Blazersedge: FanShots

Michael Jordan says "don't retire my number"

2009-11-20T22:09:14Z

Michael Jordan says "don't retire my number"

"Shows uncharacteristic class and humility" by deferring to Magic, Bird, Russell, etc.

Charles Oakley to the Blazers? He says there are talks

2009-11-20T22:03:17Z

Charles Oakley to the Blazers? He says there are talks

No, not to fill the void as our backup banger, the man is 45. Although, maybe...
From a very nice interview with Nick Rattner of SLAM Online.

SLAM: Are you happy doing what you’re doing?
CO: I’m happy. I’m thinking trying to get involved in doing a big man camp next summer. Might land a job with one of these teams. Hopefully, New York or somewhere I’ve really been around. I’ve had some talks with the Bulls, Portland.

SLAM: You talked to Paxson?
CO: I talked to Jerry Reinsdorf, I talked to Larry Miller in Portland about working with some guys. The opportunity is there. I think it’s going to happen soon.

Other topics include "his past, his business endeavors (including a cooking show), what’s wrong with the NBA, and what measures will bring it back to health. "

Lamarcus: The King Cobra?

2009-11-20T21:29:49Z

Lamarcus: The King Cobra?

Joe Freeman just mentioned that the locker room is referring to LMA as "The King Cobra" (in the second installment of FreeMail).

What do you guys think? Apt? Can you think of a better nickname?

Surprising Stats from Basketball-Reference

2009-11-20T19:15:57Z

Surprising Stats from Basketball-Reference

Please take these with a grain of salt. They are Formulas, and Stats. But not the be all end all.

- Oden has highest Block %
- Oden has highest total # of blocks
- Rudy has highest Steal %
- Oden is #1 in TOTAL REBOUNDING %

Top 5 Defensive Rating Players:
1. Oden
2. Przy
3. Garnett
4. Rudy
5. Dampier

Oden is #4 in defensive Win shares (aldridge is #7)
Roy is #6 in Win shares

Aldridge is #2 in Turnover Percentage (!!)

Oden #5 and Rudy #9 ranked soph espn.com

2009-11-20T18:47:03Z

Oden #5 and Rudy #9 ranked soph espn.com

INSIDER LINK but here is Rudy and Oden blurb:

5. Greg Oden, Trail Blazers
This big guy's confidence is coming on strong. He's averaging 11 points, eight rebounds and two blocks a game in November, while hitting almost 62 percent of his shots. All in just 24 minutes a game. (It's not his fault the Blazers have the best rebounding center in the league playing behind him.)

He's often been dominant on the defensive end and on the backboards. If he begins to assert himself more on offense, we'll be talking about All-Star Game appearances soon.

and Rudy

9. Rudy Fernandez, Trail Blazers
Some guys take major and obvious steps forward in their second season. Others, such as Fernandez, take incremental but pivotal steps that significantly impact their team. Fernandez is still shooting and making a lot of 3s this season (19-for-47 -- 40 percent), but it's his defense that has people taking notice. Fernandez may well be the Blazers' best perimeter team defender. In other words, their defense may be at its best when he's in the game compared to any other guard or wing.

NYT: The Pick-And-Roll is the NBA's Old Reliable

2009-11-20T13:27:11Z

NYT: The Pick-And-Roll is the NBA's Old Reliable

"No other play in the N.B.A. creates such havoc, no other play is used as often." A few surprises regarding which teams use it the most and the least, and what statistically is the best way to defend it. Great article. Via Kevin Pelton.

A modest proposal: Fire Mike Rice and Antonio Harvey!

2009-11-20T03:47:19Z

A modest proposal: Fire Mike Rice and Antonio Harvey!

(I originally posted this in the "Rebecca Haarlow" thread, but I had some typos to correct and, well, after reading it I'm sure most will agree that it "should've been a fanshot")

Hey, if the Blazers really want to save some money, they should rotate Batum, Outlaw, Pendergraph and Mills as color commentators alongside Barrett and Wheeler. Those injured players are just sitting there doing nothing during the games, anyway--so put 'em to work...on the air!

Just in case you were wondering...there is a precedent for this from Blazer history. Back in ‘74-'75 when Walton was often hurt and always annoying, Lenny Wilkens told him to "leave the bench area!" and go sit next to the Schonz. Dollar Bill put a radio headset on and started commenting on the game action—and a broadcasting career was born! Now, are you going to tell me that Travis Outlaw can’t do a less "horrrible" job behind the mic than Bill Walton? Nico Suave already has some parlez vous francais TV experience from the all-star game weekend, and Patty Mills has that Aussie accent and a face made for radio. By all accounts Jeff Pendergraph is well-spoken, and the Blazers could even do a "sounds of the game" segment with Dante Cunningham wearing the hidden mic on the bench and inside the huddle! (C'mon now, who doesn't want to "accidentally" overhear what Brandon and LMA are grumbling about, as they're watching the lead slip away?)

I firmly believe that a huge opportunity is being wasted, here—and I thought that those wise guys over at Blazer broadcasting were innovators? All that’s standing in the way of this new-wave in cutting-edge NBA commentary is a senile TV color guy and a blockhead ex-jock radio analyst—both of whom are just hanging on and contributing so little to the overall fan experience!

So, cut out the deadwood! Downsize. Show 'em the door! Don't we all want to hear more of Travis screaming "Oh my, ’dere go da game!!!" when Rudy drops in a last-second, game-winning bucket? And, who knows? Perhaps #25's exclamation of unbridled joy could eventually become the new signature "happy ending" slogan for Portland victories, replacing Wheeler’s "...it’s a great day to be a Blazer" and the Schonz’ "Rrrrip city baby, all right!" We're talking T-shirts. Bumper stickers. Toy basketballs. The marketing possibilities are endless!

So now, it's time to kick those old dogs over to the curb...and release the hounds!

Bill Simmons Addresses "Drexler's Pistons" at Beaverton Book Reading

2009-11-20T03:14:17Z

Bill Simmons Addresses "Drexler's Pistons" at Beaverton Book Reading

Chris Snethen, who blogs at On The Vig, tweets from the Bill Simmons book reading.
-------
I asked about Drexler's Pistons. [Bill Simmons] said he was thinking Isiah [Thomas] and wrote Drexler. Said it's not even the 25th best typo.
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-- Ben Golliver | (benjamin.golliver@gmail.com) | Twitter

At this point, what the Blazers want most is rebounding. That was an alarming weakness last season,...

2009-11-20T00:20:56Z

At this point, what the Blazers want most is rebounding. That was an alarming weakness last season, when Oden averaged seven a night.

http://www.nba.com/2009/news/features/shaun_powell/11/19/blazers.oden/index.html?ls=iref:nbahpt1

Question - if Outlaw misses half the season (41 games) how much if any of his contract is covered...

2009-11-19T23:29:23Z

Question - if Outlaw misses half the season (41 games) how much if any of his contract is covered by Insurance?

Oden is 4th in the NBA in FG%, shooting at a 60% clip. However, he is only getting 6.8 shots per...

2009-11-19T23:11:01Z

Oden is 4th in the NBA in FG%, shooting at a 60% clip. However, he is only getting 6.8 shots per game, ranking him 124th. When factoring in his limited amount of touches, one can see why he is only getting 1.8 free throws per game, which ranks 179th, while he is downing them at a respectable 75%. Also, his Points Per Shot is a solid 1.39, ranking him 21st. GET HIM THE BALL!!

Comment on RealGM "Oden and his peers"

Oden gets no love on nba.com

2009-11-19T22:18:59Z

Oden gets no love on nba.com

This article annoyed me, then really got under my skin when it mentioned rebounding as a Blazer weakness last season. Two years ago? Definately. But not last season.

I guess that just gives me another myth to sell. Blazers can't rebound and B-Roy has no athleticism (note: that wasn't mentioned in this article).

Brandon Roy plays for the....the pacers?

2009-11-19T16:24:28Z

Brandon Roy plays for the....the pacers?

Yahoo sports makes a typo...
Incase that change it...

"The Pacers were just completely impotent in that second half, and though the team is perhaps allowed some room to swoon due its sound start (winning five of eight games before this loss), the whole exercise feels unseemly.

Ford can be a terrible, terrible point guard. For long stretches. He's been in the league since 2003 and he still makes decisions that would get a high schooler benched, and Indiana has little or no recourse if Earl Watson(notes) (who missed all seven of his shot attempts) is playing like Earl Watson usually plays at all points leading up to earlier this month.

Ford missed four of five shots, he had seven rebounds, five assists, and five turnovers. He's averaging 6.5 points, 4.5 assists, 3.5 turnovers in 32.5 minutes per game over his last two contests, on 20 percent shooting.

Brandon Roy(notes) has hit fewer than a third of his shots this year, and he's missed 16 of 19 attempts over his last two games against defensive stalwarts from New Jersey and New York. Good god.

Eddy Curry's(notes) return (10 points, four rebounds, four fouls, three turnovers in just under 12 minutes) was pleasant, if predictable. "

Image FanShot

2009-11-19T05:59:20Z

Who is going to the game tonight??? I'll be there... See you there

2009-11-19T00:53:11Z

Who is going to the game tonight???
I'll be there... See you there

For Ann, and Travis.

2009-11-18T23:11:14Z

For Ann, and Travis.

http://blog.oregonlive.com/blazers/2009/11/outlaw_expected_to_miss_3_to_5.html

2009-11-18T19:29:45Z

http://blog.oregonlive.com/blazers/2009/11/outlaw_expected_to_miss_3_to_5.html

David Thorpe would like to help out the big fella

2009-11-18T18:06:58Z

David Thorpe would like to help out the big fella

Younger (Cali)

If you had an opportunity to work with any young nba player who would it be?

David Thorpe (12:49 PM)

My mind can not work that way. I love working with about anyone. But, I think I'd be able to help Oden a great deal. He's making very good progress without me, though, that's for sure.

SB Nation Member Stationed at Fort Hood

2009-11-18T17:39:37Z

SB Nation Member Stationed at Fort Hood

Wow.. Saw this posted over on the Pistons site, and thought it was worth sharing with everyone. Very intense to hear from someone who experienced the tragedy first hand.

Berri from Wages of Wins: Yes it is Early - But Portland is the Best Team in the West

2009-11-18T17:12:30Z

Berri from Wages of Wins: Yes it is Early - But Portland is the Best Team in the West

Berri touts efficiency differential to suggest that the Blazers are the best team in the West so far. His efficiency differential analysis is simplistic, to be sure - he doesn't take strength of schedule or anything else into account, alla Hollinger's muc more advanced power rankings - but he also includes the early season win score breakdown, which indicates that Oden (improving), Rudy (improving), and Przy (steady) have been dominant, while Roy has been solid, and LMA is developing into a productive player through the WoW looking glass. It's worth a quick read.