bad matchup in general for Przybilla. Then again, a vastly skilled 7’5" pivotman causes most everyone trouble — including Pryzbilla — when a coaching staff doesn’t properly prepare for him defensively.

Nicolas Batum was an absolutely terrible matchup against a strong wing player like Ron Artest — as well as an über-quick point guard like Aaron Brooks, who’d’ve blitzed by him just as he did Steve Blake — so he was utterly useless during the series.

Sans Channing Frye, the scrubs did well in the series. Frye, however, played more than just garbage time, for he also played spot minutes as the backup center when Greg Oden was in foul trouble. That, without a doubt whatsoever, was a costly mistake by Nate McMillan, since Oden should’ve been in there even when he had 2 fouls in the first quarter and/or 3 fouls in the second quarter.

Oden, by the way, is one of two men who’ll surely be relied upon throughout the next several years to lead the Portland Trail Blazers to the promise land. Brandon Roy is the other guy, of course.

the big three on top baby