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Blazers End Longest Trip 4 and 2

posted: 12/13/2006 at 8:20 PM

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A show of hands please- how many of you predicted the Trail Blazers would go 4 and 2 on their longest road trip of the season? The sad part is (and I'm going to sound like a coach here) the Blazers were one bounce of the ball away from going 5 and 1. That was the loss in overtime at Milwaukee. And, in the Indiana loss, at one point they held a 12-point lead. Still, they'll take it, and I'm sure you will as well.

There are those who will say that this revealed much more about the state of the Eastern Conference than it did about the state of the Trail Blazers. But, we're not going to spend a lot of time talking about that. These were still road wins, and two of them came against playoff teams from last year. And, by the way, the Blazers right now have more total wins than last year's NBA champs.

The Trail Blazers have two more road wins, than home wins right now. Their 6 road wins through the first month and a-half of the season, equal their total road wins from a year ago. Their total of 10 wins on the season is almost halfway to their final win total from last year. Oh yeah, they've done most of this without the man overwhelmingly picked by NBA general managers to win Rookie of the Year honors. I'll have more on him in a moment.

Wednesday's win at Memphis was very similar to the wins at Toronto and Philadelphia. They were all three games that saw the Blazers grab big leads, and have to fight to the finish to hang on for the wins. It's also been defense that has been the key in the four wins on the trip. In the four wins the Blazers held their opponents to 85, 83, 79, and 79 points, respectively. That doesn't make for pretty games, but at this point you do what you have to do to get victories.

The Trail Blazers are now 10 and 14 on the season, through 24 games. They've played more games than any other Western Conference team. In fact, only Indiana and New York have played 24 games. Minnesota, for instance, who's also in the Northwest Division, has only played 20 games. That means the schedule will get better, and a little rest is coming.

If I had to pick the MVP of this road trip for the Trail Blazers, I would probably have to go with Ime Udoka. I know Zach Randolph had game-winning shots at Detroit, and Philadelphia, and that makes him tough to not think he was the most valuable. But, all things considered, Udoka is the pick. He nearly got his career-high at Toronto on Sunday, and then did get a career-high 15 points at Memphis. I've said this a lot, I know, but he's still been the most consistent player on the team. He always gets the toughest defensive assignment, rarely makes a mistake, and does so many things that don't show up in the box score. Against the Grizzlies, he hit a huge jumper with one minute left, that gave Portland the lead back, for good.

Now, the Trail Blazers have to learn to protect the home floor. They went 0 and 4 on their homestand just before this 6-game trip. How strange is that? They drop four straight at the Garden, three of them to teams from the east, and then go 4 and 2 in the next 6 away from home.

Starting Friday, 7 of the next 9 games are at the Rose Garden. If you want to stretch it out farther than that, 13 of the next 19 are at home. The L.A. Clippers are first up, followed by Houston and Toronto. There are only 3 games in the next 11 days. That's the reward for being so many games up on the rest of the field right now.

The better news is, Brandon Roy is coming back. There's a chance he could return on Friday against the Clippers, but I think the first time we'll see him will be next Wednesday against the Houston Rockets. He's feeling good, and his rehab workouts have been going great, but I wouldn't be surprised if the Blazers want to get him in at least a couple of practice situations before he's cleared to return. Again, there's a shot he could play Friday, but I'd be surprised. I'll keep you updated on that.

Blazers Win Third Game on Trip

posted: 12/10/2006 at 8:20 PM

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It was no masterpiece, but a road win is a road win, and the Trail Blazers are now 3 and 2 on their 6-game journey through the East, Midwest, and Mid-south, their longest trip of the season. They followed up their win in Toronto Sunday, with an 81-79 victory over the 76’ers in Philadelphia. They’ve now beaten the Pistons, Raptors, and Sixers on this trip, and have fallen to the Bucks and Pacers.

"Let’s get out of here before they change their mind," Nate McMillan said as he hurried on to the team bus after the game. He was smiling, possibly for the first time all night, and clearly wasn’t thrilled with the way the game played out, but was happy to get another w on this trip.

It looked as if the Blazers were going to cruise to an easy victory over Philadelphia in the second quarter, as they took a 16-point lead, and were cruising, behind a great effort from the bench. But, just like in the Indiana game, where they took a double-digit second-quarter lead, it evaporated in the third quarter. The Sixers outscored the Blazers 24-14 in that quarter, and led by as many as 7 in the fourth quarter.

The Sixers still had a 5-point lead with 2:23 left in the game, but Portland rallied to take a 3-point lead with 30 seconds left. The Sixers then took a timeout, and Maurice Cheeks diagramed a play that would give them an open look at a three-pointer. It didn’t exactly work as planned, but it worked. Chris Webber, who was just 1 for 4 from behind the three-point line on the season coming into this game, drilled a 3, and the Blazers got a shot to win it with 13 seconds left.

As they did in the closing seconds at Detroit and Milwaukee, the Trail Blazers got the ball to Zach Randolph on the left side of the floor, and let him go to work. Even though we all knew where Zach was going, Alan Henderson apparently didn’t. Randolph went to his strong hand, his left hand, and simply shot by Henderson after a quick head fake, and scored the game winner with just 2.4 seconds left. Philadelphia, without a time out remaining, had to settle for a desperation heave from midcourt.

Zach, who didn’t play on Sunday in Toronto, had 18 points and 10 rebounds, but didn’t become involved in the game until the fourth quarter, where he scored 11 of his 18. Henderson, who hadn’t played at all until the fourth quarter, played the final 10 minutes of the game. Shot blockers Samuel Dalembert and Steven Hunter, who had done a nice job on Randolph throughout the game, were left on the bench, and Randolph didn’t mind that.

Turnovers were a huge problem again for the Blazers in this game. They turned it over 20 times in Toronto on Sunday, and had 23 against the Sixers. So, to come out of a back-to-back situation, on the road, with 43 combined turnovers, and shooting 43 percent, the Blazers are 2 and 0. That’s fairly amazing.

A solid game was turned in off the bench from Juan Dixon, who had 17 points on 6 of 13 shooting. And, Ime Udoka continued his strong trip, scoring 12 points and grabbing 5 rebounds. Udoka did suffer a possible concussion during the game, when he and Philly’s Kyle Korver banged heads in the second half. Ime took the blow under his right eye, while Korver got it on top of the head. Ime didn’t show signs of being injured immediately after the play, but said he "blacked out" a couple of times on the Blazers bench in the second half, and Dan Dickau told me Ime was mumbling and not making much sense (I told him I go through that with Mike Rice all the time). I interviewed Udoka on TV after the game, and didn’t see any sign of a concussion, but as a precaution, he didn’t fly with us to Memphis after the game. He stayed in Philly with strength coach Bobby Medina, and will be evaluated today.

The Blazers will practice on Tuesday, and will take on the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday night. It’s another good opportunity for the Blazers to get a win on this trip. And, if you remember, the Blazers had just 6 road wins total, last season. They’ve got 5 already this year- more than they have at home, by the way.

Blazers Improve to 2-2 on Trip

posted: 12/10/2006 at 8:20 PM

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Playing without Zach Randolph, the Trail Blazers held on in the second half against the Toronto Raptors, and left Canada with a 93-83 victory. There were several anxious moments in the final few minutes of the game, as the Blazers got very conservative, and the Raptors suddenly got hot from behind the three-point line, but Portland hung on. They improved to 2 and 2 on this long 6-game trip, and will look for a second-consecutive victory Monday night at Philadelphia. The trip wraps up Wednesday night in Memphis.

With the main focal point of the offense back at the hotel watching the game on TV, the Blazers' offense found new ways to score. Even though they turned the ball over 20 times, something that had coach Nate McMillan frustrated, the Blazers got big offensive games from Martell Webster and Jarrett Jack, who scored 22 apiece. Five Blazers in all scored in double figures, the first time that's happened this season. Juan Dixon had 16 off the bench, Ime Udoka was solid again with 13, and Travis Outlaw had 10.

Even though the Blazers shot just 43 percent from the field, they absolutely dominated Toronto on the boards, outrebounding them 56-34. Statistically, the Raptors ranked ahead of the Blazers in that category coming into the game. While the Blazers had those 20 turnovers, the Raptors took very good care of the ball, turning it over only 5 times.

We're in Philadelphia now, and take on the Sixers Monday night. Flying into, and leaving, Canada is always a bit of a challenge, compared to the usual in-and-out we face in other NBA cities. The break for the Blazers here was the fact that it was a 1 o'clock Eastern start on Sunday, so we got into Philly fairly early, and were at the hotel by 8:30pm. We normally check into hotels in the middle of the night, and that makes things tough.

Winning a game late in a long road trip always boosts spirits, and following Friday's disappointing loss in Indiana, this is just what Portland needed. It seems like we've been out of the road for a long, long time, and everyone is starting to feel it. Not only are we away from home, which carries with it the usual stress, but we've hit five cities in six days, and have another left before we get to come home. We're all ready to come home.

It'll be an interesting game on Monday. As you know, Allen Iverson is dominating the headlines in the NBA, and the Philadelphia newspapers are wall-to-wall with this stuff. It takes a big story to bump the Eagles off the top of the sports pages here, but the Sixers have done it. It certainly sounds like Iverson has played his last game as a Sixer, and one headline today said "Iverson Era Comes to an End." Maurice Cheeks would be out, but he's Philly's fifth coach in six years, and they're still paying Jim O'Brien, who they canned after the 04-05 season. It's not a good situation.

All that being said, the Sixers are actually coming off a very strong performance against the Magic, in Orlando. They had a chance to win it, but fell to the Magic 86-84. That's seven-straight losses for the Sixers, and 11 of their last 12, and they stand 5-14 overall. They fought hard against Orlando, and expect the same on Monday. Despite their recent struggles, this will not be an easy game to win for the Blazers.

The big question now is, where will Iverson end up? Denver? We'll see, and according to some, he could be traded by the time the game starts on Monday.

Rough Third Quarter Spells Loss

posted: 12/8/2006 at 11:40 AM

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Greetings from Toronto, where this road trip will continue for the Trail Blazers on Sunday afternoon against the Raptors.

The team fell to 1 and 2 on this trip Friday night, as the Indiana Pacers beat the Blazers 108-95. It was a strange game that saw the momentum switch drastically several times, going from a 13-point Portland lead, to a 16-point Pacers lead. The Blazers were outscored 13 to 2 to start the game, but then outscored Indiana 51-29 the rest of the way in that first half. Portland took an 11-point lead to the third quarter.

The Pacers, after getting booed off the floor at the end of the first half, were a different team early in the third quarter, and the Blazers couldn't match them. They outscored Portland 35-19 in the third, and totally turned around their offensive production. The Pacers shot 36 percent in the first half, and 64 percent in the second. That's about as drastic a turnaround as you'll see in a game.

The Blazer bench was huge in the first half, especially during the second quarter, when they grabbed their 13-point lead. The Pacers were trying to adjust to playing without Jermaine O'Neal, and were turning the ball over. Portland's second unit was running out of those opportunities, and picked up 13 fast-break points, a high number for this team.

The bench effort was led by Juan Dixon, who had 17 in the game, and broke out of a shooting slump that has had him very frustrated. Jamaal Magloire had his best game of the season, with 14 points, on 5 of 7 shooting, and also grabbed 7 rebounds. Travis Outlaw had 13 off the bench, including 5 rebounds.

As for the starters, it was Zach Randolph, and that's about it. Zach finished 11 for 20, and had 29 points. He was playing in front of family and friends in Indiana, and it was a very emotional night for him. Late in the game, following fouling out, Zach led his emotions get the best of him. There were a couple of fans behind the press table that had been riding him all night, and when he fouled out, Zach made an inappropriate gesture toward them on his way to the bench. It was quick, but it was bad, and it's something you obviously can't do.

The Trail Blazers talked with NBA officials after the game, and the two are discussing potential disciplinary action. There will be action, that's for sure, we just don't know what it will be yet. He can't be punished by both the league and the team, so they'll likely come to an agreement and the team will carry out the action.

Tomorrow's early game (a morning tip off Pacific Time) will be radio only. Brian Wheeler and Antonio Harvey will have the call, on the Blazers Radio Network. We'll return to broadcast Monday's game at Philadelphia on FSN.

Bucks Survive Blazers in OT

posted: 12/7/2006 at 7:40 AM

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It was a shot that Zach Randolph has put down a thousand times. It wasn't an easy shot, as he had Ruben Patterson draped all over him, but with his soft left hand he floated the ball to the rim and saw it take three bounces before finally rolling out. Knowing Zach's touch on those shots, I was very close to calling the shot good, and calling it a Blazer win, before it finally came off the left side of the rim. We were sitting to the right of the rim, and the ball looked to be halfway down.

Understanding that the Trail Blazers were playing the second of a back-to-back, and knowing that the Milwaukee Bucks were due at home, it certainly felt like Portland had just seen its chance to win the game slip by. That turned out to be the case. In the overtime period it was all Bucks, and they beat the Blazers 102-94.

It especially hurt, as this was an opportunity to start this six-game road trip with a second-straight win. And, the Blazers didn't play their best game, yet still had a chance to win it in regulation. They only shot 43 percent, turned the ball over 18 times, and were outrebounded 39-38.

With the Bucks taking note of what Detroit didn't do defensively against Portland, Zach was doubled, and tripled all night. We knew it would be tough anyway, with Ruben Patterson on him in the low block. Randolph had to fight, and shot only 7 for 19, but did end up with 20 points and 14 rebounds. It was time for the Blazer backcourt to step up offensively.

Jarrett Jack continued his strong play as of late, and scored a career-high 30 points, on 12-22 shooting. He also had 10 assists and just 2 turnovers. He did this against a very good defensive point guard, in Maurice Williams. Martell Webster also took advantage of the Bucks' zone defense, and scored 19 points, going 5 for 8 on three pointers.

If the Blazers had won this game, sharing the MVP honors, with Jarrett, would have been Ime Udoka. Udoka is the most consistent player on this team, and for three and a-half quarters, had Michael Redd frustrated and out of rhythum. He is easily Portland's best defender, and draws all the most difficult matchups. Redd had just 10 points at halftime, and 14 through three quarters. He finally broke loose late in the 4th, and in overtime, and ended with 33.

The Trail Blazers were frustrated following the loss, but were upbeat by the time we got to our hotel in Indianapolis at about 2:30 am. On the plane, as always, the DVD of the game was playing. A chance for the players to immediately review things. Nate doesn't tell them to watch, or even walk back to see if anyone is watching. But, they all do. Jarrett and LaMarcus Aldridge were sitting together, pens and paper in hand, watching and discussing everything. Juan Dixon, who just rolled his eyes when he walked past me, frustrated by an 0 for 8 night, went up front to talk with the coaches.

Thursday will involve practice for the team. Nate is letting them sleep a while though, as we're in our fourth city, and third time zone in four days. And, we're just two games into the trip. The Blazers will practice in the afternoon, and then Friday night take on the Indiana Pacers. It's not as cold here as it was in Milwaukee, so that's good. We've got Toronto up following this stop, and that will be, well, Toronto in the winter.

Tonight, on KXL-750 AM in the Portland area, and available anywhere in the world by clicking the link on the top-right portion of this page, it's Trail Blazers Courtside, from 6 to 8pm. Bob Akamian and Jay Allen will be hosting from Portland, but we'll be joining them from Indianapolis. Coach McMillan will be live, as always, early in the show. Wheels will be on at 6:45, Rice at 7:30, and I'll be on at 7:40. Talk to you then.

11 Comments:

JarrettJackCollector said...: I don't understand why Jack doesn't get more love from the fans. He is easily the 2nd best player on this team and a natural born leader. His work ethic is tremendous and he is one of the most unselfish players out there, which is definitely a quality that you would want in an NBA point guard. I'm sick of everyone jumping on the Sergio bandwagon and talking about how he gets no love. Sure, the kid has some talent but so did Sebastian Telfair!!! Now tell me his and Sergio's styles aren't the same! What you want in a PG is a leader, a true floor general, and someone who the team can count on when the game is on the line. Jack proved that he can step up and play big for the team. I think averages of 13.6 ppg and 6.2 ast is pretty decent. What I don't understand is how he didn't get a nod for a spot on the all-star ballot when Juan Dixon did. Can you explain that one???; 10:30 AM
BallFan said...: Hi Mike. Why has Magloireâ€™s minutes dropped. I know at first he wasnâ€™t playing to well but if you look at his stats heâ€™s like that at the beginning of the seasons. I think with more minutes he will get better his stats will tell you that. If Nate isnâ€™t going to use him then the Blazers should trade him to a team that would have more use with him. The other night Magloire got two dunks and Nate benched him ! Whatâ€™s that all about???; 3:30 PM
pissha said...: Yes, Jack is averaging 13 points and 6 assist per game in....36 minuts!!! if sergio rodriguez play this minutes, iÂ´m sure that sergio could average +10 asists per game.When you talk about sergio have some talent...i suppose that you are sure if Jack plays 10 minutes as Sergio he will be the best asister per minute of the nba...whoÂ´s "the talent"?; 3:31 PM
mrblazer said...: I think coach Nate's move to bring Dickau in ahead of Sergio is suspicious to say the least. I have to believe Nate is trying to get Dan some PT so other teams can get a look at him. I would rather believe that over believing he's just a bad coach. I don't believe for a second he actually thinks Dickau is a better option than Sergio. If he does, I guess for us fans who like exciting, creative basketball, it was fun while it lasted. It seems Nate has banned that kind of play like it was a headband. Call me crazy, but watching players make meaningless passes along the perimeter because they're too afraid too shoot or make a mistake is getting old. Without Zach, this team has no idea what to do.; 4:19 PM
DT-Vinsanity said...: With Joel, Raef and LaMarcus, it's absolutely normal and understandable that Magloire's minutes are so suddenly gone done. The idea of a trade could be a good one, indeed.

In the association there are some kinda rumors that say that Rashard Lewis could be on the block if the Sonics don't improve to 0.500 in their percentage of wins in some weeks, which isn't an easy task. As the Sonics might be interested in catching a good center, maybe the Blazers could be interested in trading Magloire and another player (like Outlaw, Udoka o Dixon) for Lewis. But this is just a "maybe" or even a "could/would be", I mean, a completely hypothetical possibility that I'm just considering at the moment.

P.D By the way I don't think it's fair to compare Sergio with Telfair. They're completely different when it comes to work ethic and Sergio probably has more "team mentality" than Telfair, who was kinda selfish in his personality and this could be seen on the court.; 4:33 PM
wobert said...: hey, im a new poster. im 15, talked my dad into buying season tickets, and love the blazers.

heres my thoughts:

i dont think magloire is a good fit for this ball club. He doesnt play well with zach, and he takes up playing time for Lamarcus Aldridge, who i already consider as a better player than jamaal. Most of Jamaals points come from free throws, and he is a worse free throw shooter than shaq.

i loooveee sergio rodriguez. he is so exciting to watch, and really ignites our team whenever he gets on the floor. His pick and rool with Lamarcus Aldridge is picture perfect. Steal of the draft.

Jarret Jack is great, and i still think he should be the starter, but i get nervous every time he dribbles it, because he looks like he carries the ball.

I agree with jarretjackcollecter on a lot of points, but sergio and sebastian's play style is completely different. Sergio is more of a steve nash w/o the shooting ability yet. Sebastian is more of a Stephon Marbury.; 8:37 PM
Play Beautifully said...: Dan Dickau and Raef need to go! we don't have enough playing time for them. Nate put Dan in the game for some reasons. I feel much better when the ball is in Sergio's hands. We need to make a some trades soon.; 8:52 PM
Michael Z said...: Mike-

During the last telecast vs the Bucks you and Mike Rice had no idea how the refs knew how much time was on the shot clock. You both felt there should be about 17 or 18 seconds left, and that the refs were just making up a number. But I have the solution!!! It was the start of the 4th quarter and the game clock said 11:51. That means 9 seconds ran off the game clock and also the shot clock. Hence, 15 seconds left on the shot clock. It was pretty hilarious hearing you two argue about that.

Go Blazers!; 2:07 AM
JarrettJackCollector said...: All I'm saying is that both Sergio and Sebastian had a flashy style of play and both were able to pass really well and get their teammates involved. Sergio and Sebastian are both undersized PGs that are defensive liabilites. They are practically the same player!; 10:19 AM
SUPERCARLITOS said...: Well, (or should i say Jarret Jack's mom? sister? girlfriend? cousing? uh? ) , defending is about a lot more than size, speed, anticipation, and basketball IQ being some of the required attributes. Sergio is nothing like Telfair, he is unselfish, true team player, and a really humble guy. I have been following his career for quite a while, to know that. Let's give JJ 5 minutes (or two) per game and see how productive he is.

In any case, i do agree that JJ is a good, solid reliable PG, but just that.

Sergio is barely 20 years old, a newcomer to the states, away from his family and friends, in an completely different culture, living by himself, learning english and still manages to keep his head together and show a strong game in the few minutes he ges on the floor. I have seen Sergio winning. He is definitely a leader and a true floor general. He did that on the World Championship (semifinal against Argentina, he basically won the game for Spain in the third quarter.

I congratulate the Blazers again on having the best Junior PG in the world.; 11:26 AM
YellowJackets said...: I think the Blazers are lucky to have both Jack and Sergio. Jack is an incredible player and anyone who saw him in college make short work of ROY last year, Chris Paul, would agree.I can see where JJCollector is coming from when saying there is rarely any love thrown JJ's way even after a 30 point game. Sergio is good right now and will be great and to have those two as backcourt teammates is going to be incredible especially when Roy gets back.
Second, seriously Dan and Raef just don't need to get PT unless a foul situation comes up. I would really like to see Aldridge get a lot more PT. Hes putting up better numbers than any big man not named randolph on the team.; 1:26 PM

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Zach Leads Blazers Over Pistons

posted: 12/6/2006 at 6:47 AM

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Some trends in the NBA make perfect sense. Others do not. The fact that the Trail Blazers have now won 7 of the last 9 games they've played at the Palace of Auburn Hills could be a little surprising to you, given the very recent history of both teams. Again, as we said early in the TV broadcast last night, some of these things can't be explained- you just ride them as long as you can. For some reason, the Blazers play well in Detroit. They beat the Pistons last night 88-85.

It was a nice, and you could probably say unlikely way, to snap a 5-game losing streak. You drop all four games on a homestand, and then hit the road for 6-straight games, and win the first one in Detroit. And this wasn't some flukey win. The Blazers didn't play anything close to a perfect game, or beat the Pistons when they were having a horrible night, or without six of their best players or anything. They simply smothered them with defense, hustle, and rebouding. Three things that have been missing lately.

Last season in Detroit, Zach Randolph put 37 points on Rasheed Wallace, a career high, and the Blazers lost the game in the final seconds. It was clear on that night Wallace needed help guarding Zach, and that double-teaming him, like the rest of the league does, was clearly the best way to force someone else to beat you. Flip Saunders apparently thought he knew something other team's didn't, and didn't double-team Zach until it was too late. Randolph cruised to 31 points and 13 rebounds. Rasheed had his hands so full trying to slow down his former teammate, it threw his offensive game out of whack as well, and he shot just 3 of 10, and had only 7 points.

Speaking of Portland's defense, they held the Pistons to just 43 percent shooting, and kept them 10 points under their season average. Tayshaun Prince, who was never a factor in the game, had just 10 points on 4 of 13 shooting. Rip Hamilton, who had 15 consecutive points for Detroit to end the first quarter, scored just 10 the rest of the way. And the guy who always seems to play well against the Blazers, Flip Murray, was effective off the bench, scoring 11 points, but at no point took over the game, like he can.

Again, the Blazers didn't play a tremendous offensive game. They shot, and scored, below their seasonal averages. They were just 41 percent from the field, and were only 3 for 10 on three-pointers. But, they turned the ball over only 8 times, and outrebounded Detroit 46-35.

Jarrett Jack had a very solid game, against a guy he's been compared to a lot, in Billups. Jack had 18 points, 5 assists, just 1 turnover, and was also 9 for 11 from the free throw line. He was under control, and displayed a kind of leadership that Nate McMillan has been wanting. I mentioned Sunday to expect to see more of Sergio Rodriguez, because of how he's been handling the team on the floor. Don't think Jarrett hasn't been noticing all of this, and against Detroit he very much answered his coach's request. We saw Sergio for a few minutes in this game, but McMillan just didn't think the matchups, guarding a much bigger Billups, and then Flip Murray, were good ones for him.

It's also been said lately that with Joel Przybilla and Raef LaFrentz back, the player who could be losing some minutes is LaMarcus Aldridge. Nate has been the one who has mentioned that. Trouble is, how do you not play Aldridge big minutes when he gives you this? The rookie had his first NBA double-double, 11 points and 11 rebounds last night. He was 5 for 9 from the field, and hit several deep jumpers. He and Zach are making for a very nice combo, with the inside, outside play.

It was nice to see the Trail Blazers happy on the short flight from Detroit to Milwaukee after the game. Zach climbed on the plane, and said "that's more like it," with a big smile on his face (see photo above).

No time to rest, as the Blazers take on the Milwaukee Bucks tonight. We'll have it for you at 5 o'clock on KGW-8, at the Trail Blazers Television Network. Wheels and Tone will, of course, have it on the Blazers Radio Network.

One last note- Brandon Roy had a very good workout yesterday at the Blazers practice facility in Tualatin. He shot and did some conditioning, and was pain free. We had a camera crew there shooting some of the workout, and we'll be rolling some of that video into the TV broadcast tonight.

6 Comments:

Happy Camper said...: Mornin Mike, Loved watching the game last night. The blazers have been showing good enough work on the offense and with zach playing like he has I'm not to woried aboutit. Certainly when roy comes back, sergio and lamarcus continue to progress, and the team continues to get used to playing together we'll keep improving overall and getting more consistant. I think the blazers success in W's and L's this season will be able to be acurately tracked by looking at the opponents feild goal percentage. I'll guess the magic number at 45% (portland's and the league's averages). If they can hold thier opponents under that it will show good effort on the devensive end. Teams scoring above that are probably getting alot of wide open looks and layups. Of course this isn't that bold of a statement being that so far portland is last in league for opponents feild goal percentage and is not last in the W\L column.; 9:01 AM
natedodoubleg123 said...: Zack is the real meal deal. 26 and 10 could get any player to the all-star game and now that he is making new against the Pistons he deserves all our votes.; 9:32 AM
MadDogg said...: ROY, ROY, ROY, ROY, ROY. Please just give me some Brandon Roy. Now is the perfect time to bring him back. The Blazer's fell to rock bottom in my opinion after the five game skid. Now, with the big win in Detroit they have the opportunity to recover big time. All of these guys have been finding their games individually, and now all they need is a leader. Z-Bo might be our all-star, but he's no floor general. We need Roy to make the smart plays at the critical moments, and to handle the ball in the fourth quarter. He just makes everyone around him better, hopefully it will be that extra push we need to become a winning team.; 12:03 PM
mrblazer said...: I don't remember the last time i saw a player who leads the league in assists per 48 minutes and has a 4 to 1 assist/TO ratio get demoted from the backup spot for making one bad pass. Bringing Dickau in worked out, but did he earn that PT over Sergio? I hope he's playing like a god in practice. Sergio could never duplicate Dickau's 1 for 8 performance in his last outing because Nate would pull him faster than you can say Rodriguez for missing a free throw.; 12:38 PM
Happy Camper said...: Mike, I also would like an explenation as to Sergio's apparent demotion. Has Dan been out-playing him practice? The only way for a player like SR to get more effective is to play him so he and his new team mates can get more and more familiar with each others games. Jack has also proven that he would be by no means a liability at the 2 spot when he thinks about scoring so I cannot see ANY excuse for not playing Sergio. What are we missing here?; 7:08 AM
Happy Camper said...: Mike, just read Quick's report on nate's explination of SR's demotion. Lame- While i have seen him pull Zach out of the game for a few minutes for not doing what he wants I have yet to see him pull Zach for being the WORST defender on the team making the same defensive mistakes over and over again. It seems that almost every time someone scores an easy layup on us Zach was the closest or should have been the help D. Sergio and Juan who are considered defense liabilities are more effective on defense than Zach. I'm not saying Nate should stop playing our most effective offensive player, but to not play someone like SR because he made a bad pass is shooting yourself in the foot,, the more experience we get him the better off the whole team will be.; 7:22 AM

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Trip Opens in Detroit

posted: 12/4/2006 at 8:22 PM

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Greetings from Detroit. Well, not actually Detroit, but Rochester, Michigan. We always fly into Pontiac, drive through Oakland, and stay in either Birmingham or Rochester. This is probably my 8th or 9th trip to Detroit, and I've yet to actually see Detroit. As you know, the Pistons play in Auburn Hills, not far from where we're staying. When I need help in this area, I ask my TV partner Mike Rice, who grew up in this area. In fact, when we play the Pistons, I usually try and remind fans that Rice was drafted by the Pistons back in 1962. I follow that up by saying he was drafted in the 8th round. He then normally chimes in and says there were only 8 teams back then. So, let's just put this to bed and say he was the 64th overall pick in the 1962 draft. That would have him just missing out on being a second-round pick these days. That sounds more impressive, and I'm all about propping him up (literally, sometimes).

I toss in a couple of travel stories occasionally, especially during long road trips like this. This is certainly a strange and wonderful way to make a living, but it's also difficult to be away from home for long stretches. There's so much that goes into bouncing around the country on a nightly basis that fans never even think about. I didn't even really think about it until I was actually doing it. Jason Quick, of The Oregonian, wrote an entertaining story about our travel that appeared in today's edition. Here's a link, if you haven't seen it. I laughed while reading it because I remember the bus ride he's talking about in the story. His description is very accurate. He's also correct in describing our plane, the seating arragements, and how all of us cling to some kind of normalcy and routine while away from home. There are so many more stories, and I'll try and slide one in from time to time.

We flew into Detroit (well, Pontiac) on Monday morning, and the team went immediately from the plane to practice at Oakland University. They watched about 40 minutes of tape from the game against Atlanta, and then went through a long practice. As you would expect, they worked mainly on defense. Nate McMillan has not been happy with the defensive effort as of late, and has been preaching that to his team.

Even though this stat is pretty much meaningless, I will tell you the Trail Blazers, for whatever reason, always seem to play well at the Palace. Portland has won 6 of the last 8 in Detroit (well, Auburn Hills). Last season, they nearly pulled the upset of the Pistons at the Palace. They had a chance to tie in their final possession, but turned the ball over, fouled, and lost 93-89. With that win, the Pistons improved to 20 and 3. Zach Randolph, who had to listen to Rasheed Wallace yapping in his ear all night, scored a a career-high 37 points in that game. They also lost to the Pistons in Portland in November of last season, but again had a chance to win, and fell 84-81.

The Pistons got off to a rough start this season, and were just 3 and 5 through their first 8 games. But, then rattled off an 8-game winning streak. That streak was snapped on Sunday, when they fell in Charlotte 97-89.

The Pistons are led in scoring by Rip Hamilton, who is averaging 22 points per game. Chauncey Billups averages 18, and Tayshaun Prince is right around 17 points per game. Rasheed, who had a good game on Sunday, scoring 19, is averaging just 14 points per game, his lowest average since the 98-99 season.

Against the Blazers last season, Rasheed struggled in both games. He had just 13 points in the first game, and only scored 11 in the second, on 3 of 12 shooting.

The Trail Blazers are searching for answers on defense right now. Their offensive numbers have been fine, and are 13th in the NBA in shooting, at 46 percent. They are also taking good care of the basketball, and are 10th in turnovers at just 15 a game. They are, however, allowing 100 points per game, and are dead last in the league in rebounding. That's what has the coaching staff concerned.

Against the Pistons, look for the Blazers to play more zone defense. They've been going in and out of zone schemes lately, but I expect to see much more zone Tuesday night. As you know, zones help stop penetration, but have to adjust quickly to defend outside shooters. If the Pistons get hot from long range, we could see the zone dumped in a hurry. It's also a difficult for many teams to rebound out of a zone. Being you're guarding an area, basically, it takes a much better effort to find a man to box out. Fortunately, Detroit, without Ben Wallace now, isn't a great rebounding team.

I talked about this yesterday, but look for Sergio Rodriguez to continue to see increased minutes running this Portland team. McMillan likes the energy that Sergio brings to the game, and is pleased with the way Sergio is growing in his role as a leader. This team is in need of a vocal leader on the floor. Jarrett Jack is trying to be more of that, but hasn't come as far as Nate wants in that department. Jarrett won't likely see a cut in his minutes even if Sergio plays more, as he'll often times switch to the off-guard spot. The challenge for Sergio against a team like Detroit will be defending. Billups is a big, physical point guard, and Rip Hamilton is 6-7, and is lightening quick.

We should also see the return of Raef LaFrentz Tuesday night. He's back from his calf injury and is anxious to contribute. He could take a lot of pressure off Zach with his outside shooting. Raef is also a good shot blocker and rebounder, and Portland could certainly use that.

It's the first of six straight on the road for Portland. We'll have the game on FSN Northwest at 4:30 pacific time. Yes, Detroit, Oakland, Rochester, Birmingham, and Auburn Hills are all in the eastern time zone. It'll be interesting to see if the local sportscasters actually cover this game. Monday night they were all lathered up, ripping the BCS for sending Michigan to the Rose Bowl, and not the Fiesta. I guess they haven't had anyone to focus their anger on now that Joey Harrington is gone.

8 Comments:

mrblazer said...: Hey, Mike, thanks for the blogs. It's really great you let us tag along in your daily duties. I hope your blog continues for a long time.

FYI, Mike, when i started posting comments to this blog in the offseason, one thing was decidedly different. Those who were responsible for picking and choosing what comments were allowed or not seemed to do what they could to "keep it real". Sadly, i don't think that is the case, anymore. Now, it seems if we aren't kissing the back end and stroking the ego of every player on the roster it's likely the comment won't get posted.

I can live with that. Although i think it takes some of the fun out of participating in the blog, i can refrain from telling you what i really think. However, i thought maybe you would like to know the sensorship hasn't gone unnoticed.

As for me personally, i'll still pop in from time to time to let you know your work is appreciated. Any criticism of any of our players, though, i'll keep to myself. I guess i'll "keep it real" when discussing basketball amongst friends and not on this blog.; 11:47 PM
spanishchocolate said...: Â¡What a really nice photo from Sergio in the cover! Don't you think he is nice?

Good morning here in Spain. Yesterday when I came back from work I could finally saw the match against Hawks. Certainly, my opinion is that coach McMillan has a very hard work. Its somehow frustrating to see that your team losses one and another time. Hopefully this will get better soon.

I'm happy to see Sergio getting into the team. He seems to be more fluent with his play. This is a good think. He needs the support of coach, team and fans. Â¡Come on and shout his name when he is playing! And, please, to Blazers fans, be patient, you will see he is the steal of the draft.; 2:22 AM
Jason Raz said...: Hey Mike, I will be at the game tonight in some good seats. What is something I could yell to one of the Portland players to spark a laugh?

Any ideas?

Thanks in advance,
Jason; 8:11 AM
Mike Barrett said...: mrblazer,

Thanks as always for the comments. Even though I don't personally moderate comments, I'll try and make sure the positive and negative get through. I think the only thing they like to stay away from is personal attacks on individuals. There are plenty of places to go for those, and the team's website probably should be one of them. I agree that solid criticism, within reason, should be allowed, and I'll try and make sure it does. Don't think I can't handle that. You should see my personal inbox. Keep sending feedback, as I always think your comments are very good.

jason raz,

In Detroit there are plenty of comments coming from the stands, and most of it isn't family-friendly. Any pro-Blazer comments will stick out like a sore thumb, so let it out. Just make sure you're wearing a helmet.

MB; 8:45 AM
Hap said...: seriously Mike, when are the Blazers going to have a contest to let a fan go on a short road trip with the team (on the plane, etc)?

You know, like a weekender trip (houston, memphis in Jan)?

just a thought, as reading the article today it's like Blazer 1 would be like flying in the Taj.; 10:10 AM
john marzan said...: the suns are stupid for selling their sergio pick to you guys.

stupid stupid stupid.

stupid.; 10:24 PM
rick said...: mc milan is the only coach that gives 3 minutes to a guy who got 11 asissts in 20 minutes in the game before. Someone would have to remember him that jarret gave just 3 more asissts with 40 more minutes against detroit, but we are supposed to be happy cause porland won the match, arenÂ´t we? but porland is not fighting for getting a 40-games won season furthermore being in the west conference, porland is fighting to create a well done team which can reach the playoffs in two or three years, but mcmilan prefers keeping the asissts and the futur away from the court, asissts that means points but winning in detroit, this way of thinking may make you win 1 or 2 times from 20 in detroit, but maybe the first possition of sergio in asissts per 48 minutes and his 2nd in asissts per turnover are better in the bench washing the towels and serving the drinks to his mates....; 3:37 AM
Jason Raz said...: Mike, great game last night. I spoke to Zach Randolph for a second and asked him if it was true that he may get moved to Detroit. He said yes, but I think he was joking around with me.; 7:15 AM

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Atlanta Shoots Down Blazers

posted: 12/3/2006 at 9:57 PM

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For the first time since December of 1997, the Atlanta Hawks have won a game in Portland. You knew a streak like that was going to end at some point, the Trail Blazers were just hoping it didn't have to be on Sunday night. The Hawks kicked off their west-coast swing with a 107-96 victory at the Rose Garden, and sent the Trail Blazers on their longest road trip of the season, still riding their losing streak.

This game was a carbon copy of so many we've seen played by the Blazers lately. Nate McMillan even commented that he's starting to sound like a broken record. A slow start, not enough help for Zach Randolph, too many turnovers, and not enough defense. Those were just a few of the comments made following the last four games on this homestand. They all applied again against the Hawks.

Randolph again, got his offensive numbers. He had 30 points on 11-18 shooting, but also turned the ball over five times. The Blazers, as a team, turned it over 21 times. That's not the most distrurbing number, however. The fact that another team shot a high percentage against Portland's defense, has the coaching staff very concerned. In this homestand alone, Phoenix shot 54 percent, Indiana 52 percent, Orlando 49 percent, and Atlanta 51 percent. When you're struggling to defend, you have to play a nearly perfect offensive game to have a chance to win. This Blazers team has some offensive firepower, but not enough to be giving up easy baskets at the other end.

Atlanta was led by Joe Johnson's 33 points. Tyron Lue, off the bench, had 19 points on 9 of 15 shooting. Behind the three-point line, Atlanta was 8 for 17. That's 47 percent, and many of them were wide-open looks. The Blazers shot a very respectable 49 percent from the field, including going 7 for 13 on three pointers. That's enough to get you a win, offensively.

When talking about positives in the loss, one player stands out to me. Martell Webster, who was taken out of the starting lineup, responded, and looked as agressive as we've seen him look lately. Martell had 18 points (4 of 6 on threes), and also grabbed five rebounds. He turns 20 on Monday, and is probably too young to realize how important he is to this team right now. He simply has to bring that kind of agressiveness to the court in every single game if he's going to be a starter. With so many teams collapsing the defense around Zach, someone has to hit outside shots. At the very least, they have to attempt outside shots. Martell is the team's best deep threat, and if he's even close to being on, it can change a game. He'll have to be this same way on this road trip for Portland to have a chance in these games.

The Blazers got strong play from their point guards as well on Sunday. Jarrett Jack had 9 points and 8 assists, and continues to give up more and more playing time to Sergio Rodriguez. Jarrett played 28 minutes, and Sergio played 26. Of course, just because Sergio comes in, doesn't mean Jarrett goes out. We've seen him playing some off-guard as well, and he's big enough to guard some of the bigger twos in this league. Sergio had 8 points and 11 assists against the Hawks, and continues to run the team very well. He's only 20, by the way.

By the time most of you will be reading this, we'll be in the air on our way to Detroit. Tuesday night this six-game trip begins with a game against the Pistons. It's then on to Milwaukee, Indiana, Toronto, Philadelphia, and Memphis.

Raef LaFrentz will be making the trip, and expects to be in uniform against the Pistons (4:30pm FSN Northwest). He was one guy, before the season, we said could really help this team. Then he had this calf injury. It'll take him some time to get into prime game shape, but this team can badly use his outside shooting. I'm looking foward to seeing him play alongside Zach, and pulling his defender away from the paint, and Zach.

As you've probably heard, Brandon Roy will not be making the trip, but will be working out in Portland, trying to get his conditioning back. He'll also be testing his left heel, and hopefully won't be feeling significant pain. He says circle the game on the 15th against the Clippers, as that's when he'd love to make his return. If all goes well, that's the earliest we'll see him.

Talk to you from Detroit.

5 Comments:

blazerfan11 said...: Hey Mike, Thanks for continuing to Blog for us. I think that alot of the defensive woes are a direct result of such a turnover of players in the offseason. Our rotations are just horrible at times. Both on the perimeter and down low. It'll just take time to get it right. Maybe the whole team needs more late night film sessions.; 11:34 PM
blazerfan11 said...: Hey Mike, Thanks for continuing to Blog for us. I think that alot of the defensive woes are a direct result of such a turnover of players in the offseason. Our rotations are just horrible at times. Both on the perimeter and down low. It'll just take time to get it right. Maybe the whole team needs more late night film sessions.; 11:35 PM
Happy Camper said...: gmornin mike! It's nice to see sergio getting more PT. There isn't anybody on the team more capable of getting their TEAM MATES good shots than sergio (other than probably roy) I don't question the ball in his hands at crunchtime in the least bit when looking at the other options right now. Dixon and Zach are obviously better at getting their own shots off, but they will be heavily contested. sergio is far more likely to see the open man and get him a better shot than a contested one from one of those two. Unfortunately for that to happen it brings us back to the teamwork-rotation-timing thing. If the offensive work away from the ball happens right sergio will have open people to throw to or get zach or juan a better shot that the defense hasn't been able to set up for as well, if not he'll have to take the shot. Right now it may seem that giving it to juan or zack and crossing your fingers is better than letting sergio have it in a situation like that, but for the team to impove we need to be able to rely more on the offensive rotation and teamwork and less on giving it to zack and see what he can do. - if they don't try winning with teamwork i don't think they'll become a winning team; 10:46 AM
mrblazer said...: I think it is up to Martell to be aggressive, but it is also on the PG to pass him the ball. Jack did it twice, early, and the result was 2 quick 3-pointers. Unfortunately, that doesn't happen often. I've been campaigning for Martell's minutes to be with Sergio. I think he would be more effective and aggressive if he knew he would be rewarded with the ball for moving and working without it.

I can see why Nate has been limiting Martell's minutes. We had a stretch where we hit two 3s in a row. However, Atlanta hit two 3s and a 2 during that same stretch as a result of Martell's confusion at the defensive end. That's tough to deal with for a coach, i'm sure.; 1:05 PM
cfoss87 said...: hey mike, i love the blogs. always provide that in depth analysis and inside information. one of the things that's been pressing on my mind lately has been the struggles that we've seen on the offensive end.
sure everyone wants to talk about the defensive woes- the matador defense, if you will- but i see the lack of consistent scoring options outside of zach. now you and other media members have always praised players like martell webster and at times jarrett jack for being the gym rats that they are, and going out to tualatin after games to open up the practice facility and work on their games. id like to know if that some amount of extra work is being put in thus far in the early season and from whom.
thanks; 4:33 PM

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Grant Hill Hits Game Winner

posted: 12/1/2006 at 9:35 PM

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Following his game-winning shot with three-tenths of a second left at the Rose Garden on Friday night, Grant Hill said, "we got lucky." He went on to talk about the effort by the Trail Blazers, the incredible second half by Zach Randolph, and his own huge plays in the final seconds of the game.

Orlando conntinues to roll, as they've now won six straight games, including five straight on the road. They also made history with the win over the Blazers. They've played the Sonics and Trail Blazers on back-to-back nights, on the road, 15 times in their history. This is the first time they've come away with victories in both games. They also now share the NBA's best record, with Utah, who is also 13 and 4.

Hill, the classy veteran, who has been better known for his injury-plagued career in Orlando than his play on the court, had the two biggest plays of the night. First, he picked off a Sergio Rodriguez pass with 30 seconds left, and then tied the game with two free throws. Then, with just 1.2 seconds left and the game tied, received a lob pass from Hedo Turkoglu, and put in the game-winner. The Blazers didn't have any time outs left, and the Magic won the game, 91-89.

Hill's clutch plays ruined what was a great come-back effort by the Trail Blazers, who didn't take their first lead in the game until the 1:04 mark of the fourth quarter. Orlando led by as many as 9 points in the game, and repeatedly turned back Portland's attempts to get over the hump.

The Blazers had pulled to within one of Orlando, five different times before finally taking the lead. Then, with Travis Outlaw's jumper, went up 89-87 with 1:04 to play. Following a Hill miss, the Blazers had the ball back, with a two-point lead, with 30 seconds to play. Sergio Rodriguez, who otherwise had an outstanding game, floated a pass out top that was picked off by Hill, who made the tying free throws. Portland still had a possession to try and tie, and when nothing else developed, Sergio drove down the right side of the lane and missed a bank shot with 1.2 left.

The game-winning play was a beauty, designed by Magic coach Brian Hill. The Blazers were most likely thinking Hedo Turkoglu would pass the ball in, and then get it back, with a chance to go for the winner. Instead, Jameer Nelson set a back pick for Hill at the foul line. Jarrett Jack and Ime Udoka, who had been switching on picks all night, got caught in the switch, and Turkoglu's pass was caught by a wide-open Hill, who flipped it in.

The Trail Blazers will be looking at this game as a big missed opportunity to beat one of the hottest teams in the NBA. As several of the players said after the game, the Blazers didn't make the most of several big possessions down the stretch, and missed some key free throws, that would have put them in a much better position. They're beyond searching for moral victories, so no one was happy with just a good effort.

Zach Randolph, who was the focus of Orlando's defense, struggled in the first half against a big Magic frontline, and had just 4 points. But, he came alive in the second half, scoring 24 of his 28 in the final two quarters. He had 16 in the third quarter alone, to get Portland to within striking distance. Zach ended with 28 points and 13 rebounds. Jarrett Jack had 14 points, and Travis Outlaw had 13 off the bench, including the big shot to give the Blazers their first lead with just over a minute left. LaMarcus Aldridge had a solid game, with 10 points off the bench.

By the way, the Blazers have been terrific in late-game pressure so far this season. They had been 4 and 0 in games decided by 4 points or less. It looked as though they'd be playing their first overtime game of the season, until Hill ended the suspense.

There's just one game left on this homestand, and then we're off for a six-game road trip. Atlanta will visit the Rose Garden on Sunday night. We leave early Monday morning for Detroit, Milwaukee, Indiana, Toronto, Philadelphia, and Memphis.

4 Comments:

DLatta said...: Hey Mike!

I think the Blazers are as frustrated as the fans. Let's not pick apart what the blazers could've done better in this game. Everyone could think of one, two, or maybe three things that would've made this go more smoothly.
Anyways, Orlando is #1 in the SE division for a reason. It was not a blowout, it was a good game. At times I felt like pulling my hair out, just because our team would get so close and then get behind by 9. I had a great time tonight in the Rose Garden!
I think the Blazers will be in better shape when Brandon Roy is put into the rotation. What I mean by that is they'll have much more confidence. For those who where at the game tonight, the Blazers announce that Brandons boot came off. How the Fans responded! Wow! That made me feel good. The Fans know what they have in Brandon, And Brandon knows what he has in the fans. If you missed it, it was about the Noise (cheer) and the smile on that young mans face! Priceless! Till Next time!; 11:12 PM
aitor14vn said...: Hi all! from Barcelona, Spain. I've been reading all the comments about Sergio Rodriguez and I can understand both opinions. I understand the ones that thought he's too young and unexperienced to be the starting PG in the NBA, and I understand the ones that claims for more minutes and a more important role in the team.
I'm an Estudiantes fan (the team where Sergio comes) and I've seen him in so many games. I can affirm that he is totally capable of taking the chief role in any team, he has show it in so many games. Be sure of that!
Ther's only one thing we should take care of: he needs to feel that the team, the coach and all the staff, believes in him. If we are patient with him, don't worry about an struggling game, in the next one, he will do better than ever. He loves to take an important role and he could do it right now!. But remember, he's 20 and he needs affection and confidence. Trust in him, he won't dissapoint you.
Someone that knows what is talking about.
Go Blazers!!; 4:17 AM
chronnic said...: aitor14vn Ill setle for sergio making wide open layups; 11:07 AM
peregrinebrm said...: So was there a team meeting to decide that Sergio is the new go-to guy in clutch situations, or how was this decided? Will Sergio be getting the ball on ALL big plays from now on, or will other players sometimes be involved near the end of games as well? I hope we don't get too predictable to other teams with our new game-closing "always get it to Sergio" strategy.

I hope Jarrett, as the team's starting point guard, will accept his new "get out of the way and let Sergio go to work" role at the end of games.

By the way, this is NOT a knock on Sergio. His fans could tone it down, though - aitor14vn, did you see the game??? Sergio will be fine, but some of the rest of us need to view him and where he is in this stage of his career with a bit more clarity.; 6:18 PM

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The Beast from the East

posted: at 7:42 AM

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If you think the Trail Blazers have been catching some red-hot teams lately, youâ€™re correct. Thatâ€™s not about to change Friday night, as Portland hosts the best team from the Eastern Conference, the Orlando Magic. Many expected Orlando to be improved this season, but not many thought theyâ€™d be 12 and 4 after 16 games.

The true measure for any eastern team is how they do against the much-tougher Western Conference. Well, not only are the Magic 5 and 1 against the West, theyâ€™ve started this road trip with impressive wins at Utah and Seattle. Theyâ€™ve won five in a row overall, look to continue that streak.

I know weâ€™re only a month into the season, but Dwight Howard is the dominant center in the east this season, and is a potential MVP of the league. He is an absolute monster, and has been putting up big numbers, averaging 17 points, and 14 rebounds per game. He already has 3 games of 20+ points, and 20+ rebounds. At Seattle on Wednesday, he had 24 points, 12 rebounds, and 4 blocked shots.

The Magic start a big first unit, with Hedo Turkoglu (6-10), Tony Battie (6-11), and Howard (6-11), on the front line. Grant Hill is healthy and is playing very well, and point guard Jameer Nelson is as tough as nails and makes this Orlando engine roar.

If the offense isnâ€™t enough, and it has been on most nights, the Magic are a force at the defensive end of the floor. Theyâ€™ve been holding opponents to just 92 points per game, second-best in the NBA. It'll be another big challenge for Zach Randolph, against this Magic shot-blocking machine. We saw Zach have some success against Indiana when he moved out to the perimeter and hit a couple of jumpers. Even though the coaches would ultimately like him in the low block, if he can stretch the defense from the outside, that's fine with them. Problem is, he's Portland's best rebounder, and when he's outside shooting shots he doesn't have a chance at the offensive board.

Following their loss to Indiana on Tuesday, the Trail Blazers took Wednesday off, and returned to practice on Thursday. They mainly worked on defense, and worked on ways to slow down Orlando.

Coach Nate McMillan was a guest on Trail Blazers Courtside on Thursday night, and talked about what will be needed against the Magic. He also discussed the Indiana game, and gave us an update on the status of Raef LaFrentz and Brandon Roy. He also spent time talking about Howard, who he coached on Team USA at the World Championships.

A link to the interview with coach McMillan will be added, in this spot, very shortly.

We were also joined on the show by Joel Przybilla. Joel returned to the Blazers lineup for the game against the Pacers, and talked about how good it feels to be back. Heâ€™ll start again Friday night, and hopes to see more action, as he continues to get back into shape.

Friday nightâ€™s game against the Magic, is radio only, and begins at 6 oâ€™clock on the Trail Blazers Radio Network.

3 Comments:

borjaila said...: Hi Mike, greetings from Spain.IÂ´m happy how things are going for Sergio.Mcmillan is a tough coach and make the players really sweat for their minutes.This way is how Sergio is going to improve and hopefully he will manage to win more minutes as season goes on.
When this iÂ´m talking about comes true may be Mcmillan will be his rookie record 25 assist broken(difficult but not impossible while given enough minutes in a blowout game).Best wishes for Blazers as iÂ´m an old fan from Sabonis era.; 8:38 AM
mrblazer said...: Howard is an example of an athlete with fairly limited basketball skills being just what the NBA ordered. He wasn't nearly as effective in international play as he is in the NBA. I think he's a freakish athlete, but i'm not too impressed with his game. He was a big baby during the World Championship's, so i'd love to see us knock them down.; 12:31 PM
DT-Vinsanity said...: It's going to be a pretty interesing star matchup between Z-Bo and Howard, although the individual defender of Howard will probably be Joel.

Dwight is a very young and promising player that is getting a breakout season, but his numbers are surely going to increase even more during the next years... so if "this" Howard is already a "beast", how are we going to call him when he becomes 23-24 years old and reaches the top of his potential?

As mrblazer said, he was at the World Championships, where he had some solid moments, mainly in the offensive end. In the semifinal against Greece I think he was one of the few players of the US Team that played good, at his level. With Elton Brand being overwhelmed by Baby Shaq (Schrortsanitis), I think Dwight Howard did a better job than the Clipper, but still it was not enough as the rest of the team had a lack of tenacity in the defensive end (and the Greeks also had some moments of heating up).

The Blazers have to be aware of the 3-pointers from Turkoglu, that takes advantage from the hard defense to D-Howard in the paint, which leaves spaces for wide open outside shots.

By the way, it's going to be a good chance to see Magloire and LaMarcus Aldridge defensive skills against dominant "paint players" if they are matched with D-Howard in any moment of the game.; 3:04 PM

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The Beast from the East

posted: at 7:42 AM

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If you think the Trail Blazers have been catching some red-hot teams lately, you're correct. That's not about to change Friday night, as Portland hosts the best team from the Eastern Conference, the Orlando Magic. Many expected Orlando to be improved this season, but not many thought they'd be 12 and 4 after 16 games.

The true measure for any eastern team is how they do against the much-tougher Western Conference. Well, not only are the Magic 5 and 1 against the West, they've started this road trip with impressive wins at Utah and Seattle. They've won five in a row overall, look to continue that streak.

I know we're only a month into the season, but Dwight Howard is the dominant center in the east this season, and is a potential MVP of the league. He is an absolute monster, and has been putting up big numbers, averaging 17 points, and 14 rebounds per game. He already has 3 games of 20+ points, and 20+ rebounds. At Seattle on Wednesday, he had 24 points, 12 rebounds, and 4 blocked shots.

The Magic start a big first unit, with Hedo Turkoglu (6-10), Tony Battie (6-11), and Howard (6-11), on the front line. Grant Hill is healthy and is playing very well, and point guard Jameer Nelson is as tough as nails and makes this Orlando engine roar.

If their offense isn't enough, and it has been on most nights, the Magic are a force at the defensive end of the floor. They've been holding opponents to just 92 points per game, second-best in the NBA. It'll be another big challenge for Zach Randolph, against this Magic shot-blocking machine. We saw Zach have some success against Indiana when he moved out to the perimeter and hit a couple of jumpers. Even though the coaches would ultimately like him in the low block, if he can stretch the defense from the outside, that's fine with them. Problem is, he's Portland's best rebounder, and when he's outside shooting shots he doesn't have a chance at the offensive board.

Following their loss to Indiana on Tuesday, the Trail Blazers took Wednesday off, and returned to practice on Thursday. They mainly worked on defense, and worked on ways to slow down Orlando.

Coach Nate McMillan was a guest on Trail Blazers Courtside on Thursday night, and talked about what will be needed against the Magic. He also discussed the Indiana game, and gave us an update on the status of Raef LaFrentz and Brandon Roy. He also spent time talking about Howard, who he coached on Team USA at the World Championships.

To hear our interview with coach McMillan from last night's radio show, click here.

We were also joined on the show by Joel Przybilla. Joel returned to the Blazers lineup for the game against the Pacers, and talked about how good it feels to be back. He'll start again Friday night, and hopes to see more action, as he continues to get back into shape.

To listen to the interview with Joel, click here.

Friday night's game against the Magic, is radio only, and begins at 6 o'clock on the Trail Blazers Radio Network.

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Defensive Breakdowns Blamed

posted: 11/29/2006 at 7:56 AM

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The identity of this Portland team was established in the first few games. The hard-working, scrappy, defensive-minded, never-say-die-attitude-Blazers were showing what they could be when they truly bought into Nate McMillan's philosophy. Following last night's 105-97 loss to the Indiana Pacers, McMillan said the team has to get back to what was bringing them wins. He was mostly talking about defense.

Several games ago I had scratched a note to myself on my desk. It simply says "Portland is 5 and 0 when holding opponents under 100 points." Forget the offense. When you're a young, shorthanded team, you're going to have to outwork people at the defensive end. You can't always control whether or not your outside shot is falling, but you can always give a better effort on defense.

For the third game in a row a Blazer opponent scored over 100, and this time it wasn't the high-scoring Kings, or Phoenix Suns. The Pacers came into the game averaging 95 points per game, which ranked them 25th in that catagory in the NBA. They shot 52 percent from the field, 38 percent from behind the three-point line, and had 28 assists on 38 field goals.

Despite those numbers from Indiana's offense, and Portland's struggles shooting the ball, the game was still tied at 75 after three quarters. So, give the Blazers credit there. They had battled back from an 11-point hole they dug in the first two minutes of the third quarter, and were in a good position, on their home floor, to pull out the game with a strong defensive mindset in the fourth quarter. It didn't happen that way, as the Pacers put up 30 points in the quarter.

In defense of the Blazers, over the past three games they've caught some pretty good teams at perhaps the wrong time. Sacramento returned Brad Miller and Ron Artest to the lineup on Saturday in that game, and were better than they had showed in their recent games. Phoenix had been struggling and was due for a good game. They played their best game of the season Sunday night. And, Indiana was kicking off a 5-game western swing, following a humbling loss to Toronto on Sunday. They were looking at last night's game as a must win. I also think it is safe to say all three of those teams are better than their records. McMillan doesn't want to hear excuses like that, but it's reality.

It was nice to see Joel Przybilla return to the lineup for Portland against Indiana. He played just 7 minutes in the first half, but went 16 in the second half, and grabbed 10 rebounds. His return will undoubtedly help the team defensively.

Jarrett Jack recorded a career-high 21 points, and also had 6 assists on no turnovers. He continues to improve. The Blazers, as a team, outrebounded Indiana 47-34, and recorded 21 offensive rebounds. You don't lose very often when you grab that many offensive boards and outrebound a team by that margin. The problem was, they shot an uncharacteristic 39 percent from the floor, their lowest percentage of the season.

Zach Randolph had 30 points and 11 rebounds, but was just 11 for 27 from the field. We said this before the game on the TV broadcast, and it held true in this game- no one in the NBA defends Zach like Indiana's Jeff Foster. That's the reason Rick Carlisle started Foster last night. He forced Zach into the 11 for 27, and also caused him to turn the ball over 5 times. Keep in mind, the Blazers play this Indiana team again next Friday, in Indianapolis.

There are two home games left before the long six-game trip back east. Orlando is in town on Friday, and Atlanta is at the Garden Sunday. You can bet the Blazers won't be spending much time on offense in practice today or Thursday.

18 Comments:

dlsfan said...: I know Zach has had a great begining this season but he still seems to be looking the other direction when opposing player drive to the bascket. On offense he sould be our first option but not the only option. The offense is bogging down trying to run everything through Zach. As good as Zach is he still appears to be part of the problem, not the solution.; 9:26 AM
mjrgramaje said...: Mike Barrett's Blogs are so much better than John Canzano's from the Paper, Mike writes the facts and John just write negetive stuff only. Good Job Mike!!! They will learn to play Defense, There still playing good these are just championship caliber teams there playing right now. I am real happy to watch Portland this year because they actually look like they care about this season more than last. Hopefully they keep trying and the wins will come with experance. Go Blazers!!! I believe in you.; 9:59 AM
Mark said...: Well, coach Nate did what I thought he should have done last night by playing Joel and Jamaal at the center and having LaMarcus come in at the 4 spot while Travis moved down to the 3 spot. It would have worked out just fine if Portland could have made some shots. When you out rebound your oppnonent by 10, you should not lose. Portland needs to play more of a 2-3 zone. I guess it doesn't help all that much that our best perimeter defender is still out with the heel injury.

If Roy's injury doesn't look any better after this next MRI scan, than I suggest he go in for surgery to completely fix the problem. If his heel does look better, I would think that there's still a very high possibility of re-aggrivating the heal and we'll all be in the same position we're in now. Hopefully Roy can get back out on the court soon! By the way MB, I love your blogs! Keep up the good work.; 11:23 AM
ProudBFan said...: Thanks for keeping the Blogs going, Mike. As usual, a couple of comments:

1. I'm sure you didn't mean to state that the Pacers were averaging 25 points per game coming into last night's game.

2. It's not just defense. It's offense, too. The Blazers simply do not have dependable perimeter shooting to compliment their decent inside game. If Nate isn't drilling the boys on their perimeter shooting - with hands in their faces - he should be.

3. And it's not just defense and offense. It's the transition game too. As in, the Blazers have almost NO transition game. They constantly take their time getting the ball up the court, and letting their opponents set up defensive shop all the while. And they are getting beat back down the court on fully half of their opponents' possessions when their opponents employ a full-court attack.

4. And it's not just defense, offense, and transition game. It's rebounding, too. The Blazers are dead last in the NBA in total rebounds per game at this point in the season.

5. And it's not just defense, offense, transition game, and rebounding. It's the Blazer Dancers, too. They just aren't trying hard enough!

6. On the serious side, I still can NOT figure out why Brandon, the Blazers, and the physicians didn't just decide to do the surgery as soon as the pain became an issue. It's not like that bone is going to shrink all by itself. He could be well on his way to recovery by now, instead of still being lost in uncertainty.

I know the boyz will improve and that it's going to take time. I didn't expect them to really begin clicking until the 2nd half of the season, anyway. We have had a number of great stories and pleasant surprises already this season, and I'm sure more are in store for us.

So I'm not giving up on the boyz, but I AM concerned that many of them may become discouraged as the losses pile up. The only way they are going to turn things around is to grit their teeth and rededicate themselves to doing just that, no matter how many games they lose.

GO BLAZERS!!!

PBF; 11:46 AM
pepeseldon said...: For God Sake!!! When is going Portland coach to realize that Sergio Rodriguez deserve much more minutes on the court??? Sergio has everything a point guard needs ... I know he is very young but he has a huge experience playing complicated games and he doesnÂ´t hide when his team needs him (if you want a good example of that, you should see the semifinal against Argentina in the last World Championship in Japan).; 1:22 PM
MadDogg said...: Defense, defense, defense. Everyone is saying it, and yet no one seems to be thinking about where the problem is coming from. It's easy, his name is Z-Bo. He never gets back, he rotates slowly or not at all, his footwork is too slow, and mostly he just saves his energy for offense.

Speaking of which, his offense is predictable, it slows ball movement, disrupts the offensive flow, causes needless turnovers, and generates buckets less than half the time.

He has talent, but also has an oversized ego, very little court vision, horrific ball handling skills, and most importantly, a massive contract.

My advice. Let Randolph have his 30-12 at the expense of winning. When Roy comes back, give him the oppurtunity to find his role as a #2 option. If not, get rid of him.

It doesn't matter if he goes somewhere else and plays well, he's not playing well here. Period. Stats don't mean jack, if you can't play as a team, you can't win. Period. Go Blazers. Period.; 1:39 PM
shawn said...: The problem with this Blazers team is that they rely way too much on Zach, also Dixon. Last night in the 4th. Zach, an Dixon continued to shoot the ball. Dont get me wrong they did hit some, but the point is when they take that many shots in a row like they did an do, it isnt very hard for the other team to figure out who to guard and who is going to get the ball. In my opinion Jack is the go to guy, he has a higher field go percentage. I think most of the better teams in the NBA are good because of the point guard as well as defence...; 4:18 PM
RJNelson18 said...: The reason the Blazers lost last night was not because of a defensive breakdown, it was from Joel not being 100% in shape, and Brandon sitting on the bench. Once everybody gets back, it will all take shape.
Go Blazers.; 5:53 PM
RealisticFan said...: Oh ... my ... gosh! Shut up about Sergio already. I know there are a lot of fans of this kid, but let's try to be a little objective here! He has some talent and he'll be a good player for the Blazers in a year or two. But if Sergio were to play more minutes than he is now, it would actually stunt his progress. He has a lot of bad habits that will only correct themselves through consistent repetition in practice. Nate McMillan is much, much smarter than all the Sergio lovers on this board, so trust his coaching instincts and stop clamoring for more minutes for Sergio. Nate is giving him as much time as he deserves!; 9:07 PM
mrblazer said...: I disagree, in part, with realisticfan. First of all, i think Sergio is good, right now. I suspect he'll only improve over the next couple of years. Also, i don't think more time would stunt Sergio's development. Sergio has been playing at a high level for a long time, now. It's not like he just became a McDonald's all-star. The guy is a world champion.
These bad habbits of his must have slipped my mind when he was dropping 10 dimes and scoring 9 points on 4 of 5 shooting in 22 minutes. I wish Jack had some of those bads habbits, as well. It seems Sergio has a bad habbit of leading the league in assists per 48 minutes.

I agree that we should be patient with Sergio, but i don't think Jack needs to be playing 40+ minutes a game. My main problem with the minute distribution at PG, however, is just that Dickou continues to get minutes handed to him he hasn't earned. I can only think of one decent game he has had all season. Why should Sergio be splitting back-up minutes with him?; 11:48 PM
DT-Vinsanity said...: realisticfan, saying that coach McMillian is always right with his decisions is not really realistic, in fact is very relative... I mean, what about the time when McMillian had Dickau as the second PG of the rotation and Sergio was the third? Was it a "smart" decision? If you're correct and the coach is sooooo smart and always fair with the decisions he has made, then both Dickau and Sergio deserve to be at the same time the 2nd point guard of the team, and that's a sort of contradiction.

In my opinion, the fact that Sergio has progressively been playing more and more minutes is the evidence that coach McMillian, initially, was not sure about Sergio's skills to play NBA games, but now Nate has realised that he does have those skills. Maybe Nate understimated Sergio when he said he should go to the D-League before the season had started; I'm pretty sure Nate has changed his mind a little bit on that and now he doesn't think Sergio should go the D-League.

Of course, Jarrett Jack is, today, a better PG than Sergio, and Jarrett is starting. No doubt about it. Probably Sergio will be able to improve his NBA skills and get experience if he plays 20 minutes every game (and that's something normal, like any other 2nd PG of the league), and when people say that he should play more, I think they're just refering to this, to play 20 minutes, and not to start Sergio.

By the way, I can't really understand what you're refering to with "he has a lot of bad habits". As far as I remember, McMilian said in September that "Sergio knows where to be on the court" and said that was because "his natural basketball IQ", but he never said anything about "a lot of bad habits"... and if McMillian is so smart, then he is smarter than you and me, and if he has not said anything about those bad habits, then Sergio hasn't got them. I'm just following your way of thinking about it.

The only "bad" thing he's said about him is that as he's still learning English he loses a bit of communication in the court... which is not a bad habit to be corrected in practice, and still, despite of it, his numbers in assists are really high, and drives the team to play better when he's on the court, which is basically the purpose of a true PG.

I just can't imagine how good Sergio can be in a year or two.

P.D Mike, any updates about Brandon Roy's heel?; 5:10 AM
Adrenalize said...: Couple things here...
First, the defense is glaringly the biggest problem. We really need to improve the interior defense, (during the Suns game it looked like they were performing layup drills on us)so hopefully with Joel back that will help. Also, with soo much youth on this team, we should NEVER be getting beat soo often in transition!
Second, what is the deal with Martell? Teams are clogging the middle and playing Zack tough, only way to stop that is effective outside shooting and Martell is supposed to be the guy for that. He has been almost invisible lately. He needs to get start creating shots for himself and not be soo tentative. Dixon shoots almost twice as often with less minutes. With Martell, Outlaw and Jack shooting from outside, Zack would have a lot more room to move inside and create lanes for Outlaw and Jack to get to the rim also.

When you mention being last in the NBA in rebounding, there arent a whole lot of rebounds to be had when your opponent is shooting +50% from the field.; 5:31 AM
BLAZER PROPHET said...: It's not only defense (watching Pacers walk the ball by Zebo and score while he watches on makes me want to vomit) but just plain experience. The Pacers are a veteran group and know how to milk a call, execute just a bit better when needed... all the things we will do in a couple of years.; 7:06 AM
L.A.PortlandFan said...: Ok, so throughout the years I have had a ruff time being down here in L.A. yet remaining a die hard Portland fan. But it has really given me the chance to look from the outside in. I have noticed that there is something that seems to happen with us blazer fans when we have some small snafu's in our game play. We immediately become bitter and start blaming whomever we can. Except ourselves.

The one main reason why I totally love Portland is the immense feeling of heart that the city portrays. Now there have been small blurbs where it seemed that the team was also reflective of the cities character, but not often enough. Basketball is a game that is highly dependant on skills. But in my opinion the greatest skill has nothing to do with ball handling, or shooting, or even conditioning. It has to do with passion! I believe that a team has to be just that, Passionate. When you look at all the teams that have been champions throughout the years you can recognize one thing. Teamwork/Unity. Now maybe if we see more of Rasheed Wallace type passion with less Ruben Patterson type complaining or blaming, then the team would find its niche; Start to gel and see that problems can be fixed when a Portrait in turned into a Mural. Letâ€™s rally behind the blazers. Lets show that heart which has made the Rose Garden one of the loudest Arenas in sports history. Letâ€™s just say "hey we have our lineup now letâ€™s throw all in a bowl, mix it round and come out with a playoff caliber cake". What do ya say Portland, do you have the heart I always admired and relished in, or are you going to implode once more. I firmly believe that the sixth man sitting in the stands or 1,200 miles to the south listening on KXL, really make a team or a city what it should be.; 12:12 PM
The Back Judge said...: Having watched Jarrett Jack for 3 years at Georgia Tech, I can vouch for his leadership, especially on the defensive end of the floor. Sergio Rodriguez may be a talented player, but to place the burden of leadership on him at this early stage of his career would be wrong. Furthermore, to point to Sergio's 9-point 10-assist outing as reason for more minutes is absurd. Before you blindly accept statistics, consider the context in which they were obtained. Those 9 points and 10 assists were earned in a 119-101 blowout loss to the Suns (a team that likes to run) in "garbage minutes" as some like to call it. Spectacular statistics do not always equate to spectacular performances.; 1:19 PM
peregrinebrm said...: Sergio has played well lately, yes. It can be difficult to improve young players, but Sergio has made it easy in his case by being good enough to play real back-up minutes. Be sure that the staff is watching him carefully.

With regard to bad habits and earlier caution on McMillan's part, well, remember the pre-season? One box score near the end showed Sergio with 8 turnovers in 19 minutes. I can't remember ever seeing such a thing before, and Dickau is an established, steady player who dropped 40 on Portland two years ago. So the staff should be excused for being cautious with Sergio, while on the other hand their recent use of him proves that they didn't lose sight of or forget him. He's already helping the team and should get better and better.; 3:21 PM
Westside Erik said...: WHAT IN THE WORLD is going on with Brandon? I sat and watched him for awhile (through binoculars) during the first half of the Phoenix debacle and let me tell you, the expression on his face was of someone that looked very uncomfortable and, dare I say, confused. My whole big fear about his situation is that he was improperly diagnosed, which is not uncommon and happens all the time. I feel like someone in charge got the wrong info, made the wrong call, didn't seek secondary medical advice, something. I strongly feel the Blazers need to address the public with the exact course of events surrounding his condition over the last three weeks and why they chose to pursue the method of treatment they did. Sorry for the rant but this just reeks of a pathetic treatment that has resulted in a major waste of time.; 11:09 PM
mrblazer said...: In Sergio's first meaningful action this season, he had 8 assists in the final quarter against Minnesota who kept playing in fear of losing a lead, once again. The very next night he had 8 assists again in 26 minutes of meaningful action in a game where JJ played poorly for 21 minutes. Against NJ, in the first half, Portland was -22 with Jack on the floor and +9 with Sergio. Jack recovered and had a nice second half, but we would have had a much bigger hill to climb for a win had Sergio not performed as he did. In the 5 games that Sergio has played at least 12 minutes, he's averaging about 6.6 assists in about 18.4 mpg. That's 17+ assists per 48 minutes. Numbers like that at any point in the game are remarkable.

Do know what you're talking about, and watch more than one game, before calling one's campaign absurd. Thinking Sergio is incapable of handling a backup role on this team, independently, is what is absurd. Anyone who watched the World Championship tournament and all his games thus far in the regular season could easily see he's capable.; 1:07 AM

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Przybilla Likely to Return Tuesday

posted: 11/27/2006 at 9:24 PM

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Tired of seeing opposing players score on his team at point-blank range, Blazers coach Nate McMillan seemed relieved after Monday's practice, and said, "help is on the way." He was referring to Joel Przybilla, who, after sitting out three weeks, will likely return to the court on Tuesday night when the Blazers host the Indiana Pacers.

In the second game of the season, at Golden State, Przybilla went up to contest a drive by Troy Murphy, and took a knee square to the abdomen. He continued to play in the game, but in the following days suffered through intense pain and swelling, and was ordered to bed (or the couch) for 4-5 days. The recovery has been much longer than he anticipated, and much more painful as well. He told me many times during the past three weeks that this was the most painful injury he's ever had as an athlete. He finally underwent surgery on the 17th, and is now nearing full strength.

Przybilla practiced on Monday, and certainly looked ready to return game action. He was swatting shots, pulling down rebounds, and even displaying a little offense. The Blazer frontline will welcome him back with open arms. They have been badly needing the help of a shot blocker inside, and have been surrendering a lot of points in the paint. Phoenix had 56 points in the paint on Sunday, and Sacramento had 44 on Saturday, and those are teams not noted for their inside, post-up play.

Raef LaFrentz has returned to practice as well, but won't likely suit up for Tuesday's game. He could, however, be set for a return on Friday when the Orlando Magic come to town. LaFrentz pulled a calf muscle during training camp, and then re-injured it at practice, before the second game of the season. His inside play, and long-range shooting should be a big help when he returns.

Brandon Roy was at practice on Monday, still wearing the boot on his left foot. A timetable for his return is still very much up in the air, unfortunately. Friday Roy will undergo an MRI on his left heel, and more should be known after that. Doctors are hoping the inflammation around the talus bone will be down, and as a precaution, will likely recommend that he stay in the boot for at least another week. If all goes well, he could then perhaps return to activity. A return to practice would follow that. If he's still pain free, a return to action could be on the horizon some time after that. Surgery is being looked at as a last option at this point, but nothing more is known at this time.

I spent about 20 minutes with Brandon following practice today, and as you would expect, it's killing him not to be playing. "I had a great start, and really proved to myself that I can succeed at this level," Roy told me. "Then, this happened. I'm frustrated, but also am just counting the days until I can get back in there. My teammates need me, and I think I can help them."

Roy still isn't sure why he all of a sudden had this severe pain in his heel. He says he never had a problem with it in college, and says that makes it all the more frustrating. "It was bothering me a little bit in the first couple of games," says Roy. "Then in the Minnesota game (Nov.4), I remember coming down and coming to a hard jump stop. I really felt it then. I told Jay (Jensen, Portland's trainer) I could finish that game and stayed in. Then, in the game against the Clippers it really flared up on me and I had to come out. I tried playing again in the next game against the Lakers, but it was just too painful. Hopefully, this time spent resting it will take care of the problem. I'm just not sure right now, and that's what's so difficult."

The Trail Blazers and Pacers go at it Tuesday night at the Rose Garden. Indiana is off to a disappointing 7-7 start, and is opening a difficult 5-game western swing. The Pacers have won five straight against the Blazers, their longest winning streak in the history of the series.

The game will be televised on FSN at 7 o'clock, and can also be heard on the Trail Blazers Radio Network.

8 Comments:

Mark said...: It sure will be good to get Joel back. I'm sure he will be a tad rusty for a few quarters since he hasn't played in over two weeks, but just his presence in the lineup should put a little fear into opposing teams.

When Joel comes back at full strength, do you know how the Center rotation will play out now that we've seen what LaMarcus can do, Mike? I think Travis Outlaw will drop down to the three spot and LaMarcus will come in for Zach off the bench at the 4 spot. And of course Jamaal backing up Joel. I'm entrigued to see what Coach Nate does with the lineup.; 4:53 AM
spanishchocolate said...: Hy guys, Spain is here!

Again we saw Sergio enjoing himself and improving day after day. He finally achieved one of his dreams that is to play against Steve Nash. Congratullations.

Sunday was a bit strange day. In the morning Estudiantes lost against Lagun Aro, with Nacho Azofra managing them. It was exciting to hear "la Demencia" singing all over the match "Nachocho, Nachocho, ..." At night we could saw Sergio playing for Portland, still a bit difficult for Estudiantes fans. Hopefully in a very near future Portland's fans will shout his name in Rose Garden Arena. Try to do so and you will see how he can improve. We've bought Spanish Christmas Lottery of number 11011, that will be the winner this year "El Gordo" so we can earn enough money to travel to Portland and make some fun with Sergio. Just wait and see.
Good luck for the week.; 5:30 AM
mrblazer said...: Mike, do you know if Portland has any exhibition games against international competition planned in the future? That would be a lot of fun.

I think Zach is going to have a huge night, tonight. I hope Joel has been able to keep up at least a little bit with conditioning. It'll be interesting to see what happens with the rotation once we get all our guys back. I'd like to see Aldridge and Sergio to continue to get minutes, but i also want to win. I think Nate is still coaching to win at this point, and i trust he'll get the best rotation figured out.

Also, is Zach having problems with his knee?; 12:56 PM
Mike Barrett said...: mrblazer,

We know the NBA continues to send teams overseas for exhibitions against foreign teams. Sooner or later, the Blazers will get the call. Spain perhaps?
Zach isn't having trouble with his knees. He left the game on Sunday and had them iced, and we showed a shot or two of that on TV. Several people have asked me about this. Everyone ices after games, and being Zach's night was over early, he just got a jump start on that process. He has been taking an pounding, but he's healthy.

MB; 3:07 PM
Maria4878 said...: Hi Mike! It is going to be great to see Joel back in action. I think Mike Rice's Key to the game tonight should be Joel Przybilla. We have such a promising team this year and I am very glad to see where the organization is heading. Good luck tonight!

Maria :-); 4:36 PM
ShSstorm said...: Its funny,
people have seen what portland can do in the beginning of the season but since then we have almost lost the respect around the NBA i think with joel and lafrentz back and soon roy we will have our playoff team back in full swing and show everyone what rip city is all about

your fan

Andrew; 5:54 PM
paper wings said...: I absolutely love travis outlaw! I have been watching the Blazers the past few years and when he first started playing I knew he would eventually be a star! Joel Pryzbilla and Dairus Miles are great too. I am glad you got rid of damen.; 10:30 PM
paper wings said...: By the way, I never get to see the Blazers anymore since I moved back to Texas. It has made me very, very sad. I love the Blazers!; 10:31 PM

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