I've been busy with real life stuff, and didn't even get to watch the Blazer/Laker game till the next morning.  That proves how busy I was, because usually I'd watch THAT game (especially since we were at home) over anything in the whole wide world.  The game was worth the wait and we won because I was responsible (like a big boy) and did what I was supposed to do instead of watching the game live on TV, so it made it all the sweeter.

That trade suggested on Goldy State was silly juice... they tend to have a lot of homery trade suggestions on that site, though I do like GSOM a lot.  Patrick O'Bryant can be had for next to nuthin if we really wanted him, because the Dubs haven't picked up his ROOKIE CONTRACT, showing how much faith they got in the 7 foot kid.  So him plus Bellynelly, who SUCKS-- a LOT, for Jor-El (soon-to-be best backup in the NBA) and Jack (still highly regarded outside the 'Bedge), is a funny funny ha ha really dumb idea.  It sure would be nice for the Warriors, of course, but fortunately Pritchard isn't a sleeper cell Dubs secret agent... I hope.

KP did play for the Warriors a lil' bit, didn't he?  Hmmmm.... he is a loyal guy, we all know that to be true.  Could his entire meteoric rise through the scouting ranks to his current GMship just be a ruse to pull off the blockbuster to end all blockbusters ever, and send Joel and Jack to Golden State for garbage?  The NBA would be flipped on its axis, never to be the same again.  We'd have to fire KP after the deal, and he'd go back home to the Bay Area and take a role on the front office there, but with Joel and Jack to build around they'll soon be the dynasty to reckon with, and we'll be stuck salvaging what's left of our wrecked roster.  If only the Blazers signed KP to a 10 day contract 15 years ago :-( :-(

If I was a Golden State fan, I would probably try to convince myself that we were never gonna win a title with this current team and getting young talent in the lottery will only help us in the long run.  But, the playoffs are very important to a long suffering fanbase, and we've been very spoiled in Portlandia.  The playoffs were always a given growing up, and will be a given next year and beyond, so missing it for a few years means almost nothing.  To the Dubs, though, it's all they got.  Missing the playoffs with near 50 wins really, really hurts.

They still got a chance, but they controlled their own destiny and didn't come through.  It's incredibly fun to watch, but Nelly Ball isn't made for championships, or even the playoffs.  Since it's destined to ultimately always lose, I wouldn't want it for my own team.  Golden State fans might realize that now, and hope for a change.  I like watching them, just like I enjoy watching guys like Arenas or Iverson, but their style isn't the style that will win in the end and while fun at times the disappointment in the long run sours the good times permanently.  It has worked thus far in the Bay because of how horrible they had been for so long, but after last year the expectations have been raised and just being fun and decent (but horribly inconsistent) just isn't the same anymore.

My bizzay-ness will last for a few more weeks, but I'll still always make time for the Blazers Edge.  How could one not do so?  

This long winded rambling post is my way of saying "howdy" back.  How ya been?  Were you at the thrashing of the Lakers?  Haha, they suck so bad at basketball and we're so good at basketball it's funny to my mouth which says haha out loud.

Obviously I hate that team, but I think I can be objective with their title chances.  They simply are not good defenders, especially Gasol... and Boozer, Amare, Duncan, Dirk, Shaq, Kenyon Martin, West, every single PF or Center will absolutely DEMOLISH them in the playoffs and I don't see how Bynum will be much help when he hasn't even been cleared to practice.  Their crowning by the pundits has been very premature.  They just aren't a good defensive team.

Kobe is a great defender, but he simply isn't as good as he was last year because of his offseason knee surgery.  Roy was killing him one on one in a game the Lakers needed.  "They" say he is just trusting his teammates more, but I see him as having lost half a step.  He's got the other nagging injuries right now, true, but it has seemed this way all year.  It'll only get worse in the playoffs.

Obviously they can score, but they just don't got the defensive chops to win a 7 game series even if Bynum is Bynum again right off the bat.  He can't stop the best bigs in the west either.

For basketball karma's sake, I'll try not to feel too much schadenfreude when my prediction comes true.  I have no idea who will win the west ultimately, but it better not be the Lakers.  I'd hate to have to root for the Celtics to win, because good lord that would be annoying.

Hello!

Mortimer