Blazer's Edge: FanShots

Quick: McMillan To Consider Starting Crawford Over Felton

2012-02-12T07:36:06Z

Quick: McMillan To Consider Starting Crawford Over Felton

Jason Quick of The Oregonian reports from Dallas that Portland Trail Blazers coach Nate McMillan acknowledged that he will consider moving reserve guard Jamal Crawford into the starting lineup in place of starting point guard Raymond Felton.
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"It's time the play becomes better," McMillan said Saturday.

So will he consider taking Felton out of the starting lineup in favor of Crawford?

"I have to look at it," McMillan said.
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McMillan brushed off similar questions following Portland's home loss to the Houston Rockets on Wednesday.

Felton shot 4-for-17 in a Saturday loss to the Dallas Mavericks.

Whether Felton remains as starter or not, one thing has not changed since this look at his terrible start back in January: he must play less. There is only one player in the entire NBA who plays more minutes than Felton does while producing a lower PER: Toronto Raptors wing DeMar DeRozan.

-- Ben Golliver | benjamin.golliver@gmail.com | Twitter

Portland Trail Blazers forward takes a scary blow to the head from Dallas Mavericks guard Delonte...

2012-02-12T03:47:44Z

Portland Trail Blazers forward takes a scary blow to the head from Dallas Mavericks guard Delonte West during the third quarter of a Saturday night game at American Airlines Center. West was whistled for a flagrant foul on the play.

-- Ben Golliver | benjamin.golliver@gmail.com | Twitter

"You Must Be Known For Your Defense, Because You Definitely Stole My Heart"

2012-02-12T00:37:08Z

"You Must Be Known For Your Defense, Because You Definitely Stole My Heart"

awesome Grizzlies' Valentine’s Day cards are the key to love...

"I would foul out of the game, just to be with you."

via Ball Don't Lie

Holdahl: LaMarcus Aldridge Deals With Double Teams

2012-02-11T23:50:45Z

Holdahl: LaMarcus Aldridge Deals With Double Teams

Casey Holdahl of Blazers.com with some quotes from Portland Trail Blazers All-Star forward LaMarcus Aldridge on dealing with constant double teams during Friday night's game against the New Orleans Hornets.
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"Coach Mont [Monty Williams] made me feel like I'm going to get double-teamed even more now," said Aldridge, half joking. "I felt like after last night, getting called an All-Star and then playing these guys, I feel like I'm not going to be able to play anymore! I feel like my one-on-one play is done now. I'm going to try to become a better passer. That's how I felt tonight. I was like, man, every time I took one dribble they double-teamed like clockwork."
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"If we're getting double-teamed and we're not making them pay, then that bothers me," said Aldridge. "As the game went on we started getting to the basket, Jamal (Crawford) started making shots, Ray (Felton) made some threes and I feel like that's when I started feeling better about it, because if I'm getting taken out of the game and we're not getting nothing from it then I'm getting frustrated. I'm not doing my job. But if I'm forcing them to play me and we're scoring out of it, that's what I want. I don't mind not scoring, but we have to get something out of it."
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-- Ben Golliver | benjamin.golliver@gmail.com | Twitter

Bill Simmons: Deron Williams To Dallas 'Is A Lock'

2012-02-11T21:48:14Z

Bill Simmons: Deron Williams To Dallas 'Is A Lock'

I saw this posted at SBNation Dallas Ft Worth linked to the above link. Their link:
It took me a while to find it. It is just below the title 'EAST RESERVE GUARDS Deron Williams, Joe Johnson.' The footnote #4 is on the side.

LaMarcus Aldridge Needs Support Around Him

2012-02-10T22:19:07Z

LaMarcus Aldridge Needs Support Around Him

The All Star definitely needs some support around him if the Blazers are to go far.

Simmons: Kevin Love > LaMarcus Aldridge > Blake Griffin

2012-02-10T20:19:31Z

Simmons: Kevin Love > LaMarcus Aldridge > Blake Griffin

Bill Simmons of Grantland.com -- also known as "The Sports Guy" -- writes that Kevin Love of the Minnesota Timberwolves is the best power forward in the NBA, but that LaMarcus Aldridge of the Portland Trail Blazers gets the nod over Blake Griffin of the Los Angeles Clippers.
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Anyone who voted for Griffin over Love needs to start watching League Pass instead of SportsCenter highlights; Love has been the best power forward in either conference, and by the way, haven't we all wanted to step on Luis Scola's face at least once?
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If we're just talking basketball, I'm giving LaMarcus a slight edge over Blake — he's a better all-around player, he's better in crunch time, and he's a much better free throw shooter. Throw in the other stuff (dunking, charisma, entertainment, alley-oops, etc.) and it's suddenly a much better argument, and when you remember it's the All-Star Game — the kind of showcase that was literally created for someone like Blake — then that's when you start thinking, "Can we just give Blake all of LaMarcus' minutes?" I don't mind thinking this way for the All-Star Game, but when we're trying to win a Gold Medal in six months? This becomes a more meaningful debate.
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-- Ben Golliver | benjamin.golliver@gmail.com | Twitter

LaMarcus Aldridge Finds Out He's An All-Star With His Teammates

2012-02-10T18:54:51Z

LaMarcus Aldridge Finds Out He's An All-Star With His Teammates

Didnt see this on the fanshots -

teammates and staff giving LA some love after they find out he has become an All Star...