Blaze of Love

Weekend Recap - Boston and the Jazz

2010-02-22T15:00:00.000-08:00

The Celtics Disaster

Friday's game against the Boston Celtics was not pretty. The team did not play well together. Maybe it was due to the trade, but none the less, the showing was ugly. Camby had only one practice with the team prior to the game which showed as he finished with 2 pts and 7 rebounds in 29 minutes. I don't think I expected much with his first game, but the loss made it sting a bit more. Brandon Roy also had an off game. He played 34 minutes and finished with 9 pts. Realizing that this is only his 2nd game since January, he really needs to pull himself out of this rut so that we know where your heart is at. Start feeling comfortable with Miller as your point guard and stop whining about your best friend being traded away. We need you more than ever right now.

The Jazz Collapse

Last night's game against the Utah Jazz was quite a bummer! I sat at home with the Mr. yelling emphatically at the TV hoping the team could hear me. We were playing like the team we know and Camby was playing like the defensive player of the year we knew from three years ago. He may not have added a lot of points but he finished with a huge 18 rebounds, 4 blocks, and 2 steals. He also had about 6 or 7 tip outs for another Portland shot clock which made the Jazz play more defense than anticipated. Another shining light for Portland was the re-emergence of Nicolas Batum with 14pts and 9 rebounds in 32 minutes. (I really hope that Nate McMillan took notes last night and puts Batum back in the starting lineup.)

Even with those 2 positives we were still left with one giant negative. Just when we thought that this could turn into a blow out, the Jazz rallied back as they always do against Portland. Carlos Boozer finished with 22pts and 23 rebounds plus the shot that put us into overtime. And any Blazer fan can tell you that we often don't fare well in overtime which remained true again last night.

Looking Forward

With those two games now behind us, we need to look forward to our 5 game road trip, which we should come out on top in all 5. It'll be a difficult road test, but one that will either make or break the 2009-10 season.

Back to Attack

2010-02-19T17:08:00.000-08:00

Hello, Blazer fans and all alike, this is Mrs. Blazeoflove!! I am filling in a little while the Mr. is on hiatus.

The biggest news as of late, is the trade for Marcus Camby, sending Steve Blake and Travis Outlaw to the LA Clippers. I know a lot of fans out there loved both players, but if we want this team to have a chance in the playoffs we need a center while both Greg Oden and Joel Pryzbilla are recovering from season-ending knee injuries. Camby is averging 7.7 pts and 12.1 rebounds a game and has played with both Andre Miller and Juwan Howard which is a nice bonus. The Blazers will need him defensively more than anything plus the guy is a rebounding machine! Martell Webster even expressed that he was glad that we acquired him both professionally and as a friend. Camby will make his debut as a Blazer tonight against the Boston Celtics!

Now must I say more...the Boston Celtics. I don't think for me that there is another team that I despise like this. Kevin Garnett and his chest punches put a sour taste in my mouth. They are playing a back to back game tonight and will be high from all the smog and the win against the Lakers, but we have B-Roy and the debut of Camby!

So everyone throw on the jerseys and head to the Rose Garden or to your nearest dive bar and cheer on your Portland Trailblazers!!

Brandon Roy Out Through All-Star Break

2010-02-06T17:00:00.001-08:00

BRANDON ROY SIDELINED THROUGH ALL-STAR BREAK

Portland guard to undergo PRP therapy on Monday

PORTLAND, Ore. – Portland Trail Blazers guard Brandon Roy will miss Portland's next three games and the NBA All-Star Game with a right hamstring strain, it was announced today by General Manager Kevin Pritchard.

“Unfortunately, I'm not where I was hoping I would be physically at this point,” said Roy. “It's a setback and I'm obviously disappointed, but my entire focus is getting back on the court, contributing and helping our team down the stretch.”

Roy initially injured his hamstring January 13 vs. Milwaukee and re-aggravated it January 20 at Philadelphia. He has missed 11 of Portland's last 12 games heading into tonight's game with the L.A. Lakers.

“This was not a decision that any of us wanted to make, but in the end we had to do what was best for Brandon,” said Pritchard. “We're hopeful that this extended rest will put Brandon in the best possible position to return to the line-up shortly after the All-Star break.”

Roy will undergo Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) therapy with Dr. Neal ElAttrache at the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic in Los Angeles on Monday.

Roy leads the team in scoring (23.1), free throws made (213) and minutes (38.3), and ranks second on the squad in assists (5.0) and steals (1.03). In just 40 games this season, he has led the team in scoring 25 times and assists on 15 occasions (including ties).

Bayless Double Pump Dunk and Cunningham Block vs. Jazz

2010-02-03T19:09:00.000-08:00

Bayless gets nasty with a baseline double pump...and then jacks his wrist up.

Cunningham is abusing people on defense almost nightly...

The Pre-Funk: Blazers at Jazz 2/3

2010-02-03T14:55:00.000-08:00

The all day coverage you need to go into tonight's contest. We're just making sure you're prepared to drop that extra knowledge on the brosephs to get you another smidgen of respect.

Party Attendees...

No Boozer tonight! Yay for LaMarcus Aldridge! Another night without getting dominated by a better, more physical, and polished power forward! Scary thing is that he now has to go against the guy that was going to be his backup. I guess we get to see what could have been with Paul Milsap.

Still no Batum in the starting lineup which I guess is fine as long as he's logging significant minutes. Nothing is more frustrating than watching the Martell Webster we've grown accustomed to over the last 4 years. Yes, I'm saying his streak of decent games a month ago was not something to get used to.

News of Travis Outlaw returning just after the All-Star break has surfaced. People are excited about that? As the back up 4, would you rather have guys like Cunningham and Howard that just care about rebounding and making physical plays or a guy more concerned with floating around the perimeter jacking up pull-ups? For a team lacking toughness and needing guys flying to the boards more than ever, give me the rookie and the elderly chap.

Roy back Saturday! Maybe.

On Tap...

Dallas security "belligerent" and completely worthless. [Jason Quick]
Batum's play has been almost "perfect." [Geoffrey Arnold]
Outlaw back after All-Star break? [Jason Quick]
Full game preview from Dave. [BlazersEdge]
Enemy coverage #1. [True Blue Jazz]
Enemy coverage #2. [SLC Dunk]

Cheap Shots...

The Afterparty: Bobcats/Blazers Game 50

2010-02-02T11:38:00.000-08:00

A party full of post-game links and coverage to give you every over-analyzed angle in hopes of making your Blazers IQ that much greater.

Love that random Patty Mills picture? You better. The guy logged 1:37 and still managed 4-5 AP photos. That's gotta be some kind of record. Moving on...

We've been on this Batum bandwagon since day 1 of last season. In fact, my better half had to have her Batum jersey specially made because you couldn't purchase the damn thing in the shop at the time. Pfft arena Blazers staff.

Now, without hammering another Batum post down your throats, I just want to say a couple of things. Does the kid look like he's put on 25 lbs of muscle? He's also got this aura around him like he's a 7 year veteran. The guy isn't intimidated by anyone and seems to be taking it to supposed "better" players nightly. So wonderful to see.

With that said...can somebody get Rudy in the damn weight room?

Recap. Box Score...

Coverage...

Nate McMillan "liked" what he saw. [Jason Quick]
Blazers do it the right way. [Brian T. Smith]
"Cruise"? Ok that works. [Mike Barrett]
Media row report. [BlazersEdge]

Highlights...

Tweet of the Game...

Rudy Fernandez Put-Back Dunk vs. Bobcats 2/1

2010-02-01T21:22:00.001-08:00

It's a beautiful thing...

The Pre-Funk: Bobcats vs. Blazers 2/1

2010-02-01T10:20:00.000-08:00

The all day coverage you need to go into tonight's contest. We're just making sure you're prepared to drop that extra knowledge on the brosephs to get you another smidgen of respect.

Party Attendees...

Gerald Wallace is seriously an All-Star? Haha...ha. What has happened to the NBA? I guess his numbers are pretty solid and the Bobcats are above .500 for the first time in who knows how long, but seriously, this is Gerald Wallace we're talking about.

Wallace has had mixed success against the Blazers having only seen them twice in the last 2 years. In one game last year, he torched Portland for 31 and 16 and then disappeared against them back in November. He is however, the exact type of player that destroys the Blazers. He's physical, athletic and has zero conscience. He's the anti-Blazer. Sort of makes sense why so many people wanted him last off-season?

"Your" Portland Trail Blazers on the other hand brought back the clouds with them from Texas for a quickie before heading out to Utah. Will we see the 52 point or 2 point version of Andre Miller? (Toss up!) Will we see Batum's return to the starting lineup? France says yes. What's that clanking noise? Oh just a Martell Webster highlight clip from last week. Anyone else loving these new Aldridge/Chevy commercials? New slogan, "Chevy, like a pillow."

On Tap...

Other than Roy, who is the future for Portland? [Greg Jayne]
Dre Miller definitely saved Aldridge's a**. [Jason Quick]
I'd say Martell was building confidence. [Brian T. Smith]
Full game preview from Dave. [BlazersEdge]
Enemy coverage #1. [Queen City Hoops]
Enemy coverage #2. [Bobcats Planet]
Enemy coverage #3. [Rufus on Fire]

Cheap Shots...

The Pre-Funk: Blazers at Rockets 1/29

2010-01-29T15:25:00.000-08:00

The all day coverage you need to go into tonight's contest. We're just making sure you're prepared to drop that extra knowledge on the brosephs to get you another smidgen of respect.

Party Attendees...

The Rockets have come down to Earth after surprising the hell out of everyone at the beginning of the season. Trevor Ariza has shrunken back into his role playing self, the team wins every other game, and they are plagued as the Blazers are right now, without a superstar. Essentially, this should be your basic NBA matchup then, right? Well, aside from the fact that this is the team that knocked Portland out of the playoffs on their Cinderella run last year, then yeah maybe.

Since it's late on a Friday, how about some quick hitters...

-If someone would have told me 3 years ago that Aaron Brooks would be the leading scorer on an NBA team with an above .500 record, I'd have laughed in there face. Congrats little guy.

-Without Yao and Battier, everyone predicted Battier to have a career year. Sooooooo wrong my friends.

-Aldridge is the worst perimeter defensive player in the league, and Scola loves to rain the 16 footer. Long night for LA.

-Nice to see Batum back, but disappearing for an entire half after having a career one is not OK.

-Back to Brooks. How many layups does he get tonight? 10+?

On Tap...

Will Roy be the greatest Blaze of all time? [Brian T. Smith]
Brandon All-Star presser audio. [BlazersEdge]
Full game preview from Dave. [BlazersEdge]
Enemy coverage #1. [The Dream Shake]

Cheap Shots...

Make it Official: Roy is 4th Three Time All-Star in Blazers History

2010-01-29T09:18:00.000-08:00

Look! A team release that we actually feel good about posting...

BRANDON ROY NAMED WESTERN CONFERENCE ALL-STAR

Roy becomes only the fourth three-time All-Star in Trail Blazers history

PORTLAND, Ore. – Portland Trail Blazers guard Brandon Roy was named a 2010 NBA All-Star reserve by a vote of Western Conference head coaches, the NBA announced today.

“With this his third straight selection, Brandon Roy joins an elite group of Trail Blazers to represent Portland in the NBA All-Star Game,” said Trail Blazers General Manager Kevin Pritchard. “Brandon is as much a winner off the court as he is on the court, and we are honored and appreciative of the NBA coaches for selecting him to represent the Western Conference.”

The three-time NBA All-Star has led the Trail Blazers to a 27-20 record, posting averages of 23.1 points (48.4% FG), 4.6 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.03 steals and 38.3 minutes in 40 games (all starts).

Roy, 25, becomes only the fourth Trail Blazer to garner three All-Star selections, joining Clyde Drexler (eight), Sidney Wicks (four) and Maurice Lucas (three). Roy’s 16.0 points per game (15-18 FG) in two previous appearances is the highest scoring average by a Trail Blazer in the All-Star Game. He has added 7.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists in 30.0 minutes.

Roy has scored 20 or more points in 27 games this season, including a 15-game streak of scoring 23-plus points from Dec. 1 to Jan. 2 that stands as the longest such run in franchise history. The Seattle native ranks ninth in the NBA with a 23.1 scoring average and is one of just three players in the league averaging at least 23.0 points, 4.5 rebounds and 5.0 assists.

The starting five in the Western Conference, decided by fan balloting, consists of Carmelo Anthony (Denver), Tim Duncan (San Antonio), Amar’e Stoudemire (Phoenix), Kobe Bryant (L.A. Lakers) and Steve Nash (Phoenix). Rounding out the squad from the head coaches’ vote are Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City), Pau Gasol (L.A. Lakers), Dirk Nowitzki (Dallas), Chris Paul (New Orleans), Zach Randolph (Memphis) and Deron Williams (Utah).

The 2010 NBA All-Star Game tips off at 5 p.m. (Pacific) on Sunday, Feb. 14, from Cowboys Stadium in Dallas. The event will be televised live on TNT.

The Afterparty: Jazz/Blazers Game 47

2010-01-28T11:29:00.000-08:00

A party full of post-game links and coverage to give you every over-analyzed angle in hopes of making your Blazers IQ that much greater.

If it weren't for the return of Nicolas Batum, I'd be having an incredibly hard time watching Blazers games right now. Without Brandon Roy, this team completely lacks an ability to close or make any sort of significant run to put away anyone. Even more frustrating, is the fact that he's been gone during one of the tougher stretches of the season and apparently will now miss the next road trip down in Texas.

Speaking of schedules, let's take a look at the next 6 games. At Houston and Dallas. Loss. Loss. Home vs. Charlotte. Win. At Utah. Loss. Home vs. San Antonio. Loss. Home vs. Lakers. End of streak?

Save me now. Like I said earlier, at least we have Batum back and dunking on white folk.

Recap. Box Score...

Coverage...

No Brandon Roy for upcoming 2-game roadie. [Brian T. Smith]
Martell Webster to donate $14K to Haiti. [Joe Freeman]
I love the word "doom". Love it. [Mike Barrett]
Another bad start and loss. [Jason Quick]
Media row report. [BlazersEdge]

Highlights...

Tweet of the Game...

Brandon Roy Makes his 3rd All-Star Game

2010-01-28T11:12:00.000-08:00

AWoj over at Yahoo Sports just dropped some wonderful news on us...

Point guards Deron Williams(notes) of Utah, Chicago's Derrick Rose(notes) and Boston's Rajon Rondo(notes) will make their All-Star Game debuts next month in Dallas, sources said Thursday.

Williams, Rondo and Rose top the list of reserves chosen by the league's coaches to participate in the Feb. 14 game at Cowboys Stadium. The names won't be made official until Thursday night, but Yahoo! Sports has obtained the list of reserves.

Besides Rondo and Rose, the East roster includes Boston's Paul Pierce(notes), Toronto's Chris Bosh(notes), Charlotte's Gerald Wallace(notes) and Atlanta's Joe Johnson(notes) and Al Horford(notes).

The West includes the New Orleans' Chris Paul(notes), the Lakers' Pau Gasol(notes), Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant(notes), Dallas' Dirk Nowitzki(notes), Memphis' Zach Randolph(notes) and Portland's Brandon Roy(notes).

Happy time!

The Pre-Funk: Jazz vs. Blazers 1/27

2010-01-27T09:10:00.000-08:00

The all day coverage you need to go into tonight's contest. We're just making sure you're prepared to drop that extra knowledge on the brosephs to get you another smidgen of respect.

Party Attendees...

Right now the Blazers and Jazz sit 4 games behind Denver for the Northwest lead and a loss tonight drops them another half game back. I know it's still fairly early in a long season, but you fall back 5, 6 or 7 games into 3rd of 4th in the division and it might be difficult to come back. The Blazers haven't necessarily been the "comeback kids" over the last few years, so is it fair to say that tonight's matchup carries some extra weight?

Utah is 8-2 over its last 10 and during that stretch, they've had sporadic hot play from just about everyone on the roster. In fact, Deron Williams numbers are down for the month of January and Boozer isn't doing anything extraordinary. Can I get KiriMilOkur?

"Your" Blazers on the other hand...s.t.r.u.g.g.l.i.n.g. When is Brandon Roy coming back from his Total Recall-esque plasma voodoo-ness? Update coming on that tomorrow. Random thought...how is that not performance enhancing?

On Tap...

McMillan is out lobbying for Roy's All-Star bid. [Jason Quick]
Updates from Joel and Brandon. [Brian T. Smith]
Full game preview from Dave. [BlazersEdge]
Enemy coverage #1. [True Blue Jazz]
Enemy coverage #2. [SLC Dunk]

Cheap Shots...

Trail Blazers Earn 1st LEED Gold Certification

2010-01-26T13:15:00.000-08:00

Positive news!

Portland Trail Blazers Earn First LEED Gold Certification for a Major League Venue

Rose Garden Arena Operations and Maintenance Called a Milestone in the Greening of Sports

Portland, OR — The Portland Trail Blazers today became the first major sports team to earn LEED Gold status for a major league sports facility, a milestone in the greening of sports.

“The Trail Blazers are proud to play a role in Portland’s drive to be the greenest city in the country,” said Larry Miller, President of the Portland Trail Blazers. “Today’s announcement is a result of the local expertise and innovation helping Portland foster a stronger, more sustainable economy. We don’t view this as a one-time achievement, but as an important step toward our long-term goals.”

This certification, awarded to the Rose Garden by the U.S. Green Building Council under their Leadership in Energy and Environmental program (LEED EB-O&M v.3 2009), identifies and rewards best practices for a building’s energy, water and natural resource performance.

Miller said that the team’s fans and Portland community are an important part of the effort to reach its sustainability targets.

“Our Portland fan base cares deeply about their impact on our natural heritage,” said Miller. “Oregon is one of the most beautiful, livable places on the planet, and commitment to being good environmental stewards is part of what defines our region. This is a team effort, involving all of us - working together.”

A partial list of the Trail Blazers’ sustainability initiatives includes:

Recycling: The Trail Blazers have taken steps to ensure that more than 60 percent of our waste is diverted from local landfills, including strategies such as post-game sorting. Extensive recycling stations for visitors and a food-waste composting program with vendors help divert approximately 1,000 tons annually.

Transportation: Located in Portland’s urban core, the Rose Quarter provides strong transportation choices for visitors, with more than 30 percent of attendees choosing public or alternative transportation—like Portland’s growing bike community. The team subsidizes transit passes for staff and utilizes bikes and electric vehicles for on-site operations.

Energy, Gas and Water: In addition to upgrading to energy efficient lighting and low-flow plumbing fixtures, the Trail Blazers partner with Pacific Power and NW Natural for the purchase of 100 percent renewable energy programs for the Rose Garden.

Purchasing: Our efforts include forging partnerships with suppliers to further develop sustainable purchasing, including more than 95 percent compostable food and beverage serving containers and materials, 100 percent recycled content trash liners, replacing disposables with re-usable commodities, utilizing green-certified chemicals and equipment, and offering guests a line of sustainable food and beverage alternatives.

“We are excited about today’s achievement, but understand that the drive for greater energy efficiency and sustainable operations is an ongoing process,” said AEG Facilities Chris Oxley, General Manager of the Rose Quarter. “We will continue to look for opportunities to further engage and involve our employees, guests and partners.”

The Trail Blazers, in conjunction with NBA Green Week, will host their annual Green Game against the Dallas Mavericks on April 9.

The Natural Resource Defense Council (NRDC), a leader in the movement for the greening of sports, praised today’s LEED certification.

“Today’s announcement by the Portland Trail Blazers that the Rose Garden Arena has achieved LEED Gold Certification is an authentic milestone in the greening of professional sports,” said Allen Hershkowitz, Senior Scientist and Director of NRDC’s Sports Greening Initiative. “Never before has any major league sports arena or stadium achieved LEED Gold status and it represents an accomplishment with likely consequences well beyond professional basketball.”

Hershkowitz noted the transformative power of sports as a force for behavior change.

“Professional sports is among the most culturally influential industries on Earth,” he said. “Outside of the family, professional athletes are among the world’s most influential role models. From young children to major employers, what professional sports teams do is noticed and emulated throughout the world. With this announcement, the Portland Trail Blazers have let all sectors of our society know that we can meaningfully address the threats to our planet, that all businesses, even those that operate large and complex sporting arenas, can reduce energy use, protect our climate, and protect biodiversity. NRDC applauds the Trail Blazers’ path breaking accomplishment and we urge all facility operators, whether they manage a professional arena or a schoolhouse, to follow this meaningful example.”

Local partners in the effort to achieve certification included Green Building Services, who performed a carbon footprint and sustainability analysis, and Energy Trust of Oregon, who helped enable key energy audits and secure funding for building retrofitting.

The Afterparty: Hornets/Blazers Game 46

2010-01-26T11:47:00.000-08:00

A party full of post-game links and coverage to give you every over-analyzed angle in hopes of making your Blazers IQ that much greater.

I was all prepared to write about how this game didn't completely feel like a loss since Nicolas Batum had returned and for a few minutes in the first half was spectacular...and then I caught wind of this new Greg Oden situation. I'm not linking to any of as you can easily Google that ish and have a blast with yourself. I'm just too damn speechless/laughing hysterically to really concentrate on what I watched last night having seen what I just saw 2 minutes ago. (Hope that made sense.)

Basically, the Blazers didn't put anything together in the final 2.5 minutes and were defeated singlehandedly by Chris Paul. Bad Blazers. Bad bad Blazers!

Oh and "Tweet of the Game" decided to be "Greg Oden Tweet of the Day."

Recap. Game Recap...

Coverage...

Andre Miller is officially untouchable. [DIME]
Nothing but disappointment? [Jason Quick]
The return of Batum!. [Joe Freeman]
Media row report. [BlazersEdge]

Highlights...

Tweet of the Game...

The Pre-Funk: Hornets vs. Blazers 1/25

2010-01-25T10:32:00.000-08:00

The all day coverage you need to go into tonight's contest. We're just making sure you're prepared to drop that extra knowledge on the brosephs to get you another smidgen of respect.

Party Attendees...

Could anything feel better than crushing a team coming from a city who just sent their baby to a Super Bowl? Fresh off an OT loss in Denver, the Hornets swing into Portland doing what they've been doing pretty much all year. A few wins here, a few losses there. A huge Chris Paul game here, a bunch of of nothing from his teammates everywhere. (And thanks for damaging the hell out of Melo for us!)

The Blazers will once again trot out a bunch of random bodies, toss them on the court and hope for the best. Will we see the return of Nicolas Batum? I seriously hope so. Rudy's back OK? No idea. Dre Miller is the man? You betcha. LaMarcus Aldridge has a new nickname? The "Pillow." Travis Outlaw on stage bouncing at hip hop shows this past weekend? Guaranteed.

It's hard to predict or write about games with much fury these days since we have no idea what we'll ever get. One thing we know is guaranteed though...Chalupa chant down the stretch! Save me. See you all there.

On Tap...

Blazers not trading Andre Miller any time soon. [Jason Quick]
Roy deserving of another All-Star bid? [Geoffrey C. Arnold]
A conversation about LaMarcus Aldridge. [Bust a Bucket]
Full game preview from Dave. [BlazersEdge]
Enemy coverage #1. [Hornets247]
Enemy coverage #2. [At the Hive]

Cheap Shots...

February 3rd Game vs. Utah Moved to 6:00PM

2010-01-22T14:42:00.000-08:00

ESPN is officially pissed off at "your" Portland Trail Blazers...

FEBRUARY 3 GAME AT UTAH MOVED TO 6 P.M. PST DUE TO NETWORK SCHEDULE CHANGE

PORTLAND, Ore. – The Portland Trail Blazers’ game at Utah on February 3 will now be broadcast on KGW NewsChannel 8 at 6:00 p.m. PST, following ESPN’s removal of the game from its scheduled programming.

Maybe if Roy came out with 2 different colored hamstring wraps this game would still be on?

The Pre-Funk: Blazers at Celtics 1/22

2010-01-22T09:05:00.000-08:00

The all day coverage you need to go into tonight's contest. We're just making sure you're prepared to drop that extra knowledge on the brosephs to get you another smidgen of respect.

Party Attendees...

The guy that tops our "Most Hated Player in the NBA" list returns tonight to face "your" Portland Trail Blazers. In fact, he returns the day after learning that he'll be an All-Star starter which is as insulting as Tracy McGrady (thank you Steve Nash) and Allen Iverson getting nods. To put this into perspective, his numbers are worse than LaMarcus Aldridge's who is by all means having half the season we all predicted of him and is years from seeing an All-Star bid. If you are looking purely at flashy stats, he would rank 56th in points per game and 37th in rebounding. I should also point out that he doesn't qualify for statistical rankings because of a lack of games played. That's right. he's played just 29 games meaning he's missed a quarter of the first half of the year. Oh, but he has lots of Gatorade commercials. That's right, we're talking about Kevin Garnett. Nice work fans, nice work.

Definitely not looking forward to this game. My hot air balloon has lost so much air that I'm struggling to stay afloat right now. I can take losing Greg, Joel, Outlaw and the others, but I can't handle Brandon Roy dropping for 2-4 games or possibly longer. The guy is so good, he can play with 3rd stringers from the D-League and still propel this team to wins. And with him out, it just doesn't feel the same.

Go...Blazers.

On Tap...

Our boy Batum has finally been cleared for practice! [Joe Freeman]
A story worth a look on Dante Cunningham. [Philly.com]
Full game preview from Dave. [BlazersEdge]
Enemy coverage #1. [Red's Army]
Enemy coverage #2. [Celtics Blog]

Cheap Shots...

The Pre-Funk: Blazers at Sixers 1/20

2010-01-20T14:15:00.000-08:00

The all day coverage you need to go into tonight's contest. We're just making sure you're prepared to drop that extra knowledge on the brosephs to get you another smidgen of respect.

Party Attendees...

If Portland loses tonight in Philadelphia, it will mark the 4th straight for the Sixers. Not something to brag to Momma about if you run in NBA circles. Even with Iverson in the lineup, the Sixers are slightly better, but still considered to be one of the East's worst. So why can't the Blazers dig deep and beat AI #1 and AI #2? I'd say because they struggle defending wreckless offensive gameplanning. What the hell do I mean by that? Let me attempt to explain.

This Portland squad comes off as completely calculated. Every move has a purpose, every play, every defensive set, every possession and every lineup. That's just the way Nate McMillan rolls. However, when a team like the Sixers, Warriors, Clippers, Grizzlies, Nuggets or Hawks are the opponent, the Blazers can't control the game and are forced into uncomfortable situations. When you have no idea what the hell your opponent is going to throw at you, it's pretty hard to prepare and for someone like McMillan who is a preparation addict, you can see where the trouble comes in.

So tonight comes down to control. The Blazers set a tone, slow down the game and force Philly do play methodically, this could be fun. And if Portland lets the AI's run wild, jack up from anywhere, and flaunt around like Johnny Weir, then this might not be so fun.

On Tap...

Hasn't the "LA needs to step up" stuff been covered 10x already? [John Canzano]
Batum coming off the bench initially? Boooo! [Joe Freeman]
Roy "I will play against Philadelphia." [Jason Quick]
Full game preview from Dave. [BlazersEdge]
Enemy coverage #1. [Liberty Ballers]
Enemy coverage #2. [ReclinerGM]

Cheap Shots...

Rudy Fernandez Goes A.W.O.L on Gameday?

2010-01-20T09:06:00.000-08:00

According to Rudy's Twitter account, he decided that finding the sun in Phoenix and hanging out with former teammate Channing Frye would be more entertaining than preparing for his game today in Philadelphia...

No idea what to say to that. Goofy ass Spaniard.

And yes, this Twitter account has been verified...

The Afterparty: Blazers/Wizards Game 42

2010-01-19T10:50:00.000-08:00

A party full of post-game links and coverage to give you every over-analyzed angle in hopes of making your Blazers IQ that much greater.

No that's not the sound of balloon's emptying after Martin Luther King Jr. parades or the wheezing you imagine Gilbert Arenas making in a 5x5 jail cell shower. That would be the fizzling noise "your" Portland Trail Blazers made in the 4th quarter of a 10:00AM holiday basketball game without their star player for a second straight game.

So what happened? Well the 28 to 16 free throw attempt differential is pretty significant. Portland also went 3 of 17 from deep which is a sign that they missed Brandon Roy dearly. That is way too many damn 3's, peeps. These stats are also very telling of the gameplan from each team yesterday morning. The Wizards were aggressive as hell while the Blazers settled for jumper after jumper. Show me the last time a team as passive as the Blazers made any sort of significant run towards a championship in any sport.

This was a game that Portland should have stolen and now, you've got the Sixers, Celtics and Pistons to finish out a road trip which could really set a tone for the second half of the season.

Recap. Box Score...

Coverage...

The case for Bosh to as the next Blazers big man. [Amar Panchmatia]
Roy says he'll "try to play," Nate says, "Hell no." [Jason Quick]
The Blazers fade out in 4th quarter. [Joe Freeman]
Mid-season grades from dave. [BlazersEdge]

Highlights...

Tweet of the Game...

Early as Hell Pre-Funk: Blazers at Wizards 1/18

2010-01-18T09:07:00.000-08:00

The all day coverage you need to go into tonight's contest. We're just making sure you're prepared to drop that extra knowledge on the brosephs to get you another smidgen of respect.

Party Attendees...

10:00AM game? Damn. I'm still wiping the fuzzies out of my eyes at this time of the day and now I've got to get ready for another Blazers game sans Brandon Roy? Wait...and I'm actually in the office without a TV and blocked streams of anything on the internet? Bad day. Very bad day.

Is it possible for someone to take over the biggest jackass in the NBA award from Ron Artest? Gilbert Arenas has definitely made the race close. Guns in the arena compared to Hennessy at halftime? Toss up. OK, not toss up. The dude needs to be locked up for a few months. Who points a damn gun at a teammate? Seriously, W.T.F.?

The Blazers on the other hand will look for another inspired performance. This would be the 35th "inspired" game of the year already. Nothing like riding an emotional high for 77 of 82 games eh? Let's just say this, if LaMarcus Aldridge dives for a ball in a 2nd straight game, you can expect a win. Just remember, the chances of that happening are about as good as Oden returning for the Playoffs this year.

On Tap...

Aldridge as the biggest disappointment of the NBA season. [Hoops Hype]
Monty Williams next up for a head coaching job? [Yahoo Sports]
Roy still uncertain for this morning's game. [Jason Quick]
Full game preview from Dave. [BlazersEdge]
Enemy coverage #1. [Bullets Forever]
Enemy coverage #2. [Truth About It]

Cheap Shots...

(via SBnation and FreeDarko)

Steve Blake vs. "Superman" Dwight Howard - Doesn't Back Down

2010-01-15T20:51:00.000-08:00

Yeah, Steve Blake and Dwight Howard had a few words to end the 2nd half tonight. Big "Superman" even got a solid push in. And of course, the MMA-trained Blake didn't back down.

The best part might be Vince Carter coming in 10 minutes later to toss in a couple of comments and then stand with Howard at center court to complain to the refs. Laughable.

And Mike Rice, "Get Pendergraph in there!"

The Pre-Funk: Magic vs. Blazers 1/15

2010-01-15T11:16:00.000-08:00

The all day coverage you need to go into tonight's contest. We're just making sure you're prepared to drop that extra knowledge on the brosephs to get you another smidgen of respect.

Party Attendees...

I guess I need to start by apologizing to everyone for including a picture of JJ Redick at the top of the post, but seeing him in full on pouting form like the Dukie child that he is, I couldn't help myself. And now that I've done that, he'll likely torch the Blazers tonight...moving on!

Do we think Brandon Roy will play tonight? He's still listed as questionable which means absolutely nothing. I'm actually thinking he's going to sit this one out. I know it's against the Magic, but in the big ol' scheme of things, this game doesn't matter all that much. And after he mentioned to writers that this felt similar to his hamstring injury of last year, I doubt he'll throw on those ugly as hell, all-white, Nike Zoom Phenoms tonight. (Please prove me wrong Brandon and at least go back to the Air Max Rises.)

So with Roy likely out tonight, and Dwight Howard in town, are we being fair by penciling in LaMarcus Aldridge for 11 points and 5 boards (defensive that is)?

Back to Redick for a second. If he hits a fadeaway, banked, buzzer beater, game winning three tonight I'm storming the court.

On Tap...

Steve Blake starting to put it all together. [Brian T. Smith]
Greg Oden returning this year? [Kerry Eggers]
Full game preview from Dave. [BlazersEdge]
Enemy coverage #1. [Pinstriped Post]

Cheap Shots...

Baby mama.

The Afterparty: Bucks/Blazers Game 40

2010-01-14T12:29:00.000-08:00

A party full of post-game links and coverage to give you every over-analyzed angle in hopes of making your Blazers IQ that much greater.

Last night was pretty fun to watch for 3 quarters. The Trail Blazers were on fire, Brandon Roy was looking as his unstoppable self, Aldridge actually made a couple fade-aways, Blake was dropping 3s, Miller was getting to the line, Martell was hitting open jumpers, Pendergraph was beasting, Rudy was flailing, and the team was actually running. The 4th quarter on the other hand...not so pretty. Who really cares though right? The team was up by 30+ at one point and the game was never really in jeopardy.

What we really should be concerned about is Brandon Roy's "tight right hamstring." He had an MRI on it today and is now listed as questionable for Friday's match-up with Orlando. Somehow, Portland pulled off a miracle against the Spurs without Roy earlier this year, but aren't the Magic a whole other monster? Stay glued to Twitter for updates on that situation.

On a closing note, anyone else notice Brandon Jennings' hot seat on the bench last night for the entire 4th quarter? The kid left in the 3rd with 59 seconds left and never returned. Was it all those ill-advised 3s? Ill-advised hairdo? Ill-advised Under Armour contract? Ill-advised "Young Money" tattoo? Maybe they were ending his game early to give him extra cushioning on the NBA's post-game Twitter rules? Oh that's right, he deleted his account. Again.

Recap. Box Score...

Coverage...

Roy points out the depth this team still has. [Joe Freeman]
Brandon's hamstring becoming an issue. [Jason Quick]
Is now listed as questionable Friday. [Brian T. Smith]
Media row report from Ben. [BlazersEdge]
Blazers shoot the lights out. [Mike Barrett]

Highlights...

Tweet of the Game...