Since we’re all super busy with things unrelated to the Blazers, we’re taking the easy way out and linking you to Blazers content that we didn’t write. I mean, why do the work if someone else is going to do it anyways? Seriously though, we all wish we had the time to write our own content but everyone at PTB is swamped with other stuff so you’re stuck with links. Deal with it.
Blazersedge.com’s Dave has a really nice preview write-up of tonight’s game against the Lakers. Below’s a quick excerpt:
The biggest storyline of the night, one also mentioned by Kurt separately but not quoted here, will be the debut and re-debut of Greg Oden and Andrew Bynum respectively. Both teams have high hopes for their centers and it will be hard to contain the anticipation of seeing them battle against each other in Game 1. Each player has to prove he’s capable of returning to pre-surgery form. Bynum has to prove that his impressive games last season were no fluke and that he can perform against quality center opposition as well as the patsies of the league. Oden just has to prove he can play, period. Since this is the first game back for each expectations should probably be limited.
Mike Barrett sets up the stage for tonight’s game and also includes a few interviews from the Courtside podcast featuring Nate McMillan and Mychal Thompson. There’s also an interview with Ric Bucher which is pretty neat. See it all here.
Jason Quick as always has a very nice preview of tonight’s game and will really get you pumped up for the opener.
Look for a write-up from someone here sometime after the game either today or tomorrow featuring someone’s impressions. Being non-committal benefits us when we don’t follow through with our promises. But yeah. Look for our impressions soon. And oh yeah, Beat LA.
EDIT: John has some content up above this post. Go read that.
I’m too lazy to comment on all these articles so I’ll just give you the means to read said articles without my psycho-babble wasting space on your computer screen.
The Blazers Blog on Oregon Live has notes and videos from Wednesday’s (today’s) practice. The videos included are interviews with Nate McMillan and Martell Webster which are below:
| Nate McMillan on Wednesday’s practice |
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| Martell Webster on his foot injury |
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Ben from Blazersedge has some quick, first-hand notes of today’s practice.
Finally the Behind the Beat Blazers Blog has a really nice preseason write-up of the Blazers with in-depth analysis of Roy, Aldridge and Oden along with notes about most every other (at least important) player.
Sorry we’ve been a little quiet for the past few days…there just really hasn’t been that much Blazers news or NBA news in general to update everyone on. If you’re looking for a couple good reads, head over to Blazersedge.com for these two articles:
Darius Speaks - Ben at Blazersedge posted a few quotes from this story from the Boston Globe about Darius Miles’ on his future in the NBA and potentially as a Boston Celtic. If you are interested at all in the Darius Miles saga, you need to read the article. Frankly, as more and more news gets posted about Darius the more nervous I get. The guy seems supremely confident in his basketball skills (was he ever in doubt?) and feels very confident in his chances in coming back to the league with some team in some capacity. I’m torn about the whole thing myself. I realize the effects of Darius coming back and playing basketball on the Blazers organization and as a Blazer fan, you hate what happens to our cap space if that does happen. At the same time, I can’t just wish that someone will never be able to do what they love again at the same level they used to do it at.
Can’t Afford It - “Can’t Afford It” is an article posted by Dave in which he ranks what he considers to be the Blazers’ 5 most important players. His list goes 1. Oden 2. Roy 3. Blake 4. Aldridge and 5. Outlaw. I mostly agree with the list with the exception of Oden at 1 and Roy at 2, I’d have those two switch roles. We all saw how Roy played last season and how much he contributed to this Blazer team without a Greg Oden so I found it surprising he was at the two spot. The rest of the list pretty much makes sense but I feel like a lot of people will be surprised by Steve Blakes’ presence as Dave’s third most important player. Blazer fans always seem to cast doubt about Blake’s worth to the team, which I could never understand. If you really sit down and think about -instead of simply regurgitating what you hear the populous say- what he does for the Blazers at the 1 spot it makes sense. He’s a pass first, facilitate the offense kind of point guard and that is what the Blazers need.
1. ESPN is reporting that Knicks president Donnie Walsh is apparently under no pressure to trade Zach Randolph to the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for Darko Milicic and Marko Jaric. Apparently the trade is already agreed upon by both teams but there is no definite timetable for the trade to occur. Is it just me or is this the funniest trade of the summer? Possibly of the last couple seasons? I’m not talking about the hilarity of the numbers involved, just purely the players. Oh Z-Bo, still good for a laugh.
2. Kobe Bryant will finally get surgery on that pinky of his…no one knows when though.
Maybe he’ll be out for the regular season opener against Portland? Huh? Huh? How about that? Yeah.
3. Don’t call it a comeback…well not yet at least. RealGM is reporting that former Knicks star Allan Houston is attempting yet another comeback with New York.
4. Blazersedge.com just posted a really good write-up of Martell Webster’s role and future as a Portland Trail Blazer. Dave paints a much darker, bleaker picture for Martell than I myself would, but he backs it up with some solid evidence. Give it a read here.
5. Don’t forget to enter our contest to win free Blazers tickets!
It’s 1 AM, I’m tired and lazy, so here we go:
1. There’s been a lot of buzz regarding the Travis Outlaw article that came out on Oregon Live a couple days ago. If you’re like me and read the article, you may be a little perplexed by Travis’ comments. Does he want to be a starter? A sixth-man? A Blazer even? If you want more analysis of the article, here are two pretty good reads:
The first one is from Dave on Blazersedge.com. As usual, Dave gives his even and level-headed opinion about the article and about Travis in general. Read it here.
The Ball Don’t Lie Blog on the otherhand is slightly less level-headed and comes off as more of a rant. It’s still very much worth reading for another take on Travis. It’s right hurr.
2. The Trail Blazers Center Court Blog has new photos of Rudy wearing a Blazers jersey for the first time. He’s lookin’ good.
3. My boy Jamaal Magloire has signed a contract with the Miami Heat. Good to see Big Cat find another team after being cut from the Nets and Mavs.
4. Finally, Greg Oden is having a good week.
Here’s an avalanche of Rudy Fernandez coverage:
Dave from Blazersedge.com gives his thoughts and opinions on Rudy’s game against China and how he’ll mesh with the Blazers offense.
Casey Holdahl has updated the Trail Blazers Center Court Blog with two posts about Rudy. The first is another recap of the Spain vs. China game, highlighting Rudy’s play. The second is all about Rudy in picture form.
After missing the game early this morning (Comcast no longer carries MSNBC on regular cable) I’m excited to see the absolute positive buzz Rudy continues to generate at the Olympic games. 21 points, 8 rebounds, six assists and 2 steals in only 34 minutes of play is truly astounding. Spain is now 2-0 with impressive wins over China and the 2004 Gold Medal winners Greece, and Rudy has been a force in both games. The USA vs. Spain game is live this Saturday at 7:15 AM with the tape replay at 10 AM on NBC.
Rudy seems to be improving his play as the games go on. Watching highlights of him truly makes me excited to see him in a Blazer uniform. However, the true test will come against team USA. Rudy will be facing the best players in the world and I’m anxious to see how he will perform. If Rudy can put on a similar performance against America’s best I can no longer see any doubt about how he’ll perform when he comes stateside.
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