I am a long time BlazerEdger and I have decided to check out some of these other NBA blogs and maybe get a broader base of what is realistic for trade talks.  I noticed Magic fans seem to be talking about the need for a power forward in a few of the posts on your site.

How realistic (and I know the sign and trade aspect of the deal would make it a bit tougher in reality) is the idea of a trade with the Blazers for Dooling?  Channing Frye might fit your needs at PF and the Blazers would include Steve Blake or Jarrett Jack to match salaries depending on what Dooling is going to sign for and/or which one the Magic are interested in to replace what Dooling brings to the court.  The Blazers could even throw in one of those second round picks the Magic are allegedly interested in to make the deal work if they needed to.

What are your thoughts on Dooling and the Blazer players?  Is this a trade that could benefit both teams or am overvaluing or undervaluing what Dooling contibutes to the Magic's success?

I don't have a lot to say in this post but wanted to make you all aware of a great video over on Bullets Forever.  It is an instructional video by Red Aurbach using 70s players from the Bullets and Celtics to demonstrate the virus that is flopping.  It is interesting to put flopping in historical context and realize it isn't just a modern day problem.

If all refs took the approach that the ref in the video does, we wouldn't need rules cracking down on handchecking or that ridiculous half-circle in the key that rarely clarifies what is a charge or a blocking foul anyway. 

I hope you enjoy the video asuch as I did and that someone else hs not referenced this yet.  I found it via Truehoop.  Here is the link to the Bullets Forever Fanpost:

http://www.bulletsforever.com/2008/5/29/541671/flopping-blame-it-on-mike

I realize it is a year away and the Hornets will be a slightly different team next year with a few minor tweaks to a solid team in the off season...But, are the Hornets going to get better this summer because of this series with SA or will they lose their edge and take a step backwards?

I am of the opinion that they may not respond well to this thumping by the Spurs in Game 7.  They expected to win this series and if wins are hard to come by early in the season next year, look for the emotionally volatile Hornets to implode in a storm of backbiting and fingerpointing.  Chandler, West, and even the mighty CP3 let their emotions get the best of them in game 7 and they could have a tough time bouncing back.

That isn't to say that they can't right the ship and have a strong team over the next few seasons.  I just think their stock was overvalued and it may take them a while to rebuild their confidence.

Reading the comments on Dave's post regarding Avery Johnson and Mike D'Antoni got me thinking about expectations we have for the future and what would satisfy us as fans, as far as Nate's legacy is concerned.

Jerry Sloan has had a fantastic run in Utah.  They have won way more regular season games than they have lost, the team seems to have a healthy relationship with its fan base, they have made the playoffs most of his years, they have seen some great players come through who played the game at a high enough level to elevate the games of their teammates, and they had a legitmate shot at winning a championship maybe five of  his 20 seasons coaching there.  But of course, they have never won it all under Sloan and there have been down times where the fans were calling for his head.

Is this a legacy that you could accept from Nate?  Obviously every fan wants their team to win a championhip (or a string of them for all time), but there is only one championship awarded every year, and they are a tad more difficult to come by than we like to think. 

I knew Channing Frye had a philosophy behind blocking shots after the whistle had blown.  

http://trailblazerscentercourt.blogspot.com/2008/03/channing-frye-is-messing-with-your-mind.html

It has been a joy to watch him lead the team in this stat this year, although James Jones might rival him if he had not missed so many games.  I am happy to see Casey making all Blazer fans aware of this unique committment to excellence by Channing.  I brought this up months ago as a reason to not trade Frye.  My comment is the ninth from the top.

http://www.blazersedge.com/story/2008/1/16/19051/0185

I especially enjoy how coach Monty thinks it is stupid but Channing sticks to his guns and keeps knocking away meaningless shots.  Maybe Frye has contributed to a win or two this year by simply keeping guys from gaining confidence in their shot.

Peter Vescey was talking about Miles' wanting to return to action and mentions a deal that Nash and Patterson were pushing for but Paul Allen rejected.  Here are the details below with link.

"Jeff Wechsler, Darius Miles' agent, is pushing Portland hard to activate and play his client, out almost 11/2 seasons following dreaded micro-fracture knee surgery. A Paul Allen favorite, Miles would never have been re-signed by the Blazers had the owner not overruled the front office of Steve Patterson and John Nash on a deal (including Theo Ratliff) to the KnicksNew York Knicks  during Larry Brown's glory year. Isiah Thomas had signed off on Jalen Rose, David Lee and, yipes, a No. 1 pick."

http://www.nypost.com/seven/01252008/sports/no_defense_for_upsetting_suns_96539.htm?page=2

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I don't know about you guys but I liked what I saw tonight.  They didn't play the kind of game they needed to play to win but they hung tough in spite of some frustrating plays (the bounce to Allen for the three) and some calls that probably go a little different if this game was played in the other Garden.

I got the sense from watching the Blazer players that they were taking it all in and instead of losing their poise when Garnett was chattering like a jack#@@, they were filing it away for the future.  They will remember this game and will respond by playing hard against Miami on Friday and will be focused when he Celts roll into Portland thinking they have schooled the youngsters and put them in their place.

This will be good for them.

By the way, I lost a lot of respect for Garnett tonight.  He acted like a fool and it could come back to haunt him.

I just talked to a friend who sat behind the Toronto bench on Wednesday night.  He got to hear the Raptors' reactions to the Blazers throughout the game and it was interesting.  

They were brimming with confidence for three quarters.  Sam Mitchell had nothing but good to say to his team and they were very business like in their approach.

In the fourth quarter, as the Blazers stepped it up, they fell apart on the bench as they fell apart on the court.  Mitchell was chewing them out and trying very hard to get them back to what they were doing the first three quarters.  The Raptors just looked sapped of all confidence and they couldn't respond.

The Blazers are making coaches yell at their players.  They are facing good, confident, playoff bound teams and beating them all kinds of ways.  On top of all that, the response from them really seems to be, "one game at a time" and "don't get too high, don't get too low."  

No more predictions from me.  I am just going to enjoy the ride and see where we end up this year.

You don't have to respond here.  I know you are living up to your word and everything...

But I have to ask:  

Is Memphis still on your list to finish 6th in the West?  
Will Houston pull it together to win the championship or at least make the playoffs?  
How about that Webster kid?  We homers are enjoying him starting to look like he belongs in the NBA.  You still think he will never pan out?

No animosity here, just wondering how your "book" is working out this season.  I hope all is well.