Full Court Press
by Ben Golliver on Apr 13, 2009 11:15 AM PDT
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Print2:21PM Update: Tim Brown made a John Wall highlight tape from the Hoop Summit.
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It was a busy few days in the wake of that Laker win. Some must-see items to get to before we continue our normal jog through cyberspace...
- Kobe Bryant reacts, with profanity, to the idea of playing the Blazers in the playoffs.
- The Lakers lodged a complaint with the league regarding the pregame video the Blazers played depicting Rudy being fouled by Ariza.
- Everyone has a take on the controversial Spurs vs. Kings ending that Dave wrote about earlier that could directly affect the playoff chase. Here's Abbott. Here's Ziller. Here's Pelton. Here's Jaynes.
- One final plug because this needs to be seen: Alex McDougall's slideshow of images from Saturday's NIke Hoop Summit. Incredible contribution to BE.
General manager Kevin Pritchard put a premium on shooting when he rebuilt the franchise, and few rosters in the NBA boast a better top-to-bottom collection of shooters. It plays perfectly into coach Nate McMillan's system. He says hitting three-pointers is invaluable because it opens the interior for the Blazers' front court and allows Roy to roam the court and drive to the basket.
Jason Quick went off the deep end in Los Angeles. Moving on.
Quick's story about Nic Batum after the Lakers game, however, is smile-inducing.
Nicolas Batum, easily the quietest, most to-himself player on the team, was heading to his locker, when he fixed his eyes on me. I don't know Nic very well, so I can't get a read on why he is staring at me. Then, for the first time all season, we have a conversation that he starts.
"I try,'' he says, smiling wryly.
Try what?
"Pau,'' he says.
Brian Hendrickson looks back on his preseason questions to see how far the team has come.
Is a playoff berth a sure thing?
Much more so than anyone expected at the beginning of the year. Making the playoffs was considered a reasonable goal back in October, but was still viewed as a stretch because, in the tough Western Conference, 50 wins - normally the benchmark for an excellent season - can be necessary just to get into the postseason. Winning nine more games than the year before was a tall order, and many teams have stumbled while attempting to take that next step from .500 to 50 wins. Well, the Blazers have 52 so far, could pick up two more this week, and have already posted their best record in nine years. And despite another season in which a 50-win campaign will be required to make the playoffs, Portland wrapped up its playoff berth 10 days before the regular season ends, and did it on the strength of a Rose Garden-record 32 home victories. The ease with which this team reached the playoffs speaks volumes about the improvement it has made in the last year.
A great lede from Mike Barrett in his Clippers game recap.
It could have been easier, and maybe should have been, but no one really cares at this point.
Dwight Jaynes previews tonight's "Thunder" game.
Brian Hendrickson has some early data on the Coach of the Year race and he says it's not looking good for Nate.
Wendell Maxey weighed in on the Coach of the Year talk last week. And again today.
As does Marc Stein.
Ian Thomsen polls scouts to get their read on the end of year awards. B. Roy makes third team all-NBA. Dwight, I hope you're reading.
Probasketballnews.com hands out its year-end awards. Kevin Durant wins Most Improved.
Hendrickson also writes, "Greg Oden will not make either of the NBA's All-Rookie Teams." Not a surprise.
Speaking of Greg, if you're looking for a glossy 1 on 1 ESPN interview during which no new ground is covered, here's your video.
Apropos of nothing, this picture of LaMarcus Aldridge is really funny.
Last night I was pondering how strange it is that I'm more excited for tonight's "Thunder" game than I was for Friday's Lakers game. SJ from Rip City Project feels differently.
If I were a rapper, having to write about the "Thunder" would be the equivalent of needing to put out one more album to get out of my crappy record deal. Usually, rappers just recycle all their own songs, put out a greatest-hits collection with a new single and that is that. I kind of feel like doing that.
How are y'all feeling about that postgame video with JQ and JC?
Feel free to add any links that I missed in the comments.
-- Ben (benjamin.golliver@gmail.com)
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Here is an espn insider artcle promoting BRoy for MIP
Unfortuently, im not cool enough to be an insider.
"In general, I hate the snap judgments. I hate the rush to predict things. I hate the sports culture that can't think of anything to say unless it is predicting things. I dislike the over-hyping and the following angst-ridden crashes. I dislike the overdrawn, over-simplified, nuance-free generalizations that sprout like weeds over the conversational landscape because accuracy and fairness and truth don't fit as neatly between commercials or quote as easily around the water cooler."
-Dave
Oops, link didnt work
"In general, I hate the snap judgments. I hate the rush to predict things. I hate the sports culture that can't think of anything to say unless it is predicting things. I dislike the over-hyping and the following angst-ridden crashes. I dislike the overdrawn, over-simplified, nuance-free generalizations that sprout like weeds over the conversational landscape because accuracy and fairness and truth don't fit as neatly between commercials or quote as easily around the water cooler."
-Dave
Kobe would strongly love to play portland
Frankly, this is an area where i’m torn. If it were not Kobe and someone not on the Lakers, that would immediately make me love them and respect them because that’s a sign of a competitor. You want to play the best and beat them to prove you’re the best.
The goal is not to be better, the goal is to be the best.
I wouldn't mind a Round 2 Showdown
Heck yeah. Bring em on.
I know less than half of you half as well as I should like, and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve.
by haildablazer on Apr 13, 2009 3:06 PM PDT up reply actions
I say this because
the Blazers wouldn’t play the L*kers in the first round since they can do no worse than 7th (right?)
I know less than half of you half as well as I should like, and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve.
by haildablazer on Apr 13, 2009 3:07 PM PDT up reply actions
Blazers can't do worse than 5th, i believe
The goal is not to be better, the goal is to be the best.
Agreed
I’d love to play them and beat them too.
The goal is not to be better, the goal is to be the best.
Go Golden State!
The second night of a back-to-back, a late start, an older team. I think Golden State has a real shot at beating San Antonio and that would make the Blazers control their destiny for home court.
I think Phil Jackson has a legitamate gripe...
seeing as though the Blazers did wiolate league rules. But to pretend like Ariza was booed because of the video is stupid. Portland fans did not forget what had happened last time. Plus Phil saying that Portland has no class…. someone needs to replay (for Phil) all the classless comments he has made about Portland.
Gripe may be legit but a lot of his points are typical
Jackson gamesmanship. Can’t wait to play them again!
by QuebecBlzrFan on Apr 13, 2009 12:04 PM PDT up reply actions
You just know Paul Allen
Has been waiting for a chance to throw something back at the NBA for not giving us enough respect….
Proud member of Duck nation!
They didn't just start showing the clip
They showed it before the Memphis game, too. That is seriously bad taste.
"C'est un autre monde, un autre univers mais c'est magnifique." --Nicolas Batum
Really?
Even if it was permissible, you think they should highlight flagrant fouls to incite the crowd?
"C'est un autre monde, un autre univers mais c'est magnifique." --Nicolas Batum
Yeah they should.... although I think they should probably just show video's of
Kobe whining to the officials… that would fire people up.
In the video of the Kings - Spurs shot clock incident, there is no red light flashing
Different shot clock system, or is that just at the end of quarters? I’m at a loss at the moment.
Greg Oden = Robert Parish (HOF, 4x NBA champion, 9x NBA All-Star). The only other rookie with more than 500 points, 400 rebounds, and 65 blocks in under 1400 minutes played. Since 1946.
Yup, just end of the quarter
There’s only a horn to alert of the clock hitting 0…
Proud member of Duck nation!
I like Hendrickson's article...
nice to be able to look back and be able to see how far we have come! Nice perspective!
NBA coverage sucks
A Norsktroll or Dave post has more incite an basketball knowledge then a lot of the authors from those links. Heck, a lot of people on Blazers Edge have a better feel for the NBA than some of those writers. Everything is about ranking players, teams, or coaches, ripping on someone or some team, or repackaging someone’s work or an old story. It’s a shame.
by tominhawaii on Apr 13, 2009 12:12 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs
Gotta Love It
The K*be interview was phenomenal.
Regarding BRoy:"Another day, another buzzer-beater. This man is so clutch he sets his body clock to go off one second before his alarm does every morning."
~Rob D from NBAmate
man he was
pissed. I loved it too, and I definitely hope he gets his wish… WCF baby. I want payback.
The goal is not to be better, the goal is to be the best.
LEAVE KOBE ALONE
http://saboner.mybrute.com
V Bedge My Brute Clan V
http://mybrute.com/team/926
by Sabonis4Ever on Apr 13, 2009 2:33 PM PDT up reply actions
I love Jason Quick
I like reading about what goes on behind the scenes ALMOST as much as watching them actually play
JQ is number two for blazer news
HAR HAR HAR
The goal is not to be better, the goal is to be the best.
Ben, why do you say Q went off the deep end?
Are you talking about his sample coverage? It does seem he went a little to DEEP!
I really like his series behind the… just wish he would be a little less intrusive at times or not go on so long on certain threads.
by QuebecBlzrFan on Apr 13, 2009 1:16 PM PDT up reply actions
but he's really made a SPLASH
with all the details behind the scene.
The goal is not to be better, the goal is to be the best.
Roll of Thunder
Hear my cry, hear it roll on by and by, hear the Blazers won by 25 (we hope), roll of Thunder dies and dies….
Proud member of Duck nation!
Still Can't
Believe that Sacramento Call for the spurs. I am going to miss a game tonight for the first time in forever. Going to A’s vs. Redsox.
I hope I can get a bunch of championships, like 15. " - Greg Oden
B-Roy=Player of the week
According to the Blazers twitter account! Well done once again B-Money….
Proud member of Duck nation!
Link
http://www.nba.com/blazers/news/Brandon_Roy_Wins_Western_Confe-309255-1218.html
Congrats Brandon!
Regarding BRoy:"Another day, another buzzer-beater. This man is so clutch he sets his body clock to go off one second before his alarm does every morning."
~Rob D from NBAmate
I am still mad about LMA not getting it, he deserves some recognition.
I hope I can get a bunch of championships, like 15. " - Greg Oden
Good point about LMA...
he seemed as important in those wins and he didn’t even get an honorable mention (plus he played big minutes).
Guess his star status isn’t out there yet.
by QuebecBlzrFan on Apr 13, 2009 1:22 PM PDT up reply actions
Great news!
Even if the headline here:
http://www.nba.com/2009/news/04/13/pow.gordon.roy/index.html
Calls him “Parker”….
Nice editing work there, nba.com……
Wow, I had to email them
What idiots.
Regarding BRoy:"Another day, another buzzer-beater. This man is so clutch he sets his body clock to go off one second before his alarm does every morning."
~Rob D from NBAmate
Gee, I wonder
if they cut and paste those articles on a week by week basis?
Nawwwww….they wouldn’t do that…..
Lakers now on SB Nation!
They have a blog called “Silver Screen and Roll” just launched. Go over and say hi….
Proud member of Duck nation!
I said hi :)
Regarding BRoy:"Another day, another buzzer-beater. This man is so clutch he sets his body clock to go off one second before his alarm does every morning."
~Rob D from NBAmate
Here it is...
http://www.silverscreenandroll.com/2009/4/13/830086/introducing-silver-screen-and-roll
Regarding BRoy:"Another day, another buzzer-beater. This man is so clutch he sets his body clock to go off one second before his alarm does every morning."
~Rob D from NBAmate
Silver Screen and Roll? Where Hollywood meets the hardwood? Ugh
Fans and bloggers of other teams will criticize the Lakers for their flashiness on the court, or their occasional prima donna attitudes off it. They will criticize Laker fans for showing up late and leaving early, accuse us of being fair weather fans, and even hate us simply because our team is so popular.
Here at Silver Screen and Roll, we don’t apologize for any of that. As far as we’re concerned, a flashy team can be a good team, we win because we expect to (not the other way around), “We want tacos!” is as much a cry for defense as it is an expression of hunger, and the fact that we’re leaving a few minutes early to beat some of the worst traffic in the country doesn’t mean we don’t care about the outcome of every single Lakers game.
That, folks, makes me cringe. I don’t think I’ll join.
It's pretty bad
But I joined so I can have friendly debates in the near future :)
Regarding BRoy:"Another day, another buzzer-beater. This man is so clutch he sets his body clock to go off one second before his alarm does every morning."
~Rob D from NBAmate
BRoy gets ignored...
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?page=MVP09
These are who the ESPN writers are picking for MVP. Not even mentioned at all. Not even from Abbott!!
Regarding BRoy:"Another day, another buzzer-beater. This man is so clutch he sets his body clock to go off one second before his alarm does every morning."
~Rob D from NBAmate
Why should he be?
I love B-Roy and he is my favorite player, but i think he is like 6th or 7th best player in the league. If they are talking top 5 for MVP he doesnt make the cut.
I hope I can get a bunch of championships, like 15. " - Greg Oden
I think he has done more for us
Than Chris Paul has. Or should be tied with Billups. Denver has 1 more win than us and the Hornets are kind of a dissapointment this year after all their expectations from last postseason.
Regarding BRoy:"Another day, another buzzer-beater. This man is so clutch he sets his body clock to go off one second before his alarm does every morning."
~Rob D from NBAmate
I also think he has done more for us than Chris Paul has :)
As for MVP voting, no I wouldn’t consider Roy in the running. That’s something LeBron should win, with Paul, Howard, Kobe in the running.
What enraged me more was that SI link Ben provided. They interviewed scouts and executives, and those guys put Roy on the All-NBA Third Team. Behind Deron Williams. Fail.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/ian_thomsen/04/10/weekly.countdown/index.html
Greg Oden = Robert Parish (HOF, 4x NBA champion, 9x NBA All-Star). The only other rookie with more than 500 points, 400 rebounds, and 65 blocks in under 1400 minutes played. Since 1946.
Forgot Wade. He also belongs on the MVP ballot of course.
Greg Oden = Robert Parish (HOF, 4x NBA champion, 9x NBA All-Star). The only other rookie with more than 500 points, 400 rebounds, and 65 blocks in under 1400 minutes played. Since 1946.
No
Wade is more prolific as a scorer, passer and maybe even defender. His team would be absolute crap without him. But I like Roy much better if that helps, and as a GM would have a hard time deciding who to build a team around.
Greg Oden = Robert Parish (HOF, 4x NBA champion, 9x NBA All-Star). The only other rookie with more than 500 points, 400 rebounds, and 65 blocks in under 1400 minutes played. Since 1946.
I guess
that is the real question. If you could have only one of them who do you take?
I think Roy has a very similar skill set to Wade but he doesn’t need to carry his team as much so he doesn’t usually score as much. But I also am not sure he could carry a team the way Wade does. I do think Roy comes off as much more mature and all around player.
I hope I can get a bunch of championships, like 15. " - Greg Oden
The Blazers without Roy are twice as good as the Heat without Wade
Brandon just doesn’t have to do as much as Dwayne.
http://saboner.mybrute.com
V Bedge My Brute Clan V
http://mybrute.com/team/926
by Sabonis4Ever on Apr 13, 2009 2:48 PM PDT up reply actions
Wade has had a much, much more impressive season
Roy’s great, but DWade is a cut above. If not for LeBron, Wade would deserve MVP, even above CP3 and Kobe. Simple as that.
Brandon doesn't have to
and that may be a difference. Watching brandon go off, i think he can. Wade has to go off, Brandon doesn’t. Also, the big difference… Wade has the ring.
The goal is not to be better, the goal is to be the best.
Let's be realistic here
JK is right. Wade has more 50 point games since February than Brandon has in his career.
Their efficiency stats are nearly identical, except Wade does it with 5 more shots per game and has double the steals and quadruple the blocks this season.
Being a high usage, highly efficient player is the hardest thing to do in the league. Wade’s efficiency is the same as Roy’s but his usage is way higher.
Not saying that Brandon CAN’T get there, but just that he ISN’T there yet.
CP3 is way above and beyond Roy
but Roy ought to be ahead of Billups. Chauncey’s getting a ton of credit for their success (and deservedly so), but nobody is talking about the enormous contributions they’ve received from Nene (who probobly deserved to be at the all-star game) and his hideous but staggeringly productive backup, Birdman.
i think cp3 is good for his position
but look at other players at Roy’s position. I don’t think CP3 is worlds better than Roy actually. Especially when you watch them, they are actually very similar in the way they play (decision making, poise, not style of play)
I hope I can get a bunch of championships, like 15. " - Greg Oden
well, it depends on how we define "worlds better"
While there are similarities in how they play, the sheer ridiculousness of Paul’s assist and steal numbers put him a cut above Roy.
Oh, also more than Paul Pierce
I am just surprised he didn’t even get ONE vote.
Regarding BRoy:"Another day, another buzzer-beater. This man is so clutch he sets his body clock to go off one second before his alarm does every morning."
~Rob D from NBAmate
Well, Paul Pierce and Tony Parker got votes, along with Chauncey Billups.
Brandon is easily in that group.
I’m not too bothered by this vote though. And not surprised at Abbott’s voting at all.
Watching
B-Roy and Kobe go against each other was amazing and easily shoes he belongs in the group. But I am not surprised he isn’t in MVP talks. I think another year or two with good playoff runs and we won’t have to worry about him being passed over.
I hope I can get a bunch of championships, like 15. " - Greg Oden
As always, Ben,
a great list of links. Thanks, too, for not taking Quick’s article any further. Just thinking about it still gives me the creeps…..
Oden must take huge poops
http://saboner.mybrute.com
V Bedge My Brute Clan V
http://mybrute.com/team/926
by Sabonis4Ever on Apr 13, 2009 2:48 PM PDT up reply actions
At least he apologized
Blazers win BDL 2 on 2 tournament!
Skeets: i’ll close it down now … congrats. you bastards
gotta love a center
that does the grunt work for the team.
The goal is not to be better, the goal is to be the best.
by ratbastird on Apr 13, 2009 3:47 PM PDT up reply actions 2 recs
Does anyone else remember when we couldn't rebound
I can’t tell you how many times last season that I would begin to worry as soon as Joel left a game that we were about to get owned on the boards. Oden has obviously been huge in this area, but LMA and the amount Nate has been stressing rebound have also made a big difference. It’s great that a weakness is now a considerable strength.
If you can't laugh at yourself, everyone else probably is already.
One of the reasons I'm so excited about watching Oden grow
is that he already does so many of the ‘little things’ that big men should do. He boxes out so that even when he doesn’t get the rebound, one of his teammates can. He screens off his man in the lane to leave a clear path to the basket for a penetrating guard. And I’m sure I don’t see all of the other ‘little’ things that he does that don’t show up on the stat sheet.
Yeah, having him on the team this year has done a lot for the Blazers rebounding numbers. And not just because of the 7 per game that he gets himself, either.
YES
God we were terrible at rebounding last year.
http://saboner.mybrute.com
V Bedge My Brute Clan V
http://mybrute.com/team/926
by Sabonis4Ever on Apr 13, 2009 2:50 PM PDT up reply actions
That is why I believe
Oden > Durant for this team. It’s just a rarity to have a center intimidating the paint 48 minutes a game, and we have that luxury right now. And besides, Oden rebounds at a ridiculous rate even without his hops back. Imagine when they’re back…
I hope he is a bad shooter
That way fans can call him ‘brick wall’
http://saboner.mybrute.com
V Bedge My Brute Clan V
http://mybrute.com/team/926
by Sabonis4Ever on Apr 13, 2009 3:37 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
That would be a dope nickname
Greg Oden = Robert Parish (HOF, 4x NBA champion, 9x NBA All-Star). The only other rookie with more than 500 points, 400 rebounds, and 65 blocks in under 1400 minutes played. Since 1946.
Call him Pink Floyd?
Other than death and taxes, only 4 things in this world are indisputable:
Brandon Roy is the BEST player in the NBA in the clutch.
Montana to Rice were the greatest to ever play the game.
The Four Horsemen of Maddux, Smoltz, Glavine and Avery were unstoppable.
No one protects the pipes like Luongo.
by GreatOden'sRaven on Apr 13, 2009 5:57 PM PDT up reply actions
my god
that kid is awesome.. that steal and dish was amazing..
so Arizona bound? Pg to PGU?
Other than death and taxes, only 4 things in this world are indisputable:
Brandon Roy is the BEST player in the NBA in the clutch.
Montana to Rice were the greatest to ever play the game.
The Four Horsemen of Maddux, Smoltz, Glavine and Avery were unstoppable.
No one protects the pipes like Luongo.
by GreatOden'sRaven on Apr 13, 2009 5:56 PM PDT up reply actions
I think it's sour grapes...
But it sure looks like Philip is right, and our AV dorks broke the rules by playing the video.
BTW, I’d trade Mark Mason, all the Good, the Bad, and The Ugly T Law whistles, the L Train toot, Anything with Blaze in it, and the entire cheerleading team…er…stunt squad if we could have the drummers pounding away 41 games a season. If we just got rid of the Junior Blazer Dancers, I’d feel much better about role models for my daughter too…..
Golly Gee, I sure hope I didn't huwt anybody's feewings.... sniff...sniff....
GO G.O. ! You've got a calcium supplement endorsement waiting for you!
no... keep the cheerleaders and stunt squad
but agree. Get rid of all the other crud.
Also, it was a rule worth breaking and fine worth paying.
The goal is not to be better, the goal is to be the best.
3RD TEAM?
He should and will be on the 2nd team. Deron was hurt too much and their team is semi tanking at the end here and they’re falling down to the 8th spot.
If the Blazers finish the year ranked #5
then give it up for USA Today, who called it back in October.
The NBA needs a Lifetime Achievement award
for coaches like Sloan who never win COY, so at least that one criterion would no longer count in COY voting.
Oh, wait, they already have one. It’s called the Hall of Fame.
by MiledAnimal on Apr 14, 2009 10:05 AM PDT up reply actions
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