5-17-07

Predraft Workouts in Full Swing

Florida Junior Corey Brewer might not be the best player coming out of Gainesville into the NBA this summer, but he's close to it.  In my breakdown of projected lottery picks, he came in with an average ranking of #7 when I pooled together online mock drafts.  A lot can change in the next month, but it appears that Brewer will be available for Kevin Pritchard to select if he chooses to do so. 

That said, get to know the kid a bit more.  Here's a link to an interview he did with Johnathon Givony of Draftexpress.com.   Givony joins Sports Saturday every now and then.

http://draftexpress.com/viewarticle.php?a=2054

5-16-07

Suns Vs. Spurs Likely Decided by Bad Rule

It's in these times of the Blazers offseason that I really miss doing The Fan Insider Postgame Report after games.   It gives me more opportunities to discuss the Association with listeners.  So, while I wait for Sports Saturday, I gotta get this out.

People, the "should they be suspended, or should they not be suspended" argument is garbage.  It's like arguing about who's hotter--Jessica Simpson or Jessica Alba.  There's no point.  (plus Alba is way hotter).

Anyway, the real conversation that should be taking place is when and to what extent will the rules be changed.  Currently, if a player leaves the "bench area" it's an automatic one game suspension whether he makes an aggressive move towards another person on the court or not.   When the rule was implemented it made sense because guys were flying off the bench and into fistacuffs in the blink of an eye.  At the time, officials didn't foresee a time like now, when the players are well aware of the rule, but often take an extra second or two to remember them when the drama gets heavy and emotions impede the flow of logical thoughts. 

Should Stoudemire and Diaw be supsended for tonight's game against the Spurs.  Yes.  But that's not what's important here.  What's important is opening a dialogue about rule changes while the issue is front and center and the sense of urgency is palpable.   Here's two  things to chew on, hit me at gdawson@1080thefan.com

1-Should mandatory minimums be installed to further punish the initiator of a confrontation?  Heck yes, nothing would have happened Monday night if Horry could have kept his cool.  Instead he endangered the health of Steve Nash, and antagonized Stoudemire and Diaw to the point of suspension.

2-Should some subjectivity be allowed in the ruling of player's leaving the bench?  No doubt about it.  I feel much more comfortable with a committee taking time to view game tape and decide if the offending party negatively changed the vibe on the court by leaving the bench area.  If he didn't, what's the big deal?  Currently, the big deal is "because it's the rules" which is fine when you are a parent dealing with a six year old, but not a commissioner dealing with high profile athletes, executives, and owners. 

5-14-07

Google Maps Fun

Hey have you seen this?  Pretty funny.  Almost as funny as my skills at inserting links.   Anyway, hit this link or copy and paste, do whatever you do to get the window up.  Then read #24 in the directions.  Thanks to Sports Saturday Producer Timmy "The Man" Mones for the heads up on this one. 

 http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=new+york+to+paris,+france&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=29.358024,59.765625&ie=UTF8&z=3&om=1

Blazers Presidential Announcement Didn't Come Last Week, What's the Deal?

Reports began early last week, Steve Miller of the University of Oregon could be named President of the Trailblazers by the end of the week.  One report I saw indicated it could've happened as early as Wednesday.  One has to ask, is there a holdup? Did talks breakdown? 

All we can do is take what we know. 

1-Steve Miller is a very successful and experienced executive.  This isn't his first dance, and while the reports of him and the team being close to a deal might be true, there's no need to rush into what could be a really tough job.  While the public isn't fully aware of how things operate between Paul Allen, Vulcan Inc, and the President of the Trailblazers, the perception is the owner and his company have used a heavy hand when making decisions that should be left up to people who are more basketball savy.  That's something I would want to explore with a potential employer.

2-Leverage.  Miller's got a job and a host of other potential suitors.   Plus, he's an Oregonian and hiring him would be a highly endorsed move.  There are obvious other candidates the team could persue, but Miller is their top choice, and it appears he knows it.

Anyway, I don't think there's any reason to believe Miller won't be hired, but I think the length of the negotiations is a telling factor.  And if Miller is hired and gets a good deal and decision making power, I will view it as an immediate boost to his credibility in dealing with NBA heavyweights.

5-11-07

Two Names, Same Position, Nearly same Value

In any other year, any team would be happy to land either Florida's Al Horford or UNC's Brandan Wright.  Both are highly skilled, athletic, and hard workers.   Who is taken third, and who is taken fourth will likely come down to an eye of the beholder conversation.  In the meantime, I've taken the average position of several online mock drafts, and ranked every player one thru ten.  Here's how the bottom half of the top four panned out.

4.  PF Al Horford.  Florida, Junior.  6-9, 245.

While the recent surge of freakish big men such as Dwight Howard, Amare Stoudemire, and Carlos Boozer have made their mark on the league in a punishing way, NBA executives have become very interested in acquiring the new breed big man.  Gone is the sky hook, most of the finesse post moves, and the label of "gentle giants".  The new big man is here to jump over you, through you, and around you.  Al Horford is one player that could very well be the next one, plus some.

He runs the floor very well, enabling him to get easy buckets in transition, and just as importantly get back on defense for a big block or rebound.  Beyond the athletic ability, he has skills that can make his teammates better.  Vision passing out of the double team, the ability to put the ball on the floor, and has a calming court presence.   He really is a prototypical PF with a prototypical understanding of the game and maturity. 

Horford played on a loaded Gators team obviously, and wasn't featured like he would of at any other school in the country.  That said, his numbers were still quite impressive.  13.2 ppg, 9.5 rebounds,  2.2 assists, and 1.8 blocks in 27.8 minutes per game.  While shooting 60.8 percent from the floor.   The stats show a hard working dynamic player that will also do the little things and share the ball on offense.

As impressive as he is, the exploits a player two years his junior keeps Horford out of the top three.

3. PF Brandan Wright.  UNC, Freshman.  6-9, 210.

The edge between Wright and Horford really begins and ends with two factors.  Wright is younger and he has more vertical ability in his game.   He has a longer frame, and has quicker springs.  Here's the skinny on his stats.  14.7 points, 6.2 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 1.8 blocks and 1.0 steals in 27.4 minutes per game.

What should immediately stand out is the rebounds.  Horford averaged 3.3 more per game than Wright, obviously due to the extra 30 pounds and two years playing experience.   Wright also doesn't pass nearly as well.   The question for executives to answer here is....how much of the difference in stats is due to age, and how much is ability.  Personally, I go with the players that have proven to be complete basketball players.  That's why picks like Shane Battier and Richard Jefferson made so much sense in past years when high school players with more upside were on the board and often ranked higher.  So, I disagree with the collective knowledge of the online mock drafters here, but again, both players should be really stinking good in the NBA.

In the interest of not selling Wright short here.  Let me tell you how good he is and why teams want him so bad.  In a lot of other years, he would challenge for the top pick.   He uses his long frame and deceptive strength to get great position on the post and to provide tremendous help defense.  He uses his quickness and length around the hoop to convert on jump hooks and put backs with high efficiency.  He uses his soft hands to suck up rebounds and entry passes, and to provide a soft touch around the rim. 

5-9-07

Miller's Signing Reportedly Very Close

Reports have been indicating the Blazers had interest in Steve Miller over the last month. Yesterday, word spread that he was in Seattle to meet with the Vulcans and possibly finalize a contract by the end of the week.  Here's a quick look at some of the highlights from his resume, followed by an account of his personality which seems just as brilliant.

-Former Nike director of global sports marketing relations.  He oversaw Nike's 100 million dollar investment in the 2000 olympic games.

-Former President and CEO of the Professional Bowlers Association.  Recognized as somebody who helped revive the sport.

-Current Faculty member of the University of Oregon's Warsaw Sports Marketing Center.

-Athletic Director at Kansas State from 1988-1992.

-He has spoken at more than 100 universities on topics such as motivation and executive leadership.

-He's a member of three national sports hall of fames.  Going back to his days as a runner and for his coaching, where he was named NCAA coach of the year five times.

Beyond the impressiveness of his resume is another personality plus individual.  The team has been making a concerted effort to sign players who are as good off the court as they are on.   It appears they are also trying to sign executives who are as good in the cool department as they are in the business world.  People that have been around him say he's as nice and  as anybody you could meet.  In the past, I kinda got the feeling Paul Allen was hiring his executives based on either how many star trek deep space 9 characters they could imitate.  Not this time.  And following the hiring of Kevin Pritchard, the team is starting to rebuild a trust with the city, and they are proving that they get it.  Intelligent, energetic, dynamic, enthusiastic extroverts and are more likely to do a good job and foster a positive working environment than their intelligent, surly, socially awkward introverted counterparts. 

Here's some quick thoughts from a person I talked with today who's been aware of Miller's approach to life for over a decade.  "He treats everyone like a rock star, he gives everybody the time of day, most personable person you could ever meet.  He's a self made man straight out of the city of Chicago". 

5-7-07

This is Too Much

The link below is to quite possible the funniest childrens video of all time.  Forget America's Funniest Home Videos.  This right here will have you rolling.  Unless of course, you lack a sense of humor.  Then you might not get it.

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=2016876215

Anyway, the draft preview will pick up Wednesday.  Just below you will find players ranked 10-5. 

5-4-07

Trailblazers Likely to Draft in the Middle of the Top Ten.

Again, what I've done is compile all the data possible from the various NBA Draft websites online.  I took the latest mocks, recorded a players rank on each, and then took the average position of each player.  In the event of a tie or a super close ranking, I used my own personal brand of hoop expertise to settle it.

7. SF Corey Brewer.  Florida, Junior.  6-9, 185.

Hard working elite level athlete is the first thing that comes to my mind when thinking of Corey Brewer.  At 6-9 with vertical, linear, and lateral quickness, he is a coaches dream on defense.  He recorded nearly two steals in 28 minutes per game in the 06-07 championship campaign for the Gators, and showed the ability to shutdown shooting guards, small forwards, and most power forwards on the defensive end.   What makes his athleticism more impressive, is his attention to detail and work ethic in practice.  It's a combination of tangible talent and intangible gifts in his makeup as a competitor that made him the best perimeter defender in college basketball this season.

On offense, he's still a bit raw, and that's why he's not projected to go higher.  That said, he does posess decent game with the rock in his hand.  Evidenced by 47.5% shooting from the floor, and an acceptable but unimpressive 33% 3pt shot.   His true strength is in the transition game where his speed and length can shine, and in slashing to the hoop with or without the ball in the halfcourt. 

Final Words.  Corey Brewer will be a starter for many years in the NBA, but it's difficult to predict what kind of an impact he will have.  He benefitted greatly from playing with two other future top ten picks in Horford and Noah.  With the Blazers needing a long term answer at small forward Brewer could be the answer, but so far reports have indicated they will either draft a big man or trade their pick.

6. F-C Joakim Noah. Florida, Junior.  6-11, 230.

Returning for his Junior season cost Noah quite a stack of cash in his initial NBA contract.  He was considered a strong candidate to go number one overall after his title run as a Sophomore, but a year of seasoning, has actually worked against the intense big man.  Number one, his utter lack of game facing the basket.  In today's NBA, centers are more and more being expected to knock down an open jumper consistently, Noah just can't do that.  It's broken.

While he did shoot better than 60 percent from the floor, he did so because he rarely took a shot out of his comfort zone.  He'll need to expand his range to achieve the same level excess he enjoyed in college. 

The positives for Noah are plentiful.  He passes incredibly well for any player, let alone a big man.  He averaged 2.3 apg.  On defense, he's a real force, Noah blocked 2.4 shots per game as a Sophomore, and swatted 1.8 per game his Junior year.  He's also very athletic, allowing him to get the drop on opponents in the open floor, on help defense, and with put back opportunities.

Final words.  Joakim posesses almost every skill you could want out of a big man in the Association.  The main problem is, the one skill he does lack--shooting--is a big problem.  History has shown us that if a big man doesn't have great touch from the perimeter, he'll need to make up for it with a combination of power and finesse on the post.  Problem there of course, Noah lacks power and finesse in his post game.   Noah has a chance to be one of the great all time role players of all time because of his unsellfish approach and high basketball I.Q.  But for me, I'd rather use a top ten pick on a guy with more skeelz.

5. PF Yi Jianlian.  China.  7-230.  Born in 10/28/87.

Yi is a major X Factor as we approach the draft lottery and he begins to participate in individual workouts.   He will likely be the most heavily debated player because he is extremely skilled, but still underdeveloped physically at the age of 19.   Nobody wants to be the next team to overvalue an international prospect, but at the same time nobody wants to miss out on the next all star import.

Here's what scouts are saying about Yi. 

Nbadraft.net compares him to a young Pau Gasol due to his ability to take defenders off the dribble, hit the midrange jumpshot, and ability to finish on the break.   He excels in a fast paced up and down game.  Defensively, he's a good help defender thanks to his wingspan and quickness.   The trouble spots are similar to that of former NBA player Wang Zhi Zhi.  Doesn't have the physical strength to hold his position, struggles to play with his back to the basket, and doesn't use his length to block as many shots as he could.

Final words.  Yi holds the key to picks 3-10.  Oden and Durant will obviously go 1-2, after that there's a handful of super talented players.  If Jianlian can impress scouts in individual workouts, he could find himself closer to the 3-4 range by June 28th.   That said, we've seen dozens of international players threaten to go early in the lottery, and then turn up in the mid teens or worse in recent years.

5-2-07

2007 Draft Set for June 28th at Madison Square Garden

The Draft Lottery is May, 22nd.  After which, we should be able to slot players in to the order based a bit more on team needs, and for the first time all year begin to put together a finalized mocked draft.   In the meantime, I'll give you an idea what the scouts, analysts, and fans are saying about the class of 07.  Today, players 8-10.  I'll count down over the next week or so to number one.

What I've done is compile all the data possible from the various NBA Draft websites online.  I took the latest mocks, recorded a players rank on each, and then took the average position of each player.  In the event of a tie or a super close ranking, I used my own personal brand of hoop expertise to settle it.

10. SF Julian Wright.  Kansas, Sophomore.  6-8, 225.

You may have very well seen Julian play this year, and have no idea who he is.  You may have also seen him for a brief series of plays, and declared him to be the next great wing player in the NBA.   Consistency was not his strong suit on a fairly loaded Kansas team but he did make some incredible plays along the way.  It could be that he didn't need to perform every night, it could be that he doesn't have the makeup to get it done.  Who knows at this point, so here's the facts on him.  He averaged 12 points and nearly 8 rebounds per game.  He shot 55 percent from the floor, an indication that he doesn't take bad shots, but at the same time it's evidence he doesn't look to take over games with a flurry of shots.   Wright is also known for his great court vision and creativity.  

Final words:  A team drafting Wright won't be guaranteed a future difference maker, or even guaranteed starter.  If a team is looking for more of a role guy to come off the bench and make some nice plays without pressing or forcing the issue, Julian might be their guy.

9. SF Jeff Green.  Junior, Georgetown.  6-8, 235.

Green and Wright are similar but Green gets the slight edge because he's a bit more mature and doesn't make some of the mistakes that come with Wright's game.

Green is the reigning Big East Player of the Year.  He's smart and skilled, but again not overly aggressive.  What happened to the eye of the tiger with kids these days?  Anyway, Green's game is well rounded and when he's at his best, he uses his versatility to create mismatches.   I wish Coach Thompson would have used him more, but often the Hoyas ran their offense through Roy Hibbert.   That being said, watching Green off the ball told a lot about his game.  Unsellfish, gritty defensively, and proficient in everything you would expect of "3" in the NBA. 

Final words:  Jeff Green's game was not allowed to fully shine in the nation's capitol.  That being said, he still led the Hoyas in scroing, and was second in rebounds (6.4) and assists 3.2.   The team that ends up with him will be very satisified for several years.

8.  C Roy Hibbert.  Junior, Georgetown.  7-2, 280.

It is only through my honoring of the ranking process that Hibbert is at number eight here.  I don't get it.  In a time where mobile dynamic athletes are manning and dominating the middle in the NBA, I'm supposed to be high on a 1972 model big man?

Personally I would rather take a chance on a guy like Spain's Marc Gasol, Washington's Spencer Hawes, or Duke's Josh Mcroberts if I was looking for a big man.  But, the process selects Hibbert, so whatever.

He is sometimes compared to Joel Przybilla.   The stats on his junior year were 12.9 ppg, 6.9 rbp, 2.4 bpg. 

Final words.  There is still room for an offensively unpolished Center to be taken in the top ten, but not one that is limited athletically, lacks quickness, speed, and explosiveness.....as described by nbadraft.net

4-27-07

Yup It's True....

Tyra Banks is up to her old "boob grabbing" tricks, and Swygard will host Sports Saturday with Newbear tomorrow.  First, the juicy stuff.  Back on February 23rd, Tyra Banks asked Katherine Mcphee if her boobs are real.  Katherine said yes, then Tyra Banks grabbed her chest during her nationally televised T.V. show to gain first hand knowledge.  They were real.  Fast forward to this week, Tyra Banks on The View. 

Because the youtube links don't mesh well with this computer, I will simply ask you to go to youtube.com and do a search for Tyra Banks Rosie. 

I'm not sure which is worse.  Tyra grabbing another person's chest on T.V., or seeing Rosie's goods being handled.  Both are quite disturbing, kinda like watching Shaun Livingston' dislocated knee. 

Now, Swygard.

Join Jason and Newbear tomorrow at Clamity Jae's for the annual NFL draft party.  They're on from 8-noon.  Clamitys is the sportsbar for whatever you want.  They have more T.V.s and better viewing angles than any bar in town.  I got the weekend off and I'm confident Newbear won't let you down.  Burn.

4-23-07

UNC Freshman Declares, and is A Near Lock to Go Top 5.

More good news for the Blazers' draft position today, as Tarheels Forward Brandan Wright declared.  He won't hire an agent, but coach Roy Williams said he's almost certain to remain in.  Wright is currently projected to go third or fourth depending on which site you are looking at, and in other years, he would be a threat to go number one overall because of his size, skills, and soft touch.  The lean 6-9 youngster averaged better than 14 points and 6 rebounds per game this NCAA season, and that was while sharing the paint with All American Tyler Hansborough.  To me, he looks like a lethal mixture of the skills owned by Lamarcus Aldridge and Dwight Howard.   Why is it good for the Blazers?  Because with him declaring it pushes other highly talented players down one notch, increasing the chances they'll be available for Kevin Pritchard to make a decision on. 

Also of interest, the two Georgetown Juniors projected in the lottery declared over the weekend, neither will hire an agent quite yet.  Forward Jeff Green and Center Roy Hibbert.  I think Hibbert's game is way too old school and stiff to make him top-10 worthy, but some disagree. Johnathon Givony of draftexpress.com joined Sports Saturday over the weekend, and he has Hibbert ranked as the fifth best prospect entering the 07 draft.  Slightly ahead of Gatros Joakim Noah and Corey Brewer.  Opinions vary on Green as well.  Some feel his laid back approach to the game is a sign of weakness, others see a player who can be a perfect fit as a third or fourth option if he's put in the right situation.  His game is compared to Brandon Roy because he sees the floor well, is fundamentally sound, and doesn't force anything. 

Elsewhere in the NBA today.

Former Blazers Coach P.J. Carlesimo is reportedly a strong candidate to take over the Kings.  Sacramento fired Coach Eric Musselman last week, Carlesimo will remain with the spurs through the playoffs.....which could be shorter than expected after S.A. lost to Golden state in the series opener.

What's Rick Adelman up to...not much, but he is interested in returning to the NBA.  He talked with the Tacoma News Tribune in this morning's edition, and said if the right job comes available, he's interested.  The Sonics are expected to fire Coach Bob Hill, and Rick's name is a hot one up there along with Portland Assistant Dean Demopolous. 

4-20-07

....Celtics Fan, Not So Much.

After a randon drawing in New York, Portland is now officially alone in the sixth spot heading into May 22nd's drat lottery.  The Blazers finished at 32 and 50, same as the Timberwolves.  So, the league had to break the tie, and Portland won.  The team's chances of winning the lottery do not improve, they still share the total sum of the ping pong balls with Minnesota, but the good news is it's highly unlikely G.M. Kevin Pritchard will be looking at anything worse than the 7th overall selection.  Teams 7-14 this year, have just a combined 13.6 percent chance of leap frogging Paul Allen's NBA property in the draft order.  The Blazers have a 5.3 percent chance to jump ahead of the five teams in front of them. Bottom line, they'll most likely pick sixth, giving Kevin Pritchard that much more to work with.

While Boston can revel in the fact they are in the second spot entering the draft, more criticism is already brewing and boiling over for Executive Danny Ainge.  This after Sebastian Telfair was arrested this morning, and will be arraigned today on felony firearm posession charges.  After Telfair presented a suspended Florida drivers license, the police searched his car, and found the weapon underneath the passenger seat.  Sebastian was reportedly driving, and did have somebody with him, so he'll likely find a way to convince his buddy to take the fall....similar to his girlfriend taking ownership of the pistol found on him during a road trip while he was with the Blazers.  In Portland, this would get Ainge fired.  In boston, where the public is more focused on wins and player performance than police fodder, he'll get a little more leeway, but the rope is getting pretty short.

Sports Saturday 8-Noon Tomorrow.

Newbear and I have a full day prepared. 

OSU Football product Adam Koets.  The offensive lineman is getting set for the NFL draft.   We'll get the latest from his status, and his thoughts on this upcoming season for the Beavers.

Johnathon Givony of Draftexpress.com.   I've been reading his stuff for a couple years, and it's good.  Check out the site and email me any questions you might have for him. gdawson@1080thefan.com

Plus Timbers Coach Gavin Wilkenson.  Timbers open tomorrow night, 7:00 at PGE.

4-19-07

.....of Ping Pong Balls that is.

Final in Portland.  Warriors 120, Blazers 98.  Final in Charlotte.  Knicks 94, Bobcats 93.  Eddy Curry's tip in with .6 seconds left elevates New York to 33 and 49, one game better than Portland.  A Knicks loss would have put them, the Blazers, and the T'wolves into a three way tie for sixth worst.  Instead, the Blazers and wolves share the sixth spot, while the Knicks get pushed down in the lottery and ultimately the selection order.  They now sit in a three way tie for 8th with the Bobcats and Kings, and could now end up picking 10th or worse.

It's good news for Portland, as the odds of them winning the lottery increase a bit, and the threat of them falling deep in the top 10 is reduced as well.  It might not look like a ton, but I think we all have confidence that Kevin Pritchard can maximize his resources, and they got more valuable when Curry's tip in found the bottom of the net.  

A series of coinflips will settle the exact order of the draft, while teams tied in the final standings will evenly divide the sum of their ping pong balls in the draft lottery. 

Outlaw's 6-Guns Blazing in Season Finale

Final line.  36 points, 10-18 FG, 16-16 FT, 10 Rebounds, 2 Steals.  One of the most often discussed players this season due to his contract status and his yet to be tapped potential, Travis made himself a bit of coin last night.   How much?  Not certain.  Reports indicate the Bobcats and Spurs are interested in the restricted free agent.  That status means the Blazers will have a week to match any offer made to the small forward. 

What's he worth?  I would put his value at roughly 3-million dollars per season.  And, I don't care if he lit up the scoreboard in a meaningless final game.  Most players with that much talent would have found a way to put up those kind of numbers before the final game of their fourth season.

Oh and hey by the way, the most entertaining moment regarding Travis happened after the game. Oregonian Fan Insider Jason Quick asked Coach Mcmillan if Outlaw's performance had cost the team money.  Nate answered with the funniest quote of his Blazers tenure.  Email me, I'll fill ya in.  gdawson@1080thefan.com

4-18-07

Blazers and Warriors Finish Regular Season at The Rose Garden

For a team that has shut down all but a few of their difference making players, tonight's game is not hurting for storylines.  Let's roll them out.  The season's over, how successful was this season?  Is heart and scrap enough to threaten the Warriors playoff position?  Lionel Hollins jersey being retired and the championship team is being honored.  Could the "Rip City" sensation ever capture the state on that level again? 

32 wins and a ton of momentum. Eleven more than last season.   Yes, this campaign was an incredible success.  The number one reason is the rookies.  Even when Randolph and Przybilla went out with injuries, Roy and Aldridge kept this team competitive.  Brandon was nothing short of scintilating and just kept getting better and better.  He averaged 13.1 points per contest through his first nine games, 16.6 in January, 17.2 in February, and 18.4 in March, winning three straight Western Conference Rooke of the Month awards.  He played five games in the month of April, averaging 21.2.  To find a similar rookie scoring trend, see Dwayne Wade.  Beyond Roy, Aldridge established himself as a real player, and did nothing to defy the assertion that in four years, he will be the best player from the 06 draft. 

Kevin Pritchard was named the G.M., giving Portland Wonderkid version 2 (Bob Whitsitt was the first, let's hope this one ends better).  Along with innovative and comprehensive ideas in approaching the draft, Pritchard brings a component that should create synergy from Paul Allen all the way through Vulcan Inc, the coaching staff, and the players.

This team doesn't know the word quit.  Credit Nate Mcmillan and the character of his players for this.  After watching the team crumble in the springs of 05 and 06, we were expecting the same thing.  This unit though, continued to fight.  This Blazers has only lost 6 games by 20 points or more.  Last year, they were blownout by 20 or more, fifteen times.  Tonight is a real test, the Warriors need a win to clinch the 8th playoff spot.  They are talented, well coached, and experienced.  The majority of Portland's talent is on the training table.  They are well coached, but inexperienced for the most part.  The only way they keep it close is by outworking the most motivated team in the NBA tonight, and I wouldn't bet against it.

Could the team captivate the entire state once again?  I can only say this, never underestimate the inertia and momentum of a bandwagon.  There's plenty of reasons to believe the franchise has suffered an unfixable disconnect with the city and state. But, I happen to remember a certain guy with a white spot on the back of his head whipping the Garden and television viewers into a frenzy while banging in 3s in game six of the 2000 Western Conference Finals.  As big of a jerk as Rasheed had been, it didn't matter.  Blazermania was in full effect as a direct result of the actions from what would become the most notorious jackass in the history of the franchise.  I can't leave out the diehards.   They are still among us in large numbers, they just don't talk about it much because it's not popular water cooler talk, and for a minute there, it was actually considered cool to diss the home team. 

I don't think anything could ever match the "hysteria" as Jack Ramsay referred to the championship parade on Broadway.  That team played with kids in parks, played five man ball, and came out of nowhere.  It was a social phenomenon created by several circumstances unlikely to be reproduced.  But, the next parade will be pretty damn close.  

That's pretty much it for the season.  No postgame tonight due to mariners baseball.  I look forward to talking with you all on Sports Saturday as the draft and free agency approach.

Longest Tenured Pac-10 Coach Might Be A Bit Long in the Tooth.

Beyond the Xs and Os, beyond the returning starters, there's a bigger concern within the football program.   It came in this morning's Oregonian.  Coach was lamenting the difference between today's players and players of past generations.  Bellotti was talking about how today's kids are more prone to questioning authority.    At first I thought, "good observation".  Then I thought, "but a great coach would figure out how to connect with them and demand their respect and attention".  I don't claim to be a master of inter-generational communication, I just know that true greats have a knack for finding the key to communication with just about anybody.   I'm not sure if bad attitudes or bad coaching technique are to blame for the disconnect, the bottom line is Mike is finding it difficult to get through to his guys.  Whether he's brining in the wrong type of personalties, or he's using the wrong verbage or approach, a change might be needed sooner than later.

Now that we've covered that angle, Let's move on to look at how the team appears to be shaping up on the field.

Four games into the start of last season, things looked just peachy for Oregon Football on the surface.   The public at large was jumping on the bandwagon and looking forward to a potential matchup with USC for all the marbles.  For some reason, folks ignored the fact the team could have easily been 3-1 if it wasn't for a replay debacle, and even 2-2 if not for a series of fortunate bounces of the ball in the game against Fresno State.   The way the team looks headed into 2007, and with the awful finish to the 2006 campaign, I think Bellotti could be just one summer removed from a situation comparable to that of Mens Basketball Coach Ernie Kent.

Coming off a 7-6 season, UO will play Michigan, Fresno State, and Cal before the calendar turns to October.   An average defense lost five of it's front seven.  There is transition at the Offensive Coordinator position to overcome.   Dennis Dixon has yet to establish himself as a consistently effective Pac-10 QB.  Johnathon Stewart still hasn't proven he can remain healthy.  I was standing on the sideline in the Civil War when Stewart was well on his way  to returning a kickoff for TD.  A muscle cramp stopped him on the cold rainy day in Eugene. 

We'll discuss it further on Sports Saturday tomorrow.  Live from Fisher Implements in Salem from 8-noon.

4-11-07

Oden or Durant?

The debate has been going on in some people's heads for a couple months now.  Discussion will heat up following the NBA draft lottery when the first round order is established.  What should Portland do if they get lucky enough to win it?

Let's start with quantitative analysis.

Oden: 28.9 minuts per game.  With averages of 15.7 points, 9.6 rebounds, 0.7 assists, 3.3 blocks, 0.6 steals, 2.0 turnovers, 61% FG shooting, and .000 3P FG%.

Durant: 35.9 minutes per game.  Averages of 25.8 points, 11.1 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.9 blocks, 1.9 steals, 2.8 turnovers, 47 percent FG shooting, 40 percent 3P FG%

That's just raw numbers.  To me it points to Durant being the easy choice for any team.  But, there is a lot more to this discussion than just numbers.  The fact that a look back at former NBA champions reveals a dominant center is the most common ingredient for teams that have lifted the Larry O'brien trophy.  The fact that there are several very dynamic wing players in the history of the game without a title.  Vince Carter, Tracy Mcgrady recently.  Dominique Wilkens, Grant Hill.  You can even throw in Power forwards like Karl Malone and Charles Barkley who became much more perimeter oriented in later in their careers.  Plus, the fact that Oden's numbers are better than Shaquille O'neal's stats from his freshman year at LSU.  Those factors easily and quickly balance the scales that were so heavily favoring Durant after looking at 2006-2007 NCAA stats.

So then, we are really dealing with an eye of the beholder discussion.  What would you do if the choice was up to you?  Me, I'm going with Durant, and here's why.

#1-Durant has the potential to play every facet of the game at the highest possible level.   While Oden will likely be a dominant force, he'll never be able to beat the defense with his dribble, outside shot, or the incredible finesse plays displayed by Durant.  Durant can do everything Oden can, and then some.  He outrebounded Oden, had more steals, and even managed to block two shots per game.

#2-Perfect fit.  What do the Blazers need?  You might say center considering the dissapointment that was Joel Przybilla's season, but I would then counter with Lamarcus Aldridge.  He can play that position, very well.  Especially as the game continues to evolve into an environment that favors mobility, speed, and versatility.

#3-Zach Randolph's trade value.  It kinda stinks.  if you bring in Oden, the immediate dilemna would be whether to slide in Lamarcus at the PF or to bring him off the bench.  Lamarcus is a starter in the League.  So is Zach.  You would be playing with fire here, either you tick off your highest player and further diminish his value, or you stunt the development of what is now the second best rookie in the NBA.   Plus, adding durant to the front line along with Randolph and Oden would provide ZBO with good defensive insulation as Aldridge and Durant learn to maximize their gifts at the pro level.   So, the interior defense might not be as good if you take Durant over Oden, but it wouldn't be too far off.

#4-There is no guarantee Oden will dominate.  He's got a lot to learn. 

Obviously I'm dreaming a bit again today, but it's fun.  Today, Portland sits with the sixth worst record in the NBA.  A half game better than the sonics.  Crazier things have happened.

 No Zach, Scottie Cops a Feel, and Dunk Contest Letdown

First of all, I would like to retract my statements from last week, and in fact thank David Stern and his buddies for leaving Zach Randolph off the all star team.  At the time of the snub I was caught up in the disrespect Portland gets.  Today, I realize it was a blessing in disguise.  Why?  Against top level players Randolph's weaknesses would have been put under a spot light.  Shaq, Chris Bosh, Dwight Howard, and Jermaine O'neal would have been lining up to block Randolph's attempts at goal.  Against regular NBA competition, Randolph is no doubt the best back to the basket scorer in the league.  Against elite level athletes, it would have turned into a highlight reel for the Eastern Conference shot blockers.  If ZBO had got the honor, casual fans around the country who hadn't seen him dominate for 54 games would be asking themselves how the heck Zach was even in the showcase game.  Zach's time will come, luckily it will come after he's revealed his substantial skills in a much more suitable arena.

Did anybody watch the shooting contest which featured a current star, a WNBA star, and a legend?  Chicago's team featured Ben Gordon, Scottie Pippen, and one unsuspecting cutie.  At the end of the first round, the Bulls team had a good score.  So good in fact, that Pip got pretty excited.  I recorded it with DVR and rewound it, paused it, and then watched it again and again.  Yes, Scottie did in fact hug his female teammate, and then grope her as the embrace came to a conclusion.  I'm not 100-percent sure it was intentional, but how could a 41 year old man not know where his hands are?

Finally, the dunk contest.  If a participant is allowed two full minutes to complete his dunk, why should he be punished if he happens to pull it off in the final seconds?  Nate Robinson's dunk should have won it.  Gerald Green should not have even been in the finals.  If your dunk of choice involves jumping over a player....shouldn't you be punished if your knee and shin hits that player on the way over him?  Nate should have allowed Gerald to just jump over a cardboard cutout of him like Green initally offered.  If Nate had gone that way, Green would have knocked the cardboard cutout over on his way to the rim, killing his score.  By the way, extra credit to Michael Jordan for consistently giving out low scores. 

Anyway, hope you had as much fun as I did, now lets get ready for the final third of the season.

2-14-07

Visit to Favorite Poker Website Leaves Local Sports Broadcaster Amused

The world of online poker can be very entertaining.  There's the thrill of hitting big hands, winning that first tournament, making your first big withdrawl, but nothing is more funny to me than the maniacal rants that pop up in the chat box.  And now those hilarious ramblings have been taken to a greater level.

I wouldn't consider this work safe because the man you are about to listen to does drop an occassional four letter adjective, verb, or noun.  He rose to fame in the last six months or so, I didn't hear about it until last night when I checked out pocketfives.com.  Apparently, he's been the topic of several conversations on their chat rooms and somebody decided to do an article about him.

For the non poker viewer I believe this should still be entertaining because it's pure anger spliced with pure comedy.  At times he sounds like a frustrated Drill Sergeant trying to explain the finer points of Basic Training to a merry band of idiots.  For the recreational poker player it should also be very entertaining for the reasons stated above, plus his play has some lessons.  For the good poker player it should be great for all the reasons above, plus it can help take you inside the head of the typical online donkey.

First, go to pocketfives.com and check out their article on him.  They have video there to check out.  Then go to Youtube.com and search for tuff_fish.  Youtube's video is a bit better because it's easier to see the cards so you can fully live the experience.

Legendary Oregonian Still Contributing to His Native State

For those of you that don't know, the original D.A. of Oregon was a freaking baller.  Basketball, Football, Baseball, it didn't matter to this guy.  He dominated every sport he played on the high school level in his day.  Of course later he returned as what should have been the final piece to the Blazers championship puzzle.  He was brilliant in his short stint as a Blazer, but poor management forced him to take his ball to Phoenix.

The topic of today though, is what he has done for the state lately.  The mistake he made last June was egregious at best, and makes me wonder if he watches games that don't involve the Celtics, or if he checks boxscores, reads game stories, or watches Sportscenter.  It also makes me wonder half heartedly if he has his eye on Steve Patterson's job and just wanted to give himself a head start.  I mean come on Danny, the pick that ended up being Brandon Roy for Sebastian Telfair?   Bahahahahahahahahaahahahahahaaaaaa....

One player had just won Pac-10 player of the year, was considered the guy most likely to make an immediate impact, and can play three positions.  The other had been given the keys to the court at the Rose Garden, and had sputtered like a 1979 Volkswagen bug in the hands of a 16 year old trying to figure out how to drive a clutch.

When Ainge took over as President of Player Personnell, the Celtics were coming off a strong run in the playoffs.  Now, they are among the worst teams in the league, and rookie Rajon Rondo is their starting PG. 

 Kimbo Slice

He's the man on the right.  Words can't really describe what this backyard fighter does to his opponents.  His basic story is he spent ten years on the inside and is the Mike Tyson of underground fighting.  He doesnt' appear to have much of a ground game, that's why his bouts usually only include boxing. 

Nobody doubts the guy would likely get owned against similar sized guys who are skilled in grappling in the UFC or other pro fighting leagues, but I guarantee you can't deny this guy is pure entertainment. 

Parental Advisory right here, but the link I will post forces the user to register and prove they are 18 or over.  Plus, if you allow your kid to browse the internet unimpeded and you don't want him to, maybe you should google parent internet blocking.

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pu3rBMJkcqI

This is through Youtube obviously.  This is the best spot to watch him wreck dudes.  When you've had enough of that search for "Kimbo vs the cop". 

 11-27-06

Random Soccer Violence Reading

The link is below. 

This right here is a picture from the I.C.F.'s website.  The Inter City Firm which backs West Ham United is likely the most famous group of "hooligans" in the history of the game.   Also check out the wikipedia link for a more formal history.  Caution, reading about soccer hooligans can become addicting. 

It's probably not a cool move to become a fan of West Ham because of the Green Street Hooligans movie and because they're mob is the most famous, but I did.  What?  I'm an american, glorified violence is like apple pie to me.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inter_City_Firm

http://www.intercityfirm.homestead.com/

Here's an Example of Why I have Never Been in Jail.

Last night, on my way home, I stumbled upon a situation that could have landed me behind bars.    Here it is...

Preparing to turn right at a stop sign, look to my right, and at the last second I notice a man traveling towards me on his bicyle in dark clothes....on the sidewalk.  I quickly accelerated to avoid him T-boning me and most likely flying thru my side window or over the top of my hood.   A half block later, I pulled into the convenience store and went about my business. 

"ding ding"  Door opens.   Guy has followed me in to the store and makes a B-line for me as i'm picking out my desired container of Coors Light, and says "hey you could have run me over A$$-hole".   He smelled of booze.    My thoughts...(dude, you're in dark clothes, intoxicated, and riding a bike on the sidewalk, get out of my face).  My actual actions, blank stare at him, walk away.   So I get to the counter, he comes up to me and I continue to look at him with a blank stare, he can't quite comprehend why I haven't reacted to his verbal assault.  At this point I could either A-tell him everything he did wrong and that he is a drunk homeless loser riding his bike on the sidewalk in dark clothes, or B-apologize and tell him I didn't see him.  Option-A would have resulted in further drama, a possible shanking, and a call to 911. Option-B, which I chose, resulted in him saying it's okay.   And that's why I've never been to jail.  

  So Why the Heck do We Call it Soccer and Not Football? 

I've often pondered it, but I've never researched it until this morning.  Why today?  The mighty Timbers are hosting Coventry City of England tomorrow and their marketing slogan is "we call it soccer, they call it football, let's settle it".  Here's what I found courtesey google.

We have to thank the students of the 1880s for the word "soccer". It
seems it was the practice amongst the well bred students of Oxford to
abbreviate words whilst adding "er" to the end; "brekkers" for
breakfast for example.

On asked if he wanted to play "rugger" (i.e. the "rugby rules") a
student replied "no, soccer", an abbreviation of "association", or the
"association rules", i.e. the rules of the Football As, sociation in
London.

"Footer" was also used, but could have referred to either code.

So as you can see, it's all England's fault.  They derived so, cce, r from association rules football, and we just ran with it. 

So the next time a euro tries to lecture you about calling the game soccer, just tell the blood, , y bloke to buggeroff.  Oh and by the way, buggeroff doesn't mean bugoff.  It has a meaning that packs quite a punch but is somehow acceptable on airwaves in the U.S.A..  I suppose because most people don't know what it means.  Google my friends, but I will warn it's pretty much NC-17.

Anyway, hope to see you at the match cheering on the boys.

  I'm Gavin Dawson, and that's just how I roll.