts...

Go Blazers v Hornets...

Game 7: Debut, part Two

To quote Yahoo: "Oden’s first NBA points came with 49.4 seconds left in the opening quarter, when he leaped over Miami’s Joel Anthony for an offensive rebound, spun and threw down a fierce right-handed dunk as several Portland reserves bounded off their bench."

A dunk off an offensive rebound... Now that is what I'm talking about! And, now Joel Anthony will actually be remembered for something. He'll be a cantankerous old man someday with his grandkids going, "Gather 'round kids, while Grandpa tells you about the time Greg Oden tatooed "Spalding" on ol' gramp's forehead..." Good stuff. As soon as it's on Youtube, I'll be posting it here.

Also great to see Roy out there. I loved his assist to Rudy at the end of the half, that might be just a teaser preview to the big show once they develop the on-court chemistry, which already seems like it's coming along.

Speaking of Rudy, he may just run away with the R.O.Y. award. 7 for 11 shooting and 25 points. That's what we here call "efficiency" Something I think Zach Randolph was allergic to.

I'm not too worried about Greg not winning the Rookie award, Bigs usually take longer to develop anyway. We'll probably see a couple of 20 point games from Oden, but I'd guess not till towards the end of the season. Rudy, meanwhile, looks polished to a shine, which is scary because he can still clearly get better. Better put on some sunglasses folks, we aren't used to this much light in Portland!

PDFTT

Well, just in case there was any confusion, as someone suggested, 1 is the worst, 10 is the best. Thanks for the hits!

WTF

I just have to know which two people voted Brandon Roy's clutch as "1" ... Care to comment? Is there any particular thing you've noticed?

Game 6: Hit and Run

The Blazers won a game on the road with Bob Delaney as one of the officials... I might have to do more research, but I think that might be illegal...

Somehow the Blazers were able to overcome 29 and 19 from Howard, and they did it with exceptional perimeter defense. If not for Turkgolu, the final score would have looked a lot worse for the Magic. The chemistry of the Blazer's looks like it might be coming together. I'm on the East Coast right now. It's late, and I'm tired. More tomorrow.

Game 5: Any Questions?

23 has significance in the NBA. It's a number that equates to greatness. Reserved for the best player on the team (usually) it's iconic meaning is never lost on even the most casual NBA fan. Now there's another 23 for the Blazers. Not a jersey number, but the Minnesota game marked the 23rd time in his NBA career that Brandon Roy has won or tied a game with either a shot, an assist or a defensive play.

Let me repeat that for those who are hard of reading: 23 times.

It took Allen Iverson until last season to hit a game-winner.

Any qusetions?

Game 4: All hail the King...

Wow... I mean... What else can you say? In just two plus seasons Brandon has left an indelible mark on this franchise. If he gets a career ending injury tomorrow, I still say he makes the Blazer Hall of Fame. When he was stripped by Ron "The Head Case" Artest, I wondered what was going wrong with this season. The last 2.9 seconds has to be among the craziest I've ever seen. I don't think the Blazer's, or Roy, would have recovered from that steal last year.

WHAT A SHOT!

Mr. Clutch, The Natural, B Roy... Whatever you call him, he's surely the best player on the floor. McGrady might win the scoring titles, Yao might be overpowering down low, and Aldridge might have that feathery game that no one gives enough credit to, but Roy's patience sets him apart into a class by himself. He doesn't slow the game down, he takes it at his own pace. He dictates the tempo and style of play, doesn't run out of control, and sticks to his coaches game plan. I think McMillan must be in love.

SCARY THOUGHTS:
If the Blazers can come together on this upcoming road trip, they have a chance to do some real damage. The next few games include the first "Should Wins" of the season. The Lakers were going to beat the Blazer's on opening night, just face it, they're not in the same class as them yet. San Antonio was a great win, made even better by the fact that the Spurs are NOT a team that likes to lose, and they had lost their first two. Phoenix was a game the Blazers could have won, but it's understandable that they didn't. Utah... was, well... U-Tah... Now the Blazers look forward to getting Greg back, and then Martell a little bit after that. Martell will open up the floor in so many ways, and by all reports his 1-1 D has improved dramatically. Not Nic Batum level, but still very good. Now, looking at the upcoming schedule, the Magic will be a difficult team, and Greg Oden will surely be missed, not because he'd do really well this year against Dwight, but because he'd give the Blazers 6 extra fouls, allowing them to guard him closer. The Blazers could win this one, but I think it will be as difficult as the Phoenix game. The Heat will be tough since they're at home, but this game is also winnable. Then New Orleans, where I think the Blazers will get stung. The first "should win" is next, the Timberwolves, though they look much improved from last year (not saying much...) then the Warriors, also a "should."

Things are looking up!

Game 3

Too much Amare... I know he and Nash have chemistry you could launch a spaxeship with, but, really? 6 for 6 in the third? Where are you LaMarcus?!?! Urgh... well, the only solace is that the last few years, the Blazer's would have lost this game by 30.

I don't mind the Blazers starting out 1-2, they had better not go into December without a road win again though. If they can manage to stay afloat through their brutal opening schedule, somewhere around .500, they'll do just fine. One game at a time, that's all they can play.

Anyone else think the Hornets are the real deal? Wow... Why did you have to sign that conract extension, CP3?

deep thoughts

B Roy and Rudy play well offf each orther... a starting date is imminient...