I just had to watch a game after the schedule came out. I put in the summer league game vs. Phoenix. Bayless scored 36, but I couldn't believe the impact that Hill had on that game defensively. If Koponen goes to Europe or his rights are traded, does anyone think that Hill could make the 15th spot? I also read that Hill was brought in to work with Oden. I'm betting that he at the very least gets a camp invite.

This is from the Hoopshype rumors page.  Scroll down about 1/2 the page.  The link is not in English, so if anyone can translate it, I'd be grateful.

Green signs with team in Europe

Thanks to Tominhawaii for letting me know how to link in a Fanpost.  I thought this was good info to share and it also gave me some practice.

I really thought that Green would have stuck in the NBA.  I was a little surprised by this news.

 

My wife doesn't like basketball.  She tolerates my passion.  

I don't think that she would ever be seen in Blazer merch.  So I've tried to get a little creative.  I know that with our kids, she is open to things that they find interesting.  So I've purchased something that applies to both my obsession and my kids interests.

http://www.topdogshirts.com/30321ladies.html

I don't have any relationship to this site.  I just thought it was really cool.

So my question to you is:  What do you own that is not TB merch that you consider a TB product?  

With the "draft the stache" campaign deep in our rear view mirrors, I got to thinking about the players that I've been dead wrong about.  These are college players that I saw and said to myself, "self, that guy is going to be great!"  I whiffed on many, but I'l also tell you about a couple that I got right.

I do have some perimeters.  

1)  The players must be no higher than late lotto picks.  Example: Julian Wright 

2)  No "I just knew LeBron would be fantastic" comments.

You get the picture.

I'll start with Ed O'bannon UCLA and Anthony Taylor UofO. I just had a feeling they would take the NBA, no question.

Others that I liked were, Jose Ortiz OSU and Yvon Joseph Geogia Tech (played C next to John Salley.)

But the player that I would have bet my bicycle on (at the time I was too young for a car) was Ronnie Murphy.  Wow!  That guy was great!  or so I thought.  For those that don't remember, Ronnie Murphy was going to help give Drexler rest late in his Portland career.  Murphy was a UNBELIEVABLE deep shooter, but couldn't stay away from his own Buffet of Goodness.  He was always overweight.  I thought that he clearly was better than Shawn Respert or Byron Irvin, but I was wrong.  They never amounted to much either.

Now for my good picks.

My pick last year was Thad Young and I still think he'll be very good.

This year's pick: Kosta Koufos.  Now that Utah has him, I hope I'm wrong.

This is great news.  We'll get to see each game from Team USA and each game from Team Rudy...err...who's he play for again?

Fantastic.  I'm every bit as excited about watching Rudy play in the Olympics as I was to see Bayless in the Summer League.  Now we just have to find a way to get Dave over to China so he can blog during the games.

http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=9625

Key quote:  "NBC's airing of not only all of USA Basketball's games, but each and every Olympic basketball game, is a testament to how global the game has become and to the tremendous following our sport commands among viewers everywhere."

The dates are set. 7:15 am PST.  Saturday morning.  I can't wait to see how Rudy does.

No news that I can find that it will be live or tape delayed.  Anyone?

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/olympics_blog/2008/07/olympic-basketb.html

I'm rooting for the red, white and blue, but I hope that Rudy sets the Olympics on fire.  I want to see his 3pt shooting and passing skills.  (Make that skills that will complement Roy and Bayless.)  

Wow, normally there is nothing to talk about in the late summer.  We'll have plenty.

 

Rejoice!

Jump for joy!

Celebrate!

The Blazers are on the brink of changing how the NBA game is played.  There are two things that stick out in my mind.  Two things that every NBA team will try and fail to emulate.

1) The twin towers.  I know, I know, it's been done.  After the Rockets did it in the mid eighties with Hakeem and Sampson, the entire league moved that way...or tried to.  You could say that the L*kers have themselves a duo, but I think that they will be a light version of the Blazers on the front line.  People have said that the Spurs were the last to do it, but I think that they, along with most GM's, we're trying to find the next big two.  SA was successful, but in this case Robinson was at the end of his career.

2)Three combo guard rotation.  Has it been done?  Roy, Rudy and Bayless all are SG's with PG skills or PG's with SG skills.  I may be pushing it here, but do any one of them actually fit into the norm for a SG or a PG?  Normally 2 guards fit the norm and one has multiple skills.

We could be a witness to change in the game itself; and how things are done in the future.  

Watch as teams struggle to keep up.

Wow.  Losing Brand hurts.  The Clippers are far enough under the cap to take Zach and give NY nothing but salary relief.  NY says no thank you, but I'll bet this thing will happen.  Zach is no Brand, but he brings a lot of similar stuff to the table.

 

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/basketball/nba/07/11/randolph.clippers/index.html

 

What do you think that the Clippers would have to add to make NY go for it?

Found this from a Detroit paper.

http://www.mlive.com/pistons/index.ssf/2008/07/pistons_dumars_nothing_imminen.html

 

I sounds like it's a 5 year deal. 5 mil. per.  Good for James.  I hate to see him go, he was great for the team.  Now it's time for the youngsters to get 'er done.

 

Hey Dave, is there a fan post for FA signings?  Seems like there could be a bunch of postings about signings that have nothing to do with Portland.