Blazers' Fire

1:21:13 PM EST
Feeling Worried
Hearing "Youth"--Matisyahu

Noooooo! Do NOT send Darius to the Knicks or anywhere else!

After the loss the other night to the Dallas Mavericks, Nate McMillan called a meeting with Zach Randolph, Juan Dixon and Darius Miles. Looks like Zach's and Juan's jobs are safe for now, but Darius may be on his way out of town--to the Godforsaken New York Knicks!

Props to Steve for not dissing a teammate in public.

Steve Blake did an interview this morning on The Fan 1080 in Portland. He hesitated bigtime when the question of Darius' future with the Blazers came up--and finished by "accidentally" hanging up on the interviewer.

Now, Blake is an honorable guy. He's not going to toss a teammate under the bus by reporting publicly what may already be a done deal. But if the rumors coming out of Portland are correct, it's not just Coach McMillan who may be elsewhere come next season.

On the other hand, there's talk he's being given another chance with the TrailBlazers. He may be going back to starting at the three. Seems his knees stiffen up badly after warming up and then sitting on the bench, which in turn makes him less mobile on the court when he does get there.

I sure hope the second scenario is the one that plays out. Darius Miles is a good player, a good guy in Portland--and he deserves the extra time and help to get himself right.

Darius Miles...Well, sure he's been a disappointment in his pro career...but that's because he came straight out of high school. Think about it: If he'd gone to college and gotten his degree, he'd have four years worth of playing he didn't get. In fact, last year would've been his rookie season. Like Kwame, Kobe and Garnett, he's taken time to become accustomed to the differences between high school basketball and the NBA.

Throwing him around the League--from the Cavs to the Clips to the Blazers hasn't done him any good either. In Portland he is, and in Portland he should remain. The talent is there, and he's finally getting to a place where he's old enough and mature enough to use it effectively on a regular basis. Don't send him away to blossom someplace else!

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6:58:38 PM EST
Feeling Happy

I was rummaging through the discount DVD bin at Wal-Mart yesterday, looking for something fun to waste time with last night.

I found the perfect movie.

It's called The Perfect Score, which bills itself as a combination of Ocean's Eleven and The Breakfast Club. Interesting way to describe this MTV teen heist flick; no way is it anywhere near the quality of either of those classic films. It is, however, an awful lot of fun--and, suprisingly, it has a fair script and some decent acting.

There's Scarlett Johanson in an early role; her acting hasn't changed a bit since this was made in 2004. There's some no-names...and Darius Miles as a high school basketball phenom who'd rather just turn pro, but his strong-minded mom won't let him. To get into St. John's he needs at least a 900, but except for his math wizardry he's dumb as a post. To avoid getting his ass whipped by Mom, he's willing to get involved with a stupid scheme like this. Miles is suprisingly good as Desmond; he's got a wonderfully expressive face and voice.

Strange to say, I hope he does more acting in the future; he's good and with work will get better.

The story is simple: Six high school seniors, all from different walks of life, have blown their SATs. They're not going to get into the schools they (or their parents) want them to. Slowly these kids, who for the most part have nothing in common besides screwing up their college entrance exams, begin to bond as they plan and carry out a burglary of the building that has the SAT answers. They're going to cheat their way through a re-take.

They do the burglary, get the test answers--and then...Well, the ending's predictable as hell, but I don't want to spoil it for you.

You see, I want you to get a copy of this film. It's something every Blazers fan should have. Plus it's fun.

Is The Perfect Score a classic? A truly great piece of film art? Nope. It's just a fun movie--and a chance to see one of the Blazers using a talent besides putting a ball in a hoop.

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6:25:42 PM EST

The Blazers fought the Dallas Mavericks through overtime the last time they met up. Didn't get quite so far this time, but it was a real battle all the way. Yes, the Mavs pulled off the win, but damn, it's nice seeing the Blazers put forth a serious effort from start to finish.

Kudos to Zach Randolph and Steve Blake; they did it all, between scoring and assists and rebounds. Some nice work from Juan Dixon and--suprise, suprise!--Darius Miles as well.

"We gave ourselves a chance to win, but we just didn't execute," said Randolph. "We just couldn't finish." That's okay; the finishing will come.

Final score: 93-87, Dallas. Sure, it's a loss, but I'm impressed by the effort and guts.

Sidelines: Next game is at home against the Mavs again. Just a little more push, guys, and this game is doable.

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1:15:31 AM EST
Feeling Frustrated

Soooo...what? Do the TrailBlazers only find the energy to do it up proper against the Lakers? Does the old bitterness run so deep within the franchise that no matter how bad things get, the Blazers still make an effort to Beat LA?

Come on, that makes no sense. Most of the current TrailBlazers were still in junior high when LA beat Portland in the 2000 Western Conference Finals--when the fortunes of both franchises began to turn around. So why play so hard against the Lakers and so often lackadaisically against everybody else? These Blazers have no emotional stake in the old Portland/LA feud.

That vaguely disinterested play was on full display the other night against the Houston Rockets. Even after Tracy McGrady went out with yet another injury to his back, the Blazers didn't bother with this game--one that was easily winnable had they tried at all after halftime.

It was close that first half and most of the third quarter. Then Portland seemed to just give up, though only God knows why. Houston went on a 22-8 run, Portland didn't respond, and the Rockets extended their lead throughout the rest of the game.

Final score: 102-84. Hint, guys: Don't give up when you're only down six, okay? Wait til it's at least a dozen.

Sidelines: Next game is on Tuesday against the Dallas Mavericks in the American Airlines Arena in Dallas. The Mavs have lost a couple of times lately--to top teams like the Spurs and Suns. No way they lose at home to the Blazers.

Steve Blake scored a career-high twenty-three points.

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3:23:35 AM EST
Feeling Ecstatic

Finding an oasis of cool, pure water after walking in the desert for days must be Heaven. The only comparison I can think of is this: After another long losing streak, to beat the Los Angeles Lakers is ecstasy. To do it for a cheering Rose Garden crowd--19,000 of 'em!--is something beyond ecstasy.

It's been a hard month for the Blazers; 2-11 will take the spirit out of any team. But a win like this one--99-93, Portland--is just what they (and their fans) needed to make the world a little brighter. Have faith that this win over Kobe & Company will instill some drive into the team; they can win if they try.

Sidelines: Next game is Saturday in San Antonio against the Spurs. The Spurs managed to do tonight what has seldom been done this season: They beat the Dallas Mavericks. Kinda depressing, but realistically if they beat the Mavs, they'll definitely beat the Blazers. Televised on League Pass and KGW.

What is it about the Lakers that turns Steve Blake into All Star material? Man, in all three games against LA, Blake has come up huge. Portland may have shipped the self-proclaimed Kobe-stopper outta town (and not a minute too soon!), but Blake is still here--and still yanking Kobe's chain hard.

 

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12:40:25 PM EST
Feeling Happy

 

Let's face it: The TrailBlazers aren't making the Playoffs this season. Between young kids, the club's financial worries, sporadic effort and inner-team friction, this season is as done as it could be.

Now we start looking at the future--specifically, the lottery. (It hurts to even think "Blazers" and "lottery" in the same sentence.) Though it'd be nice to trade for a solid veteran or two, I still believe the core of this young team is a future Portland can build into a contender.

Still, hoping for a good lottery pick is iffy. Think: Darko. Think: Kwame. For every champ right out of the gate--LeBron, DWade--there's a bust. More often than either is a player who takes a couple years to get himself together on the pro level. Think: Kobe.

But Portland's desperate. The Blazers need a rookie who'll come in and make an immediate impact. The powers that be seem to have determined that rookie to be Adam Morrison from Gonzaga. The kid is all that and a bag of chips on the collegiate level--the Zags have been top-notch since John Stockton came out of the Jesuit school in '82.

Only one team (the Charlotte Bobcats) would choose before Portland if the lottery were held today. Whether they'd take Morrison is questionable; there are a couple other kids--Oden comes to mind immediately--who would suit their needs better. If the season continues as it is, Morrison may well be available with that second pick.

Seems odd to be pinning Portland's hopes on a college kid, but we've got to find hope somewhere, right?

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9:10:03 PM EST
Feeling Sad

The Kings have had their problems this season--many of them--but they're finally starting to get it together, at least at home. The Blazers, woeful as they are at home, are utterly helpless on the road. Together, those facts make for a bad night in Sacramento.

Most of the Blazers gave up by halftime. Some of them didn't bother to show up at all. They've been beaten down by their own incompetence, discouraged beyond hope of glory. Even Coach McMillan seems to have more or less given up on the season and the team.

Two who didn't give up were newbie Brian Skinner and Sebastian Telfair. Nice work from both. Skinner's just so thrilled to be playing, which he didn't get to do much in Sacramento, that he's putting out full energy every minute he's on the floor. Telfair, back from his two-game punishment for the gun on the plane, put up sixteen points and dished three assists during garbage time. The kid is really trying hard, and Coach McMillan's rewarding him with minutes and off-court props.

Final score: 115-91, Sacramento. Another slaughter.

"I don't want to make much of this game," Blazers coach Nate McMillan said. "We cannot come in here and have a few guys play hard and other guys not giving the effort."  Clue for ya, Coach: Nobody's giving a real effort; Telfair and Skinner were better than anybody else, but that ain't saying much.

That's six losses in a row now, and ten of the last eleven.

Sidelines: Next game is Wednesday at home against the LA Lakers. The season's been split so far, so we know the Lakers are beatable. Not laying wagers, by any means, but this is doable.

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11:51:56 AM EST
Feeling Chillin'
Hearing "On My Own"--Les Miz

 

The NBA has suspended Sebastian Telfair for two games for bringing a gun onto the team plane to Toronto. The cops have determined no illegal activity took place, but the Blazers have disciplined Telfair--and now the League gets its crack at him.

We're lucky it wasn't worse.

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5:08:12 AM EST
Feeling Anxious

 

Blazers' Enemy #1: their owner, Paul Allen

As though things weren't uncertain and unhappy enough with the TrailBlazers, owner Paul Allen chose now to add some more misery. Just what the team needs to make them play better: no sense of security that the team will even exist soon.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) -- Billionaire Paul Allen's spokesman said today the future of the Portland Trail Blazers is in doubt after his investment managers estimated the team stands to lose more than 100 (m) million dollars over the next three years. Lance Conn, who heads Vulcan Capital, Allen's investment firm, told The Associated Press in an interview that "all options are on the table" because "the economic model is broken." Allen has lost more than 12 (b) billion dollars on various investments in the past decade, and his team has been hemorrhaging money for much of that time. The Microsoft co-founder had to sell off his interest in the Rose Garden Arena, the home of the Blazers, after the company that ran it, Oregon Arena Corporation, declared bankruptcy. Conn told AP that Allen has decided it is time to cut his losses with the Trail Blazers -- or find a new way to finance the team.

All I can say to that is: What an asshole. You're a friggin' billionaire, buddy; get over it. The Malooves down in Sacramento aren't talking about cutting and running after a couple of bad seasons. Larry Miller in Salt Lake has barely a fraction of the money you've got, but he's held fast in his refusal to unload the Jazz--and they're struggling, to put it mildly.

The Portland TrailBlazers belong in Portland, no place else. Not now, not ever. There's a fine franchise history--remember Clyde the Glide and Bill Walton?--and a good future; just give it some time, like we all agreed was necessary. This is one sucky season, but things will change. Looks like the owner is the one guy who can't be as patient as we were told to be.

Feh. The owner disgusts me worse than the team right now.

Update: The NBA has taken on the burden of trying to thwart Allen's desire to move the Blazers out of Portland.

"It's our preference, our strong preference, to have the Blazers in Portland, in Oregon, playing at the Rose Garden and being able to be a financial success," David Stern said yesterday. Now, I've had many nasty things to say about Stern, that's for sure, but he's coming down on the side of the Right on this one.

Various schemes are being discussed: Turning the Blazers into a municipally-owned team, giving Allen luxury-cap breaks to bribe him into holding onto the team, and pay cuts for players and employees alike. No word yet on which one/s they're going to try first, but at least the League is looking out for the TrailBlazers. Somebody has to, since their owner isn't.

 

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4:02:17 AM EST
Feeling Hopeful

 

Reuben Patterson, the last of the JailBlazers--he who forced his kids' nanny to give him a blowjob and is now a registered sex offender--is gone from Portland. No loss.

Patterson was traded to the Denver Nuggets in exchange for Voshon Leonard. Charles Smith is gone there too.

Portland also got center Brian Skinner from the Sacramento Kings. (Looks like Nash & Co. are thinking ahead to a time when Joel Pryzbilla might bolt.) To get Skinner, the Blazers sent rookie Sergei Monia to the Kings.

"These moves provide our organization with some salary cap flexibility," said Nash. "While helping balance the roster, today's trade adds another big man and gives us a player who
is a proven shooter in this league."

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