Portland played the Mavs tonight in Dallas. I didn't get to watch it - I was stuck in traffic, and then the Pilots game started. For those of you who don't know, by which I mean all of you, the Pilots played UCLA in the quarterfinals of the NCAA soccer tournament tonight in the biggest game of the season thus far.
DISCLAIMER: It must be noted that I have consumed between six and eight beers. Worth mentioning.
Anyways, I realize that this is a BASKETBALL website, a BLAZERS website, and so I apologize for the repeated soccer references. OK, I get it, nobody else likes soccer. I know, if I'm interested in gaining readership why would I write about stupid soccer, etc etc etc. At any rate, I can't remember the last time I was home, able to watch the Blazers, and made the conscious decision to switch channels. But what happened tonight was something that any Blazers fan could sympathize with, which brings it to the forefront of my return to the blogosphere, where I get to pretend I'm important and that my opinion counts towards something.
OK, I try to be optimistic, you know. In everything I do. Everything. But lately I've been thinking about the general idea of positivism, and how it relates to our reality. The question is simple: Is it advantageous for us to adopt the role of the underdog? Is it healthy to support a loser, expecting the worst at every opportunity? I say yes. Wouldn't you think that somebody my age who grew up supporting Jordan and the Bulls, say, are a bit worse off because of it? A bit under-developed in terms of emotions and rationality? It's a struggle, most of the time, but isn't it beneficial for your overall well-being to embrace the struggle and be uplifting, to be positive regardless of the circumstance? Everybody's idea of suffering is based solely on their own experience, and so I guess everybody lives in a way that minimizes, or accepts, their oeuvre of "pain", which is truly very minimal in the "grand scheme of things", something, in all honesty, nobody has any basis to judge. Well, besides the number of beers that you've consumed.
And so I often wonder when, or if, the Blazers lift the trophy, a feeling of anomie would arise within people like me. Would I be able to sit back and just enjoy the success? I would imagine that, like everything, I would overthink it and declare that, yes, my standards, my values and the identity of being the underdog, being the loser, will just be swept away, and I would fall into the void of conformity and depression. I had a dream once that the Blazers won the title on their home floor, and after the final buzzer I ran onto the court, desperately looking for someone or something to share in my exaltation. But I couldn't find what I was looking for, and I just wanted to be happy like everybody else, jumping around like idiots and getting chased around by fat security guards.
Tonight, the Pilots lost, as did the Blazers. But the way the Pilots lost just exacerbated the fleeting feeling that maybe, just maybe, positivism is a thing of the past. Portland notched a goal in the first half and were comfortably ahead at halftime. They outshot UCLA 6-1 in the first half, but UCLA came back in the second half, tying the game on a beautiful midrange strike and eventually taking the lead on a perfectly placed header with twenty minutes to go. UCLA 2, Portland 1. I told myself that it was over, that we wouldn't be able to strike with the momentum clearly in the Bruins' favor. I tried to convince myself to give up hope, but something told me that we would get back in this thing. Sure enough, we scored with 1 minute left. Tie game.
Stay positive? Of course you should! This is proof positive! And so we were controlling possession through the first two overtimes, and things were looking great, and all of a sudden - corner kick, shot, goal, UCLA. 3-2. Game over.
And I wasn't surprised, of course, because I support the Trail Blazers, and I am familiar with the agony of a close defeat. In fact, I have been accustomed to it, to the point where if I expect anything besides it, I will have likely been proven a fool. But despite my relative dissonance, I still am learning how to accept failure. Rather, to expect failure. The Pilots forced overtime, and I entertained delusions of watching them bring another championship back to Portland. They could have, but I should have anticipated a loss.
You should always anticipate a loss.
TJH
30 November 2007
27 November 2007
Pain in the a$$
The Blazers are giving me about as much joy as the shot that I got in my ass today at the hospital. That's all. That's all I got right now. I got a shot of what feels like cement running through my system and I'm trying to plan my move from D.C.
But while I'm here, if your John Paxson you gotta be shooting yourself in the face for not throwing in the oh-so-untouchable Loul Clank in the Kobe talks. He surely is going to be a franchise player...in Europe.
KT
But while I'm here, if your John Paxson you gotta be shooting yourself in the face for not throwing in the oh-so-untouchable Loul Clank in the Kobe talks. He surely is going to be a franchise player...in Europe.
KT
21 November 2007
Thoughts Before Thanksgiving
Happy Thanksgiving! Some quick thoughts before the Blazers open up another home stretch.
1. Kevin is exactly right about Isiah Thomas. Is anybody less qualified to be involved with an NBA team? Probably not. New York is a laughingstock, and if the same situation was happening anywhere else besides LA, the franchise would not exist for much longer. They have a horrible team, even worse management, and an owner who gave Isiah Thomas a contract extension as recently as earlier this year. Things can change, but only if Thomas goes. Remember, this is a man who once called Stephon Marbury the best point guard in the NBA.
You would think that a great player would have a keen eye for talent and a sharp sense of what makes a team successful. Isiah Thomas has two championship rings; Michael Jordan has six. But neither of them knows what they're doing as bosses, and at some point I would assume their management resumes would be analyzed as closely as their style of play. Think about what it's like to be a Knick supporter these days. Probably pretty close to what it felt like for us three years ago. Or worse.
One more thing about the Knicks: do you remember, when they traded for Zach Randolph, how Stephen A. Smith went on record saying that New York was a legitimate title contender? Or do you remember Spike Lee going nuts at the draft, waving his Knicks flag high and proud? Or Stephon Marbury saying that anything less than a championship would be considered a failure? Poor guys.
2. It is 'lay-up'! YES! I was actually right for once.
3. The disconnect between Alex Rodriguez and everybody else just keeps getting bigger, after hearing that he was advised by Warren Buffett, of all people, to ignore Boras and negotiate with the Yankees on his own. I ask the bartender at the Horse Brass for financial advise, and A-Rod gets his from Warren Freaking Buffett. So how can my feeling towards him be anything besides animosity?
But Scott Boras, man... it seems like I have been very negative recently in all of my writing, and so I wanted to try to put a positive spin on things for a change, you know, with Thanksgiving and everything, but Kevin, you keep goading me with these people that just disgust me so much, that I am appalled to be of the same species. Exhibit A through G of why unrestrained capitalism is a bad idea? Scott Boras. People like him make young athletes value money and a lavish lifestyle over playing the game to win and unselfishness. He's been in A-Rod's ear since he was 13 years old, telling him he should be the game's highest paid player, and after a while, he starts to believe it and actually take pride in being the highest paid player. Boras fuels the me-first, money-is-everything attitude that turns so many people away from watching sports, which means that they're condemned to a life of going to plays with their wives. It brings a tear to my eye.
4. Hard to believe, but we now have 5 (FIVE!) subscribers. What a feeling. To all the subscribers, thanks for either your dedication and interest, or your wanting us not to feel bad for having such a small number of subscribers.
5. I'm not writing the season off. Not by any means. Look, I was disgusted in how we played, and at this point I think it would be amazing if they would be able to make the playoffs. To quote Jim Mora: Playoffs? Don't talk about playoffs. Are you kidding me? Playoffs? I just hope we can win a game!
We might have a shot if we actually tried. See, during the home stretch, we were trying. We were hustling on defense and making smart decisions on offense, which included not running out of bounds with the ball without even being pressured. But for some reason, over the past four games, we've just been jogging around, rarely crashing the boards, and generally looking uninterested in the actual game. They can play better than that - they've already proved it this season, which is only like three weeks old. We have every right to be disgusted with the play, because they could have helped it. They could have tried. But people just call it growing pains, which is misleading.
I actually think we will turn it around tonight. As I said, I'm forcing myself to be more positive. Here's to self-deception!
TJH
1. Kevin is exactly right about Isiah Thomas. Is anybody less qualified to be involved with an NBA team? Probably not. New York is a laughingstock, and if the same situation was happening anywhere else besides LA, the franchise would not exist for much longer. They have a horrible team, even worse management, and an owner who gave Isiah Thomas a contract extension as recently as earlier this year. Things can change, but only if Thomas goes. Remember, this is a man who once called Stephon Marbury the best point guard in the NBA.
You would think that a great player would have a keen eye for talent and a sharp sense of what makes a team successful. Isiah Thomas has two championship rings; Michael Jordan has six. But neither of them knows what they're doing as bosses, and at some point I would assume their management resumes would be analyzed as closely as their style of play. Think about what it's like to be a Knick supporter these days. Probably pretty close to what it felt like for us three years ago. Or worse.
One more thing about the Knicks: do you remember, when they traded for Zach Randolph, how Stephen A. Smith went on record saying that New York was a legitimate title contender? Or do you remember Spike Lee going nuts at the draft, waving his Knicks flag high and proud? Or Stephon Marbury saying that anything less than a championship would be considered a failure? Poor guys.
2. It is 'lay-up'! YES! I was actually right for once.
3. The disconnect between Alex Rodriguez and everybody else just keeps getting bigger, after hearing that he was advised by Warren Buffett, of all people, to ignore Boras and negotiate with the Yankees on his own. I ask the bartender at the Horse Brass for financial advise, and A-Rod gets his from Warren Freaking Buffett. So how can my feeling towards him be anything besides animosity?
But Scott Boras, man... it seems like I have been very negative recently in all of my writing, and so I wanted to try to put a positive spin on things for a change, you know, with Thanksgiving and everything, but Kevin, you keep goading me with these people that just disgust me so much, that I am appalled to be of the same species. Exhibit A through G of why unrestrained capitalism is a bad idea? Scott Boras. People like him make young athletes value money and a lavish lifestyle over playing the game to win and unselfishness. He's been in A-Rod's ear since he was 13 years old, telling him he should be the game's highest paid player, and after a while, he starts to believe it and actually take pride in being the highest paid player. Boras fuels the me-first, money-is-everything attitude that turns so many people away from watching sports, which means that they're condemned to a life of going to plays with their wives. It brings a tear to my eye.
4. Hard to believe, but we now have 5 (FIVE!) subscribers. What a feeling. To all the subscribers, thanks for either your dedication and interest, or your wanting us not to feel bad for having such a small number of subscribers.
5. I'm not writing the season off. Not by any means. Look, I was disgusted in how we played, and at this point I think it would be amazing if they would be able to make the playoffs. To quote Jim Mora: Playoffs? Don't talk about playoffs. Are you kidding me? Playoffs? I just hope we can win a game!
We might have a shot if we actually tried. See, during the home stretch, we were trying. We were hustling on defense and making smart decisions on offense, which included not running out of bounds with the ball without even being pressured. But for some reason, over the past four games, we've just been jogging around, rarely crashing the boards, and generally looking uninterested in the actual game. They can play better than that - they've already proved it this season, which is only like three weeks old. We have every right to be disgusted with the play, because they could have helped it. They could have tried. But people just call it growing pains, which is misleading.
I actually think we will turn it around tonight. As I said, I'm forcing myself to be more positive. Here's to self-deception!
TJH
2 Heroes in Sports
If you hit .222 with more strikeouts and hits, your worst year since your first year in the majors, you better take whatever contract you can get so you can prove that your not totally washed up. Hello, Andruw Jones.
My two least favorite people in sports right now are Scott Boras and Isaiah Thomas. Scott Boras first tried to break the DOW with A-Rod's contract, now he is telling people that Jones won't accept a one-year deal. Really? How's the Dominican League sound? They would probably sign him to a life-time contract.
Scott Boras asking for more than a one-year deal from anyone besides the Royals is like Thomas throwing the team out of practice on Monday. What a desperation move. I've been on teams in high school where the players just gave up on the coach because we thought he was worth about as much as the Nike Cortez's he wore on his feet, and throwing your team out of practice is a last ditch effort. It's you saying to the world, "I've lost all control and respect of my players!"
Thomas is a train-wreck right now. How do you let Marbury start again? How do you let him play again? Thomas is like one of those bullies on the playground that got beat up by the nerd and now has to prove to everyone, all the time, just how tough he is. He's a joke. They should have known what he was going to do to the Knicks after what he did to the CBA. Where's the CBA you ask? Exactly.
My two least favorite people in sports right now are Scott Boras and Isaiah Thomas. Scott Boras first tried to break the DOW with A-Rod's contract, now he is telling people that Jones won't accept a one-year deal. Really? How's the Dominican League sound? They would probably sign him to a life-time contract.
Scott Boras asking for more than a one-year deal from anyone besides the Royals is like Thomas throwing the team out of practice on Monday. What a desperation move. I've been on teams in high school where the players just gave up on the coach because we thought he was worth about as much as the Nike Cortez's he wore on his feet, and throwing your team out of practice is a last ditch effort. It's you saying to the world, "I've lost all control and respect of my players!"
Thomas is a train-wreck right now. How do you let Marbury start again? How do you let him play again? Thomas is like one of those bullies on the playground that got beat up by the nerd and now has to prove to everyone, all the time, just how tough he is. He's a joke. They should have known what he was going to do to the Knicks after what he did to the CBA. Where's the CBA you ask? Exactly.
20 November 2007
It's too early to write the season off, Ty. Especially from a guy who picked them to make the playoffs.
Maybe we will go 41-41. If we win all our home games we could still sneak into the playoffs. God knows we can't win a road game.
KT
Maybe we will go 41-41. If we win all our home games we could still sneak into the playoffs. God knows we can't win a road game.
KT
19 November 2007
A Fitting End
After the humiliating loss against Philadelphia, you would have thought that this team would have bounced back and at least stayed competitive with the Wizards the other night, who were without their best player in Nacho Hibachi. They looked terrible yet again. The look of defeat was in their eyes five minutes into the first quarter. So here we are, the last game of the road trip, against a young Bobcats team who will surely win this game handily. The Blazers have no chance at winning tonight, so let's take a look:
PREGAME:
- I listened to the radio broadcast of the pregame show today, because I like Brian Wheeler and I am constantly amazed that Antonio Harvey has a job as a broadcaster. It's like if I were made the foreman of a meat-packing plant with no formal training or experience.
- Apparently McMillan is reconsidering playing uptempo. Umm... what?? We haven't been playing uptempo! That's part of the problem! Just because you say you want to play uptempo doesn't make you an uptempo team. You have to actually do it. Maybe if he would play Sergio for more than two minutes at a time they would have some success running.
- "Wheels" tells us the Bobcats are wearing their customary white jerseys, with Bobcats orange and Bobcats blue trim. I would have called Bobcats blue "light blue" and Bobcats orange "orange".
- Would a meat-packing plant even have a foreman?
- Antonio Harvey, or "'Tone", sees a golden opportunity for a joke. "You know- Charlotte Bobcats orange, huh? It's- it's- you know, you never can tell what that... that owner, the owner of the Bobcats - I mean, m- make a color for me!" I am not making this up.
FIRST QUARTER:
- Webster starts things off by nailing a wide open three from the corner, and then skying high for a block on Primoz Brezec. Good sign. The fifty people in attendance surely are impressed so far by this Webster guy.
- OK, back to the TV broadcast. Steve Blake misses an open fifteen footer, and Mike Rice says that's "not the type of shot he should be taking. He should be taking more of those shots that he was making earlier in the season." Ladies and gents, Mike "Wild" Rice!
- Emeka Okafor of the Bobcats draws the first foul on Joel Przybilla. Hey, Joel shaved! Too bad. Okafor, by the way, averages under 15 points a game for his career and has been saddled with injuries, but just turned down a contract extension worth $13 million a year.
- Charlotte takes an early lead. Dick Bavetta sees a group of players get tangled up under the basket and blows his whistle for three straight seconds. Maybe he fell asleep. Joel "steals" the tap, and gets called for it. Gerald Wallace is then called for an offensive foul with nobody within six feet of him. Make-up call! And Bennett Salvatore insists they don't exist...
- The Blazers climb to within three, and Bavetta blows the whistle on Roy. Did he travel? Was there a foul? Nobody knows. McMillan bites his lip and calls timeout. After the timeout, still nobody knows what the call was for, and they just give it back to Portland. How old is Dick Bavetta, 85?
- Mike Barrett says Channing Frye misses a "layin". It's not "layin", it's "layup", and I've always thought people who say "layin" are like those people who actually pronounce the 'h' in "white" and "what": pretentious scumbags. Kevin, you would know, is it layin or layup?
- Przybilla makes a driving LAYUP at the end of the quarter, bringing us to within one point. Hey, look at that! We're actually in the game still, against a mediocre Eastern Conference team! Impressive.
SECOND QUARTER:
- Mike Barrett calls Greg Oden a "freak". He probably means it in a good way. Jarrett Jack gives us the lead.
- Isaac and Big Suke are coming to television. No, really, they are actually getting a show on the new Comcast channel. For those of you who don't know, Isaac and Big Suke are the hosts of Portland's most popular sports radio show, and demonstrate the combined mental capacity of a relatively well-to-do hamster. So it's just gonna be them talking, like the Lars Larson show, or Rush Limbaugh, or that show on channel 14 with that guy who thinks he's black who brings in all his friends to the set so they can laugh at his bad jokes. Seriously, who watches a Rush Limbaugh radio show? That would only be worth it if he ever did something like make fun of people with Parkinson's disease on the show. Oh, wait...
- Dang, does that woman have a moustache? Oh, never mind, it's just Jeff McInnis.
- The Blazers have 9 turnovers in just over 15 minutes of play. Par for the course, I guess. Blazers down by five.
- More Bavetta: McInnis tries the old "pull your opponent's shorts off and hope to draw a foul" play on Aldridge, and it works. It's Aldridge's 3rd foul, so he sits down. He looks exasperated.
- Mike Barrett teases Mike Rice for eating a whole bowl of M&Ms before the first half even ends. Wait, isn't this guy an announcer? He eats candy during the game? Wait, hold that thought - courtside reporter Rebecca Haarlow has an update! "I ate some of the M&Ms" she admits. Keep in mind that this is happening during the game. I'm tempted to put Wheels and Tone back on.
- Blazers can't seem to get things going, yet again. Aldridge has three fouls, Frye is looking absolutely horrible, so, Blazers down by seven, Josh McRoberts enters the game for his first NBA minutes. Yes! Or, rather, minute. Only 50 seconds left in the half. He enters to a chorus of boos (there are now 200 Bobcats supporters in the arena). I like him so far. He has a good haircut.
- Portland takes a timeout to talk about a final play. The arena plays a country music song during the timeout. Man, I wonder why they can't get any people to come to the games?
- Blake hits a half court shot to make it 40-36, Charlotte. Pretty close.
THIRD QUARTER:
- Channing Frye starts the half off by banking a shot in at the elbow and pretending he did it on purpose.
- Sam Vincent is the new Bobcats coach. I would have had no idea that was Sam - he looks completely different. He shaved his head, and it looks like all of his assistants did too. Is it like a tribute to Michael Jordan? He hired them, after all.
- Frye is absolutely unwilling to crash the boards, forcing Roy to battle Okafor down low. Needless to say, Portland isn't getting many rebounds.
- Jason Richardson makes it 59-52, Charlotte, but four quick points by Jarrett Jack makes it a three point game.
- The teams trade baskets for a while. We even get to see Travis Outlaw dunk, which is like the first one I've seen all season. Remember last year against the Suns when he skied above Stoudamire and could have slammed it down but instead he decided on a finger-roll? What a bonehead.
- Webster's first clutch three pointer in 4 games makes it 63-61, Bobcats. End of the quarter, and we're still in this!
FOURTH QUARTER:
- Does anybody else think that the song from the NBA's "Where Amazing Happens" commercials is a complete ripoff of "Like Spinning Plates" by Radiohead? It's exactly like the live version, but actually I kinda doubt that they copied it, because I would be surprised if anybody in the NBA's front office has listened to any music put out since 1985. OK, fine, I copies Simmons on that one.
- Roy is starting to be aggressive and driving to the hole, and the Bobcats can't stop him. What other player in the league is so effective in the fourth compared to the rest of the game? Is there anybody?
- WHY IS CHANNING FRYE IN THE FREAKING GAME STILL? He has been the biggest disappointment all season, in my opinion. Even Mike Rice agrees with me: "Channing Frye hasn't played this long since the 7th grade". And two years ago this guy was deemed "untouchable"? Could he be the next Jamaal Magloire?
- Frye grabs Raymond Felton and throws him down to the ground. Felton gets up and bumps Frye, and Jarrett Jack of all people has to stick up for the big man. Make Barrett calls the play a "good hard foul". I call it "cheap".
- Charlotte takes the lead back, 72-70. The PA announcer tries to start a Bobcats cheer, to no avail. Why did the NBA come back to Charlotte again?
- Wow, that was quick. A 14-6 run essentially ends any hope for Portland. Careless turnovers, no defense, dropping the balls out of bounds without even being pressured... I mean, I knew this was coming, but I'm still frustrated.
- For anybody who wanted to keep Outlaw over Udoka should watch the tape from tonight. He played like he's still in high school tonight.
Well, another road loss in the books. 4-7 overall, 0-7 on the road. Ouch. Frye and Outlaw, to me, have been the most disappointing players so far, but the coaching really needs to be examined. We can't keep giving Nate a free ride here. Sometimes his substitutions are just inexplicable. He gets carried away with the three-guard rotation too early, he plays Jack and Outlaw too much because I suspect he really likes them as people, he won't give Sergio a chance, and doesn't use his bigs efficiently. I can't remember if I saw a Przybilla-Aldridge combo on the low block tonight, even once.
Anyways, we're back home for four more games. An important stretch of games coming up. This might make or break our season right here.
TJH
PREGAME:
- I listened to the radio broadcast of the pregame show today, because I like Brian Wheeler and I am constantly amazed that Antonio Harvey has a job as a broadcaster. It's like if I were made the foreman of a meat-packing plant with no formal training or experience.
- Apparently McMillan is reconsidering playing uptempo. Umm... what?? We haven't been playing uptempo! That's part of the problem! Just because you say you want to play uptempo doesn't make you an uptempo team. You have to actually do it. Maybe if he would play Sergio for more than two minutes at a time they would have some success running.
- "Wheels" tells us the Bobcats are wearing their customary white jerseys, with Bobcats orange and Bobcats blue trim. I would have called Bobcats blue "light blue" and Bobcats orange "orange".
- Would a meat-packing plant even have a foreman?
- Antonio Harvey, or "'Tone", sees a golden opportunity for a joke. "You know- Charlotte Bobcats orange, huh? It's- it's- you know, you never can tell what that... that owner, the owner of the Bobcats - I mean, m- make a color for me!" I am not making this up.
FIRST QUARTER:
- Webster starts things off by nailing a wide open three from the corner, and then skying high for a block on Primoz Brezec. Good sign. The fifty people in attendance surely are impressed so far by this Webster guy.
- OK, back to the TV broadcast. Steve Blake misses an open fifteen footer, and Mike Rice says that's "not the type of shot he should be taking. He should be taking more of those shots that he was making earlier in the season." Ladies and gents, Mike "Wild" Rice!
- Emeka Okafor of the Bobcats draws the first foul on Joel Przybilla. Hey, Joel shaved! Too bad. Okafor, by the way, averages under 15 points a game for his career and has been saddled with injuries, but just turned down a contract extension worth $13 million a year.
- Charlotte takes an early lead. Dick Bavetta sees a group of players get tangled up under the basket and blows his whistle for three straight seconds. Maybe he fell asleep. Joel "steals" the tap, and gets called for it. Gerald Wallace is then called for an offensive foul with nobody within six feet of him. Make-up call! And Bennett Salvatore insists they don't exist...
- The Blazers climb to within three, and Bavetta blows the whistle on Roy. Did he travel? Was there a foul? Nobody knows. McMillan bites his lip and calls timeout. After the timeout, still nobody knows what the call was for, and they just give it back to Portland. How old is Dick Bavetta, 85?
- Mike Barrett says Channing Frye misses a "layin". It's not "layin", it's "layup", and I've always thought people who say "layin" are like those people who actually pronounce the 'h' in "white" and "what": pretentious scumbags. Kevin, you would know, is it layin or layup?
- Przybilla makes a driving LAYUP at the end of the quarter, bringing us to within one point. Hey, look at that! We're actually in the game still, against a mediocre Eastern Conference team! Impressive.
SECOND QUARTER:
- Mike Barrett calls Greg Oden a "freak". He probably means it in a good way. Jarrett Jack gives us the lead.
- Isaac and Big Suke are coming to television. No, really, they are actually getting a show on the new Comcast channel. For those of you who don't know, Isaac and Big Suke are the hosts of Portland's most popular sports radio show, and demonstrate the combined mental capacity of a relatively well-to-do hamster. So it's just gonna be them talking, like the Lars Larson show, or Rush Limbaugh, or that show on channel 14 with that guy who thinks he's black who brings in all his friends to the set so they can laugh at his bad jokes. Seriously, who watches a Rush Limbaugh radio show? That would only be worth it if he ever did something like make fun of people with Parkinson's disease on the show. Oh, wait...
- Dang, does that woman have a moustache? Oh, never mind, it's just Jeff McInnis.
- The Blazers have 9 turnovers in just over 15 minutes of play. Par for the course, I guess. Blazers down by five.
- More Bavetta: McInnis tries the old "pull your opponent's shorts off and hope to draw a foul" play on Aldridge, and it works. It's Aldridge's 3rd foul, so he sits down. He looks exasperated.
- Mike Barrett teases Mike Rice for eating a whole bowl of M&Ms before the first half even ends. Wait, isn't this guy an announcer? He eats candy during the game? Wait, hold that thought - courtside reporter Rebecca Haarlow has an update! "I ate some of the M&Ms" she admits. Keep in mind that this is happening during the game. I'm tempted to put Wheels and Tone back on.
- Blazers can't seem to get things going, yet again. Aldridge has three fouls, Frye is looking absolutely horrible, so, Blazers down by seven, Josh McRoberts enters the game for his first NBA minutes. Yes! Or, rather, minute. Only 50 seconds left in the half. He enters to a chorus of boos (there are now 200 Bobcats supporters in the arena). I like him so far. He has a good haircut.
- Portland takes a timeout to talk about a final play. The arena plays a country music song during the timeout. Man, I wonder why they can't get any people to come to the games?
- Blake hits a half court shot to make it 40-36, Charlotte. Pretty close.
THIRD QUARTER:
- Channing Frye starts the half off by banking a shot in at the elbow and pretending he did it on purpose.
- Sam Vincent is the new Bobcats coach. I would have had no idea that was Sam - he looks completely different. He shaved his head, and it looks like all of his assistants did too. Is it like a tribute to Michael Jordan? He hired them, after all.
- Frye is absolutely unwilling to crash the boards, forcing Roy to battle Okafor down low. Needless to say, Portland isn't getting many rebounds.
- Jason Richardson makes it 59-52, Charlotte, but four quick points by Jarrett Jack makes it a three point game.
- The teams trade baskets for a while. We even get to see Travis Outlaw dunk, which is like the first one I've seen all season. Remember last year against the Suns when he skied above Stoudamire and could have slammed it down but instead he decided on a finger-roll? What a bonehead.
- Webster's first clutch three pointer in 4 games makes it 63-61, Bobcats. End of the quarter, and we're still in this!
FOURTH QUARTER:
- Does anybody else think that the song from the NBA's "Where Amazing Happens" commercials is a complete ripoff of "Like Spinning Plates" by Radiohead? It's exactly like the live version, but actually I kinda doubt that they copied it, because I would be surprised if anybody in the NBA's front office has listened to any music put out since 1985. OK, fine, I copies Simmons on that one.
- Roy is starting to be aggressive and driving to the hole, and the Bobcats can't stop him. What other player in the league is so effective in the fourth compared to the rest of the game? Is there anybody?
- WHY IS CHANNING FRYE IN THE FREAKING GAME STILL? He has been the biggest disappointment all season, in my opinion. Even Mike Rice agrees with me: "Channing Frye hasn't played this long since the 7th grade". And two years ago this guy was deemed "untouchable"? Could he be the next Jamaal Magloire?
- Frye grabs Raymond Felton and throws him down to the ground. Felton gets up and bumps Frye, and Jarrett Jack of all people has to stick up for the big man. Make Barrett calls the play a "good hard foul". I call it "cheap".
- Charlotte takes the lead back, 72-70. The PA announcer tries to start a Bobcats cheer, to no avail. Why did the NBA come back to Charlotte again?
- Wow, that was quick. A 14-6 run essentially ends any hope for Portland. Careless turnovers, no defense, dropping the balls out of bounds without even being pressured... I mean, I knew this was coming, but I'm still frustrated.
- For anybody who wanted to keep Outlaw over Udoka should watch the tape from tonight. He played like he's still in high school tonight.
Well, another road loss in the books. 4-7 overall, 0-7 on the road. Ouch. Frye and Outlaw, to me, have been the most disappointing players so far, but the coaching really needs to be examined. We can't keep giving Nate a free ride here. Sometimes his substitutions are just inexplicable. He gets carried away with the three-guard rotation too early, he plays Jack and Outlaw too much because I suspect he really likes them as people, he won't give Sergio a chance, and doesn't use his bigs efficiently. I can't remember if I saw a Przybilla-Aldridge combo on the low block tonight, even once.
Anyways, we're back home for four more games. An important stretch of games coming up. This might make or break our season right here.
TJH
16 November 2007
Anatomy of a Collapse
I actually have a free Friday night for once, so what better way to spend my time than to watch the Blazers take care of business in Philadelphia? This will be a sure win for Portland, as Philly is the closest thing the NBA has to an AAU team. A running diary:
PREGAME:
- Of course, we get to see Mo Cheeks, coach of the 76ers and former Blazers coach, help out the little girl sing the national anthem. That is the single most identifiably Maurice Cheeks moment in Portland. Funny how it has nothing to do with basketball. Michael Holton, pregame co-host, says about Cheeks, "that's what coaches do - extract the talent in people".
- New courtside reporter Rebecca Haarlow interviews Josh McRoberts, who still isn't suiting up for games. "Are you happy you're back practicing at full strength?" she asks Josh. "Yes", he says, "I'm happy". Nice lob, Rebecca.
- Announcer Mike Rice gives his "Keys to the Game": Stop the fast break, record at least 23 assists, and convert points off turnovers. My keys would have been: score more points, make sure the other team loses, and make shots. I like my keys better.
- Tonight's referees are listed on the screen, as Rice loudly groans, sounding like a dad hearing his 15-year old son impregnated his girlfriend.
- We're about ready, and Mo Cheeks is smiling at something. Maybe he was thinking about a good joke he heard earlier. Or that kitten he saved from that runaway cement truck. He sure is a nice guy.
FIRST QUARTER
- Portland races to an early 7-2 lead. Sam Dalembert looks bored. He is making $10 million dollars this season, and he's playing with the intensity of a game of stickball at a Dalembert family reunion.
- The Wachovia Center is empty. I mean, empty. There must be like 6,000 people in attendance. And I think they're already booing.
- Evidence that Maurice Cheeks doesn't know what he's doing: There has been nothing but isolation plays from the 76ers for the first five minutes of the game. Remember when he coached in Portland and players would just run around and do whatever they wanted on offense? Remember how nobody ever ran plays or even used pick and rolls? How does Cheeks still have a job?
- Calvin Booth enters the game for Philly. Calvin Booth?!? Who else do they have on their bench, Calbert Cheaney?
- Kevin Ollie enters the game for Philly. Seriously, what other surprises are they gonna pull out of the bag?
- 17-11 Portland. Both teams are playing terribly. Lamarcus Aldridge just jumped up for a rebound and forgot to use his arms.
- Right now Philly's lineup consists up Calvin Booth and four guards. By the way, Philly already has 9 turnovers, and the first quarter isn't even over yet.
SECOND QUARTER
- Yes! Sergio is in. Let's hope McMillan leaves him in long enough to make an impact.
- Outlaw hits a three, making it 24-14, Portland. Outlaw always looks like he is nervous and has no idea what's going on. He just grabbed the pass, looked around, kind of shrugged his shoulder and launched it up there. Amazingly, he made it.
- Webster and Blake have not been hitting the past few games, but tonight it seems like everyone is getting in on the action. Ten straight Blazer points make it 34-14. The fans are unhappy. Mike Rice to Cheeks: "The fans hate your team!"
- Andre Iguodala has six turnovers already. Wow, this team is bad. Would this team even compete in the D-League? I say probably.
- A 9-0 Sixers run ends the first half, and they still are down by 16 at 41-25.
THIRD QUARTER
- Is that... World B. Free?!? He's alive?? Wow! By the way, he's wearing exactly what you would expect from somebody called "World B. Free".
- 50-38. Some uninspiring basketball right now. Portland is lucky to be up still. They can't hit shots, they aren't playing defense, and for some reason they aren't trying to post up Calvin Booth and Jason Smith. This doesn't look good.
- Samuel Dalembert bricks a 20 foot jumper. Who does he think he is, World B. Free??
- The Sixers are still playing small. Iguodala is playing power forward. McMillan doesn't realize this, apparently, because they won't throw it in down low. Well, I shouldn't second guess him, he obviously knows what he's doing. It's not like he could get outcoached by Maurice Freaking Cheeks.
- Channing Frye drops the ball off his foot for the third time tonight. Why is it so difficult to hold onto the ball?
FOURTH QUARTER
- Okay, we're still looking good, up 72-56. My guess is that Philly tries to make this interesting by taking advantage of the fact that the Blazers aren't playing defense tonight.
- Yep. An 11-2 Sixers run cuts the Blazer lead to 9. We were up 25 in this game, by the way. A guy called Louis Williams has scored 14 straight points.
- Cheeks promptly pulls Louis Williams out of the game. Good move, Cheeks. Take out your hottest player in the middle of a great run. Well done.
- OK, this doesn't look good. Blazers only up by three. Amazing. Jack and Outlaw have been in this whole quarter. Why?? Jack has dribbled the ball out of bounds twice in two minutes, and Outlaw just dribbled straight into a double team. You're telling me you'd rather have Outlaw than Ime Udoka?? Brandon Roy is on the bench as Philadelphia climbs back into the game.
- Jarrett Jack steps out of bounds again. Still a three point game.
- Philly is scoring on every possession, because the Blazers have decided to not play defense tonight. Przybilla is not in the game for some reason. He could possibly be putting pressure on these Sixers who are laying the ball in uncontested. Good thing Roy is taking over.
- Mike Rice thinks the Sixers are playing with a higher "hustle quotient" than the Blazers. I think the Blazers don't want to win this game.
- Webster misses a wide open three and foolishly fouls Iguodala in the backcourt, sending him to the line. He makes two to give the Sixers their first lead of the game.
- The thing to do here would be to throw it into Aldridge down low, so the Blazers kick it around until they find Steve Blake at the three point line. He misses the shot and fouls Iguodala, who makes two more free throws. Philly up by three.
- Another missed three, another foul. Blazers lose.
I can't believe what I just saw. What a terrible, terrible display. The Blazers were up by 25 to the Philadelphia 76ers and lost the game. Nate McMillan was outcoached by Cheeks tonight. That's unacceptable. Any positivity that was gained by the home stretch is now gone. This is a new low. Historic, really. This is what we are trying to get away from, this disgusting style of basketball that is based on dumb play and lackluster effort. Games like this ruin any goodwill that fans have been starting to show. Jarrett Jack is pathetic, Travis Outlaw is a disgrace, and McMillan is in over his head. Blake is overpaid, Aldridge has miles to go before he becomes even decent, and Webster is garbage.
My friend Andy texted me after the game: "This is a joke. We're an absolute joke. I'm ashamed to be a Blazer fan."
Amen, brother. I am ashamed to have any association with this pathetic franchise, this group of overpaid worthless morons. This is why people have turned their backs on the team. Any more games like this, and they'll be lucky they have any fans left.
TJH
PREGAME:
- Of course, we get to see Mo Cheeks, coach of the 76ers and former Blazers coach, help out the little girl sing the national anthem. That is the single most identifiably Maurice Cheeks moment in Portland. Funny how it has nothing to do with basketball. Michael Holton, pregame co-host, says about Cheeks, "that's what coaches do - extract the talent in people".
- New courtside reporter Rebecca Haarlow interviews Josh McRoberts, who still isn't suiting up for games. "Are you happy you're back practicing at full strength?" she asks Josh. "Yes", he says, "I'm happy". Nice lob, Rebecca.
- Announcer Mike Rice gives his "Keys to the Game": Stop the fast break, record at least 23 assists, and convert points off turnovers. My keys would have been: score more points, make sure the other team loses, and make shots. I like my keys better.
- Tonight's referees are listed on the screen, as Rice loudly groans, sounding like a dad hearing his 15-year old son impregnated his girlfriend.
- We're about ready, and Mo Cheeks is smiling at something. Maybe he was thinking about a good joke he heard earlier. Or that kitten he saved from that runaway cement truck. He sure is a nice guy.
FIRST QUARTER
- Portland races to an early 7-2 lead. Sam Dalembert looks bored. He is making $10 million dollars this season, and he's playing with the intensity of a game of stickball at a Dalembert family reunion.
- The Wachovia Center is empty. I mean, empty. There must be like 6,000 people in attendance. And I think they're already booing.
- Evidence that Maurice Cheeks doesn't know what he's doing: There has been nothing but isolation plays from the 76ers for the first five minutes of the game. Remember when he coached in Portland and players would just run around and do whatever they wanted on offense? Remember how nobody ever ran plays or even used pick and rolls? How does Cheeks still have a job?
- Calvin Booth enters the game for Philly. Calvin Booth?!? Who else do they have on their bench, Calbert Cheaney?
- Kevin Ollie enters the game for Philly. Seriously, what other surprises are they gonna pull out of the bag?
- 17-11 Portland. Both teams are playing terribly. Lamarcus Aldridge just jumped up for a rebound and forgot to use his arms.
- Right now Philly's lineup consists up Calvin Booth and four guards. By the way, Philly already has 9 turnovers, and the first quarter isn't even over yet.
SECOND QUARTER
- Yes! Sergio is in. Let's hope McMillan leaves him in long enough to make an impact.
- Outlaw hits a three, making it 24-14, Portland. Outlaw always looks like he is nervous and has no idea what's going on. He just grabbed the pass, looked around, kind of shrugged his shoulder and launched it up there. Amazingly, he made it.
- Webster and Blake have not been hitting the past few games, but tonight it seems like everyone is getting in on the action. Ten straight Blazer points make it 34-14. The fans are unhappy. Mike Rice to Cheeks: "The fans hate your team!"
- Andre Iguodala has six turnovers already. Wow, this team is bad. Would this team even compete in the D-League? I say probably.
- A 9-0 Sixers run ends the first half, and they still are down by 16 at 41-25.
THIRD QUARTER
- Is that... World B. Free?!? He's alive?? Wow! By the way, he's wearing exactly what you would expect from somebody called "World B. Free".
- 50-38. Some uninspiring basketball right now. Portland is lucky to be up still. They can't hit shots, they aren't playing defense, and for some reason they aren't trying to post up Calvin Booth and Jason Smith. This doesn't look good.
- Samuel Dalembert bricks a 20 foot jumper. Who does he think he is, World B. Free??
- The Sixers are still playing small. Iguodala is playing power forward. McMillan doesn't realize this, apparently, because they won't throw it in down low. Well, I shouldn't second guess him, he obviously knows what he's doing. It's not like he could get outcoached by Maurice Freaking Cheeks.
- Channing Frye drops the ball off his foot for the third time tonight. Why is it so difficult to hold onto the ball?
FOURTH QUARTER
- Okay, we're still looking good, up 72-56. My guess is that Philly tries to make this interesting by taking advantage of the fact that the Blazers aren't playing defense tonight.
- Yep. An 11-2 Sixers run cuts the Blazer lead to 9. We were up 25 in this game, by the way. A guy called Louis Williams has scored 14 straight points.
- Cheeks promptly pulls Louis Williams out of the game. Good move, Cheeks. Take out your hottest player in the middle of a great run. Well done.
- OK, this doesn't look good. Blazers only up by three. Amazing. Jack and Outlaw have been in this whole quarter. Why?? Jack has dribbled the ball out of bounds twice in two minutes, and Outlaw just dribbled straight into a double team. You're telling me you'd rather have Outlaw than Ime Udoka?? Brandon Roy is on the bench as Philadelphia climbs back into the game.
- Jarrett Jack steps out of bounds again. Still a three point game.
- Philly is scoring on every possession, because the Blazers have decided to not play defense tonight. Przybilla is not in the game for some reason. He could possibly be putting pressure on these Sixers who are laying the ball in uncontested. Good thing Roy is taking over.
- Mike Rice thinks the Sixers are playing with a higher "hustle quotient" than the Blazers. I think the Blazers don't want to win this game.
- Webster misses a wide open three and foolishly fouls Iguodala in the backcourt, sending him to the line. He makes two to give the Sixers their first lead of the game.
- The thing to do here would be to throw it into Aldridge down low, so the Blazers kick it around until they find Steve Blake at the three point line. He misses the shot and fouls Iguodala, who makes two more free throws. Philly up by three.
- Another missed three, another foul. Blazers lose.
I can't believe what I just saw. What a terrible, terrible display. The Blazers were up by 25 to the Philadelphia 76ers and lost the game. Nate McMillan was outcoached by Cheeks tonight. That's unacceptable. Any positivity that was gained by the home stretch is now gone. This is a new low. Historic, really. This is what we are trying to get away from, this disgusting style of basketball that is based on dumb play and lackluster effort. Games like this ruin any goodwill that fans have been starting to show. Jarrett Jack is pathetic, Travis Outlaw is a disgrace, and McMillan is in over his head. Blake is overpaid, Aldridge has miles to go before he becomes even decent, and Webster is garbage.
My friend Andy texted me after the game: "This is a joke. We're an absolute joke. I'm ashamed to be a Blazer fan."
Amen, brother. I am ashamed to have any association with this pathetic franchise, this group of overpaid worthless morons. This is why people have turned their backs on the team. Any more games like this, and they'll be lucky they have any fans left.
TJH
15 November 2007
Down With the Ducks
I've noticed that lately, at least in Portland, there's been this overwhelming outflow of support for the Oregon Ducks football team. Apparently they've been winning at such a clip that they are (sorry, were) the 2nd highest ranked team in the country. Ducks headlines dominate television, sports radio, and the newspaper, and as an Oregonian, I guess I am supposed to care about the team.
I don't in the least.
Look, there are three things that would serve as an excuse to support the Oregon Ducks:
1. You live in Eugene or close to it.
2. You go to the University of Oregon.
3. You are an alumnus of the University of Oregon.
Nothing else. Why should a Portlander care about the Ducks? It seems to me that we should support our hometown teams, rather than whatever team is most successful in our general area. Doesn't that sound like fair-weather fandom? That said, we shouldn't have to support the Mariners just because they are the closest baseball team, or we shouldn't have to support the Seahawks. Neither should we support the Ducks, who lucked their way into the national spotlight by way of the incredible donations of its millionaire alumni. It seems to me like the local teams should take up the lion's share of local media coverage. My biggest issue with the Ducks, and American football in general, is that it's not local, yet it takes precedence over OUR teams like the Blazers, the Vikings, and the Pilots.
When I bring up the Pilots women soccer team, people say that "nobody cares" about soccer. Well, would people care if you could watch games and have access to relevant information about the team? What if you could make up your own mind based on equal opportunities? They recently drew a #2 seed in the NCAA soccer tournament, but you wouldn't know that if you didn't actively search for that information. Soccer would be popular, and myths regarding its entertainment value would be quickly destroyed, if you were actually given an opportunity to watch and follow the sport.
Tonight was a great night for real sports fans in Portland. The Ducks lost, and are out of national title contention. Finally. Maybe they will start talking about teams that are actually close to us, teams that actually matter. On the whole, Portlanders don't care about American football. There is but a small amount of people here in this city who routinely waste their weekends watching a ridiculous game that nobody outside of the United States even recognizes as a sport. If people like American football, if it truly brings some people joy, then that's fine. People should be able to do what makes them happy. But time after time, we are led to believe that we don't have any other choices. That watching American football and caring about the results actually matter to us.
The Blazers are off to their best start in years, and the Pilots are poised for another championship run, but Duck news comes first in this town, as always. At any rate, football's almost over, and for the Ducks, the season always ends with a matchup against their rival, the Beavers from Oregon State University, who (when they're winning) we're also expected to support blindly. And year after year, I tell people the same thing when they ask me who I want to win:
Can't they both lose?
TJH
I don't in the least.
Look, there are three things that would serve as an excuse to support the Oregon Ducks:
1. You live in Eugene or close to it.
2. You go to the University of Oregon.
3. You are an alumnus of the University of Oregon.
Nothing else. Why should a Portlander care about the Ducks? It seems to me that we should support our hometown teams, rather than whatever team is most successful in our general area. Doesn't that sound like fair-weather fandom? That said, we shouldn't have to support the Mariners just because they are the closest baseball team, or we shouldn't have to support the Seahawks. Neither should we support the Ducks, who lucked their way into the national spotlight by way of the incredible donations of its millionaire alumni. It seems to me like the local teams should take up the lion's share of local media coverage. My biggest issue with the Ducks, and American football in general, is that it's not local, yet it takes precedence over OUR teams like the Blazers, the Vikings, and the Pilots.
When I bring up the Pilots women soccer team, people say that "nobody cares" about soccer. Well, would people care if you could watch games and have access to relevant information about the team? What if you could make up your own mind based on equal opportunities? They recently drew a #2 seed in the NCAA soccer tournament, but you wouldn't know that if you didn't actively search for that information. Soccer would be popular, and myths regarding its entertainment value would be quickly destroyed, if you were actually given an opportunity to watch and follow the sport.
Tonight was a great night for real sports fans in Portland. The Ducks lost, and are out of national title contention. Finally. Maybe they will start talking about teams that are actually close to us, teams that actually matter. On the whole, Portlanders don't care about American football. There is but a small amount of people here in this city who routinely waste their weekends watching a ridiculous game that nobody outside of the United States even recognizes as a sport. If people like American football, if it truly brings some people joy, then that's fine. People should be able to do what makes them happy. But time after time, we are led to believe that we don't have any other choices. That watching American football and caring about the results actually matter to us.
The Blazers are off to their best start in years, and the Pilots are poised for another championship run, but Duck news comes first in this town, as always. At any rate, football's almost over, and for the Ducks, the season always ends with a matchup against their rival, the Beavers from Oregon State University, who (when they're winning) we're also expected to support blindly. And year after year, I tell people the same thing when they ask me who I want to win:
Can't they both lose?
TJH
14 November 2007
The Streak
For the last four games I haven't wanted to write or say anything about it because I didn't want to jinx it. Like watching a pitcher throw a perfect game, I didn't want to say anything until it was over. But since Ty already broke the seal, might as well.
Four in a row? When was the last time that happened? When was the last time we were over .500?! Jack off the bench is huge for us, and hopefully coach keeps him there, maybe he can give Jason Terry a run for 6th man of the year? Nah.
My friend Brett texted me from the game telling me it was throwback night and that Duckworth looked like he was well over sumo-size, I didn't know if that was any different, but to be honest, I didn't really believe that the Blaze-show would be able to take down the Pistons.
I still am not going to say they will make the playoffs, a lot can happen in the next 75 games, but this is the most excited I have been about a Blazers season since Kobe lobbed it to Shaq.
KT
Four in a row? When was the last time that happened? When was the last time we were over .500?! Jack off the bench is huge for us, and hopefully coach keeps him there, maybe he can give Jason Terry a run for 6th man of the year? Nah.
My friend Brett texted me from the game telling me it was throwback night and that Duckworth looked like he was well over sumo-size, I didn't know if that was any different, but to be honest, I didn't really believe that the Blaze-show would be able to take down the Pistons.
I still am not going to say they will make the playoffs, a lot can happen in the next 75 games, but this is the most excited I have been about a Blazers season since Kobe lobbed it to Shaq.
KT
13 November 2007
The Optimist
Although I like to portray myself as a confident, intelligent, mature, sure-of-himself "man", I'm not. I constantly fear that I am going to be kicked out of school, or be fired, or the birds flying overhead are all going to poop on my head. If a cop pulls up behind me I start shaking so much I get tunnel vision. If I hear a noise at night it's surely a burglar rummaging around for my Les Paul or my collectible Blazers glasses I got at Dairy Queen in 1993. I am basically a child in almost every sense of the word.
Along with that comes a deep-seeded pessimism that I can't seem to shake. It doesn't help that I support the Portland Trail Blazers, of all teams. A team that has likely blown more leads than any other American professional sports team. A team that has conditioned its fans to understand that the lead won't last, the wins won't matter, and the good times might not have even existed.
So what's there to say about our recent homestand? Four strong teams... and four wins. On Saturday, after win #3 against Dallas, who only finished with the league's best record last season, I called my friend Andy to talk about the game:
ANDY: Dude, that was ugly.
TY: I know. Man. Where was Webster tonight? Only 2 points!
ANDY: What about Outlaw? Why was he in the game for the whole fourth quarter?
TY: And Dallas didn't even have Devin Harris tonight. Also, will Nate not even consider putting Sergio in at any point in the second half? I thought he wanted to run!
(Long pause)
ANDY: Man, what are we complaining for? We won!
Exactly! What was there to really complain about? We're winning, and we're not even firing on all cylinders. Webster's shot isn't falling. Outlaw is running around clueless. The whole team suddenly can't hit free throws. McMillan still doesn't play Sergio enough. But... we're winning! And it's great that we're winning by not even playing that great. Imagine when everybody is on top of their game!
And it's weird, because tonight we were up by like five with two minutes to go, and I was sure that Portland would win. Absolutely sure. I would have bet both of my testicles, assuming that I had a great counter-bet on the table. I'm not gonna offer my testicles up for pennies on the dollar, that's for sure. But when was the last time you watched the Blazers confident that they would keep a close, late lead? 1994? 1978?
With every win comes more confidence and more optimism, not to mention getting closer to that point in time where I will be able to say I TOLD YOU SO to damn near everybody that I know, and bask in the glory of knowing that I am always, always, always right.
TJH
Along with that comes a deep-seeded pessimism that I can't seem to shake. It doesn't help that I support the Portland Trail Blazers, of all teams. A team that has likely blown more leads than any other American professional sports team. A team that has conditioned its fans to understand that the lead won't last, the wins won't matter, and the good times might not have even existed.
So what's there to say about our recent homestand? Four strong teams... and four wins. On Saturday, after win #3 against Dallas, who only finished with the league's best record last season, I called my friend Andy to talk about the game:
ANDY: Dude, that was ugly.
TY: I know. Man. Where was Webster tonight? Only 2 points!
ANDY: What about Outlaw? Why was he in the game for the whole fourth quarter?
TY: And Dallas didn't even have Devin Harris tonight. Also, will Nate not even consider putting Sergio in at any point in the second half? I thought he wanted to run!
(Long pause)
ANDY: Man, what are we complaining for? We won!
Exactly! What was there to really complain about? We're winning, and we're not even firing on all cylinders. Webster's shot isn't falling. Outlaw is running around clueless. The whole team suddenly can't hit free throws. McMillan still doesn't play Sergio enough. But... we're winning! And it's great that we're winning by not even playing that great. Imagine when everybody is on top of their game!
And it's weird, because tonight we were up by like five with two minutes to go, and I was sure that Portland would win. Absolutely sure. I would have bet both of my testicles, assuming that I had a great counter-bet on the table. I'm not gonna offer my testicles up for pennies on the dollar, that's for sure. But when was the last time you watched the Blazers confident that they would keep a close, late lead? 1994? 1978?
With every win comes more confidence and more optimism, not to mention getting closer to that point in time where I will be able to say I TOLD YOU SO to damn near everybody that I know, and bask in the glory of knowing that I am always, always, always right.
TJH
09 November 2007
Nate McMillan Thinks You Are Stupid (and Other Observations)
1. Jarrett Jack needs to be the underdog in order to succeed on the court. Period. No more bumping him around the lineup, no more giving him time to start at the point. No. Stop it. He is a back-up shooting guard, and I doubt he will ever get another permanent starting job in the league, based on his size and his nerves. That said, he played great against the Hornets, and was one of the reasons we won the game. I hope he keeps putting up those types of numbers, but I really hope that the coaches don't just look at the numbers and have him start again. There's more to the game than numbers, as anybody with even a passing interest in sports should be able to attest to. John Hollinger, ESPN's stats guru, wondered aloud why Portland signed Steve Blake. Keep in mind that John didn't actually watch many Blazer games over the past couple seasons, or else he would have realized that we needed some sort of stability and consistency from our point guards. Plus, part of the problem with Zach Randolph was that Jack would always resort to dumping the ball down low to him, regardless of how many people were already collapsed on him. Maybe they had some sort of secret agreement that may or may not have involved strippers or dog fighting. Either way, everyone knew what we were going to do every time we brought the ball down the court, and it got to the point where a rookie, of all people, had to go to Kevin Pritchard after the season and say, "Look, KP, this guy sucks! Get rid of him!"
Generally, I don't believe in the idea that the fear of losing a job results in increased efficiency. Then again, working in the x-ray department of a hospital is a little bit different than the world of professional basketball, which includes things like posses and big paychecks. I don't know what these things are, so how can I have an opinion that matters in the least?
That's like saying Oprah is a kind and selfless person because she donated a million dollars or two to some school in some part of Africa she knows nothing about. So she shows up to the opening clad in $50,000 sunglasses, waves and smiles for the cameras, and then goes home and immediately loses all interest in the school. Meanwhile, complaints of abuse arise within an incredibly short time of the school's opening, and Oprah goes on record to say she was shaken by the news. Shaken to her "very core".
First of all, Oprah, you're not a belief system or an apple. You're a person just like everyone else. Actually, you're worse than everyone else, because you throw money at something with hopes of increasing your reputation. You had nothing to do with the school, and people like me are offended that you pretend to care about anybody else but yourself. Also, you are helping facilitate the creation of a class system that inherently is unequal and unfair to kids who by chance don't get to go to your "school". And that's why Jarrett Jack shouldn't start.
2. I love Joel! I think he's been great this season. Here are some things I like about him:
- New free throw stance. Ugly beyong belief, but effective. Do you realize he's shooting 80%? That's higher than Brandon Roy! What a difference that makes, knowing we can risk throwing it in down low to the Thrilla.
- He blocks shots. There's only one thing I like seeing more than a great block, and that's Mike D'Antoni screaming at referees so hard that his whole body shakes. But honestly, nothing can top that.
- Four games in, and still healthy. A personal record!
3. In case you didn't notice this, Kevin, Nate McMillan recently gave an "explanation" as to why he doesn't play Sergio much. Basically, it's an "explanation" that basically surmounts to not really explaining why Sergio doesn't play, and surmising it's not even worth really explaining, because the fans are too dumb to understand.
I've been listening to Bill O'Reilly a lot lately on the way to school. It's been painful, but I find right wing radio fascinating, the way they completely avoid facts and logic and all those pesky details. Anyways, something that O'Reilly says alot to his viewers that question him about the war, or Big Oil, or Iran, goes something like this: "You just don't understand geopolitics." If there's anything I truly hate, it's people belittling me by saying I don't know what I'm talking about only because they disagree with me. Bill O'Reilly, after listening to him speak about what he knows about geopolitics, actually knows very, very little about the subject. Big surprise.
But what about Nate McMillan? Surely he can't be inferring that Sergio's defense is that much worse than Jarrett Jack's or Travis Outlaw's, because it clearly isn't. Here's the point that Jason Quick makes:
"Some of you have suggested coach Nate McMillan holds a grudge against Sergio. Some have said if the team is really serious about running, why not use Sergio extensively, since he flourishes in the open court? And some have pointed out that Jack makes many of the same mistakes as Sergio on both offense and defense, yet is afforded more of a leash."
Exactly! Well put, Quick. But does McMillan answer any of these questions? No. Here's what he says:
"It's combinations. You know, I'm not going to make an excuse to the fans for Sergio. There are things that we know ... there are issues. And fans see what they see. They see the fancy plays and the passes. They don't see both ends of the floor. They don't see when we are getting out of defenses, what calls are made."
How does he know we don't watch both ends of the floor? Some of us have evolved to the point where we aren't just watching the ball move around. Does he think that us Sergio supporters aren't aware of his poor defense? Sure, he needs to improve on defense. So does Steve Nash. Does McMillan understand the pitfalls of playing fast paced ball? You can't really play lockdown D when you're running. Sure, defensive stops lead to fast breaks, but you also need to conserve energy if you're going to run. Come on, Nate. The game is simpler than most of these guys make it out to be.
Kevin, I'm in the eye of the hurricane, and I'm as confused as you.
I'd respond to your other points, but it's game time. We'll be 2-3 after tonight, and that actually look pretty darn good.
TJH
Generally, I don't believe in the idea that the fear of losing a job results in increased efficiency. Then again, working in the x-ray department of a hospital is a little bit different than the world of professional basketball, which includes things like posses and big paychecks. I don't know what these things are, so how can I have an opinion that matters in the least?
That's like saying Oprah is a kind and selfless person because she donated a million dollars or two to some school in some part of Africa she knows nothing about. So she shows up to the opening clad in $50,000 sunglasses, waves and smiles for the cameras, and then goes home and immediately loses all interest in the school. Meanwhile, complaints of abuse arise within an incredibly short time of the school's opening, and Oprah goes on record to say she was shaken by the news. Shaken to her "very core".
First of all, Oprah, you're not a belief system or an apple. You're a person just like everyone else. Actually, you're worse than everyone else, because you throw money at something with hopes of increasing your reputation. You had nothing to do with the school, and people like me are offended that you pretend to care about anybody else but yourself. Also, you are helping facilitate the creation of a class system that inherently is unequal and unfair to kids who by chance don't get to go to your "school". And that's why Jarrett Jack shouldn't start.
2. I love Joel! I think he's been great this season. Here are some things I like about him:
- New free throw stance. Ugly beyong belief, but effective. Do you realize he's shooting 80%? That's higher than Brandon Roy! What a difference that makes, knowing we can risk throwing it in down low to the Thrilla.
- He blocks shots. There's only one thing I like seeing more than a great block, and that's Mike D'Antoni screaming at referees so hard that his whole body shakes. But honestly, nothing can top that.
- Four games in, and still healthy. A personal record!
3. In case you didn't notice this, Kevin, Nate McMillan recently gave an "explanation" as to why he doesn't play Sergio much. Basically, it's an "explanation" that basically surmounts to not really explaining why Sergio doesn't play, and surmising it's not even worth really explaining, because the fans are too dumb to understand.
I've been listening to Bill O'Reilly a lot lately on the way to school. It's been painful, but I find right wing radio fascinating, the way they completely avoid facts and logic and all those pesky details. Anyways, something that O'Reilly says alot to his viewers that question him about the war, or Big Oil, or Iran, goes something like this: "You just don't understand geopolitics." If there's anything I truly hate, it's people belittling me by saying I don't know what I'm talking about only because they disagree with me. Bill O'Reilly, after listening to him speak about what he knows about geopolitics, actually knows very, very little about the subject. Big surprise.
But what about Nate McMillan? Surely he can't be inferring that Sergio's defense is that much worse than Jarrett Jack's or Travis Outlaw's, because it clearly isn't. Here's the point that Jason Quick makes:
"Some of you have suggested coach Nate McMillan holds a grudge against Sergio. Some have said if the team is really serious about running, why not use Sergio extensively, since he flourishes in the open court? And some have pointed out that Jack makes many of the same mistakes as Sergio on both offense and defense, yet is afforded more of a leash."
Exactly! Well put, Quick. But does McMillan answer any of these questions? No. Here's what he says:
"It's combinations. You know, I'm not going to make an excuse to the fans for Sergio. There are things that we know ... there are issues. And fans see what they see. They see the fancy plays and the passes. They don't see both ends of the floor. They don't see when we are getting out of defenses, what calls are made."
How does he know we don't watch both ends of the floor? Some of us have evolved to the point where we aren't just watching the ball move around. Does he think that us Sergio supporters aren't aware of his poor defense? Sure, he needs to improve on defense. So does Steve Nash. Does McMillan understand the pitfalls of playing fast paced ball? You can't really play lockdown D when you're running. Sure, defensive stops lead to fast breaks, but you also need to conserve energy if you're going to run. Come on, Nate. The game is simpler than most of these guys make it out to be.
Kevin, I'm in the eye of the hurricane, and I'm as confused as you.
I'd respond to your other points, but it's game time. We'll be 2-3 after tonight, and that actually look pretty darn good.
TJH
A look at the stats...
After the first four games, and our first win, there are a few things I notice when looking at the team stats...
1. Jack's assist-to-turnover ratio is upside down at 2.5 apg to 3 tpg. I like him coming off the bench, actually, I like him coming off someone else's bench, but if we are going to keep him on the squad I would much much much rather see Blake or Sergio or even Green start over him. Jack's fan club will say that he scored 20 off the bench, but how many times do we expect him to do that once he gets used to being on the bench and he loses the, "oh my god I'm benched!" motivation.
2. Ty, maybe you can explain to me why everyone in Portland is so high on Joel Billa? I told my friend Andy that the only reason he is starting is because he is a 7-footer and McMillan must adhere to the archaic philosophy that you have to start a 7-footer at center if you have one. The guy is getting 8 boards a game and 7.5 ppg and and 3/4 of a block (which is what we are paying him for, right?), he can do all that with his 22 mpg off the bench. I hate when big guys start just because they are big. That's clearly the case here.
3. Sergio = 10 mpg in 3/4 games played. What is coach's deal with this guy? It's like he's the next Larry Brown or something when it comes to playing young guys. Newsflash, everyone on the Blazers was born in the mid-eighties! Besides our token white centers. The game against the Spurs he provided an incredible spark off the bench and then rode the pine the rest of the game. I don't get it. Maybe someone closer to the madness can clue me in.
4. Webster is for real. The guy can shoot, drive, and rebound a little. I'm a huge fan so far. Roy, Webster, and Aldridge are a great foundation.
5. Raef needs some more minutes! 5 mpg in 2 games played? He's the highest paid player on the team, we might as well get a little mileage out of him when we pull Joel Billa after he plays his two minutes.
6. We got so many big white guys on this team we could start our own D-League Team!
KT
1. Jack's assist-to-turnover ratio is upside down at 2.5 apg to 3 tpg. I like him coming off the bench, actually, I like him coming off someone else's bench, but if we are going to keep him on the squad I would much much much rather see Blake or Sergio or even Green start over him. Jack's fan club will say that he scored 20 off the bench, but how many times do we expect him to do that once he gets used to being on the bench and he loses the, "oh my god I'm benched!" motivation.
2. Ty, maybe you can explain to me why everyone in Portland is so high on Joel Billa? I told my friend Andy that the only reason he is starting is because he is a 7-footer and McMillan must adhere to the archaic philosophy that you have to start a 7-footer at center if you have one. The guy is getting 8 boards a game and 7.5 ppg and and 3/4 of a block (which is what we are paying him for, right?), he can do all that with his 22 mpg off the bench. I hate when big guys start just because they are big. That's clearly the case here.
3. Sergio = 10 mpg in 3/4 games played. What is coach's deal with this guy? It's like he's the next Larry Brown or something when it comes to playing young guys. Newsflash, everyone on the Blazers was born in the mid-eighties! Besides our token white centers. The game against the Spurs he provided an incredible spark off the bench and then rode the pine the rest of the game. I don't get it. Maybe someone closer to the madness can clue me in.
4. Webster is for real. The guy can shoot, drive, and rebound a little. I'm a huge fan so far. Roy, Webster, and Aldridge are a great foundation.
5. Raef needs some more minutes! 5 mpg in 2 games played? He's the highest paid player on the team, we might as well get a little mileage out of him when we pull Joel Billa after he plays his two minutes.
6. We got so many big white guys on this team we could start our own D-League Team!
KT
| | |||||||||||||||
| Player | G | GS | MPG | FG% | 3p% | FT% | OFF | DEF | TOT | APG | SPG | BPG | TO | PF | PPG |
| Brandon Roy | 4 | 4 | 38.0 | .475 | .375 | .750 | 1.00 | 2.30 | 3.30 | 5.3 | .25 | .50 | 2.25 | 1.30 | 17.5 |
| Martell Webster | 4 | 4 | 36.8 | .500 | .409 | .889 | .80 | 3.50 | 4.30 | 1.8 | 1.00 | .50 | 2.00 | 1.80 | 17.3 |
| LaMarcus Aldridge | 4 | 4 | 31.5 | .483 | .000 | .846 | 3.30 | 3.80 | 7.00 | .5 | .25 | 1.00 | 1.75 | 3.80 | 16.8 |
| Joel Przybilla | 4 | 3 | 21.8 | .474 | .000 | .800 | 1.80 | 6.50 | 8.30 | .5 | .00 | .75 | 1.50 | 3.50 | 7.5 |
| Jarrett Jack | 4 | 3 | 24.5 | .333 | .500 | .833 | .80 | 2.50 | 3.30 | 2.3 | .50 | .00 | 3.00 | 1.30 | 6.8 |
| Travis Outlaw | 4 | 0 | 22.3 | .324 | .000 | .750 | .30 | 2.80 | 3.00 | 1.3 | .50 | .00 | 1.00 | 1.80 | 6.3 |
| Steve Blake | 4 | 1 | 28.0 | .524 | .333 | .000 | .00 | 3.30 | 3.30 | 4.5 | .25 | .00 | 1.00 | 2.00 | 6.0 |
| James Jones | 3 | 0 | 12.0 | .583 | .500 | .000 | .30 | 1.30 | 1.70 | .0 | .33 | .00 | 1.33 | 1.00 | 5.3 |
| Channing Frye | 4 | 1 | 16.8 | .391 | .000 | .000 | 1.00 | 3.50 | 4.50 | 1.0 | .25 | .00 | .00 | 2.80 | 4.5 |
| Sergio Rodriguez | 3 | 0 | 10.0 | .364 | .250 | .500 | .30 | 1.00 | 1.30 | 1.0 | .33 | .00 | 1.33 | .30 | 3.3 |
| Raef LaFrentz | 2 | 0 | 5.0 | .333 | .000 | .000 | 1.00 | .00 | 1.00 | .0 | .00 | .00 | .00 | .50 | 2.0 |
| Taurean Green | 2 | 0 | 2.5 | .500 | 1.000 | .000 | .00 | .50 | .50 | .5 | .50 | .00 | .00 | .00 | 1.5 |
| Team Averages | 4 | 0 | 240.0 | .449 | .373 | .794 | 9.8 | 30.0 | 39.8 | 18.0 | 3.8 | 2.8 | 15.2 | 19.3 | 90.8 |
| Opponents | 4 | 0 | 240.0 | .452 | .313 | .785 | 12.8 | 31.5 | 44.3 | 20.3 | 7.5 | 2.5 | 10.8 | 19.3 | 99.5 |
06 November 2007
0-3
0-3 isn't too bad, just think, we could be 0-3 AND without our #1 pick in this years draft, oh wait...
No but really, they played those teams close, and they are all playoff caliber teams, and if McMillan really does start Blake over Jack we should win a few games in the near future.
One thing I hate about coaches though, especially early in the season, is pulling players for one mistake and not ever putting them back in the game. Coach them and let them go back out and do it again.
If we don't make the playoffs this year and we can steal another top pick in next years draft, maybe OJ Mayo can come in and play point...
No but really, they played those teams close, and they are all playoff caliber teams, and if McMillan really does start Blake over Jack we should win a few games in the near future.
One thing I hate about coaches though, especially early in the season, is pulling players for one mistake and not ever putting them back in the game. Coach them and let them go back out and do it again.
If we don't make the playoffs this year and we can steal another top pick in next years draft, maybe OJ Mayo can come in and play point...
05 November 2007
Pat Riley: Senile Old Git? (Part 2)
Pat Riley was not happy that San Antonio opened the season against Portland.
"They sent our most bitter rival for ring ceremony night, and San Antonio got, basically, the worst team in the league," Riley said about the Trail Blazers.
Meanwhile, the Heat stand little chance to make the playoffs in, basically, a pathetic conference. Good job guys.
TJH
"They sent our most bitter rival for ring ceremony night, and San Antonio got, basically, the worst team in the league," Riley said about the Trail Blazers.
Meanwhile, the Heat stand little chance to make the playoffs in, basically, a pathetic conference. Good job guys.
TJH
Three Times And You Lose
Ouch.
Not a great way to start a season.
First of all, we were unlucky to draw a three-game Southwest road trip to start the year. Before the trip, I thought we would make it out with one win. So it's not like this is entirely unexpected. I'd rather have a tough road trip at the beginning of the season anyways.
I see three problems so far:
1. Jarrett Jack. He might have deserved that starting spot on opening night, but at this point he should be fourth on the depth chart. His play has been excruciatingly bad, and right now he probably is the worst starter in the entire league. McMillan said after practice today that Steve Blake will be starting on Wednesday, which was probably a more obvious decision to make than Yes on 50. But worst of all, like I've said twelve million times, and nobody listens to me, and I'm at the point of berating complete strangers that walk by my house about it, but it's taking away playing time from Sergio Rodriguez, who is better than Jarrett Jack right now and could become the next Steve Nash. Compare this to Jarrett, who could, if he's lucky, become the next Vern Fleming. Which leads me to my next point...
2. Bad Coaching. For example, not playing Rodriguez. Sticking with lineups that clearly aren't working. Pulling Webster out of a game after one little mistake, yet sticking with Jack, who he is rumored to be related to, after he throws three straight no-look passes out of bounds. Nobody seems to know what to expect from substitution patterns, and nobody seems to know what to do on offense. This has happened every year McMillan has coached in Portland, which leads me to believe that he doesn't adapt well, he has a somewhat limited offensive playbook, and he might not be the coach that will take us to a championship. With that said, he is still 400,000 times better than Maurice Cheeks.
3. High Expectations. They played great against San Antonio, then mailed the next two games in. They couldn't shoot, they turned the ball over, they looked disoriented. But it doesn't really matter. Each game we fell behind in the first half and have been able to climb back with a serviceable lineup (read: without Jarrett Jack).
Three games. Big deal.
TJH
Not a great way to start a season.First of all, we were unlucky to draw a three-game Southwest road trip to start the year. Before the trip, I thought we would make it out with one win. So it's not like this is entirely unexpected. I'd rather have a tough road trip at the beginning of the season anyways.
I see three problems so far:
1. Jarrett Jack. He might have deserved that starting spot on opening night, but at this point he should be fourth on the depth chart. His play has been excruciatingly bad, and right now he probably is the worst starter in the entire league. McMillan said after practice today that Steve Blake will be starting on Wednesday, which was probably a more obvious decision to make than Yes on 50. But worst of all, like I've said twelve million times, and nobody listens to me, and I'm at the point of berating complete strangers that walk by my house about it, but it's taking away playing time from Sergio Rodriguez, who is better than Jarrett Jack right now and could become the next Steve Nash. Compare this to Jarrett, who could, if he's lucky, become the next Vern Fleming. Which leads me to my next point...
2. Bad Coaching. For example, not playing Rodriguez. Sticking with lineups that clearly aren't working. Pulling Webster out of a game after one little mistake, yet sticking with Jack, who he is rumored to be related to, after he throws three straight no-look passes out of bounds. Nobody seems to know what to expect from substitution patterns, and nobody seems to know what to do on offense. This has happened every year McMillan has coached in Portland, which leads me to believe that he doesn't adapt well, he has a somewhat limited offensive playbook, and he might not be the coach that will take us to a championship. With that said, he is still 400,000 times better than Maurice Cheeks.
3. High Expectations. They played great against San Antonio, then mailed the next two games in. They couldn't shoot, they turned the ball over, they looked disoriented. But it doesn't really matter. Each game we fell behind in the first half and have been able to climb back with a serviceable lineup (read: without Jarrett Jack).
Three games. Big deal.
TJH
04 November 2007
Kevin's Predictions
Western Conference:
1. San Antonio (62-20)
2. Phoenix (58-24)
3. Denver (50-32)
4. Dallas (55-27)
5. Houston (51-31)
6. Utah (47-35)
7. New Orleans (44-38)
8. Lakers (43-41)
9. Golden State (41-41)
10. Clippers (38-44)
11. Memphis (35-47)
12. Portland (35-47)
13. Sacramento (31-51)
14. Seattle (29-53)
15. Minnesota (24-58)
First Round:
Spurs def. Lakers
Phoenix def. New Orleans
Denver def. Utah
Houston def. Dallas
Second Round:
Spurs def. Houston
Phoenix def. Denver
Conference:
Spurs def. Suns
Eastern Conference:
(slight changes from my previews...)
1. Boston (55-27)
2. Detroit (55-27)
3. Orlando (50-32)
4. Chicago (53-29)
5. Toronto (51-31)
6. Cleveland (49-33)
7. New Jersey (46-36)
8. Miami (44-38)
9. Washington (42-40)
10. Milwaukee (41-41)
11. Knicks (39-43)
12. 76ers (36-46)
13. Atlanta (35-47)
14. Indiana (33-49)
15. Charlotte (30-52)
(I have a feeling the bottom three teams in the my Easy have an outside shot of getting the 8th seed. So...yeah. * that I guess.)
First round:
Boston def. Miami
Detroit def. NJ
Cleveland def. Magic
Chicago def. Toronto
Second Round:
Boston def. Chicago
Detroit def. Cleveland
Conference:
Boston def. Detroit
Championship:
San Antonio def. Boston (4-2)
1. San Antonio (62-20)
2. Phoenix (58-24)
3. Denver (50-32)
4. Dallas (55-27)
5. Houston (51-31)
6. Utah (47-35)
7. New Orleans (44-38)
8. Lakers (43-41)
9. Golden State (41-41)
10. Clippers (38-44)
11. Memphis (35-47)
12. Portland (35-47)
13. Sacramento (31-51)
14. Seattle (29-53)
15. Minnesota (24-58)
First Round:
Spurs def. Lakers
Phoenix def. New Orleans
Denver def. Utah
Houston def. Dallas
Second Round:
Spurs def. Houston
Phoenix def. Denver
Conference:
Spurs def. Suns
Eastern Conference:
(slight changes from my previews...)
1. Boston (55-27)
2. Detroit (55-27)
3. Orlando (50-32)
4. Chicago (53-29)
5. Toronto (51-31)
6. Cleveland (49-33)
7. New Jersey (46-36)
8. Miami (44-38)
9. Washington (42-40)
10. Milwaukee (41-41)
11. Knicks (39-43)
12. 76ers (36-46)
13. Atlanta (35-47)
14. Indiana (33-49)
15. Charlotte (30-52)
(I have a feeling the bottom three teams in the my Easy have an outside shot of getting the 8th seed. So...yeah. * that I guess.)
First round:
Boston def. Miami
Detroit def. NJ
Cleveland def. Magic
Chicago def. Toronto
Second Round:
Boston def. Chicago
Detroit def. Cleveland
Conference:
Boston def. Detroit
Championship:
San Antonio def. Boston (4-2)
02 November 2007
Ty Predicts
REGULAR SEASON
WEST:
1. Dallas
2. Phoenix
3. San Antonio
4. Houston
5. Denver
6. Utah
7. Golden State
8. Portland
9. LA Lakers
10. New Orleans
11. LA Clippers
12. Memphis
13. Seattle
14. Sacramento
15. Minnesota
FIRST ROUND:
Dallas over Portland
Phoenix over Golden State
San Antonio over Utah
Denver over Houston
SECOND ROUND:
Dallas over Denver
Phoenix over San Antonio
CONFERENCE FINAL:
Phoenix over Dallas
EAST:
1. Boston
2. Detroit
3. Chicago
4. Washington
5. Toronto
6. Cleveland
7. Orlando
8. Miami
9. Atlanta
10. New Jersey
11. Indiana
12. Milwaukie
13. New York
14. Philadelphia
15. Charlotte
FIRST ROUND:
Boston over Miami
Detroit over Orlando
Chicago over Cleveland
Washington over Toronto
SECOND ROUND:
Washington over Boston
Detroit over Chicago
CONFERENCE FINAL:
Detroit over Washington
NBA FINALS:
Phoenix over Detroit in 6
TJH
WEST:
1. Dallas
2. Phoenix
3. San Antonio
4. Houston
5. Denver
6. Utah
7. Golden State
8. Portland
9. LA Lakers
10. New Orleans
11. LA Clippers
12. Memphis
13. Seattle
14. Sacramento
15. Minnesota
FIRST ROUND:
Dallas over Portland
Phoenix over Golden State
San Antonio over Utah
Denver over Houston
SECOND ROUND:
Dallas over Denver
Phoenix over San Antonio
CONFERENCE FINAL:
Phoenix over Dallas
EAST:
1. Boston
2. Detroit
3. Chicago
4. Washington
5. Toronto
6. Cleveland
7. Orlando
8. Miami
9. Atlanta
10. New Jersey
11. Indiana
12. Milwaukie
13. New York
14. Philadelphia
15. Charlotte
FIRST ROUND:
Boston over Miami
Detroit over Orlando
Chicago over Cleveland
Washington over Toronto
SECOND ROUND:
Washington over Boston
Detroit over Chicago
CONFERENCE FINAL:
Detroit over Washington
NBA FINALS:
Phoenix over Detroit in 6
TJH
Northwest Division
Finally, it's time to preview the Northwest Division. Hard to believe we're already well into the first week of the season.
NORTHWEST DIVISION
1. Denver Nuggets (52-30): Getting Chucky Atkins to replace Steve Blake was like when I got in a car accident last year and rented a Ford Focus for a couple weeks. Sure, it ran, and it had a CD player, and the heat worked, but it had manual windows and locks! Not really a big deal, but just kinda weird, considering it had an automatic transmission. Blake isn't a star, but he meshed well with Iverson, and they should have took out San Antonio last year in the first round. It's worth mentioning that Mark Warkentien runs the team - the same Mark Warkentien who honed his skills in Portland under quite possibly the worst general manager in sports history, one Bob Whitsitt. Big surprise.
Speaking of Iverson, we now know that Denver made the right move last year in acquiring him from Philly. He works well with Carmelo, he is playing unselfishly, and he's a model of consistency, devotion, and passion for the game. Why he wasn't invited to play with Team USA is anybody's guess. I see them finishing ahead of Utah, but a team running Chucky Atkins at the point just doesn't have a chance against the Mavs, Suns, and Spurs.
2. Utah Jazz (49-33): Last year was a breakout year for the new and improved Utah Jazz, and even though they had easier playoff draws than anybody except Cleveland,
Deron Williams showed that he could lead a team, and Carlos Boozer showed that he could stay relatively healthy for one year. One thing that helped last year was an almost complete lack of expectations - something that can't be said this time around.
So what will happen if they stumble out of the gate? They'll be using last year as a barometer for success, and it's a situation that most of them probably have never experienced professionally. Utah will do fine, and they will surely make the playoffs again. But I sense that their success will not last. Sloan will be retiring soon, it's only a matter of time before Boozer gets hurt again, and AK-47 wants out. Williams' rookie contract is up after this year too - do you think he wants to keep living in Utah? Me neither.
3. Portland Trail Blazers (42-40): Yes, I think the Blazers will make the playoffs. Yes, I just wrote that sentence as the Blazers were losing to the Hornets by 24 points. I thought the Blazers would make the playoffs before the draft lottery, and when Portland got lucky and nabbed Oden, all of a sudden they became a sexy playoff pick.
But after Oden went down, people forgot about Portland, and they shouldn't have. The reason we are going to have success this year had nothing to do with Greg Oden, who has played about twenty meaningful games since graduating high school.
It was because of Aldridge, and because of Roy, and because of Webster, Blake, and Frye. It was because we finally got rid of the offensive black hole that was Zach Randolph. This team was the first NBA team to start practicing together, and it showed in the first game against San Antonio. If McMillan starts giving more time to Sergio, and if there aren't any major injuries (almost an impossibility at this point), this team will probably sneak in at the #8 spot. And then promptly get swept.
4. Seattle Supersonics (28-54): Today, Clay Bennett and the other hicks in his ownership group officially applied to move the team to Oklahoma City. The Oklahoma City Sonics? It's gonna take me like twenty years to get used to that. How is this even legal, considering the Sonics are tied to their lease for two more seasons? There's probably an explanation out there that involves words like "taxes", "liens", "accrued future service benefits", and "arbitration" - words which I have no interest of learning what they mean. Like everything else, it boils down to rich people doing whatever the hell they want, and poor people sitting around asking each other, "He can't do that, can he?"
Anyways, Seattle has a basketball team for one more year, and they're not going to be very good. But at least they get to watch Kevin Durant prove to everybody that he should have been the #1 pick. And after losing Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis, they've got a roster packed with young potential, a GM who seems to know what he's doing, and a coach who's proven he can win with young players. Enjoy it while you can.
5. Minnesota Timberwolves (20-62): Other than Portland, Minny's future is brighter than every other team in the league. Look at their roster: Corey Brewer. Al Jefferson. Randy Foye. Gerald Green. Rashad McCants. Chris Richard. Craig Smith. Smith is the oldest in the group, and he's 23. They've also got tons of draft picks stashed away, and so if their players are OK playing and living through the cold Minnesota winters, it's conceivable that we might have a Blazers-Wolves Conference Final in a few years. This year? Umm... not so much. Giving them 20 wins for the season is generous.
TJH
NORTHWEST DIVISION
1. Denver Nuggets (52-30): Getting Chucky Atkins to replace Steve Blake was like when I got in a car accident last year and rented a Ford Focus for a couple weeks. Sure, it ran, and it had a CD player, and the heat worked, but it had manual windows and locks! Not really a big deal, but just kinda weird, considering it had an automatic transmission. Blake isn't a star, but he meshed well with Iverson, and they should have took out San Antonio last year in the first round. It's worth mentioning that Mark Warkentien runs the team - the same Mark Warkentien who honed his skills in Portland under quite possibly the worst general manager in sports history, one Bob Whitsitt. Big surprise.Speaking of Iverson, we now know that Denver made the right move last year in acquiring him from Philly. He works well with Carmelo, he is playing unselfishly, and he's a model of consistency, devotion, and passion for the game. Why he wasn't invited to play with Team USA is anybody's guess. I see them finishing ahead of Utah, but a team running Chucky Atkins at the point just doesn't have a chance against the Mavs, Suns, and Spurs.
2. Utah Jazz (49-33): Last year was a breakout year for the new and improved Utah Jazz, and even though they had easier playoff draws than anybody except Cleveland,
Deron Williams showed that he could lead a team, and Carlos Boozer showed that he could stay relatively healthy for one year. One thing that helped last year was an almost complete lack of expectations - something that can't be said this time around.So what will happen if they stumble out of the gate? They'll be using last year as a barometer for success, and it's a situation that most of them probably have never experienced professionally. Utah will do fine, and they will surely make the playoffs again. But I sense that their success will not last. Sloan will be retiring soon, it's only a matter of time before Boozer gets hurt again, and AK-47 wants out. Williams' rookie contract is up after this year too - do you think he wants to keep living in Utah? Me neither.
3. Portland Trail Blazers (42-40): Yes, I think the Blazers will make the playoffs. Yes, I just wrote that sentence as the Blazers were losing to the Hornets by 24 points. I thought the Blazers would make the playoffs before the draft lottery, and when Portland got lucky and nabbed Oden, all of a sudden they became a sexy playoff pick.
But after Oden went down, people forgot about Portland, and they shouldn't have. The reason we are going to have success this year had nothing to do with Greg Oden, who has played about twenty meaningful games since graduating high school.It was because of Aldridge, and because of Roy, and because of Webster, Blake, and Frye. It was because we finally got rid of the offensive black hole that was Zach Randolph. This team was the first NBA team to start practicing together, and it showed in the first game against San Antonio. If McMillan starts giving more time to Sergio, and if there aren't any major injuries (almost an impossibility at this point), this team will probably sneak in at the #8 spot. And then promptly get swept.
4. Seattle Supersonics (28-54): Today, Clay Bennett and the other hicks in his ownership group officially applied to move the team to Oklahoma City. The Oklahoma City Sonics? It's gonna take me like twenty years to get used to that. How is this even legal, considering the Sonics are tied to their lease for two more seasons? There's probably an explanation out there that involves words like "taxes", "liens", "accrued future service benefits", and "arbitration" - words which I have no interest of learning what they mean. Like everything else, it boils down to rich people doing whatever the hell they want, and poor people sitting around asking each other, "He can't do that, can he?"
Anyways, Seattle has a basketball team for one more year, and they're not going to be very good. But at least they get to watch Kevin Durant prove to everybody that he should have been the #1 pick. And after losing Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis, they've got a roster packed with young potential, a GM who seems to know what he's doing, and a coach who's proven he can win with young players. Enjoy it while you can.
5. Minnesota Timberwolves (20-62): Other than Portland, Minny's future is brighter than every other team in the league. Look at their roster: Corey Brewer. Al Jefferson. Randy Foye. Gerald Green. Rashad McCants. Chris Richard. Craig Smith. Smith is the oldest in the group, and he's 23. They've also got tons of draft picks stashed away, and so if their players are OK playing and living through the cold Minnesota winters, it's conceivable that we might have a Blazers-Wolves Conference Final in a few years. This year? Umm... not so much. Giving them 20 wins for the season is generous.
TJH
Pass the Plate
Let's pass the offering plate, once when you take your seats, once after the choir sings, and once just for the "building fund." That's my proposal for helping to keep the Sonics in Seattle. A new hero has emerged in the Sleepless Saga, and I say we help him. Let's pass the plate at the next Blazer's home game and try and raise a few bucks to help this guy buy the Sonics and keep them in Seattle.
Let's face it. We need Durant. Oden needs Durant. The Pacific Northwest needs these two guys battling it out for then next 10 years, or however long Oden's body lasts. There needs to be an antagonist to our protagonist, besides the ho-hum injuries, there's needs to be a bad guy to Oden's good guy status in Portland. Any way this plays out, Oden becoming an all-star or a role player, a genius pick or a bust, we need Durant there to make the story more interesting. Would Bowie be interesting without Jordan? Nope.
So let's pass the plate, maybe one, two, or three times! Let's pass it and pray that our new hero in Seattle can take back the Sonics from Oklahoma City.
Let's face it. We need Durant. Oden needs Durant. The Pacific Northwest needs these two guys battling it out for then next 10 years, or however long Oden's body lasts. There needs to be an antagonist to our protagonist, besides the ho-hum injuries, there's needs to be a bad guy to Oden's good guy status in Portland. Any way this plays out, Oden becoming an all-star or a role player, a genius pick or a bust, we need Durant there to make the story more interesting. Would Bowie be interesting without Jordan? Nope.
So let's pass the plate, maybe one, two, or three times! Let's pass it and pray that our new hero in Seattle can take back the Sonics from Oklahoma City.
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