Ian Thomsen lists his All-Future roster today at SI.com and Nate McMillan gets some love:
COACH
Coach Nate McMillan Portland Trail Blazers
If he can survive the next couple of years with his ultra-young roster, he could develop a Popovichesque relationship with Greg Oden. McMillan has the work ethic, defensive mind-set and integrity to become a championship coach.
Nice to see that some sportswriters recognize that it mostly comes back to good coaching, regardless of roster. Oh, and Oden makes the All Future list (5 years from now) as a reserve, along with Durant and DWade.
Monday, August 20, 2007
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Ime headed to San Anton
In a move Portland is sure to live to regret, Ime Udoka is leaving town. Headed for Texas.
To me, this is similar to the woman who puts her husband through med school and then he dumps her when he becomes a doctor. Lame. Lame. Lame.
Apologies to Udoka, who is no girly-girl, but you get the point. The Blazers think they are all that and a bag of chips, now that Oden is in the picture. So no love for those that got you to this point. Nice.
According to the Oregonian today:
Udoka, who played at Jefferson High School and Portland State, will provide San Antonio with solid long-range shooting, superior perimeter defense and a tireless work ethic.
The Blazers invited him to their training camp last season as an afterthought, but he blossomed into an opening-day starter. He started 75 games at small forward, averaging 8.4 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game, and shot 46.1 percent from the field, including 40.6 percent from three-point range. Before the breakout season, Udoka was a journeyman, making professional stops in Europe, the NBA Development League and the NBA. "He's excited to start the next phase of his career," Cowan said. "He wants to be a Spur for a long time."
This is extremely bad basketball karma. The Blazers better hope Outlaw is a hell of a trophy wife. Those starter wives often get the last laugh.
To me, this is similar to the woman who puts her husband through med school and then he dumps her when he becomes a doctor. Lame. Lame. Lame.
Apologies to Udoka, who is no girly-girl, but you get the point. The Blazers think they are all that and a bag of chips, now that Oden is in the picture. So no love for those that got you to this point. Nice.
According to the Oregonian today:
Udoka, who played at Jefferson High School and Portland State, will provide San Antonio with solid long-range shooting, superior perimeter defense and a tireless work ethic.
The Blazers invited him to their training camp last season as an afterthought, but he blossomed into an opening-day starter. He started 75 games at small forward, averaging 8.4 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game, and shot 46.1 percent from the field, including 40.6 percent from three-point range. Before the breakout season, Udoka was a journeyman, making professional stops in Europe, the NBA Development League and the NBA. "He's excited to start the next phase of his career," Cowan said. "He wants to be a Spur for a long time."
This is extremely bad basketball karma. The Blazers better hope Outlaw is a hell of a trophy wife. Those starter wives often get the last laugh.
Thursday, August 9, 2007
Canzano to launch radio show in September
The sports guy that Oregon sports fans love to hate is expanding his "Bald Face Truth" segment from local ESPN drive time to 4 nights a week on KXL, statewide, next month.
The first thing that came to my mind is Thank God, that means less Michael Savage.
The second thing was -- wait. The "can't ever say anything good about the Blazers" guy ?
Is going to work for the KXL owned Paul Allen, to talk sports including the Paul Allen owned Blazers ? Huh.
According to Canzano's blog, he has been granted 100% editorial control and autonomy. Which for someone who often does nothing but criticize is brave or stupid on Blazer management's part. At the very least it implies a lot of confidence in the new team.
Just saw the quote from Blazers first lieutenant, Mike Golub, who said:
"John Canzano is a lightning-rod for controversy and nobody knows that better than we do. With that being said, we feel confident about the direction of our organization and the new chapter of the team. Portland sports fans are passionate about the Trail Blazers and passionate about John's opinions. ... While we may not always agree with what John might say, this new partnership will add an unprecedented level of transparency."
Which, if you remember a couple years ago, was the last thing the Blazer management was about. The local media and the team were sworn enemies during the 90s and earlier this decade. This represents about 180% from the Blazer suits' earlier efforts.
So I guess that's all good. Although, it's kinda suspicious. It would be like the Bush administration saying Come on in, and we'll tell you all about the last six years, no problem.
Or like Darth Vader giving a seminar on sensitivity training. Odd.
Most of the time, I don't mind Canzano. I think his bark is worse than his bite in most cases.
I think he lives to piss people off and it's mostly an act for ratings. I also think it's good for the Blazers to be accountable to someone who does not romanticize the team and its baggage.
Dissent is the highest form of patriotism, and perhaps also of fandom.
The first thing that came to my mind is Thank God, that means less Michael Savage.
The second thing was -- wait. The "can't ever say anything good about the Blazers" guy ?
Is going to work for the KXL owned Paul Allen, to talk sports including the Paul Allen owned Blazers ? Huh.
According to Canzano's blog, he has been granted 100% editorial control and autonomy. Which for someone who often does nothing but criticize is brave or stupid on Blazer management's part. At the very least it implies a lot of confidence in the new team.
Just saw the quote from Blazers first lieutenant, Mike Golub, who said:
"John Canzano is a lightning-rod for controversy and nobody knows that better than we do. With that being said, we feel confident about the direction of our organization and the new chapter of the team. Portland sports fans are passionate about the Trail Blazers and passionate about John's opinions. ... While we may not always agree with what John might say, this new partnership will add an unprecedented level of transparency."
Which, if you remember a couple years ago, was the last thing the Blazer management was about. The local media and the team were sworn enemies during the 90s and earlier this decade. This represents about 180% from the Blazer suits' earlier efforts.
So I guess that's all good. Although, it's kinda suspicious. It would be like the Bush administration saying Come on in, and we'll tell you all about the last six years, no problem.
Or like Darth Vader giving a seminar on sensitivity training. Odd.
Most of the time, I don't mind Canzano. I think his bark is worse than his bite in most cases.
I think he lives to piss people off and it's mostly an act for ratings. I also think it's good for the Blazers to be accountable to someone who does not romanticize the team and its baggage.
Dissent is the highest form of patriotism, and perhaps also of fandom.
Friday, August 3, 2007
Blazers' new era reflected in 07-08 schedule
Well -- a couple of years ago, the chances of Portland playing a Christmas day game was about as likely as the whole family getting along for the holidays -- not very. Nate McMillan, when he joined the Blazers two years ago, set a Christmas game day on the top of his wish list. That he would realize that dream so soon (and with Greg Oden in his stocking to boot) is proof that somewhere along the way Nate has been on the realllllly good list.
Sure enough, we have a NW rivalry match up Dec. 25 that will bring Oden and Durant head to head. At home, even. Here's some other highlights from Blazers.com:
PORTLAND, Ore. – The Portland Trail Blazers open their 2007-08 home schedule on Wednesday, Nov. 7, against New Orleans at the Rose Garden on ESPN. Portland will tip off its 38th NBA season with a three-game road trip, beginning Tuesday, Oct. 30, at San Antonio.The San Antonio and New Orleans games will be televised nationally on TNT and ESPN, respectively, as part of a 19-game national TV schedule that features six games on ESPN, six games on TNT and seven games on NBA TV. Portland’s complete broadcast schedule will be available in the coming weeks.
" This is an incredibly exciting time to be a Trail Blazers fan and this season's schedule reflects that," said Trail Blazers chief operating officer Mike Golub. "With 19 games on national television, including a Christmas Day game at home, the league has taken notice of all of the good things happening with the team."
And may I say for the record, it's about damn time. Although starting the year with a three day
road trip may not be optimum, against the Spurs on opening night, it raises expectations that this year is going to be a great one. This can also be seen in the 19 games that will be on nationally, since last year, there was maybe one. Also, according to Courtside radio show, locally Comcast Sports Net will be showing quite a few games, and broadcast tv pick up the rest of those. Fox Sports Net also will have a few.
For Blazer fans, it's like Christmas came a few months early. So go celebrate the good fortune all those lean years have earned us. Party on!
Sure enough, we have a NW rivalry match up Dec. 25 that will bring Oden and Durant head to head. At home, even. Here's some other highlights from Blazers.com:
PORTLAND, Ore. – The Portland Trail Blazers open their 2007-08 home schedule on Wednesday, Nov. 7, against New Orleans at the Rose Garden on ESPN. Portland will tip off its 38th NBA season with a three-game road trip, beginning Tuesday, Oct. 30, at San Antonio.The San Antonio and New Orleans games will be televised nationally on TNT and ESPN, respectively, as part of a 19-game national TV schedule that features six games on ESPN, six games on TNT and seven games on NBA TV. Portland’s complete broadcast schedule will be available in the coming weeks.
" This is an incredibly exciting time to be a Trail Blazers fan and this season's schedule reflects that," said Trail Blazers chief operating officer Mike Golub. "With 19 games on national television, including a Christmas Day game at home, the league has taken notice of all of the good things happening with the team."
And may I say for the record, it's about damn time. Although starting the year with a three day
road trip may not be optimum, against the Spurs on opening night, it raises expectations that this year is going to be a great one. This can also be seen in the 19 games that will be on nationally, since last year, there was maybe one. Also, according to Courtside radio show, locally Comcast Sports Net will be showing quite a few games, and broadcast tv pick up the rest of those. Fox Sports Net also will have a few.
For Blazer fans, it's like Christmas came a few months early. So go celebrate the good fortune all those lean years have earned us. Party on!
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