Trailblazers.com Podcast Returns

by Dave on Sep 10, 2009 5:11 PM PDT

After a multi-week hiatus while the Blazers updated their studio equipment the Trailblazers.com podcast starring Gavin Dawson of 95.5 The Game, Casey Holdahl of the Center Court Blog at trailblazers.com, and me (Dave from Blazersedge) is back. Topics this week include who's been working out at the PF, if it's necessary to show up for training camp early, Trail Blazers at EuroBasket, which players have the most to gain and lose at the small forward position, rumors about Juwan Howard and Stromile Swift, which training camp position battles are the most intriguing, the return of Maurice Lucas, whether NBA refs are expendable, if 60 wins and winning 25% of road games against WC playoff teams is feasible, any why Gavin should stop talking about LeGarrette Blount.

You can download the .mp3 here or head on over to the Center Court Blog to stream it.

--Dave (blazersub@yahoo.com)

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FIRST of all...

The link URL needs to be fixed… no colon after the http

"you rock, sir" -prezofdeath
"You can add me to the list of those who think you rock" -Mortimer
"you rock
see above" -Zaron5551
"you still rock, sir." -Zaron5551

by Sarbonis on Sep 10, 2009 5:42 PM PDT reply actions

Second of all

There is no link for the lazy folks like me to get to Casey – ok, I’ll use my bookmark . . .sigh

by lee3022 on Sep 10, 2009 6:49 PM PDT reply actions

Sorry

I’m on the road and am posting in between other things. I don’t have my favorites list either so linking is harder.

—Dave

by Dave on Sep 10, 2009 7:00 PM PDT up reply actions

It was worth the search!

Anyway slightly imperfect is more attractive to TIH.

by lee3022 on Sep 13, 2009 6:44 PM PDT up reply actions

link has been fixed.

Blazers Edge.com

by Ben Golliver on Sep 10, 2009 6:51 PM PDT reply actions

Good stuff.

That was somehow really entertaining even though no one said anything shockingly new. I like the decisive stance Dave took on the Miller/Blake debate.

“I don’t think the Blake/Miller thing is going to be that much of a story. The Blazers didn’t sign Miller in order to be a backup. I think he’s going to win that job pretty handily, no offense to Steve Blake.” -Dave

by Nick Van Excellent on Sep 10, 2009 10:31 PM PDT reply actions

i laughed when i read this...

and me (Dave from Blazersedge)

i’m sure you posted that after the Collins thread but come on Dave, give us a little more credit….hahahaha

"You are such a bad man:) ;) !!!! " - annthefan

by broyposse on Sep 10, 2009 10:37 PM PDT reply actions

I had never really put it together before this podcast

I just had this idea that Outlaw was expendable and it was merely something I was hoping to see the team do (eg outlaw plus fernandez for Devin Harris). But with Cunningham, Claver, Millsap, and now Howard being looked at, I can see it’s something the Blazers themselves are moving towards. Wow. I guess the writing’s on the wall…

by Montavilla Steve on Sep 10, 2009 11:42 PM PDT reply actions

The handwriting was on the wall when the Blazers

1) Offered Turk $50M to play all of Outlaw’s minutes at SF and backup PF.
2) Offered Millsap $32M to play all of Outlaw’s minutes at backup PF.
3) Then tried to come to terms with David Lee to play all of Outlaw’s minutes at backup PF.
4) Then talked to Lamar Odom about playing all of Outlaw’s minutes at SF and backup PF.

All of that before giving up on finding a Free Agent backup PF and SF, and signing Miller.

Plus Outlaw’s contract ends this year, so the Blazers would lose him for nothing to a team that just wants a scorer next summer. He wants a larger contract, and the Blazers certainly won’t pay more for him to be a backup PF for 10-12 minutes a game.

Cunningham (lucky to get a few mop-up minutes this year), Claver (won’t be here for at least 2 years), and Freeland (also 1-2 years out) don’t really affect Outlaw’s situation this year.

In the mean time, KP is suddently conducting an all-out search for a 3rd string PF/C regardless of Outlaw’s situation. He seems willing to audition almost any PF/C regardless of age, experience, or prior visibility.

The try-out list currently includes Howard, Swift, Ely, Looby, Collins, Ostertag (I can’t stop laughing about that one), and Harvey.

Antonio Harvey? No. Harvey is an invisible, six-foot three-and-one-half-inch tall rabbit (a “pooka” actually) who’s friend and agent is Elwood P. Dowd (a.k.a. James Stewart). Harvey is a little short for a PF, but because he is totally invisible, and has amazing hops, he’s expected to become an all-star quality defender and rebounder at both PF and center. Harvey will be trying out at the practice facility next week, or maybe he was already here last week. No one is quite sure because Harvey keeps to himself off the court, and his agent is temporarily confined to a sanatorium.

KP’s all-inclusive search for a 3rd string PF/C goes on …

by BlazerFanSince1970 on Sep 11, 2009 1:27 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

KP is reportedly very excited about using Harvey to resurrect the Blazers 6-on-5 play,

which was so effective it caused an NBA rule change after it debuted against Boston last year. When prompted for a comment he replied, “They will never see it coming this year”.

by BlazerFanSince1970 on Sep 11, 2009 2:24 AM PDT up reply actions

RT: to be a backup PF for 10-12 minutes a game.

And even that’s a stretch, I think the coaching staff expects LMA to play more than 36 mpg, when he’s healthy

nice history lesson re: Harvey, I haven’t heard that name since the last time I watched the Shawshank Redemption

When reached 39 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!

by two4larue on Sep 11, 2009 9:01 AM PDT up reply actions

Rec for the numbered list.

Those reasons make a strong case for Outlaw moving to a different team. Knowing how KP hates midseason trades, I’m thinking he’ll most likely be traded before or after the season begins.

Yeah, Harvey has great hops, but it’s easy to get him up in the air on D because he always bites on the carrot fake.

by MiledAnimal on Sep 11, 2009 10:53 AM PDT up reply actions

I like when you said for Portland to be a 60 win team they should be so good off nights are why they lose.

I do think Portland will have to have a lot of things go wrong for them to lose a home game.

by BRoyInThe4th on Sep 10, 2009 11:45 PM PDT reply actions

Nice podcast,

Dave.

Don’t mean to be harsh, but those other guys are kind of like shills. Maybe they should just ask questions and try to learn by listening to your answers.

Anyway, glad it’s you that knows their stuff.

by Blazin' on Sep 11, 2009 12:23 AM PDT reply actions

yeah, Gavin is big on Juwan Howard

that’s a serious hit on his street cred

and tell Casey the fans want PF workout videos, like yesterday

When reached 39 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!

by two4larue on Sep 11, 2009 9:04 AM PDT up reply actions

Shills? C'mon now.

Casey is a knowledgeable NBA fan and blogger who tends to sound less knowledgeable than he is because he doesn’t articulate his thoughts as well as Dave. Gavin is far from ignorant and he’s an excellent moderator. If you don’t believe me, listen to the podcast a couple of months ago where it was just Dave and Casey. Ouch!

Dave’s voice always reminds me of Mr. Peabody on the Rocky and Bullwinkle Show. Especially when he says “Indeed.”
.

by MiledAnimal on Sep 11, 2009 11:05 AM PDT up reply actions

maybe Dave should start calling Ben

“Sherman”

When reached 39 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!

by two4larue on Sep 11, 2009 5:06 PM PDT up reply actions

Plus One.

And Casey is getting better and better.

Like you, I thought the podcasts without Gavin were really bad and I stopped listening to them when I knew he would be absent.

Brandon Roy just destroyed everything in his path. There's your rational analysis -- Dave

Also: COMCAST SUCKS!

by TwoDeep on Sep 11, 2009 9:16 PM PDT up reply actions

I think you three are too shy with your predictions.

Last year we started with two units,and both were competing each other and both improved a lot, thanks to that competition.

The first unit included Batum and Oden at the start of the season, both raw players then (considering the NBA level). And we tried to make plays for Oden, and it didn´t work out well. And they weren´t used to play together. And we switched centers between both units during the season. And we had injuries and had to make adjustments. All in all, it costed us quite a few games and they still played good enough to win 54 games.

Last year we had a second unit where we had Sergio (still raw and lacking confidence) or Bayless (idem), Rudy (another rookie learning the NBA game while almost leading the unit in offense), Travis (not exactly a leader), Frye (never mind) and Pryz (a leader in defense but he´s not an offensive threat). This second unit had the same problems the first unit had and some more, less continuity than the first one, a problem at PG position, etc, etc. All in all, in costed us a few games.

I know the rotation will be shortened sooner or later. But that´s how things started last season. And this season most of those problems seem to be resolved and both units look great. And I think you´ll be believers before this year ends.

by amlmart1 on Sep 11, 2009 5:20 AM PDT reply actions

Forgot to say I really love these podcasts.

by amlmart1 on Sep 11, 2009 9:17 AM PDT up reply actions

I'm going to tell your wife

by tominhawaii on Sep 11, 2009 9:22 AM PDT up reply actions

I think the white and black units

are more of a practice concept when scrimmaging. During the regular season games there’s almost always 1,2 starters on the floor along with the “reserves”

Having said that, there will be some serious competition at the 1,3,5 positions during training camp and the preseason

When reached 39 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!

by two4larue on Sep 11, 2009 9:26 AM PDT up reply actions

Thank you for predicting 64 wins, amlmart.

If the team only wins 50 games, my prediction of 63 won’t be the worst one, thanks to you!

by MiledAnimal on Sep 11, 2009 11:08 AM PDT up reply actions

it's really interesting only because davis on there

casey has some nice observations based on his access but analysis-wise this podcast is all about dave.

dawson is far and away just a constant voice that doesn’t really add much. i must say i was really entertained by dave breaking down exactly why his prediction of 60 wins is really unlikely.

i think it would actually be great if dave and ben recorded their own pod casts and posted them here.

have you guys ever considered that?

by colinmarsh on Sep 11, 2009 7:39 AM PDT reply actions