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Damian Lillard's Real Deal A Real Success

Fri, 24 May 2013 14:02:00 -0700

Damian Lillard possesses various traits one needs to excel as he did during his rookie season, but none may be more vital to his success this season than his unflappability. Very infrequently was he unprepared or phased by whatever situation was thrown at him, from lining up opposite future Hall of Fame point guards Steve Nash, Russell Westbrook, Chris Paul and Tony Parker in the first two weeks of the season to leading the league in minutes played as a rookie.

Elhassan: The Three Best Fits For Portland In This Draft Are ...

Thu, 23 May 2013 14:43:00 -0700

ESPN.com Insider Amin Elhassan, who used to work in Phoenix's front office, put together a 2013 draft guide for the Trail Blazers, all of which is worth checking out. But the most interesting part is probably the three players from this draft who would be the best additions to the current roster ...

Paul Allen's Album Drops In August

Thu, 23 May 2013 10:51:00 -0700

I don't get much of my music news from the Portland Business Journal, but they come through today with news that team owner Paul Allen and his band, The Underthinkers, have a record entitled "Everywhere At Once" dropping in August.

Ford: Trading For Oladipo Won't Be Cheap

Wed, 22 May 2013 11:30:00 -0700

I've heard a number of Trail Blazers fans argue that the Trail Blazers should make Victor Oladipo their target in this year's draft. And with his combination of athleticism, defensive prowess and motor, it's not hard to see why. But according to Chad Ford at ESPN.com, moving up to acquire Oladipo might take more than you're willing to part with...

Bill Simmons Has A Trade Proposal For You

Wed, 22 May 2013 10:58:00 -0700

Grantland editor and ESPN television personality Bill Simmons spent part of his morning on Twitter concocting fake trades involving draft picks now that the order has been set. Simmons always likes to mix it up with Trail Blazers fans, so it figures he'd suggest a potential move featuring our most important player.

Options Abound With Tenth Pick

Tue, 21 May 2013 19:48:00 -0700

The Portland Trail Blazers were not able to beat tremendous odds to get either the first, second or third pick in the 2013 NBA Draft Lottery. But all is not lost. The 10th pick, even in a what many consider a weak draft, still has plenty of value, especially when considering that the current collective bargaining agreement forces teams to mind their cap space more carefully than ever before. Rookie contracts are typically considered to be the best bargains in the NBA -- for example, Pacer's third-year forward Paul George earned just over $2.5 million in 2012-13 -- so even if there's not a lot of all-star talent in this class, there's still the opportunity to get a quality rotation player at a heck of a price.

Transcript: Damian Lillard On 'Courtside' From The Draft Lottery

Tue, 21 May 2013 19:15:00 -0700

Damian Lillard joined Courtside from New York to discuss representing the Trail Blazers at the NBA Draft Lottery and Portland getting the 10th pick. Lillard talked about the experience, how he doesn't consider himself the "face of the franchise" and which players he likes in this year's draft class.

VIDEO: Damian Lillard On BET's '106 & Park'

Tue, 21 May 2013 09:49:00 -0700

Damian Lillard is in New York to represent the Trail Blazers at the Draft Lottery (5:30 PM on ESPN), but he's getting in a few other pieces of business as well, like showing up on BET's "106 & Park" to talk basketball and give away some Adidas CrazyQuicks to at least one caller with a very tenuous grasp on Portland's roster.

Ford: If the Blazers won the first, second or third pick they would select ...

Mon, 20 May 2013 15:34:00 -0700

Some interesting speculation on the part of ESPN.com's Chad Ford on the eve of the NBA Draft Lottery. Ford goes through each lottery team and makes his best guesses as to who each team would take should they end up with the first, second or third pick in this year's draft. And when it comes to the Trail Blazers, Ford wonders if Portland's recent history with top picks, specifically big men with injury issues, would enter into the decision. According to Ford, it would ...

VIDEO: Damian Lillard On NBA Rooks: Looking Back, Moving Forward

Fri, 17 May 2013 15:15:00 -0700

Some great behind-the-scenes footage from Damian Lillard's Rookie of the Year press conference in this short "NBA Rooks" clip from the NBA. I love Damian's mom saying she expected him to win Rookie of the Year because that's what he told her he would do when he was 12. Moms don't forget.

Quick: Blazers To Meet With Georgia Guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope

Fri, 17 May 2013 12:17:00 -0700

It's Day Two at the NBA Combine in Chicago, and we learn from The Oregonian's Jason Quick that the Trail Blazers, after conducting interviews yesterday with UCLA's Shabazz Muhammad, Indiana's Cody Zeller, Syracuse's Michael Carter-Williams and San Diego State's Jamaal Franklin, will interview Georgia shooting guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.

Adidas Releases Limited-Edition Damian Lillard 'Real Deal'

Fri, 17 May 2013 09:08:00 -0700

So it's fitting that adidas, to celebrate his 2012-13 Rookie of the Year season, has released a limited-edition "player exclusive" of yet another shoe, the adidas Real Deal. The shoe incorporates various elements that pay homage to Lillard's past and present.

Quick: Trail Blazers Might Trade Pick

Thu, 16 May 2013 17:58:00 -0700

An interesting tidbit from The Oregonian's Jason Quick in his story about the first day at the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago. According to Quick, the Trail Blazers might be looking for a team willing to trade for what is projected to be the 10th pick.

Blazers Interview Syracuse's Michael Carter-Williams At Draft Combine

Thu, 16 May 2013 15:02:00 -0700

Portland's front office staff have been busy during the first day of the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago. They've interviewed Shabazz Muhammad and Cody Zeller and now we hear from Jason Quick that they've also interviewed Syracuse guard Michael Carter-Williams.

Video/Transcript: Shabazz Muhammad Talks About Interview With Portland

Thu, 16 May 2013 10:49:00 -0700

UCLA guard/forward Shabazz Muhammad discusses his interview with the Portland Trail Blazers at the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago. Some of his comments specific to his interview with the Blazers ...

Haynes: Blazers Interview Indiana C/PF Cody Zeller

Thu, 16 May 2013 09:40:00 -0700

More NBA Combine news via Chris Haynes at CSNNW.com, who follows up this report this morning about the Trail Blazers interviewing UCLA's Shabazz Muhammad with another name: Indiana big man Cody Zeller.

Haynes: Blazers Interview Shabazz Muhammad

Thu, 16 May 2013 08:49:00 -0700

The Draft Combine starts today in Chicago, during which draft eligible players will be measured, drilled and interviewed by front office staff. And according to Chris Haynes at CSNNW.com, the Trail Blazers have already conducted at least one interview ...

Mannix: Alex Len At No. 10

Wed, 15 May 2013 11:13:00 -0700

Chris Mannix over at SI.com has posted his final NBA Draft "big board," which will morph into a mock draft after the draft order is decided on Tuesday. I'm not entirely sure what the difference is, at least if you prescribe to the notion that teams, especially teams selecting in the lottery, go with the best player available, though I guess a mock draft does take into

Tibbetts Follows Trend In Portland Coaching Hires

Tue, 14 May 2013 16:34:00 -0700

The Trail Blazers wasted no time hiring a new assistant to replace Kaleb Canales, who parted with the team last week to join Rick Carlise's staff in Dallas. Today, the team has announced that Nate Tibbetts, who most recently spent time as an assistant in Cleveland, will join the Trail Blazers as an assistant.

VIDEO: Damian Lillard Behind The Scenes At adidas #QuickAintFair Shoot

Tue, 14 May 2013 09:24:00 -0700

Some behind-the-scenes footage from the "Quick Ain't Fair" TV spot courtesy of our friends at adidas. Damian Lillard handles most of the narration as you see how the spot featuring Lillard, John Wall, Jrue Holiday and rapper A$AP Rocky was put together.

Season In Review: Damian Lillard

Mon, 13 May 2013 16:37:00 -0700

There's not much more that can be said when it comes to Damian Lillard's rookie season. So rather than reading what I have to say about Lillard's 2012-13 campaign, I thought it might be nice to look back on what Lillard, his teammates and coaches, along with opposing players and coaches, had to say about some of his most impressive performances.

VIDEO: A$AP Rocky's Rookie Of The Year Verse For Damian Lillard and #QuickAintFair

Fri, 10 May 2013 15:13:00 -0700

The fine folks at adidas basketball have released a video short for the "Quick Ain't Fair" campaign to celebrate Damian Lillard winning Rookie of the Year. Rapper A$AP Rocky delivers the following verse:

VIDEO: Brian Grant Scales Mount St. Helens

Fri, 10 May 2013 09:10:00 -0700

A truly great video from Brian Grant's "Powering Forward" campaign to fund Parkinson's research. Grant, one of the all-time most beloved Trail Blazers, and five other people with Parkinson's climb Mount St. Helens together. Beautiful visuals to go along with a beautiful story. And a reminder that Grant's annual "Shake It Til We Make It" gala is on July 27 at the Portland Art Museum and I hear the guest list this year is quite distinguished.

VIDEO: Damian Lillard On Inside The NBA

Wed, 08 May 2013 23:24:00 -0700

Damian Lillard really put work in on his trip to Atlanta. First, he was on Game Time on NBA TV, then he finished the night off by joining Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Shaquille O'Neil and Kenny Smith on Inside The NBA on TNT. Damian talks about growing up in Oakland and how it shaped his approach to the game, the benefits of playing at Weber State, being accepted by his teammates and which NBA point guard is the toughest to cover.

Chad Ford's Mock Draft 2.0 Has Portland Taking ...

Wed, 08 May 2013 09:59:00 -0700

ESPN.com's NBA Draft guru Chad Ford has released the second version of his 2013 Mock Draft. And with the 10th pick, Ford has the Portland Trail Blazers selecting ...

Season In Review: Wesley Matthews

Tue, 07 May 2013 10:19:00 -0700

2012-13 will go down as the season in which the inevitable finally caught up with Wesley Matthews. After playing through various injuries throughout the course of his NBA career, injuries that would have sidelined most of his contemporaries, Matthews finally had to relinquish his consecutive games played streak at 250 after a hip flexor caused him to miss the Dec. 10 game against the Toronto Raptors. It was the first time since his freshman year at Marquette that he missed a game, ending a streak spanning 364 games in which Matthews suited up and played for his respective team.

Video: Damain Lillard On Courtside

Tue, 07 May 2013 09:13:00 -0700

Damian Lillard, the 2012-13 NBA Rookie of the Year, joined Brian Wheeler and Antonio Harvey via phone on this week's edition of Trail Blazers Courtside. Lillard talked about winning the award and the reaction of his family and friends, what activities he enjoys doing in the offseason, where Kobe Bryant and Lebron James rank among the all-time greats and his plans to watch the Las Vegas Summer League.

Video: Damian Lillard Top 10 Plays

Thu, 02 May 2013 10:52:00 -0700

The NBA put together a package of Damian Lillard's top plays to celebrate his unanimous selection as the 2012-13 NBA Rookie of the Year. It's a good mix, though I feel like they missed a few and went a bit heavy on the layups. You guys think they missed anything?

Lillard: Efficiency Isn't Everything

Wed, 01 May 2013 19:22:00 -0700

There was little doubt, if any, that Damian Lillard would win Rookie of the Year, but whether he would join Ralph Sampson, David Robinson and Blake Griffin as the only rookies to win the award unanimously was still up for debate.

Damian Lillard Unanimously Selected As 2012-13 NBA Rookie Of The Year

Wed, 01 May 2013 16:07:00 -0700

Lillard wins Rookie of the Year after sweeping the Kia Rookie of the Month awards this season, joining Blake Griffin, Chris Paul, Lebron James, Carmelo Anthony, Tim Duncan, David Robinson and Ralph Sampson as the only players in NBA history to do the same. Lillard joins Brandon Roy (2007) Sydney Wicks (1972) and Geoff Petrie (1971) as Trail Blazers to win Rookie of the Year honors. Lillard is just the fourth rookie to win the award unanimously.

Kostas Papanikolaou Named 'Rising Star' Of Euroleague

Wed, 01 May 2013 13:35:00 -0700

News out of Europe today that Kostas Papanikolaou, whose rights the Trail Blazers acquired in the deal that sent Raymond Felton and Kurt Thomas to the Knicks, has been named the Euroleague's Rising Star Trophy winner for the 2012-13 season. The award goes every year to the best player under the age of 22 competing on a Euroleague team. Papanikolaou narrowly beat out Nikola Mirotic, the 23rd pick in the 2011 Draft, for the award. From the press release ...

Season In Review: JJ Hickson

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 11:06:00 -0700

"The great players in this league are consistent," said Hickson. "Watching LA, watching Dame, watching guys like Wes play hard every single night and do what they're known for every single night, I think that's what makes players special in this league. And I think I took a step closer this season at becoming that much better by being consistent."

VIDEO: Damian Lillard In adidas '#QuickAintFair' Spot

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 07:33:00 -0700

The folks over at adidas released a television spot today featuring point guards John Wall, Jrue Holiday and our very own Damian Lillard for the Quick Ain't Fair campaign to promote the new adidas Crazyquick. With rapper A$AP Rocky providing the voice over, the ad features Lillard, Wall and Holiday in a dimly lit gym breaking out all kinds dribbling tricks and athletic finishes at the rim. Lillard, decked out in Trail Blazers colors of adidas's camo adizero shorts that debuted during this year's NCAA Tournament, gets a ton of camera time and is referred to as "the Rookie Of The Year" in the ad, though that award has yet to be announced ...

Lineups Of The Year

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 15:17:00 -0700

In breaking these down, we will choose the best line-ups based on their offensive and defensive efficiencies, which is the amount of points scored (offensive) or given up (defensive) per 100 possessions, how they shot (effective field goal percentage, or eFG% for short, which is weighted for the value of the three-point shot) and how much the line-ups were used. Only seven five-man line-ups logged over a game's worth of minutes so we're going to be a little more lenient with regards to sample size on that. So, without further ado…

Season In Review: Nicolas Batum

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 08:53:00 -0700

"We're going to learn from our mistakes. This year was a good year for everybody because you've got a guy like Damian who learned a lot. We all know what he's done this year, scoring-wise, but he learned a lot about the game, how to lead a team … I'm excited for next year."

Wojnarowski: Cavs have 'fantasy' of trading for LaMarcus Aldridge

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 08:15:00 -0700

The Cleveland Cavaliers re-hiring Mike Brown to be head coach of the team has renewed discussion about whether Lebron James would consider a return to the team who drafted him when his player option comes up in 2014. The theory is that Lebron, bolstered by winning a few titles in Miami, would return as a free agent to his native Ohio to do what he couldn't during his first seven years in the league: win a championship with the Cavaliers.

VIDEO: Burgerville's 'Meet The Rookies' Event

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 17:15:00 -0700

There are all kinds of experiences rookies go through their first season in the NBA. Nothing can prepare you for the rigors of an NBA season, from fighting for position against grown men to playing four games in five nights, so the only way to truly learn what it's like is to go through the experience.

VIDEO: Aldridge, Batum And Lillard Make NBA's 'Top 10 Game-Winners' List

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 10:14:00 -0700

The Portland Trail Blazers played in a lot of close games this season, particularly early in the year, so it makes sense for last one of our plays to show up in the NBA's Top 10 Game-Winners of the 2012-13 Regular Season highlight package. But for one team to have a third of the Top 10 shows just how prolific the 2012-13 Trail Blazers were when it came to late-game heroics.

Video/Transcript: Nicolas Batum Exit Interview

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 17:36:00 -0700

That was an interesting season for the team and for myself. What happened last summer, we changed the team, the coaching staff, new players, everything. So that was an interesting season. Like I said last night, people don't really expect something from us this year because we've got a young team. That was kind of new. If you don't count the last 13 games when we were out of playoffs already, what we showed before that, we showed some great thing. I'm really excited for the future. Last year we had a bad season, but we knew it wouldn't be the same team next year. But we showed this year we do some mistakes, we lost bad games and we won good games, too. That's exciting for next year because I don't think the mistakes we made this year will be the same mistakes next year.

Video/Transcript: Damian Lillard Exit Interview

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 16:57:00 -0700

It's been a lot of fun for me, especially with the opportunity that they gave me right from the jump. From the beginning it was a learning process. They threw me into the fire and gave me a chance to make mistakes and they gave me a lot of freedom, so that made it easier on my part. I think I did a good job coming in, doing what I wanted to do. I just wanted to try to thane an impact of the team and I thought I did.

Infographic: Damian Lillard Sets The Franchise Record For 3-Pointers

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 23:20:00 -0700

Damian Lillard surpassed Damon Stoudamire for most 3-pointers made in a season in franchise history during Tuesday night's loss to the Clippers in Los Angeles. He netted two more triples in the season-ending loss to the Warriors at the Rose Garden, bringing his total and the new franchise record to 183. The infographic above breaks down some of the numbers behind Damian's accomplishment.

Infographic: Warriors 99, Trail Blazers 88

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 22:58:00 -0700

Here's your final game recap infographic from the 2012-13 season. Despite finishing the season on a 13-game losing streak, head coach Terry Stotts said he was pleased with the effort his team gave to end the season. Last game, I wanted our team to play hard," said Stotts. "Our fans have been great all season. I told the team before the game -- it was important for us to play hard. Win or lose, play hard because I really have grown to appreciate the fans here. I'm not just saying that, I have a big appreciation of what the fans of Portland mean for the team."

Lowe: Damian Lillard Should Win Rookie Of The Year

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 09:44:00 -0700

With the end of the regular season almost upon us, the NBA media have started rolling out their predictions/cases for end of season awards, including, of course, Rookie of the Year. Yesterday, both Marc Stein of ESPN and David Aldridge of NBA.com went on the record to state that Damian Lillard should and will win Rookie of the Year honors (Stein even said Lillard should be a unanimous selection). Ben Golliver at SI.com did the same this morning, laying out a more analytical case for Lillard.

VIDEO: Damian Lillard Phantom Camera Highlights

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 09:10:00 -0700

Damian Lillard gets the high-speed, slo-mo Phantom camera treatment in this highlight package put together by the NBA. It's a fantastic reel. My only complaint: not a single one of the highlights is taken from a game at the Rose Garden.

Infographic: Nuggets 118, Trail Blazers 109

Sun, 14 Apr 2013 17:41:00 -0700

Here's the infographic from Sunday afternoon's 119-109 loss to the Nuggets in Denver. This one followed a similar story: Trail Blazers fall behind early, rally furiously in the second half, only to fall just a bit short by the final whistle. Congrats to Damian Lillard for tying the franchise record for three-pointers made in a season, a mark he'll surely own outright by the end of Tuesday night's game against the Clipper in Los Angeles.

Neil Olshey Looks For Draft Talent At Portsmouth Invitational

Sun, 14 Apr 2013 10:03:00 -0700

Trail Blazers general manager Neil Olshey has been in Virginia the past few days at the Portsmouth Invitational, a pre-draft tournament that offers college seniors a chance to be seen by NBA front office decision makers. Portsmouth is usually draws second-rounders to undrafted guys hoping to make a summer league roster, though players such as Wesley Matthews, Jeremy Lin, Carl Landry and Jimmy Butler all played at the event, so there's starting-caliber NBA talent to be found. Attendance has at the event has waned a bit recently, but it's still a valuable opportunity for NBA staffs looking for value later in the draft.

Infographic: Thunder 106, Trail Blazers 90

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 22:32:00 -0700

Here is the infographic from Friday night's loss to the Thunder at the Rose Garden. I doubt there's been a team in the shot clock era that has won a game after scoring just seven points in a quarter. The Trail Blazers have just three games left to get off what is currently a ten-game losing streak. Next up, the Nuggets in Denver on Sunday ...

Thorpe: Damian Lillard Should Study Andre Miller

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 10:01:00 -0700

Today, ESPN.com's David Thorpe releases his list of which veteran players individuals from the 2013-13 rookie class should try to emulate. In regards to Trail Blazers rookie Damian Lillard, Thorpe suggests he pay attention to another point guard from California who also played his college ball in Utah, former Trail Blazer Andre Miller.

Damian Lillard on The Dan Patrick Show: 'Kobe, I just need you to miss one.'

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 10:39:00 -0700

Damian Lillard, despite playing 43 minutes in a loss to the Lakers last night, woke up early this morning for an interview on The Dan Patrick Show. It's your standard Damian Lillard rookie interview, though Dame did tell one story I hadn't yet heard. When Patrick asked Lillard about his "welcome to the league" moment, Lillard recalled a moment during the 111-107 loss to the Lakers in Los Angeles on February 22. Take it away Dame ...

Infographic: Lakers 113, Trail Blazers 106

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 22:38:00 -0700

Here's the infographic from Wednesday night's loss to the Lakers at the Rose Garden. While there were far too many Laker fans in the house and a victory sure would have been nice, it's hard to leave feeling angry after seeing one of the all-time greats in Kobe Bryant (47 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists) and one of the up-and-comers in Damian Lillard (38 points, 9 assists, 3 steals) go blow-for-blow for 48 minutes.

Meyers Leonard Gets A Puppy, Plans Vacations

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 15:42:00 -0700

In his final "NBA Rooks" blog post of the season on NBA.com, Meyers Leonard discusses a host of topics near and dear to the hearts of Portlanders. First, there's puppy acquisition ... I got a dog! She’s a Siberian Husky, and I named her Bella. There is no real significance to the name Bella, just had a nice ring to it. I got her about three days ago from a breeder in Bend, Oregon. I have always wanted a Husky, and now I’m lying right next to one! So far it’s going well.

Practice Report: Matthews Out, Barton In

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 13:52:00 -0700

The Portland Trail Blazers returned to practice on Tuesday in preparation for Wednesday night's game against the Lakers at the Rose Garden. Or at least some Trail Blazers did …

Chad Ford's First Mock Draft Has Portland Taking ...

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 10:04:00 -0700

Ford even factored team need into his selections, which add another level of difficulty to the exercise considering no one is really sure what those needs may be come June. But you've got to start somewhere. So with the No. 12 pick in the 2013 NBA Draft (Ford also has to assume the Trail Blazers end up with their pick), Chad Ford has the Portland Trail Blazers selecting ...

Infographic: Damian Lillard's Impressive Month Of March

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 10:59:00 -0700

It's a few days old, but thought I'd post this infographic I put together for Damian Lillard's fifth-straight Kia Western Conference Rookie of the Month award for March. Lillard trailed off a little at the end of March and still had his best month of the season.

Infographic: Mavericks 96, Trail Blazers 91

Sun, 07 Apr 2013 21:26:00 -0700

Here is the infographic from Sunday night's loss to the Mavericks. This one is heavy on the Will Barton, as you might expect if you were able to make it through the first half without turning off the television. Will became the first NBA rookie with 22 points, 13 rebounds, six assists and three steals since Grant Hill (who was a rookie in March of 1995 ... when I was 14), and first Blazers reserve to put up those numbers off the bench since Cliff Robinson in January 1993 (when I was 13). He's also the only rookie this season to record at least 20 points, 13 rebounds and four assists in a game. So, it wasn't all bad.

Infographic: Rockets 116, Trail Blazers 98

Fri, 05 Apr 2013 23:13:00 -0700

Here's the infographic from Portland's 116-98 loss to the Rockets Friday night at the Rose Garden. Even with the return of LaMarcus Aldridge, who turned in a superb effort with 32 points, 13 rebounds, the Trail Blazers weren't able to keep from dropping their seventh-straight. With the loss, the Trail Blazers are now mathematically eliminated from playoff contention.

Elhassan: J.J. Redick A Good Free Agent Fit For Portland

Fri, 05 Apr 2013 11:04:00 -0700

ESPN.com Insider and former NBA scout Amin Elhassan has been writing lately about the 2013 free agent class and today he looks at five "perfect free agent fits." He only has two criteria: that the player fit in with the current team's personnel and style of play and that the "perfect fit" team has the cap space to feasibly acquire said player. With that criteria, Elhassan writes that Bucks guard J.J. Redick would be a perfect fit for the Trail Blazers:

LaMarcus Aldridge: 'I was hurt and now I feel healthy again, so I'm going to play'

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 14:51:00 -0700

Some good news out of practice today: After missing the last four games with a sprained right ankle, LaMarcus Aldridge says he will play Friday night against the Rockets after going through a light practice with the team on Thursday. "I'm doing my job," said Aldridge when asked about the possibility of sitting out the rest of the season. "I was hurt and now i feel healthy again, so I'm going to play."

Bid On Damian Lillard's 'Rising Stars Challenge' Jersey

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 10:29:00 -0700

If you're looking for a way to represent Damian Lillard to the fullest and have at least a couple grand to spend, consider bidding on Lillard's game-worn jersey from the 2013 "Rising Stars Challenge" game at All-Star Weekend in Houston. Lillard, who was the first pick in the "Rising Stars Challenge" draft, finished the game with 18 points, 5 assists and 3 rebounds.

Infographic: Grizzlies 94, Trail Blazers 76

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 22:13:00 -0700

Here is the infographic from Wednesday night's loss to the Grizzlies at the Rose Garden. Obviously a win would be nice, but I like what I saw from the rookies, especially in the second quarter. There's still progress to be made, even if the playoffs are out of reach.

No Aldridge or Batum Versus Memphis

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 11:55:00 -0700

Word out of today's shootaround that neither LaMarcus Aldridge (ankle) or Nicolas Batum (right arm) will play tonight against the Memphis Grizzlies. Aldridge hasn't played in the last three games, so his scratch isn't unexpected. On the other hand, Batum's injury is a new development.

Lowe: Meyers Leonard Improving With Minutes

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 10:56:00 -0700

A bit of praise for rookie big man Meyers Leonard today in Zach Lowe's weekly column on Grantland. Leonard's slip screens, along with his generally improved play on the offensive side of the ball, make Lowe's weekly "10 Things I Like And Don't Like" list.

Damian Lillard Gets Three-Point Record The Hard Way

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 17:41:00 -0700

The next 3-pointer that Damian Lillard makes will give him 167 3-pointers on the season, which will break the record for 3-point makes in a season by a rookie, a mark set by Golden State's Stephen Curry during the 2009-10 season. Lillard wasn't known for being a long-range shooter coming out of college (he shot a respectable 41 percent from the 3 during his final season at Weber State) unlike Curry and the owner of the rookie record before him, former Trail Blazer Rudy Fernandez, so it's a bit surprising to see Lillard set the mark.

Infographic: Jazz 105, Trail Blazers 95

Fri, 29 Mar 2013 22:35:00 -0700

Here's the infographic from tonight's loss to the Jazz at the Rose Garden. It was a disappointing loss in and of itself, but add in the playoff implications, along with the news that LaMarcus Aldridge (ankle) will not accompany the team on the upcoming road trip starting Saturday against the Warriors, gives this one a different feel.

Thorpe: Lillard Can Improve In Transition

Fri, 29 Mar 2013 10:52:00 -0700

In today's "NBA Rookie Watch" on ESPN.com, David Thorpe focuses on what rookies Anthony Davis and Damian Lillard should try to improve upon during the final games of their first seasons. Thorpe notes that it's difficult to point out faults in Lillard's game considering how great he's been and how well he's transitioned from Weber State to the NBA, but still manages to find an area of concern. Thorpe's advice to Dame? Be more judicious with your shots in transition.

Wear Rip City: Lillard's miadidas, Leonard's White Foams

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 16:22:00 -0700

Two pieces of Trail Blazers sneaker news -- one on court and one off court -- for you to consider while you wait for tonight's nationally-televised game against the Brooklyn Nets here at the Rose Garden.

VIDEO: Nicolas Batum's Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 14:07:00 -0700

I remember early in the season when Nicolas Batum was shooting the vignette above entitled "Don't Worry, Be Happy" but I don't think anyone ever posted the video. It was produced by One Million Dollar Films, which is some collection of liked-minded athletes getting together to make movies (including French NBA players Ronnie Turiaf, Boris Diaw and Ian Mahinmi), at least that's what I gather.

LaMarcus Aldridge: 'Twitter Is Where You Hear About Everything' And Other Notes

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 17:20:00 -0700

The recently-completed five-game road trip was one of the most uneventful trips I've been on with the team. Usually there are at least a few random happenings that make for an interesting blog post, but these guys were strictly business during the seven-day, five-city swing that started in Philadelphia and ended in Oklahoma City.

Infographic: Five Games In Seven Nights

Sun, 24 Mar 2013 21:06:00 -0700

On March 27, the Portland Trail Blazers embarked on a five-game road trip -- which included two back-to-backs -- with stops in Philadelphia, Milwaukee, Chicago, Atlanta and Oklahoma City.

Infographic: Trail Blazers 104, Hawks 93

Fri, 22 Mar 2013 21:17:00 -0700

Here's the infographic from tonight's 104-93 win against the Hawks in Atlanta. You would expect that, if a team is going to win back-to-back games in a four-games-in-five-nights stretch, they'd get those wins on the front end. But as they've shown all season, there's no figuring this team out. That's perfectly fine by me.

Motivation Meets Desperation On The Road In Chicago

Fri, 22 Mar 2013 15:14:00 -0700

Luckily, nearly every Trail Blazer who saw time in Thursday night's 99-89 victory against the Bulls had a little something extra to play for, which might have contributed, at least in small part, to one of Portland's most impressive all-around performances this season.

Infographic: Trail Blazers 99, Bulls 89

Thu, 21 Mar 2013 21:40:00 -0700

Here is the infographic from tonight's 99-89 victory versus the Bulls in Chicago. I don't know what it is about the Windy City that brings out the best in the Trail Blazers, but whatever it is, I wish it would carryover to the rest of this road trip. Portland now has 10 road wins on the season, which a chance to get another Friday night in Atlanta.

Trail Blazers Talk NCAA Tournament Teams

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 16:20:00 -0700

The Trail Blazers have eight players and one coach who went to schools competing in the upcoming NCAA Tournament. Here's what they had to say about their respective alma maters prospects in the tournament.

Infographic: 76ers 101, Trail Blazers 100

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 19:50:00 -0700

Here's the infographic from Monday night's loss to the Sixers in Philadelphia. If LaMarcus Aldridge's shot takes a fortuitous bounce, we're talking about a great start to a crucial five-game road trip. But when LA's shot over Spencer Hawes rimmed out, the focus turned to Tuesday night's game against the Bucks in Milwaukee.

Infographic: Trail Blazers 112, Pistons 101

Sat, 16 Mar 2013 22:35:00 -0700

The Portland Trail Blazers get a little payback for an early-season loss to the Pistons in Detroit with a 112-101 victory Saturday night at the Rose Garden. Now the team heads out on a five road trip that features two back-to-backs and a visit to Oklahoma City to take on the Thunder.

Infographic: Trail Blazers 105, Knicks 90

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 23:30:00 -0700

A fun night at the Rose Garden, at least after the first quarter. The Knicks, playing without Carmelo Anthony, Tyson Chandler and Amar'e Stoudemire, looked as though they might run the Trail Blazers out of their own building, but playing on the second night of a back-to-back and missing a bunch of key pieces eventually caught up to the visitors. That, and Damian Lillard.

Thorpe: Lillard The Best 22-year-old Rookie

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 11:18:00 -0700

ESPN.com's David Thorpe has been ranking the 2012-13 rookies by age group. Today, he turns his attention to the older side of the rookie demographic: 22-year-olds. And when it comes to 22-year-old rookies, there's no question whose got that No. 1 spot ...

Damian Lillard's adidas/Champs Sports Commercial

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 15:55:00 -0700

After the event, Lillard exited the Rose Garden through the loading dock, as he's done after every home game this season. But instead of heading home, Lillard wondered through the bowels of the Memorial Coliseum, former home of the Trail Blazers, until he was led into a large concrete-floored room that would serve as the set for Adidas Originals and Champs Sports commercial, a short clip of which you can see.

Infographic: Grizzlies 102, Trail Blazers 97

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 22:26:00 -0700

If you didn't like the way last Wednesday's game ended in Memphis, probably felt the same way about Tuesday night's 102-97 loss to the Grizzlies at the Rose Garden. LaMarcus Aldridge turned in a great all-around effort (28 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 blocks and a steal) after a rough start and Damian Lillard turned it on in the second half to finish with 27 points, 7 assists, but the rest of the starting lineup combined for 20 points on 6 of 25 shooting.

SLAM Profile Of Damian Lillard

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 10:28:00 -0700

East Coast basketball magazines love Damian Lillard. After being on the cover of Dime Magazine a few weeks ago, Lillard get she profile treatment in the newest edition of SLAM:

VIDEO: LaMarcus Aldridge "Help Maurice" Footlocker Spot

Mon, 11 Mar 2013 17:05:00 -0700

I'm not really sure how to describe what "Help Maurice" is, so I'm just going to offer up this video of LaMarcus Aldridge receiving fake room service without comment.

Wear Rip City: Meyers Switches It Up

Mon, 11 Mar 2013 16:50:00 -0700

While Meyers Leonard has wore numerous colorways of the Nike Hyperfuse this season, including the "Area 72" and "Black History Month" editions, but he's always stayed with the Hyperfuse. Sounds like that might be changing, as he posted the following picture of three pairs of Kevin Durant's signature shoe, the Nike KD 5, on his Instagram account Monday afternoon with the caption ...

Infographic: Trail Blazers 136, Spurs 106

Fri, 08 Mar 2013 21:16:00 -0800

Here's the infographic from Portland's 136-106 victory against the Spurs in San Antonio Friday night. With the win, the Trail Blazers take the season series 2-1 from the Spurs. The Trail Blazers wrap up a three-game trip Sunday in New Orleans against the Hornets.

Pelton: Trail Blazers Likely To Keep 2013 First Round Pick

Fri, 08 Mar 2013 11:41:00 -0800

Today Kevin Pelton, in his first SportsNation chat since joining ESPN.com full-time, answered a question about the likelihood that pick gets sent to Charlotte for the 2013 Draft. The nightmare scenario this season, at least according to some, is Portland both missing the playoffs AND having to send their pick to Charlotte. But according to Pelton, that's not so likely.

VIDEO: Behind The Scenes At Damian Lillard's Dime Cover Shoot

Wed, 06 Mar 2013 14:22:00 -0800

But while there are many things all players share, there are a smaller number of experiences which are reserved for the NBA's elite. The NBA Finals, the All-Star Game, national commercial appearances, seven-figure sneaker endorsement deals. And just a month into his professional career, Trail Blazers point guard Damian Lillard got his first taste of what it's like to be at least a fledgling member of the NBA' s glitterati when he participated in his first national magazine cover shoot for Dime Magazine.

Infographic: Trail Blazers 122, Bobcats 105

Mon, 04 Mar 2013 22:42:00 -0800

Two easy victories is a nice way to finish off a homestand before heading out on the road, and the Trail Blazers do just that tomorrow. LaMarcus Aldridge led all scorers with 23 and seven Trail Blazers finished the night in double figures. A rare easy win for the home team.

Goldsberry: LaMarcus Aldridge One Of The League's Best Defenders At The Rim

Mon, 04 Mar 2013 13:27:00 -0800

Over the weekend, the 7th annual MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference took place in Boston, Massachusetts. Although it is concerned with all sports and not just the games themselves, but the business aspect as well, it's decidedly an NBA-centric event. Houston General Manager Daryl Morey co-founded the event in 2006 and was one of the featured guest speakers as well as Indiana GM Kevin Pritchard, San Antonio GM R.C. Buford, Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban and deputy commissioner Adam Silver.

VIDEO: Brandon Roy Returns To The Rose Garden

Sat, 02 Mar 2013 18:43:00 -0800

Current Timberwolves guard and former Trail Blazer Brandon Roy takes questions from the media on his first trip back to the Rose Garden prior to Saturday night's game against Minnesota.

Adande: Brandon Roy 'Excited To Go Back' To The Rose Garden

Fri, 01 Mar 2013 10:52:00 -0800

As you might have heard, former Trail Blazer and current Timberwolves guard Brandon Roy is going to be in attendance for Saturday night's game at the Rose Garden. He hasn't played since November and will not do so Saturday against the Trail Blazers, but he will sit behind the Timberwolves bench, something he's very much looking forward to, according to ESPN.com's JA Adande: “I’m excited to go back,” Roy said after the Timberwolves lost to the Lakers in Los Angeles Thursday night. “I don’t quite know how I’ll feel. I’m excited to go back and be in that building again. It was special. I had a lot of special moments there.”

Infographic: Nuggets 111, Trail Blazers 109

Wed, 27 Feb 2013 23:43:00 -0800

(Click above for larger image)
Infographic from Wednesday night's loss to the Denver Nuggets

Thomsen: Aldridge Emerging As A Leader

Wed, 27 Feb 2013 17:11:00 -0800

Ian Thomsen at SI.com (one of my favorite NBA scribes, by the way) has a piece out today about the growth of LaMarcus Aldridge both as a player and as a leader. Aldridge isn't going to be the kind of know-it-all leader who lectures his younger teammates. "He's a quiet leader who does what he's supposed to do when he's supposed to do it," Stotts said. "When things are going the wrong way, we go to him. I don't even have to call the plays. They know if the other team has scored two or three times in a row, or if we haven't scored two or three times in a row, they're going to call a play that's designed to get LaMarcus the ball."

Audio: Terry Stotts Talks Analytics On ESPN The Mag Podcast

Wed, 27 Feb 2013 16:01:00 -0800

"I think coaches are open to analytics, and like I said, most coaches like to have information and it's a question of how they use it. But what cannot be lost in the message is the passion. Basketball is an emotional sport; you play it with passion and desire and heart and you don't want to get bogged down in analytics at the expense of some of those intangibles of playing the game."

VIDEO: Eric Maynor On TrueHoop TV

Wed, 27 Feb 2013 11:14:00 -0800

Newest Trail Blazer Eric Maynor talks with ESPN.com's Kevin Arnovitz about being traded to Portland, what Sam Presti, Oklahoma City's general manager, said to him after the trade, not having to wear a knee brace anymore, his role as a Trail Blazer, running the flex offfense and Russell Westbrook. Give it a watch.

VIDEO: Rookie Roundtable With Damian Lillard

Fri, 22 Feb 2013 11:16:00 -0800

At All-Star Weekend, rookies Damian Lillard, Tyler Zeller, Andre Drummond and Bradley Beal to discuss their season thus far. Lillard talks about being invited to All-Star Weekend, playing against Kobe Bryant, the length and athleticism in the NBA and what he hopes people say about him in 15 years. Give it a watch.

Tips On Winning Lillard's miadidas Contest

Thu, 21 Feb 2013 09:35:00 -0800

You're probably already aware that Damian Lillard is giving you the opportunity to design and win a pair of adidas Rose 3.5 that he'll wear in an upcoming game. Go to miadidas, choose from the customization options available for the Rose 3.5, "share" your design by at-replying @Dame_Lillard and @adidashoops with the hashtag #LillardKicks on Twitter, then cross your fingers that you've just created one of the two versions that Damian will wear. If he selects your design you'll also receive the same pair.

Infographic: Suns 102, Trail Blazes 98

Tue, 19 Feb 2013 22:24:00 -0800

Infographic from Tuesday night's 102-98 loss to the Suns at the Rose Garden. Trail Blazers are now tied with the Lakers, who they play in Los Angeles on Friday, for the ninth spot in the Western Conference.

Brenner: Trail Blazers 'All-In" On Statistical Analysis

Tue, 19 Feb 2013 15:35:00 -0800

Jordan Brenner of ESPN The Magazine released an all-access piece on the Trail Blazers use of advanced statistics. The piece profiles Trail Blazers Analytics Manager Ben Falk and how coach Terry Stotts' use of the data Falk provides.

Infographic: LaMarcus And Dame At All Star Weekend

Sun, 17 Feb 2013 23:04:00 -0800

Another eventful All Star Weekend in the books here in Houston. Now the stretch run of the NBA season commences Tuesday with a game at the Rose Garden against the Phoenix Suns.

Lillard Creates Opportunities For Others With Skills Challenge Victory

Sat, 16 Feb 2013 22:11:00 -0800

By virtue of winning the event with the fastest cumulative time of 1 minute, 50.9 seconds, Lillard not only won the Skills Challenge trophy, but also a $25,000 scholarship for a member of the Boys & Girls Club of Houston, Poppie Simmons. "I'm honored to win this competition," said Lillard. "I think the bigger thing for me was the fact I was able to get the scholarship money for (Simmons) because I come from a tough situation and if it wasn't for sports, I probably wouldn't have been able to attend college. It means a lot to me to be able to do that for him."

Transcript: Damian Lillard On The Jim Rome Show

Mon, 11 Feb 2013 16:13:00 -0800

"Any time you think about a bad shooting night or any time something didn't go well it tends to carry over. Might have another night like that because I'm thinking about what happened on Orlando, but we played so many games in an 82-game season so you get a quick opportunity to come out and have a better shooting night."

Infographic: Magic 110, Trail Blazers 104

Sun, 10 Feb 2013 18:10:00 -0800

Infographic from Sunday night's 110-104 loss to the Magic in Orlando.

Damian Lillard Wears Rose 3.5 'Year Of The Snake'

Fri, 08 Feb 2013 18:25:00 -0800

But what is more noteworthy is Damian Lillard, who is of course sponsored by adidas, wearing Rose 3.5 "Year of the Snake" in Friday night's game against the Rockets in Houston. As best I can tell, Lillard is the first player who has worn Rose 3.5s in an NBA game.

NBA.com: Aldridge 'The League's Premier Power Forward' and Ninth in 'Race To The MVP'

Fri, 08 Feb 2013 14:33:00 -0800

Some very high praise for our All-Star LaMarcus Aldridge on today's "Race To The MVP Ladder" on NBA.com. Not only do they list him at 9th on the MVP Ladder, but they also tab Aldridge as the best power forward in the NBA this season.

Infographic: Taco Bell Skills Challenge With Damian Lillard

Thu, 07 Feb 2013 21:28:00 -0800

Pretty good day for Damian Lillard. He was selected with the first overall pick to play for TEAM SHAQ in the BBVA Rising Stars Challenge alongside the likes of Kyrie Irving and Andre Drummond. And to top it off, he was named one of the six participants to compete in the Taco Bell Skills Challenge on All-Star Saturday night.

PHOTO: Jared Jeffries Golfs With Jeremy Lin, Chokes Mardi Gras Squirrel

Thu, 07 Feb 2013 14:49:00 -0800

But that doesn't mean the teams can't have pleasant relations today. Case in point: former Knicks teammates Jared Jeffries and Jeremy Lin did some golfing in Houston today, as you can see in the photo above, which was posted to Lin's Facebook page with the caption "Enjoying the offday learning how to golf...why is my shirt tucked in??". I think the better question for Lin to ask is why Jeffries is using a 9-iron to choke out a squirrel mascot adorned with Mardi Gras beads, but then again, it is Texas.

Infographic: Mavericks 105, Trail Blazers 99

Wed, 06 Feb 2013 20:52:00 -0800

Infographics from Wednesday's 105-99 loss to the Dallas Mavericks. With the loss, the Trail Blazers remain one game behind the Houston Rockets for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference.

Pick Your 'Rising Stars Challenge' Teams

Wed, 06 Feb 2013 17:09:00 -0800

On Thursday at 4 PM on TNT, Shaquille O'Neal and Charles Barkley will draft their teams for the BBVA Rising Stars Challenge (the event formerly known as the Rookie/Sophomore game). Shaq and Chuck will each pick from a pool of nine rookies, which includes our own Damian Lillard, and nine second-year players, with the teams, "coached" by Shaq and Chuck, facing off Friday, Feb. 15 in Houston.

Pelton: Batum's Production Is Worth The Max

Wed, 06 Feb 2013 10:45:00 -0800

The ink was not yet dry, or in some cases, even out of the pen, before some labeled Nicolas Batum as "overpaid" after he signed a four-year, $46 million contract with the Trail Blazers this summer. That notion has softened quite a bit, as Batum has put together a career-year through the first part of the 2012-13 season.

Wear Rip City: Lillard Changes At Halftime, And Might Change Again

Tue, 05 Feb 2013 17:08:00 -0800

Damian Lillard is a bit of a tease when it comes to his sneakers. Often times he'll warm up in one pair, only to switch to another pair before the opening tip (which actually isn't too uncommon a practice among NBA players). Usually he ends up wearing the adidas Rose 773, though sometimes he'll wear adidas Top 10 2000. And recently, after months of hesitation, Lillard has been wearing the adidas Rose 3, which he did in Monday night's game against the Timberwolves in Minnesota.

Infographic: Trail Blazers 100, Timberwolves 98

Mon, 04 Feb 2013 20:35:00 -0800

Here's the infographic from Monday night's 100-98 victory against the Timberwolves in Minnesota. Not a bad way to start the trip, even if the Trail Blazers gave up most of a 19-point lead in the fourth quarter.

Infographic: Trail Blazers 105, Jazz 99

Sat, 02 Feb 2013 23:04:00 -0800

Infographic from Saturday night's 105-99 victory against the Utah Jazz at the Rose Garden. Trail Blazers won't play another home game until Feb. 19.

Infographic: Jazz 86, Trail Blazers 77

Fri, 01 Feb 2013 21:55:00 -0800

Infographic from Friday night's 86-77 loss to the Utah Jazz in Salt Lake City.

Ravens Superfan Will Barton Picks The Super Bowl Winner

Fri, 01 Feb 2013 17:03:00 -0800

You'd be hard-pressed to find a bigger Baltimore Ravens fan, at least in Oregon, than rookie wing Will Barton. A native of Baltimore, Barton has been a fan since of the Ravens since the Browns were moved to Maryland in 1996, so it's no surprise that he's picking his hometown team to defeat the San Fransisco 49ers in the Super Bowl XLVII.

Goldsberry: Aldridge, Lillard Among 'Mayor of the NBA'

Thu, 31 Jan 2013 11:15:00 -0800

Kirk Goldsberry, both on his own blog and at ESPN.com little brother Grantland, creates images with the goal of "examining the NBA through spatial and visual analytics." Basically he makes it easier to understand statistics, via graphics, that have a relationship to specific spots on the court. You've probably seen his recent work on Grantland creating images that display who the best shooters and worst shooters are in the NBA by location.

NBA Says Late-Game Call Was Incorrect

Wed, 30 Jan 2013 14:43:00 -0800

The Trail Blazers were able to finish a come-from-behind victory Tuesday night against the Mavericks at the Rose Garden thanks in large part to an offensive foul Ronnie Price was able to draw on OJ Mayo with the game tied 104-104 and just 1.5 seconds remaining. The call gave the Trail Blazers the ball and a chance to win the game, which LaMarcus Aldridge did as time expired. But according to the NBA's "Officially Speaking" blog, that call was incorrect:

Infographic: Trail Blazers 106, Mavericks 104

Tue, 29 Jan 2013 23:10:00 -0800

Infographic from Tuesday night's improbable, 106-104 comeback victory against the Dallas Mavericks. No lead is safe.

Infographic: Clippers 96, Trail Blazers 83

Sun, 27 Jan 2013 22:11:00 -0800

Infographic from Sunday night's 96-83 loss to the LA Clippers at Staples Center. Trail Blazers now have two days off before hosting the Mavericks on Wednesday.

Infographic: Trail Blazers 101, Clippers 100

Sat, 26 Jan 2013 22:43:00 -0800

Infographic from Saturday night's 101-100 victory against the LA Clippers at the Rose Garden. Pretty heavy on the Batum, as you might expect.

Transcript: Aldridge Talks All-Star Selection

Thu, 24 Jan 2013 18:31:00 -0800

"I was surprised, for one because I didn't think I was going to get it this year because guys were playing well and our record isn't as good as it was last year. I was happy… "

Aldridge, Teammates React To All-Star Selection

Thu, 24 Jan 2013 17:54:00 -0800

With the selection, Aldridge becomes the tenth Trail Blazer to be selected to play in the midseason exhibition at least twice. Here's what Aldridge's teammates, Paul Allen, and Aldridge himself had to say immediately following the announcement.

Infographic: Trail Blazers 100, Pacers 80

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 22:48:00 -0800

Here's the infographic from tonight's 100-80 victory against the Pacers at the Rose Garden. Nice to get that losing streaking monkey off our backs.

Wear Rip City: Q&A With Jared Jeffries

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 15:36:00 -0800

I recently sat down with Jeffries to discuss his long-running relationship with Brand Jordan, how he defines his personal style, squaring his love of fashion with his country boy roots, how he decides what sneakers he's going to wear for games, his shoe collection and which Jordan's are his all-time favorites.

ESPN.com: Batum, Lillard Among NBA's 25 Best Players Under 25

Tue, 22 Jan 2013 10:40:00 -0800

ESPN.com's David Thorpe and Kevin Pelton compile the list of the NBA's 25 best players under the age of 25. It's an impressive list of talent, which includes both Nicolas Batum at No. 16 (New Orleans' Ryan Anderson is No. 15 and Philly's Thaddeus Young in No. 16) and Damian Lillard and No. 21 (Milwaukee Bucks Brandon Jennings and Larry Sanders sandwich Lillard at No. 20 and No. 22, respectively).

Lowe: LaMarcus Aldridge Should Make All-Star Team

Tue, 22 Jan 2013 09:25:00 -0800

The reserves for the 2013 All-Star game will be announced on Thursday, and just as always, there's an ongoing debate over who should get the last few roster spots on both the Eastern and Western Conference teams. Grantland.com's Zach Lowe put together his "If I Were Selecting The All-Star Teams" list and LaMarus Aldridge makes the cut, despite some fierce competition.

Infographic: Wizards 98, Trail Blazers 95

Mon, 21 Jan 2013 22:37:00 -0800

Infographic from Monday night's 98-95 loss to the Wizards at the Rose Garden.

Infographic: Bucks 110, Trail Blazers 104

Sat, 19 Jan 2013 23:04:00 -0800

Infographic from Portland's 110-104 loss to the Bucks at the Rose Garden on Jan. 19.

Wear Rip City: Matthews And Leonard Debut Black History Month Colorways

Fri, 18 Jan 2013 17:43:00 -0800

Well it turns out that at least two Nike Basketball shoes outside of those signature models will getting the Black History Month treatment, too. Here's the Nike Hypderdunk Black History Month (or "BHM" for short, which you can see on the tongue) colorway worn by Wesley Matthews at practice on Jan. 18.

Infographic: Cavs 93, Trail Blazers 88

Wed, 16 Jan 2013 22:29:00 -0800

Tough loss Wednesday night for the Trail Blazers. The Trail Blazers, between losing in overtime in Denver on Tuesday and falling behind by 19 to the Cavaliers on Wednesday, couldn't overcome fatigue and mistakes and eventually fell 93-88 at the Rose Garden. The loss was their fourth-straight.

Kubatko: Hickson One Of NBA's Most Improved

Tue, 15 Jan 2013 16:29:00 -0800

In an Insider piece for ESPN.com, Justin Kubatko, founder and editor Basketball-Reference.com (which, for my money, is the most useful basketball stats site out there), comes up with a "method to assess improvement." The complaint from the stats crowd when it comes to the Most Improved Player award is that it too often goes to a guy whose stats have improved due to an increase in minutes, rather than any real improvement. It's a fair complaint.

VIDEO: J.A. Adande amd Isreal Gutierrez Make Case For Two Trail Blazers In The All-Star Game

Tue, 15 Jan 2013 11:23:00 -0800

An interesting video this morning from ESPN.com. NBA writers J.A. Adande and Israel Guttierez turn their attention to the "upstart" teams in the NBA and make the case that those teams deserve multiple All-Star selections. Adande implies that Damian Lillard should get the nod alongside LaMarcus Aldridge, while Guttierez seems to support selecting Nicolas Batum. My personal opinion is you couldn't go wrong with any of them.

Spears: Lillard Making All-Star Push

Mon, 14 Jan 2013 10:20:00 -0800

Marc Spears of Yahoo! Sports writes that Damian Lillard, who is running away with Rookie Of The Year honors as we near midseason and is a shoe-in to represent the Trail Blazers at the "Rising Stars Challenge" (that's what they're calling the Rookie/Sophomore Game these days), also has an outside shot of making the big game at All-Star Weekend in Houston next month.

VIDEO: Lillard Goes For 37 In Oakland

Sat, 12 Jan 2013 09:25:00 -0800

Trail Blazers rookie point guard Damian Lillard scored a career-high 37 points in a 103-97 loss to the Golden State Warriors at Oracle Arena. It was the first time Lillard, who grew up in Oakland, had played in front of his his hometown crowd since being selected by Portland with the No. 6 pick in the 2012 NBA Draft.

Batum Bolsters All-Star Credentials Under The Radar

Fri, 11 Jan 2013 01:10:00 -0800

Granted, every wing in the Western Conference is fighting for second place behind Kevin Durant, but there's a compelling argument to be made that after KD, Batum has been the best small forward out west. He's second behind Durant among small forwards in scoring per game (16.3), minutes played (38.5) and free throw percentage (88 percent). He's third among Western Conference small forwards in steals per game (1.48) and blocks per game (1.18) and fourth in PER (17.9). And when it comes to made three-pointers, one of the keys to Portland's success this season under head coach Terry Stotts, Batum is first among all small forwards.

VIDEO: Terry Stotts On TrueHoop TV

Wed, 09 Jan 2013 10:23:00 -0800

Head coach Terry Stotts joined former Portlander and current boss of TrueHoop, Henry Abbott, on TrueHoop TV to discuss the Trail Blazers' season, "not tanking," winning close games (both in regulation and overtime), point differential and Damian Lillard. It's nice work by both Coach and Henry.

Batum, Blazers Assisted By Bad Back

Mon, 07 Jan 2013 22:05:00 -0800

Trail Blazers fans know all too well how injuries can completely derail a player's season, or in extreme cases, a career. It's gotten to the point where every time a Trail Blazer grimaces, hearts in the Rose Garden skip a beat, or stop all together. And for good reason. But for maybe the first time in franchise history, Portland's play was improved, at least in part, thanks to a Trail Blazer injury.

Wear Rip City: Retro Glide

Mon, 07 Jan 2013 11:11:00 -0800

After Mitchell & Ness recently released a "new" retro Clyde Drexler jersey, and to celebrate, the folks over at Slam Magazine have a shortish Q&A with Clyde Drexler. Some of the more interesting excerpts ...

VIDEO: Air Claver

Sat, 05 Jan 2013 19:44:00 -0800

But maybe the most unbelievable event came courtesy of rookie forward Victor Claver, who slammed over Timberwolves center Greg Steisma in the second quarter of Saturday night's victory. Claver has had some difficulty finishing at the hoop and finding minutes with Wesley Matthews back in the lineup, but if he's able to attack the rim like he did in the highlight above, he might solve both problems.

VIDEO: Lillard Makes NBA's Top Rookie Plays Of 2012

Wed, 02 Jan 2013 09:40:00 -0800

But as long as Damian Lillard makes the cut, I'm cool with it. I thought, after seeing a routine play from a defenseless exhibition game at No. 8, that Lillard's Las Vegas Summer League posterization might make the list. But the NBA went more tradition, opting for Dame's game-winner against the Hornets as the No. 4 rookie play of 2012.

Meyers Leonard Can Now Play 'Jingle Bells' And Would Like To See The Ball Drop On New Year's

Fri, 28 Dec 2012 13:24:00 -0800

Meyers Leonard is one of the rookies blogging this season for NBA.com. In his most recent update, Meyers notes that his skills tickling the ivory have improved this holiday season.

Before I forget to mention it, I want to wish everybody a very happy

Lillard: 'There's no reason to be scared out there'

Thu, 27 Dec 2012 16:18:00 -0800

ESPN, The Magazine's "Next" issue comes out next week, and it's second-year point guard Kyrie Irving, not Damian Lillard, who gets the cover (though be on the lookout for Lillard adorning the cover of a different magazine very soon). But Dame does get a short Q&A with Chris Palmer, which is already posted on ESPN.com. A quick excerpt

Video: Trail Blazers Fan Submits 'Carol Of The Bells' Commercial

Mon, 24 Dec 2012 11:52:00 -0800

The NBA recently solicited video submissions reenacting the "Carol Of The Bells" ball-bouncing commercial promoting the NBA's Christmas Day national television schedule. Not an easy task. But Trail Blazers fan Werner Nistler III was more than up to the challenge. Not only did he recreate the NBA's video, he played all five parts himself, aided, I'm sure, by the power of some video editing software. Basically, Werner did the work of Dwight Howard, Carmelo Anthony, Russell Westbrook, Joe Johnson and Dwayne Wade, all by himself. Give that guy a 10-day.

VIDEO: Dunks Aplenty Against Nuggets

Thu, 20 Dec 2012 23:22:00 -0800

The Nuggets only made one shot from outside of 10 feet during Thursday night's 101-93 victory, which had a bunch of people excited for some reason. It's not uncommon for the Trail Blazers to be outscored in the paint (in fact, it's the norm this season), but being outscored in the paint 74-28 and still winning the game is impressive. And despite being vastly outscored in the paint, the Trail Blazers still managed a bunch of great dunks, such as the following ...

Aldridge Off Crutches, Still In Boot

Tue, 18 Dec 2012 15:17:00 -0800

LaMarcus Aldridge rolled his left ankle late in Sunday's win against the Hornets. He's since had both an x-ray and MRI, which confirmed the left ankle sprain. Aldridge didn't practice on Tuesday, though it sounds as though he made a trip to the doctor for a checkup, as he tweeted ...

Lillard Uses H-O-R-S-E To Beat The Spurs

Fri, 14 Dec 2012 00:40:00 -0800

Patty Mills played for the Portland Trail Blazers for two seasons, so it's possible he's been to Oaks Park. But even if he had never visited that old time roller rink, he still managed to be put on skates in Portland, courtesy of Damian Lillard, during Thursday night's 98-90 victory against the Spurs on TNT. Not that Patty has anything to be ashamed of. Through 21 games, Lillard has shown he's more than capable of blowing by his defender on the way to the rim or pulling up for the shot if given space, making defenders pick their poison when trying to check the rookie point guard on the perimeter.

Wear Rip City: Lillard In 'Bright Lights' and TMAC-1s

Wed, 12 Dec 2012 17:07:00 -0800

It used to be that basketball players, for the most part, would find one shoe and stick with it throughout the course of a season. Granted, there were only a few options to choose from, so in some respects, the decision of what shoe to wear was made for them. But in today's NBA, with so many new and "retro" options to choose from, some players are opting to switch shoes throughout the course of a season, sometimes even from game to game.

Transcript: Neil Olshey On What Lillard Needs To Improve And Why Aldridge Isn't Soft

Tue, 11 Dec 2012 17:17:00 -0800

Trail Blazers general manager Neil Olshey Justin Termaine and Mateen Cleaves on "Off The Dribble" on SiriusXM Sports to discuss the 2012 Draft, what skills Damian Lillard needs to improve upon, making the playoffs vs. rebuilding, resigning Nicolas Batum, hiring Terry Stotts and why LaMarcus Aldridge is anything but soft. You can listen to the interview here or read the transcript below (questions are paraphrased, answers are as near verbatim as possible).

Matthews' Streak Ends At 250 (or 364)

Mon, 10 Dec 2012 18:42:00 -0800

Wesley Matthews streak of 250 consecutive games played will officially end Monday night thanks to a hip flexor injury. It will be the first time since earning a roster spot in the NBA as an undrafted free agent that Matthews will watch an entire game from the bench. "You don't want to be counterproductive right now. So many things weigh into whether you play, whether you sit. If you do sit, how long do you sit. I've never been in a position where I had to do that, so it's all new to me."

VIDEO: Damian Lillard's Top Plays Of November

Fri, 07 Dec 2012 14:32:00 -0800

After Damian Lillard was named the NBA Western Conference Rookie of the Month, NBA.com put together a package of his top plays. It's a great mix of assists, finishes at the rim and pullup jumpers. It would be a quality highlight reel for an entire season, let alone the first month of a professional career.

In The Bag: Damian Lillard

Wed, 05 Dec 2012 15:38:00 -0800

There can be no wasted space, so pieces of luggage such as backpacks and garment bags take on extra importance. A large carry-on, even though we don't really "check" bags, per say, is valuable, and if it's stylish as well, all the better. Such is the case with Damian Lillard's black Gucci backpack. With a large main compartment and various ancillary pockets, it makes for a valuable bag, both in price and utility. It can easily fit all of the items Damian needs to keep close when traveling to practice or from city to city.

Luke Babbitt Is Not Yet Decided

Tue, 04 Dec 2012 01:57:00 -0800

He doesn't pay all that much attention, but Luke Babbitt knows the generalities of what people say about him. He's too smart not to notice. He knows often times he's the butt of the joke, the easy target, the recipient of sarcastic and/or ironic kudos, but he also knows these things come with the territory. He's always had a good sense of humor about what is often times less than good-natured ribbing, even as those who find his presence on Portland' roster so detestable seem to be of the opinion that it was Babbitt who drafted himself with the 16th overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft, which one must assume, at the very least, would be a clear violation of the NBA's collective bargaining agreement.

Barton, Freeland Learn Lessons In Boston Loss

Sat, 01 Dec 2012 09:23:00 -0800

Though that was never really the case Friday night in Portland's 96-78 loss to the Celtics in Boston. The Trail Blazers trailed from start to finish and were down at one point by 27 points to a Rajon Rondo-less Celtics team motivated by their head coach, Doc Rivers, calling them "soft" after losing to the Nets a few days prior. But there are silver linings to be found if you're willing to look, and when you've lost four-straight, you have no choice but to.

Damian Lillard Doesn't Care For Historical Statues

Wed, 28 Nov 2012 16:03:00 -0800

If you follow Damian Lillard on Twitter, which you absolutely should, you found out today that Dame has a fear of "historic statues," of which Washington DC has many. I like DC. I wana come back and visit the memorialseven though I'm scared of statues People I'm only scared of historic statues. Abraham Lincoln , MLK, etc . Had a bad experience at the wax museum lmao

Lillard Moves On, Barton Gets Minutes And No One Is Immune

Tue, 27 Nov 2012 00:29:00 -0800

Some notes from Monday night's 108-101 loss to the Pistons in Detroit, the second game, and loss, of a seven-game road trip through the Eastern Conference. On To The Next One Damian Lillard has been so good in his first thirteen games as a rookie that having back-to-back performances in which he struggled to find his range, as was the case Sunday night against the Nets and Monday night against the Pistons, feels like more of a letdown than it should. Lillard shot just 22 percent from the field Monday night and didn't net his first field goal until late in the third quarter.

Wear Rip City: This Is (Cross-Country) Flight

Sun, 25 Nov 2012 09:19:00 -0800

Greetings from New York City. The Trail Blazers begin their first extended roadtrip of the season Sunday with a noon matinee against the Brooklyn Nets, which means on Saturday, the team flew cross-country from Portland to Newark (it's closer to where we stay than either JFK or La Guardia). Leaving at 10:30 am Pacific and arriving at roughly 7:30 pm Eastern, and then practicing at Seton Hall, didn't afford many opportunities to get out into one of the most fashion-forward cities in the world, but various members of the Trail Blazers did break out some of their best shoe game for the flight.

Neil Olshey Isn't Forgetting Your Draft Grade

Wed, 21 Nov 2012 11:30:00 -0800

There's not many things I appreciate more in sports than lighthearted trash talk. In an age where people seemingly try to get offended over the most innocuous comments, it's nice to see that adults can jab at each other from time to time without getting all sensitive. Which is why I love this line from Chad Ford, ESPN.com NBA draft aficionado, about Neil Olshey's comment to Ford this week at the Maui Invitational regarding the "B+" Ford gave Olshey and the Trail Blazers for their 2012 Draft performance:

Eurobasket 2013: Batum, Freeland Face Off

Wed, 21 Nov 2012 10:52:00 -0800

For Trail Blazers fans, the draw carries some intrigue, as Nicolas Batum and the French National team ended up in Group A with Joel Freeland and the Great Britain National team. France v. Great Britain is scheduled for Sept. 5, 2013, so you've still got plenty of time to book travel to Slovenia.

Jared Jeffries Leads The Charge

Sun, 18 Nov 2012 22:20:00 -0800

Through ten games, Trail Blazers reserve forward Jared Jeffries has played a grand total of 55 minutes. With so little playing time, it's no surprise he's averaging just 0.6 points, 0.6 rebounds and 0.4 assists per game, stats that lead one to believe Jeffries isn't making much of a contribution. And that wouldn't be a complete misinterpretation, inasmuch as the entire Trail Blazers bench has been infrequently used, for fair reasons, through the first three weeks of the season. But Jeffries most impressive statistic doesn't show up on the average NBA box score, though he is somewhat renowned for it nonetheless. Jeffries, by virtue of experience and intelligence, is one of the best players in the league at drawing offensive fouls. He took two charges in 22 minutes during Sunday night's victory over the Bulls, which is impressive.

Aldridge Practices, Expects To Play Despite Strained Wrist

Thu, 15 Nov 2012 14:25:00 -0800

A strained wrist, all things considered, is a fairly minor injury. But when that strained wrist resides on the shooting arm of your franchise player, it takes on a bit more significance. So it's good to hear LaMarcus Aldridge say his right wrist he strained in Monday night's loss to the Hawks, while still sore, is much improved after practice on Thursday. "It's better," said Aldridge. "It'

Aldridge, Batum and Matthews Make All-Star Ballot

Tue, 13 Nov 2012 14:32:00 -0800

Some (or all) of you are probably sick of being told who to vote for so soon after the 2012 elections, so I won't insist you vote for LaMarcus Aldridge, Nicolas Batum and Wesley Matthews for the 2013 All-Star Game In Houston. But if you are a good Trail Blazers fan, as I know you all are, you'll want to vote for LA, Nic and Wesley early and often. And this year, you'll have plenty of options when it comes to how you log your vote. The old paper ballots are gone (along with "center" being a position), but those hard copies have been replaced with a litany of other options, which are as follows:

Batum Makes His Demand

Sat, 10 Nov 2012 23:11:00 -0800

With three minutes to play in the fourth quarter of Saturday night's 112-109 loss to the Spurs, Nicolas Batum did something that Trail Blazers fans have been begging for since he got to Portland. With Manu Ginobili at the line preparing to shoot free throws with the Spurs up 101-94, Batum walked with purpose toward Terry Stotts, who was surveying the situation from half court as NBA coaches often do. What was different though was Batum. Rather than slumping over at midcourt with his hands on his knees, using a few spare seconds to catch his breath after having already played 35 minutes, Batum approached Stotts and, in no uncertain terms, demanded to have the ball put in his hands with the game on the line. For years, coaches, fans and the media have noted that, while Batum shows flashes of brilliance, he is too passive and willing to defer to his teammates. It seemed to some that Batum was waiting for something to be given rather than going out on to the court and taking it.

Wear Rip City: Meyers Leonard's Jordan VII 'Golden Moments'

Sat, 10 Nov 2012 12:55:00 -0800

Meyers upped his sneakerhead credentials when he posted a picture of a new pair of Nike Air Jordan 7's from the "Golden Moments" pack released this August in celebration of the 20th anniversary of the "Dream Team." Meyers bought the shoes as a part of the pack, and hence, also has a pair of white Air Jordan 6's, though he said he's too scared to wear those outside yet, which is understandable. Even rookies know you have to be strategic when it comes to wearing white sneakers outdoors during an Oregon winter.

Shaq: Damian Lillard "plays like a right-handed Damon Stoudamire"

Thu, 08 Nov 2012 14:26:00 -0800

Love him or hate him, he does say things from time to time that makes you think, like when he says in the clip above (starting around the 6:30 mark) that Damian Lillard reminds him of "a right-handed Damon Stoudamire." Of course, Stoudamire grew up in Portland and played for the Trail Blazers, which might be seeping into Shaq's consciousness when he comes up with the comparison.

Lillard No. 1 On NBA.com Rookie Ladder

Wed, 07 Nov 2012 09:33:00 -0800

Lots of buzz about Damian Lillard's performance through four games, which includes some early polling that has the rookie from Weber State in the catbird seat for the Rookie Of The Year award. For instance, NBA.com has Lillard in the top spot on their Rookie Ladder after the first week of play.

The Damian Lillard File: Three Games In

Mon, 05 Nov 2012 15:53:00 -0800

It's hard to imagine Damian Lillard having a more impressive start to his professional career. Many thought Lillard, despite coming out of Weber State, would be NBA-ready, but few, if any, projected he'd put up the numbers he has this early. In order to keep you apprised of the historic nature of the start of Lillard's NBA career, please enjoy these interesting statistical notes compiled by our basketball communications staff. Keep them handy the next time someone tries to call you a homer for comparing Lillard to, say, Isaih Thomas.

VIDEO: More 'All Or Nothing' With Will Barton

Thu, 01 Nov 2012 13:52:00 -0700

We still don't know exactly who Will Barton is as an NBA player. He only played spot minutes during the preseason thanks to missing much of training camp with a strained hamstring, and he got a "DNP - Coach's Decision" in Wednesday night's season-opening win. But thanks to the YouTube series "All Or Nothing" featuring Barton (here's Part One, Part Two, and Part Three), we've learned a lot about who he is as a person.

Lillard's Play Makes Talk Unnecessary

Thu, 01 Nov 2012 00:38:00 -0700

"I just wanted to come out and be aggressive." Those were Damian Lillard's first comments to the media after Portland's 116-106 opening night victory against the Lakers, though his performance throughout the game made that statement wholly unnecessary. Finishing with 22 points and 11 assists, Lillard joined Oscar Robertson and Isaih Thomas, two of the most revered point guards to ever play the game, as the only players in NBA history to put up at least 20 points and 10 assists an NBA debut.

Wear Rip City: Hickson Wearing Foamposites For Opening Night

Wed, 31 Oct 2012 16:09:00 -0700

What I can confirm is that JJ Hickson will be wearing Nike Air Foamposite One's "Metallic Red" in tonight's game. Foamposites, one of the most popular Nike models among sneakerheads, don't find their way onto NBA courts very often, at least not these days.

2012-13 Season Predictions

Wed, 31 Oct 2012 15:35:00 -0700

Trail Blazers Rookie of the Year: Damian Lillard Again, a no-brainer. If Meyers Leonard ends up starting at center some time this season (as I predict will happen around the All-Star break), then maybe he makes a run at Damian, but it's not likely.

Harvest Dinner And More To Be Done

Mon, 29 Oct 2012 19:31:00 -0700

We expend a lot of energy thinking about the Trail Blazers. We argue over who should be the fifteenth and final player on the roster. We come up with crazy trade scenarios and post comment after comment on blogs and message boards. It’s a great way to pass the time. Unfortunately, a lot of people in our community aren’t afforded the luxury of worrying about such things. For a significant number of Portlanders, concerns over food, shelter and access to even the most basic healthcare are problems that far surpass quibbles about who should be the first player off the bench or whether the zone defense works in the NBA.

Morrison, Karl, Holiday To Be Waived Saturday

Fri, 26 Oct 2012 16:22:00 -0700

After practice on Friday, Coby Karl, Adam Morrison and Justin Holiday were informed by the Trail Blazers that they would be waived Saturday morning. By waiving Karl, Morrison and Holiday, along with assigning Dallas Lauderdale and Demonte Harper to the Idaho Stampede, the Trail Blazers have trimmed their roster down to 15 players, the maximum allowed.

Thorpe: Lillard The Next Rose/Westbrook/Irving?

Fri, 26 Oct 2012 10:41:00 -0700

Some out there would have you believe that it's only Trail Blazers fans who have high expectations of their players. And maybe from time to time we we do go a bit overboard when it comes to player comparisons (though again, this is nothing unique to fans in Portland) but sometimes, if the sneaker fits, there's no reason not to wear it. And when respected basketball minds like David Thorpe of ESPN.com ask the question "Is Portland's Damian Lillard the next Rose/Westbrook/Irving?" complaints about Trail Blazers fans being "homers" rings especially hollow.

NBA Scout: LaMarcus Aldridge "Tougher Than I Thought He Was"

Thu, 25 Oct 2012 14:33:00 -0700

One of the staples of the pre-regular season NBA previews is asking an unnamed scout to give his expert opinion on Team X. NBA TV has a video version with a scout taking about the Trail Blazers, complete with voice modulation to protect the identity said scout, which is worth a few minutes of your time. But SI.com went a step further, having a scout of an opposing team break down the good and the bad on various Trail Blazers. Some of the more interesting thoughts ...

Arnovitz: Trail Blazers At A Crossroad

Wed, 24 Oct 2012 16:43:00 -0700

Kevin Arnovitz of ESPN.com list the Trail Blazers as one of the five teams that are "standing at the junction, examining the map and looking at the routes" going into the 2012-13 season

John Hollinger's Frank Assessment

Wed, 24 Oct 2012 10:07:00 -0700

Part-time Portlander and full-time NBA expert John Hollinger gives his assessment of the 2012-13 Trail Blazers on ESPN.com. He questions whether Nicolas Batum can be Robin to LaMarcus Aldridge's Batman, gives his rather bleak projection of Damian Lillard and questions if Portland will be able to rely on so many rookies.

Video: License To Lillard, Episode 3

Tue, 23 Oct 2012 08:37:00 -0700

If you're a fan of getting to know more about Damian Lillard via video, this has been a great week for you. On Sunday, we rolled out the Damian Lillard "New Team, New Dream" video. And today, the third installment of Damian's "License To Lillard" series went live, and it's fantastic. The first two episodes were great, but the most recent is, in my opinion, the best yet. The storyline follows Lillard from the time right before the 2012 draft to his (spoiler alert) being selected by the Trail Blazers with the No. 6 pick.

Leonard Answering Questions In Preseason

Fri, 19 Oct 2012 16:07:00 -0700

The preseason likely caries more significance for the Trail Blazers than it does for most other teams in the NBA, at least this season. With new coaching and front office staffs, eight new players and five rookies, the number of unknowns facing the Trail Blazers less than two weeks before the start of the regular season are many. And while it would be foolish to draw too many hard conclusions from games that only loosely recreate the realities of an NBA regular season tilt, there are trends snapping into focus., one of those being that Meyers Leonard, while young and still very prone to mistakes, looks to have what it takes to be a starting center in the NBA.

Amick: Northwest Division Preview

Fri, 19 Oct 2012 10:26:00 -0700

Sam Amick over at SI.com previewed the Northwest Division today, and he has the Trail Blazers bringing up the rear in the 2012-13 season. The rebuilding has begun for the Blazers, who are now under the leadership of former Clippers general manager Neil Olshey but won't be enjoying the fast track that he orchestrated at his previous job.

Practice Report: Smith In, Lillard Out Versus Nuggets

Tue, 16 Oct 2012 16:42:00 -0700

The Portland Trail Blazers returned to practice on Tuesday in preparation for their first home preseason game of the season Wednesday versus the Denver Nuggets. The big news out of Tuesday's practice is that Damian Lillard will miss Wednesday's game with a bruised left foot. According to Lillard, the injury was sustained in the first quarter of Monday night's loss to the Kings in Sacramento.

Practice Report: Price Out, Hickson and Barton Back In

Sun, 14 Oct 2012 14:50:00 -0700

A few quick items of note from the Trail Blazers' Oct. 14 practice in Tualatin prior to flying out for Monday's preseason game in Sacramento. Ronnie Price (right ankle sprain) did not practice and will not travel with the team to Sacramento for Monday night's game. Head coach Terry Stotts said Price's ankle is improving, but not to the point where he'd be ready to go against the Kings.

Wear Rip City: Lillard Wears Top Ten's In Preseason Debut

Thu, 11 Oct 2012 15:19:00 -0700

I asked Damian Lillard, while we were waiting for Nicolas Batum to show up at the adidas basketball meet-and-greet a few weeks back, if he knew what shoes he would be wearing this season. He told me he wasn't entirely sure, but that he knew he would be wearing adidas Top Ten's at some point in time. Turns out, that time is now.

After relying on his right, LaMarcus Aldridge now says 'I love going left'

Wed, 10 Oct 2012 16:30:00 -0700

Getting a first look at Damian Lillard, Meyers Leonard, Joel Freeland, Victor Claver and the rest of the new additions to the 2012-13 Trail Blazers is probably the most common answer to why one would watch Wednesday's preseason game between the Trail Blazers and Lakers. But you might notice a few new wrinkles not associated with the rookies, at least if LaMarcus Aldridge gets into a rhythm early.

VIDEO: Training Camp Scrimmage

Mon, 08 Oct 2012 18:25:00 -0700

The members of the media who made their way to practice on Saturday got the first peek of the Trail Blazers conducting a full-court, 5-on-5 scrimmage. No video, that I know of, was shot. But at today's practice, Coach Stotts was kind enough to allow those of us who missed out to watch nearly 10 minutes of live action. If you missed it, or would like to watch again, you can now do so above or on the Just Casey show page.

Video: Meyers Leonard And His Brother On 'CBS This Morning'

Sat, 06 Oct 2012 08:36:00 -0700

On Saturday morning, Meyers Leonard and his brother Bailey went on CBS This Morning discussed their relationship and the video of their reunion that has gone viral on Youtube.

Wearing Rip City: Jerseys and Shoes

Thu, 04 Oct 2012 17:31:00 -0700

One of my goals this season is to provide more coverage of the clothing, equipment and (especially) shoes the Trail Blazers wear both on and off the court. I figure a good place to start is by listing what the team wears on the court during games. This post will be updated as necessary.

VIDEO: Media Day Fan Chats

Tue, 02 Oct 2012 21:42:00 -0700

For the first time since we starting doing live fan chats on Media Day four years ago, we were able to get every player on the show (though the segment with Wesley Matthews was rather short and the Sasha Pavlovic interview had audio issues). Not only did every player at least sit down, but all of them were in good spirits and willing to answer your questions honestly.

Season Starts With Media Day On Monday

Fri, 28 Sep 2012 17:19:00 -0700

The 2012-13 season officially begins Monday, October 1 with Trail Blazers Media Day. And for the fourth-straight season, we'll be hosting a live chat with the players on Trailblazers.tv. Starting at 10 AM, you'll be able to get your questions answered by your favorite players in real time video. Want to know what LaMarcus Aldridge did on his summer vacation? Curious to know more about Jared Jeffries alligator hunting?

Find JJ Hickson Saturday

Fri, 28 Sep 2012 13:41:00 -0700

If you follow JJ Hickson on Twitter at @Hickson21 or on his Facebook page, you probably already know about this Saturday's "Find JJ" event. But if you aren't one of those people who keeps up on what Hickson is doing via social media, you'll want to consider doing ASAP, and here's why. Saturday morning, JJ will be tweeting out clues about various locations in Portland that you'll be able to "Find JJ." You be the first person to get to that location and you'll be greeted by JJ, who will subsequently give you a great prize like tickets to an upcoming game, Trail Blazers gear, gift certificates and other kinds of swag signed by JJ. After that, it's onto the next location, of which there will be roughly five all together.

Leftovers From Nicolas Batum Interview

Wed, 26 Sep 2012 16:37:00 -0700

I wasn't able to fit everything into my story about Nicolas Batum's summer and subsequent return to Portland, so I thought I'd post some of the more interesting quotes from Nic that didn't make the cut.

Steve Kerr: 'They've got to throw Lillard right on the court'

Wed, 26 Sep 2012 11:10:00 -0700

In an interview posted on NBA.com, former Trail Blazer and current TNT analyst Steve Kerr talks about what he expects from rookies Damian Lillard and Meyers Leonard and LaMarcus Aldridge's status as "one of the best players in the league." A few quotes worth highlighting ...

Nicolas Batum Sees Something Else

Mon, 24 Sep 2012 09:24:00 -0700

Sometimes, when talking to Nicolas Batum, minor things can get lost in translation. While Batum is more articulate, even in English, than the majority his peers in the NBA, from time to time you can tell he's using a phrase that, when directly translated, doesn't convey precisely the idea he's trying to get across. But from time to time those slightly misappropriated phrases, ironically enough, more accurately portray the crux of what he's trying to convey better than a contextually perfect translation. That was the case when I recently asked Batum what he did this summer after France was eliminated from the Olympics.

Will-osophy: 'That's MY House'

Fri, 21 Sep 2012 17:09:00 -0700

There are a lot of transitions rookies have to make when they get into the league. There's the increased number of games and the corresponding travel, which the NCAA season does little to prepare players for. There's the increased public scrutiny that goes with being a professional athlete. And there's going from being the best player on ever team you've ever played on to having to fight for every second of playing time. But there are plenty of positive transitions as well. For Will Barton, whose childhood in Baltimore featured almost none of the comforts many of us take for granted, the opportunity to have a place to call his own, a place where he wouldn't have to worry about waking someone else up by rolling over in the middle of the night, was overwhelming.

Dime Magazine: Damian is the Future, Nic Could Be Most Improved

Thu, 20 Sep 2012 10:53:00 -0700

A couple of Trail Blazers are getting some shine over at Dime Magazine. First, on their list of people who "will shape the future generation of basketball," rookie point guard Damian Lillard comes in at No. 10: All the talk about the weak competition he faced in college dissipated as he absolutely destroyed his NBA opponents, dropping 23 points and seven assists in his debut, followed by 31 and seven, 27 and three, and 25 and four.

Will-osophy: 'You Either Family Or Nothing With Me'

Wed, 19 Sep 2012 18:12:00 -0700

You need only glance at a map of the United States to know that Baltimore is a long ways away from Portland. So it's a good thing rookie Will Barton, whose allegiance to the Charm City is literally tattooed on his body, got a chance to get back to his hometown after beginning his professional career in earnest at the Las Vegas Summer League. "Getting to go home after my first professional taste, it felt real good," said Barton, who averaged 15.0 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.0 steals in five games in Las Vegas. "Everyone at home really embraced me, proud of my efforts. Any time I go home to my neighborhood, to my family and my friends, it's always a good thing, especially after performing like I did, like the team did. It was a great feeling."

Dauster: Special Bond Between Smith and Cook

Mon, 17 Sep 2012 12:02:00 -0700

It's about a month old, but Rob Dauster at SI.com has a great story about the relationship between Nolan Smith and Quinn Cook, a sophomore point guard at Duke. The two have been friends since childhood, but their bond was strengthened when Cook, like Smith, lost his father.

New Trail Blazers Trading Cards

Wed, 12 Sep 2012 14:57:00 -0700

The folks at Panini, the "worlds largest sports and entertainment collectables company," were kind enough to hook us up with images of some new Trail Blazers trading cards, including the "Prestige" rookie cards featuring this year's draft class, which go on sale Friday. And due to the lockout, no rookie photos were taken of the 2011 class, which is why both Nolan Smith and Elliot Williams get rookie cards this season, too (2011-12 was technically Elliot's rookie season since he missed the entirety of the 2010-11 season).

Lowe: "... it’s time for something more than tiny incremental progress" from Batum and Matthews

Tue, 11 Sep 2012 11:59:00 -0700

Zach Lowe of SI.com (who is leaving SI soon to join the folks at Grantland) put together his list of players who are "on notice" this season for one reason or another. Lowe uses one bullet point to question whether Nicolas Batum and Wesley Matthews are ready to make the next jump in their careers.

Trail Blazers Weekend: Jeffries Kills A Gator, Matthews Hangs With Ducks

Mon, 10 Sep 2012 10:12:00 -0700

Training camp starts in a few weeks and a lot of players are already back in the area preparing for the 2012-13 season. But the guys are also squeezing in some off the court activities in their last days of vacation before turning their full attention to basketball. Here's what some of them were up to this weekend ...

The Schonz' Gives Thanks At The Hall Of Fame

Thu, 06 Sep 2012 19:34:00 -0700

Bill Schonely, like any good broadcaster, spent the vast majority of his career talking about other people. So it's fitting that Schonely spoke almost exclusively of others during his speech thanking the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame for bestowing upon the legendary broadcaster the Curt Gowdy Media Award.

Video: Damian Lillard Dunks At Adidas

Thu, 06 Sep 2012 16:32:00 -0700

The video quality is pretty poor by 2012 standards, but the quality of Damian Lillard's dunks in this video taken at an Adidas rookies event is well worth some eye straining.

Poorly Translated Victor Claver: 'It would be nice to travel in a spaceship'

Thu, 06 Sep 2012 10:06:00 -0700

If you followed the Trail Blazers waaaaay back in the Rudy Fernandez days, you might be familiar with Marca, the Spanish newspaper that always has an interesting take on Spaniards in the NBA. Today, they posted an 18-question Q&A with Victor Claver, who will join the Trail Blazers this season after being drafted with the 22nd pick in the 2009 Draft. If you're fluent, go ahead and read the actual text, but if your understanding of Spanish tends to be more rudimentary, here's the Google Translation version, which produced some great lines, such as ...

Eddie Johnson Picks Damian Lillard For Rookie Of The Year

Fri, 31 Aug 2012 10:41:00 -0700

You can assume that Eddie Johnson, who played 17 season, has seen pretty much everything there is to see when it comes to the NBA. So when Johnson, the 1988-89 NBA Sixth Man of the Year, picks Damian Lillard as one of ten "impact" players (the only rookie on the list) for the upcoming season, that means something (at least as much as a preseason prediction can "mean something").

Video: Damian Lillard High School Higlight Mixtape

Thu, 30 Aug 2012 10:03:00 -0700

The folks at Yay Area's Finest (great name, by the way) put together a highlight reel from Damian Lillard's days at Oakland High School. Only about a minute long, but some pretty nice highlight's in there, including a posterization at the end that, while not to the same level as his summer league throwdown, is still impressive, especially for a high schooler. It's a couple months old, but I figure if I haven't seen it, you probably haven't seen it.

Damian Lillard All Over NBA Rookie Survey

Thu, 23 Aug 2012 11:30:00 -0700

Every year at the NBA Rookies Transitions Program, the league asks the incoming rookies to answer questions like "Which rookie is the most athletic?" and "Which rookie is the funniest?" and so forth. Basically first day of school kind of stuff. The results are always an interesting read, and even more so when our rookies make the list, as Damian Lillard does numerous times. Meyers Leonard and Will Barton get in there too, but Lillard gets the majority of the love among Trail Blazers rookies.

Video: 'The Other Dream Team' Trailer With Sabonis, Walton

Tue, 21 Aug 2012 14:33:00 -0700

A lot of people got excited about the The Dream Team documentary that recently aired on NBA TV. Is a very nice film, though I'm not sure how much, if anything, I learned from it. I don't expect that will be the case when it comes to another documentary, The Other Dream Team, which focuses on the 1992 Lithuanian Mens Basketball team, headlined by international legend Arvydas Sabonis.

Lowe: Aldridge's Post Efficiency Improved Dramatically in 2011-12

Thu, 16 Aug 2012 14:35:00 -0700

The knock on LaMarcus Aldridge has always been that, while he's a talented big man, he doesn't spend enough time in the post. While Aldridge has proven to be an highly effective offensive weapon, some have argued that, for Portland to be successful, Aldridge has to get more of his points in the paint. Which is why it's good news that Aldridge, according to Zach Lowe of SI.com, has improved his post-up scoring efficiency dramatically during the 2011-12 season:

Video: Barton Goes For 72 At Under Armour Pro-Am

Wed, 15 Aug 2012 09:48:00 -0700

If you follow Will Barton on Twitter, you already know about the 72-point performance Barton put on at a pro-am in Baltimore's St. Francis Academy. According to the Baltimore Sun, Barton and a group of lesser-known players from the area known as "Baltimore's Best" beat "Team Armour," featuring Under Armour athletes Brandon Jennings, DeAndre Jordan, Derrick Williams and Kemba Walker, 124-109 Tuesday night.

Video: Wesley Matthews Windmills At Milwaukee Pro-Am

Thu, 09 Aug 2012 15:07:00 -0700

We didn't get to see a whole of of Wesley Matthews during the Las Vegas Summer League, and we certainly didn't get to see him wild out on guys like he does in the above video, shot at the Milwaukee Pro-Am. Wesley took heat last season for what some thought was an inability to finish at the rim, though that doesn't seem to be a problem in this video.

Will Barton to team up with DeMarcus Cousins to take on Brandon Jennings

Thu, 09 Aug 2012 12:19:00 -0700

If you happen to be in Baltimore on Tuesday, August 14th, you can catch Trail Blazers rookie Will Barton playing alongside DeMarcus Cousins, Josh Selby and a few top college prospects in a game against Brandon Jennings, Kemba Walker, DeAndre Jordan, Derrick Williams and Greivis Vasquez. The event, the proceeds of which go to charity, pits the B'More Finest squad, featuring Barton, against the Under Armour Pro team, headed up by Jennings.

Video: Terry Stotts Fan Chat

Wed, 08 Aug 2012 18:49:00 -0700

It's pretty much a tradition at this point to have new hires, be they players, coaches or front office staffers, take questions from the fans on www.trailblazers.tv during their first day on the job. New head coach Terry Stotts joined that fine tradition Wednesday when he took questions from after meeting with the Portland media for the first time. Brian Wheeler was kind enough to join as well. Give it a watch if you missed it live.

Transcript: Jared Jeffries on Trail Blazers Courtside

Mon, 06 Aug 2012 19:25:00 -0700

Jared Jeffries, who the Trail Blazers acquired as a part of the trade that sent Raymond Felton to New York, joined Mike Barrett and Chris Haynes on Trail Blazers Courtside to discuss his thoughts on the trade, his opinion of some of his new teammates (specifically Damian Lillard and Meyers Leonard), how he fits into the roster and when he plans on coming to town. Questions are abbreviated, answers are given as close to verbatim as humanly possible.

Will Barton Signs With Under Armour

Thu, 02 Aug 2012 15:48:00 -0700

I got the sense during the Las Vegas Summer League that rookie Will Barton might be close to signing with upstart sneaker/apparel company Under Armour. Both Barton, the 40th pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, and Under Armour are based out of Baltimore, so there's a connection there. And UA has continued to increase their stable of NBA players, including the likes of Brandon Jennings, Kemba Walker, DeAndre Jordan and Derrick Williams, after making their bones specializing in compression apparel most commonly associated with football, so a partnership between Barton and UA would seem to make sense for both parties.

Quick: Head Coaching Search Down To Two

Thu, 02 Aug 2012 10:38:00 -0700

According to Jason Quick of The Oregonian, the search for Portland's next head coach has been narrowed to two, with interim head coach Kaleb Canales and Mavericks assistant and former Bucks and Hawks head coach Terry Stotts making the penultimate cut:

Big Games Plan: 12 Of The Biggest Games

Thu, 26 Jul 2012 16:13:00 -0700

If you want to win an NBA Championship in this day and age, you better have at least two All-NBA players. While that may make it more difficult for the Trail Blazers to win a championship (at least this season) it does make it much easier to see your favorite NBA superstars. And the 12-game Big Game ticket plan is a great way to do so. Here's why.

Ford: Trail Blazers Offseason Get's A 'B'

Wed, 25 Jul 2012 10:24:00 -0700

The 2011-12 season ended back in April, but there's been no corresponding downtime at Trail Blazers HQ. Between hiring a new general manager, entering into a DLeague "hybrid" agreement with the Idaho Stampede, preparing for and conducting the draft, navigating free agency and fielding a team at the Las Vegas Summer League, there's scarcely been time to revel in the offseason. And we've still got a head coach to hire as well, so there's still work to be done. But, for the most part, things are starting to slow down in the NBA, as the August and September are really the only true "offseason" months for NBA teams. So now is as good a time as any to take stock of the team's performance as it pertains to reshaping the roster for the 2012-12 season.

Video: Nolan Smith Calls Concussion a 'Blessing In Disguise'

Sun, 22 Jul 2012 11:18:00 -0700

But one thing that absolutely cannot be questioned is Nolan's attitude toward his career and life in general. I've never meet person, let alone an NBA player, who, regardless of the situation, is always keeping his eye on the positive. You could dump hot coffee on his lap and he'd likely tell you, "No big deal. I was a little cold anyway." It's that fierce allegiance to remaining positive that allows Nolan to describe sustaining a concussion in the second game of the Las Vegas Summer League as a "blessing in disguise" while actually believing the words coming out of his mouth.

Video: Will Barton Got One, Too

Thu, 19 Jul 2012 19:57:00 -0700

Will Barton turned in his best performance of the Summer League, finishing with 14 points and five rebounds in 33 minutes. Barton also finished with two steals, one of which turned was capped off by an And 1 dunk in transition, the video which you can see above. Barton's finish takes a backseat to Lillard's on this night, but it's still a great jam on its' own merits. Guys who are all arms and legs, like Barton, add an aesthetic to dunking that makes for great replays.

Meyers Leonard: Cool Like Froyo

Thu, 19 Jul 2012 13:01:00 -0700

Plenty of people, myself included, eat yogurt for breakfast, but I've never seen someone eat frozen yogurt, as popular as it is these days, for breakfast. Or at least I hadn't, until Meyers Leonard strolled on to the team bus bound for morning practice with a backpack in one hand and a tub of froyo in the other. I thought perhaps it was just a on occasion thing, like eating pancakes for dinner, but then the same scene played out the exact same way the next day, though this time it was even earlier. So I can say with some authority that Meyers Leonard, at least on occasion, eats frozen yogurt for breakfast.

Allen: Nolan Smith Likely Out For Remainder Of Summer League

Tue, 17 Jul 2012 21:02:00 -0700

It's been a rough couple of days for Nolan Smith at the Las Vegas Summer League. After scoring 10 points in the first half of Sunday's victory against the New Orleans Hornets, Smith had to leave the game after rolling his left ankle. Nevertheless, he was able to start Tuesday's game against the Rockets. But in the waning moments of what ended up being a 99-88 loss to Houston, Smith took an elbow to the head from Zoran Dragic while driving to the hoop. After he landed, Smith rubbed his temple a few times, took a few wobbly step and then collapsed to the floor. He was attended to by medical staff for roughly 20 minutes before being taken away on a stretcher to a Las Vegas area hospital. Scary stuff.

What's In The Bag: Elliot Williams

Mon, 16 Jul 2012 16:21:00 -0700

We here at Trail Blazers HQ are always trying to find ways to give you a small glimpses into what it is like to be a professional basketball player. With that in mind, I present what will the first of what I hope will be a continuing series entitled "In The Bag" in which I show you what a member of the Trail Blazers is toting around. And yes, this is almost a complete ripoff of The Fader's excellent "The Things I Carry" series.

Video: Canales, Lillard and Leonard Post-Game

Mon, 16 Jul 2012 00:07:00 -0700

As Damian Lillard goes, so goes the Trail Blazers. Okay, it's far to early to make those kinds of statements, but, at least for one night in Las Vegas, the above statement proved truthful. When Lillard struggled in the first half, shooting just 2 of 10 from the field while committing as many turnovers (2) as assists, so too did Portland, eventually falling behind to the Hornets 46-29 at the break.

Wojnarowski: Trail Blazers Sign Hickson

Wed, 11 Jul 2012 19:07:00 -0700

Many assumed J.J. Hickson's brief stint with the Trail Blazers was over after the team declined to extend a the qualifying offer prior to the start of free agency. But it sounds like Hickson will be back on the bench for at least the 2012-13 season after, according to Yahoo! Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski, he signed a one-year deal Wednesday afternoon:

Ford: Trail Blazers Could Be A 'Real Option' For RFA Robin Lopez

Tue, 10 Jul 2012 10:17:00 -0700

On ESPN.com, Chad Ford puts together a "best of the rest" list as it pertains to both restricted and unrestricted free agents. And after Monday's report that the Pacers would match an offer to restricted free agent Roy Hibbert, Ford writes that restricted free agent center Robin Lopez, currently with the Suns, might be Portland's next best bet:

HoopsHype Asks Batum: 'Are You Going to Be Upset If You Have To Go Back To Portland?'

Tue, 10 Jul 2012 07:33:00 -0700

Jorge Sierra, the man behind NBA super site HoopsHype, posted a Q&A with Trail Blazers restricted free agent Nicolas Batum about free agency and the upcoming Olympics in London. It's worth a complete read, but the part Trail Blazers fans will probably be the most interested in pertains to Batum's ongoing free agent negotiations: Your agent has been very vocal about how you want to go to Minnesota, but you haven't spoken at all about the issue. Nicolas Batum: I just want to focus on the National Team right now. That's his job, to get a contract done. That's why I got an agent, that's his job.

Video: Rookies Live Chat

Mon, 09 Jul 2012 17:33:00 -0700

If you missed it live, we had rookies Will Barton, Meyers Leonard and Damian Lillard on www.trailblazers.tv to take your questions, which you can watch above. The discussions run the gamut from goals and expectations for their rookie seasons to social media. And Meyers even in a jab about my male pattern baldness. There's something for everyone.

Amick: Shawne Williams Buyout Finalized

Fri, 06 Jul 2012 11:35:00 -0700

Sam Amick of SportsIllustrated.com reports via Twitter that Shawne Williams, who the Trail Blazers acquired last season as a part of the trade that sent Gerald Wallace to New Jersey, has been bought out of his contract: Portland has finalized the buyout agreement with F Shawne Williams, per source. He was owed $3.1 million next season & joins free agent pool

Isola: Knicks Considering Sign-And-Trade For Ray Felton

Thu, 05 Jul 2012 08:06:00 -0700

Numerous reports out of New York today indicating that the Knicks could be interested in a sign-and-trade with the Trail Blazers in order to acquire unrestricted free agent point guard Raymond Felton. First, Frank Isola of the New York Daily News: Having lost out on their primary free agent target Steve Nash and with Jeremy Lin possibly signing an offer sheet with the Houston Rockets, the Knicks are committed to adding Felton, who finished last season with Portland.

Wolfson: No Verbal Agreement Between Batum And Timberwolves, Sign And Trade An Option

Mon, 02 Jul 2012 17:34:00 -0700

Darren Wolfson of ESPN Radio affiliate 1500ESPN Twin Cities reports that Nicolas Batum left a meeting with the Timberwolves without a verbal agreement for a new contract. But he also reports that a "team source" has told him a sign and trade between the Trail Blazers and Timberwolves is a very real possibility: According to a source with intimate knowledge of those discussions, Batum is the Wolves' Plan A in free agency -- and he told the Wolves he has legitimate interest in coming.

Wells: 'My personal feeling is I think Roy (Hibbert) will be in Portland next season'

Mon, 02 Jul 2012 16:14:00 -0700

Mike Wells, the Pacers beat writer for the Indianapolis Star, was on The Sports Insider with Brian Berger this morning on 750 AM The Game to discuss Roy Hibbert and the max contract the Portland Trail Blazers reportedly offered, in principle, over the weekend. Toward the end of the interview, which you can and should listen to in it's entirety here, Berger asks Wells to give his opinion on the likelihood of the Pacers matching the offer. Here is the response:

Haynes: Batum To Meet With Trail Blazers

Mon, 02 Jul 2012 15:57:00 -0700

Chris B. Haynes of Comcast SportsNet Northwest is reporting Nicolas Batum will meet with the Trail Blazers before making his decision on signing an offer sheet from another team: As a courtesy, Batum wants to hear the Trail Blazers' pitch before he proceeds to gauge the interest level of other teams, the same source says.

Ford: Pacers 'On The Fence' With Regard To Matching Portland's Reported Offer

Mon, 02 Jul 2012 11:20:00 -0700

Ever since the Trail Blazers reportedly offered Indiana restricted free agent Roy Hibbert a 4-year max contract, the conventional wisdom has been that the Pacers will match. But sounds like some people aren't so sure. Chad Ford, for instance, believes it's basically a coin flip.

Haynes: Timberwolves Make 'Serious Offer' To RFA Nicolas Batum

Sun, 01 Jul 2012 09:22:00 -0700

I've been hearing for a few months that the Timberwolves were interested in acquiring restricted free agent Nicolas Batum, and early this morning, according to Chris B. Haynes of Comcast SportsNet Northwest, Minnesota has taken steps to do just that. Portland Trail Blazers restricted free agent forward, Nicolas Batum, has been contacted by the Minnesota Timberwolves and what is being called a "serious offer," has been made and discussed and the two sides will meet in Minnesota later today to deliberate on it further, according to a source very close to the situation.

Damian Lillard: 'Nobody Wanted To Be Me'

Thu, 28 Jun 2012 22:02:00 -0700

Ask Damian Lillard what he goes by and he'll tell you "everybody calls me Dame," though it wasn't long ago that almost nobody knew who who he was. If you followed high school basketball in Oakland, were a fan of Weber State or lived in Utah, you might have heard the name. But for the most part, Lillard toiled in relative obscurity in Ogden, UT. All that changed once Lillard started to impress scouts by the quality of his performances at the Chicago Pre-Draft Camp and in individual workouts with teams like the Trail Blazers. Suddenly Lillard had, for the first time in his young adult life, earned a little bit of profile, so much so that a guy who even hardcore NBA fans couldn't have picked out a lineup had people trying to assume his identity on Twitter.

Quick: Trail Blazers Targets Down To Four

Thu, 28 Jun 2012 07:51:00 -0700

Jason Quick of The Oregonian gets what are likely the last public comments from Trail Blazers general manager Neil Olshey before everyone goes into lockdown prior to tonight's NBA Draft. And while nothing is set in stone, it does sound like the primary approach is to just use the picks.

Berger: Rockets Trying To Trick Trail Blazers?

Wed, 27 Jun 2012 16:17:00 -0700

An interesting little line item from Ken Berger over at CBSSports.com regarding the Trail Blazers, Rockets and Damian Lillard: Word in front office circles has been consistent that the Rockets' target is Connecticut 7-footer Andre Drummond, although some executives openly wondered Wednesday if that was a smokescreen.

Amick: Trail Blazers Trying To Move Up, Rivers An Option At No. 6

Wed, 27 Jun 2012 10:15:00 -0700

Some good tidbits from SI.com's Sam Amick in his latest mock draft. Some of these rumors are starting to take on a similar theme. First up, Amick writes the Trail Blazers are one of a plethora of teams trying to move up to the No. 2 spot, presumably to draft Kansas big man Thomas Robinson:

Kawakami: Trail Blazers Could Take Austin Rivers At No. 6

Wed, 27 Jun 2012 09:31:00 -0700

The consensus in the media seems to be that at No. 6, the Trail Blazers will select either Damian Lillard or Andre Drummond, but according to Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury News, Portland might have someone else in mind: NBA source said yesterday that it's possible Austin Rivers goes to Portland at 6 and likely Barnes goes to GSWs at 7 or to Toronto at 8.

If We Had More Players, Fewer Picks, We'd Already Have A Coach

Tue, 26 Jun 2012 11:23:00 -0700

Since his first day on the job, Neil Olshey has stated the team would wait until after the draft to turn attention to finding a new head coach. That's still the plan. But in an article by Scott Howard Cooper today on NBA.com, Olshey explains the reason for waiting to hire a coach isn't due solely to time constraints brought on by draft preparation. The roster composition is an important factor as well. Says Olshey ...

Haynes: Numerous Teams Interested In Trading For Jamal Crawford

Tue, 26 Jun 2012 09:41:00 -0700

Chris B. Haynes over at CSNNW.com is reporting that several teams, including the Sixers, Timberwolves and Celtics, have interest in trading for Jamal Crawford The Portland Trail Blazers are fielding trade offers for guard Jamal Crawford and the Philadelphia 76ers, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Boston Celtics are among the teams actively pursuing the scoring specialist intensely, a league source tells CSNNW.com.

Three Months After Shoulder Surgery, Elliot Williams Is Ahead Of Schedule

Fri, 22 Jun 2012 16:12:00 -0700

Elliot Williams, at just 23 years old, is likely one of the most patient guys you're going to find in the NBA. He bided his time after missing the entirety of what would have been his rookie season after undergoing surgery to remedy patellar subluxation (basically a fancy word for chronic knee dislocations) in both knees. Then, during the 2011-12 season, after showing glimpses of elite athleticism and a smooth shooting stroke, Williams missed the final 27 games of a 66-game schedule after dislocating his left shoulder during a practice in Boston on March 8. No injury ever comes at a good time, but for Williams, dislocating his shooting arm came at the worst possible time, seeing as how the 6-5 guard was expected to see an increase in minutes as Portland's emphasis went from making the playoffs to developing young talent on the roster.

Beck: Arbitrator Grants Full Bird-Rights For J.J. Hickson

Fri, 22 Jun 2012 11:46:00 -0700

Howard Beck of the New York Times is reporting the arbitration regarding whether teams that claim players off waivers retain Bird rights has been settled. And from the sound of it, it's good news for the Trail Blazers, at least if they want to re-sign JJ Hickson. The ruling means that both Lin and Steve Novak of the Knicks will be able to re-sign with the team without respect to the salary cap, for a starting salary around $5 million each. Just as critically, it means that the Knicks will not need to use their midlevel exception to sign either player, which will allow them to use that slot for another free agent.

Joel Freeland: 'The NBA Is Where I'd Like To Be'

Fri, 22 Jun 2012 10:47:00 -0700

As mentioned in the previous post, the Trail Blazers are in Houston to meet with English big man Joel Freeland, whose right are owned by Portland. Ever since the Trail Blazers drafted Freeland with the 30th pick in the 2006 NBA Draft, many have questioned when the English national would make his NBA debut, or if he ever would. From the looks of it, that question is about to be answered. It sounds like Freeland is ready to give the NBA go, whether it's with the Trail Blazers or another team.

Video: Come For Joel Freeland, Stay For Arvydas Sabonis

Fri, 22 Jun 2012 08:17:00 -0700

Neil Olshey and probably a few members of the Trail Blazers' front office will be in Houston this weekend to watch Joel Freeland practice with the Great Britain national team as they prepare for a friendly against the Lithuanian national team on Saturday. You would suspect the team and Freeland will try to feel out whether it makes sense for the 30th pick in the 2006 Draft to make his NBA debut next season. But while Olshey is in Houston to scout a big man whose rights the Trail Blazers currently own, maybe another big man who is already a franchise legend will also catch his eye as the team looks to fill a gaping hole at the center position. Arvydas Sabonis, president of the Lithuanian Basketball Federation, Hall of Famer and beloved Trail Blazers alumnus, is in Houston with the Lithuanian team for the friendly against Great Britain, and as you can see in the video, Sabonis is on the court playing post defense, throwing no-look pass after no-look pass and generally making life difficult for some young fel

Wesley Matthews' Offseason Shoe Game Workout

Thu, 21 Jun 2012 11:45:00 -0700

"I've always been a sneakerhead," said Wesley Matthews. "I think they might be one of the biggest fashion statements you can make, your shoes and how you accessorize." So it's no surprise that during a trip to one of the world's fashion capitals, New York City, Matthews visited the Kixclusive sneaker boutique in SoHo (which Matthews described as a "little hole in the wall") to do something he rarely does: purchase shoes.

June 20 Workout: Video Interviews

Wed, 20 Jun 2012 16:36:00 -0700

Strong group of players at today's workout at the practice facility in Tualatin. Austin Rivers (Duke), Kendall Marshall (UNC), Terrence Ross (Washington/Jefferson HS), Tony Wroten Jr. (Washington), and Moe Harkless (St. John's) are all expected to go in the first round, making today's workout likely the most star-studded we'll see before the draft in June 28. Any one of these players could be Trail Blazers come next week, so might as well take the opportunity to get to know them a little better now. If you'd like to watch today's live show. you can do so here. For individual interviews, peep the videos below.

Arvydas Sabonis Goes USO

Wed, 20 Jun 2012 08:48:00 -0700

We'll be live at the practice facility once again for today's workout, which is expected to have some big names. Check out www.trailblazers.tv around 11 AM for live interviews. But let's take a quick break from all the draft talk to enjoy this terrific photo gallery of Arvydas Sabonis visiting the Rukla Military Base in Lithuania. There's Classic Sabonis looking at items inquisitively, in this case above, an assault rifle.

Ford: Blazers Considering Collison, Bledsoe, Turner, Millsap

Tue, 19 Jun 2012 13:29:00 -0700

Chad Ford wrote yesterday that the Trail Blazers could go any number of directions when it comes to draft strategy. One of those options is trading the pick for a veteran, an approach that some in the organization have alluded to a couple of times as a likely scenario. Sans specifics, of course. In a chat today on ESPN.com, Ford contemplates Portland's options and throws out a few names of veterans who the Trail Blazers could be interested in acquiring should they decided to trade the 11th pick.

Ford: Portland Could Do Anything

Mon, 18 Jun 2012 13:52:00 -0700

Less than two weeks away from the 2012 Draft, and outside of the Hornets selecting Anthony Davis with the first overall pick, there doesn't seem to be much consensus as to what the other 29 teams in the NBA will be doing come June 28. Case in point: On ESPN.com today, Chad Ford notes that "uncertainty reigns" when it comes to everything after Davis. And that goes double for the Trail Blazers.

Hollinger: 'I Don't Think It's A Rebuild' And Other Portland Thoughts

Thu, 14 Jun 2012 10:37:00 -0700

Today's chat on ESPN.com with John Hollinger is full of interesting Trail Blazers bits, which is to be expected when you being the chat with a mention of Portland's coffee shops. Please to enjoy Hollinger's thoughts on Portland's draft and free agent strategies and coaching options.

Ford: Blazers Taking Lillard, Lamb In Newest Mock Draft

Wed, 13 Jun 2012 11:08:00 -0700

Today is the start of a three-day predraft workout marathon at the practice facility. Should be exciting. And just in time, ESPN.com's Chad Ford released the seventh iteration of his mock draft, and he has the Trail Blazers taking some familiar names.

Olshey: Team Narrowing Down Draft Targets

Tue, 12 Jun 2012 17:22:00 -0700

Trail Blazers general manager Neil Olshey just wrapped up a pretty good interview on 1080 The Fan's "PrimeTime with Issac and Suke," which you can listen to here. Olshey answers questions about his hiring, his relationship with Paul Allen (who Olshey said will be at tomorrow's workouts), the head coaching search and, of course, the upcoming draft. It's worth a listen, so I'm not going to transcribe the whole thing here, but I Olshey stating that the team has got their targets nailed down to a small group of players is a good jumping off point for the start of predraft workouts tomorrow.

Transcript: Neil Olshey on Trail Blazers Courtside

Mon, 11 Jun 2012 19:38:00 -0700

Neil Olshey: Well, we're open to anything right now. Clearly we have a lot of roster flexibility. We have two very valuable picks in what is a deep draft. There are a lot of starters in this draft. I don't know how many superstars there are but there are definitely NBA-caliber starters. We're going to exhaust every resource we have.

Ford: Blazers Could Trade 6 and 11 for 2, pick Bradley Beal

Fri, 01 Jun 2012 09:01:00 -0700

Yesterday we asked what you would do with the 6th and 11th pick. Keep both? Trade both? Trade one, keep the other? Everyone has an opinion, and there's great arguments to be made for all sides. And today, ESPN.com's Chad Ford throws out a scenario that, if you're in the "trade both picks" camp, might make your heart jump, especially if you're a fan of shooting guards from Florida:

Amick: Don't Count Buchanan Out Yet

Thu, 31 May 2012 12:38:00 -0700

Yesterday, team owner Paul Allen tweeted that the general manager search was down to four candidates. If reports are to be believed, those four candidates are Jeff Bower, David Morway, Neil Olshey and Tony DiLeo. But according to SI.com's Sam Amick, don't count acting general manager Chad Buchanan out of the mix just yet.

John Hollinger With An Interesting Proposal

Thu, 31 May 2012 10:23:00 -0700

It hasn't even been 24 hours since the Trail Blazers secured the 6th and 11th picks in the 2012 Draft, and fans and pundits alike are already coming up with all kinds of interesting ways to utilize those two assets. One of the best suggestions I've seen, one that seems to make sense for both teams, was proposed by John Hollinger in a fan chat on ESPN.com

Ford: And Portland Picks ...

Wed, 30 May 2012 18:19:00 -0700

So now we know. The Trail Blazers will have the 6th and 11th picks in the 2012 NBA Draft. It's about as good of a turnout as we could realistically expect. Sometimes it's good to be greedy, but this wasn't one of those times. And almost as soon as the picks were released, new mock drafts from NBA pundits followed. Chad Ford, one of the foremost experts when it comes to the NBA Draft, released his fifth mock draft, and both of Portland's picks are players he hadn't had going to Portland in his previous mocks.

Allen: GM Search Down To Four

Wed, 30 May 2012 09:15:00 -0700

Yesterday, both Jason Quick and Chris Haynes reported that the search for a general manager was down to four finalists: David Morway, Neil Oshay, Jeff Bower and Tony Dileo. All experienced, qualified candidates. And today, the man himself, Mr. Paul G. Allen, confirms that the search is down to four. Via his twitter account:

Video: Predraft Workouts Begin

Tue, 29 May 2012 16:46:00 -0700

We'll have more video from Tuesday's predraft workout with Tyler Zeller (center, UNC), Meyers Leonard (center, Illinois), Casper Ware (point guard, Long Beach State), Kris Joseph (forward, Syracuse), Garrett Sim (point guard, Oregon) and Kent Bazemore (Old Dominion) later this week, but in the interim, you can watch today's live show from Tualatin. There's some light shooting drills along with interviews with Chad Buchanan, Zeller, Leonard and Sim. Give it a watch if you weren't able to join us live.

Freeman: Tyler Zeller, Meyers Leonard Headline Tuesday Workout

Mon, 28 May 2012 12:26:00 -0700

The Trail Blazers will conduct their first predraft workout at the practice facility on Tuesday, and according to the Oregonian's Joe Freeman, two centers likely to be selected in the first round will be center stage. Via Freeman's twitter account: The #Blazers 6-player workout will include: Tyler Zeller, C, UNC; Meyers Leonard, C, Illinois; Garrett Sim, G, Oregon, Casper Ware, G, Long Beach State; Kent Bazemore, G, Old Dominion; Kris Joseph, SF, Syracuse.

Jerry Sloan Doesn't Deal In Hypotheticals

Fri, 25 May 2012 10:00:00 -0700

Regardless of your opinion of Jerry Sloan as a coach, you have to love the way he deals with questions about his future. While some enjoy speculating and/or outright fabricating when it comes to various coaching vacancies, including Portland's, Sloan treats rumors of his next move with the same contempt he showed for lazy defense, ill-advised shot attempts and poor officiating during 23 seasons as Utah's head coach.

2012 NBA Draft By Position: Point Guard

Thu, 24 May 2012 09:41:00 -0700

In an offseason full of important decisions, finding a long term solution at point guard might be the most pressing. There is now a whole generation of Trail Blazers fans who have never known stability at arguably the most important position in basketball. Case in point: Portland has had a different starting point guard in six of the last eight season openers. That has to change.

Buchanan Discusses New Jersey Predraft Workouts

Mon, 21 May 2012 15:38:00 -0700

"In two days, there were four separate workouts, we saw 48 players," said Chad Buchanan. "This is the one workout where they're allowed to play 5-on-5. The NBA permits one workout where draft prospects can play five-on-five and this is the one that has been permitted by the league to allow that. It's 48 kids coming through over the course of two days, pretty much the entire league is represented there. You get to see a lot of guys in a short amount of time. The teams split the cost of running the workout. It's a very cost efficient way to see a lot of kids in a short amount of time."

Hollinger: Steve Nash To Portland Always A Possibility

Thu, 17 May 2012 10:51:00 -0700

One of the most enduring rumors in the NBA is Portland's interest in acquiring future Hall of Fame point guard Steve Nash. And the combination of Nash being an unrestricted free agent and the Trail Blazers having, for the first time in recent memory, significant money to spend on free agents this offseason is only going to stoke those flames.

Chad Ford Sums Up The GM Search

Wed, 16 May 2012 11:45:00 -0700

During a live chat today, ESPN.com Insider Chad Ford takes a question, as we often do here at Trail Blazers HQ, about the general manager search, and he makes a very salient point that seems to get lost in the shuffle when people concern themselves with how long the process is taking.

Quick Talks GM, Head Coach and Free Agency On Courtside

Tue, 15 May 2012 11:11:00 -0700

The Oregonian's Jason Quick joined this week's edition of Trail Blazers Courtside, which you can watch above, to discuss many of the important topic pertaining to the 2012 offseason in Portland. He has some very interesting things to say about the search for both a new general manager and coach, as well as free agency and reports that team owner Paul Allen is considering selling the team. I transcribed a lot of the finer points, which you can read below, though I would encourage you to watch the full show nevertheless.

Hollinger: Trail Blazers Understand Restricted Free Agency

Thu, 10 May 2012 11:23:00 -0700

Nicolas Batum's status as a restricted free agent is one of the main topics of conversation this offseason. Will the team now have to overpay to retain him? What other teams are interested? How much is too much? And so on and so forth.

But I think what fans question the most is the decision to let Batum enter restricted free agency in the

Quick: General Manager Search Heating Up

Tue, 08 May 2012 08:52:00 -0700

The process of determining targets for the 2012 draft is already well underway, and from the sounds of it, the general manager search is making some headway as well. In an interview with Jason Quick of The Oregonian, team president Larry Miller drops some specifics on where the Trail Blazers are at in the process, which has been going on, in earnest, since before the end of the regular season.

ESPN Offers Differing Opinions On Portland's Draft Strategy

Thu, 03 May 2012 14:50:00 -0700

John Hollinger: "Every indication is that the Blazers want to use their picks in a trade to get some immediate help, and then dive into free agency, and then at the end of all that re-sign Batum. They aren't interested in rebuilding while they have an All-Star power forward in his prime."

Buchanan On Courtside: Free Agency Flexibility And Draft Picks For Sale

Tue, 01 May 2012 09:59:00 -0700

Chad Buchanan on Courtside: Ideally, I think that's our No. 1 thing we have to address this offseason is finding a long term starting point guard. This free agent group is fairly strong, there might be some trade opportunities out there, but that's No. 1 for us with this team, trying to find a long term starting solution at point guard. Being able to find that and retain Nic was appealing to us. We might be able to find a starting point guard and a starting center and then match on an offer from Nic or just extend Nic ourselves with our own offer. We felt like that was more important to us than getting Nic done then maybe having the room to sign one, a center for a point guard. We wanted to kind of have our cake and eat it to, I guess you could say.

Ford Picks Barnes, Zeller In Fourth Mock Draft

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 11:04:00 -0700

A few days ago, ESPN.com's David Thorpe picked Kendall Marshall (who has already showing interest in a local sports team) as the player in this year's draft who is the "perfect fit" for the Trail Blazers. He noted that the sixth pick -- the pick the odds say Portland is most likely to have via the New Jersey/Brooklyn Nets -- might be too high to select Marshall, but that no one would care about that when he became Portland's long-term answer at the point. Today, Thorpe's colleague at ESPN.com, Chad Ford, put out the fourth iteration of his 2012 mock draft, and from the looks of it, he's a proponent of the "best player available" strategy. With the sixth pick, Ford has the Trail Blazers taking North Carolina wing Harrison Barnes.

VIDEO: Heading For The Exits

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 19:08:00 -0700

Exit interviews always come too early for all but one team each season, but this year's wrap up at the practice facility came far, far too soon. Technically, Portland's 2011-12 season ended only a few days later than the end of the 2010-11 season, but that season came to a close with a loss to the eventual World Champions. Neither could be considered a "good loss," but at least last year's conclusion came in the postseason. A regular season loss to the Jazz in Salt Lake City is no substitute.

David Thorpe Says Kendall Marshall Is 'The Perfect Fit' For Portland

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 10:26:00 -0700

ESPN.com's David Thorpe, who has worked in player development for years and is executive director of the highly-regarded Pro Training Center in Florida, has been going through the lottery teams and picking out which player in the draft would best fill needs of said lottery team. Today he turns his attention to the Trail Blazers. It's a great article that, if you has ESPN Insider, is well worth your time (he also says the Trail Blazers are "not your typical sad-sack lottery team" and calls Nicolas Batum a "potential all-star," thus proving that there are non-Trail Blazers fans who think he's got a higher ceiling than some would lead you to believe).

'Finding Portland' Finds The Rose Garden

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 11:24:00 -0700

The "Finding Portland" video above has been making the rounds through Portland's digital community this morning, and with good reason. It's an incredible piece of time lapse photography focusing on the beauty of the city. Luckily, Uncage The Soul Productions, which created the video, stopped at the Rose Garden to capture a game night, which gives me more than enough reason to post the video. It's only a few seconds around the 2 minute mark, but it's still pretty neat. And the Timbers fans out there will want to watch for a few seconds after the Rose Garden's cameo is over.

No New Unis

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 14:50:00 -0700

A viewer on today's edition of Just Casey noted there was a rumor that the Trail Blazers were going to modify, or all out change, their current uniforms. I had heard nothing of the sort, but I don't typically get apprised of such things, so I figured maybe there was something to it. Turns out, that's not the case. Team owner Paul Allen, via his Twitter account, was asked the same question, maybe even by the same person, about the team debuting a new jersey next season. To which he replied ...

Larry Miller and Chad Buchanan Discuss Medical Staff on Courtside

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 11:00:00 -0700

Both Larry Miller and Chad Buchanan were guests on Trail Blazers Courtside on Tuesday night to discuss multiple topics. One topic came up in regards to the teams medical staff. Mike Barrett: When we landed in Sacramento, Joel Przybilla was whisked away in a separate car, as we know he has the bone spurs on the ankle and then he tells us he was a guinea pig for this European cold sauna where it is 200 degrees below zero. How often do you guys try new things, or are open minded when it comes to grabbing a veteran like Joel, and throwing him in to try new stuff?

Staying Luke Warm The Rest Of The Season

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 17:17:00 -0700

Luke Babbitt, as pointed out by Matt Calkins in an excellent profile of the second-year forward, can finish the season leading the NBA in three-point percentage. All he needs to do is make seven or more three-pointers while keeping his shooting percentage roughly above 46 percent in the final four games. Why seven? It breaks down like this. In a regular 82-game NBA season, a player needs to make at least 55 three-pointers to "qualify" for the league leaders list in three-point percentage. But in this lockout-shortened 66-game season, a player needs 44 three-point makes to qualify. Why 44? Because 66 games (the number of games this season) divided by 82 games (the number of games in a regular NBA season) times 55 (the number of three-pointers needed to qualify in a regular NBA season) equals 44.26. And since you can't make one quarter of a three-pointer, we round down and come to 44 made three-pointers.

In Portland, Green Week Works

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 21:45:00 -0700

If you haven't yet noticed, it's the NBA's annual Green Week. It's a time when the league focuses on ways teams and their fans can have a positive impact on the environment. Of course here in Portland, every week is green week. That's not to say that other teams aren't walking the sustainable walk for all but seven days a season, but it's safe to say the Trail Blazers, by virtue of being located in Portland, pay more attention to mitigating their environmental impact than most.

Hoop Summit's Westermann Gets Batum's Approval

Fri, 06 Apr 2012 15:11:00 -0700

Asking Nicolas Batum about the French players participating in the Nike Hoop Summit, which is takes place this Saturday at the Rose Garden (tickets still available here), has become someone of a tradition. Usually I'll bring it up, but this time, it was Batum who initiated the conversation by stating his belief that Leo Westermann, a 6-7 point guard who plays for French club team ASVEL Lyon-Villeurbanne, could be Tony Parker's eventual replacement at point for Les Bleus.

Video: J.J. Hickson Dunk Day In L.A.

Fri, 30 Mar 2012 22:49:00 -0700

While Portland was unable to secure a win, we did get an extended glimpse into the abilities of a properly motivated Hickson. He finished the night with 29 points, most of those coming in the paint, and 13 rebounds in his first start as a Trail Blazer. When you shoot 68 percent from the field, you know you're getting good shots. And in J.J.'s case, those shots came by the way of rim-assaulting dunks, including a finish over DeAndre Jordan, on national television no less, that will not be soon forgotten. Just punishment.

Let A Joel Przybilla Smile Be Your Umbrella

Fri, 23 Mar 2012 17:05:00 -0700

The Portland Trail Blazers wanted to bring Joel Przybilla back into the fold, in part, because they knew what they were going to get. Tough guy, big body, post defense, hard fouls, veteran leadership and the like. But Joel Przybilla 2.0 has a few new feature sets. Granted, it's the paint-clogging and screen-setting that makes Przybilla an important piece of a team fighting to get back into the playoff race, but he's consciously trying to expand his repertoire, something you may have noticed since he was inserted into the starting lineup before the victory against the Bulls in Chicago. For the first time, at least with any kind of consistency, Przybilla is trying to put the ball on the floor.

Quotes Before Coming Home

Sun, 18 Mar 2012 23:24:00 -0700

The Trail Blazers finished a seven-game road trip Sunday night with a 111-95 loss to the Thunder in Oklahoma City. And while a win would have been the preferred outcome, there seemed to be some solace taken in knowing they played better at the end of the trip than they did at the finish. The following quotes from Raymond Felton, Joel Przybilla and LaMarcus Aldridge in the post-game locker room all contain a twinge of optimism we've not seen out of this team even after victories (save the most recent against the Bulls).

Video: Smile When You're Winning

Fri, 16 Mar 2012 21:07:00 -0700

Friday night's 100-89 victory against the Bulls in Chicago has to be one of the most improbable wins that I can remember, at least in the nearly five years I've been with the team. After ... I don't need to rundown all of the vicissitudes of the last couple of days again, but suffice it to say, this one takes a good bit of sting out of what has been a rough road trip.

Dispatches From The Road: I'm Glad We Were Here Together In Our Nation's Capital

Sat, 10 Mar 2012 22:44:00 -0800

I was expecting to hear Marcus Camby say he was angry for being ejected from Saturday night's game (and the subsequent fine that comes along with it) after a tussle with Wizards forward Kevin Seraphin. And I'm sure Camby was upset, but anger wasn't the emotion that he singled out when talking about the incident. "I hate coming out of ball games and being forced to get ejected," said Camby. "That hasn't happened in a while for me. I felt embarrassed, me being a captain, I wanted to be out there for my team in the second half.

First Is The Worst

Fri, 09 Mar 2012 08:03:00 -0800

It's often said that it's not how you start, it's how you finish. And while it's true that no team in the NBA has ever beaten another simply by winning the first quarter, you hardly put yourself in a position to finish strong when you're spending the final three quarters of a game climbing out of a hole you dug for yourself in the first.

Video: LaMarcus Aldridge on 106 & Park

Wed, 29 Feb 2012 09:42:00 -0800

The All Star Break officially ended yesterday, but since we don't play until tonight (tipoff at 6 PM on CSN 37 and 750 AM) there's still time to squeeze in one last video of LaMarcus Aldridge in Orlando. This one comes courtesy of 106th & Park's "Ballin' Like All Stars" series on BET. A camera crew follows LaMarcus around for some behind-the-scenes footage at All-Star Weekend.

Video: LaMarcus Aldridge On Portlandia

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 15:29:00 -0800

I'm not entirely sure how much you can take from a 45 second clip, but at first glance, LaMarcus is a darn good actor! I've seen how hard it is to get guys to deliver lines believably during media day, and that's in a much more relaxed setting. I almost believed LaMarcus and Penny Marshall were an actual item.

NBA.com Grades Are In

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 09:47:00 -0800

Tonight's game against the Lakers (7:30 PM Pacific start time on TNT, or more accurately, whenever the early game, in this case Celtics v. Mavericks, gets over) marks the halfway point of the season. And with the All-Star break just a few days away, you're likely to see a bunch of mid-season reviews over the next week. NBA.com's Sekou Smith, like so many teachers before an extended holiday, already has his grading out of the way, and he's given the Trail Blazers' performance this season a B-.

LaMarcus Aldridge Takes Steps To Return

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 23:57:00 -0800

Seeing LaMarcus Aldridge limp off the court Tuesday night might be the only event that took place in the Rose Garden this week that was more painful to watch than Portland's 11-point fourth quarter in Thursday night's loss to the Clippers. As tough as it was to watch, it was far tougher to live through.

LaMarcus Aldridge Doesn't Fear Double Jeopardy

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 13:13:00 -0800

There’s a certain amount of validation one feels after being named to an All-Star team. Confidence, for the most part, has to come from within, but there is something to be said for being recognized by your peers as one of the best players in the league. But there are two sides to that coin. While the ego boost that comes with being named one of the best of the best is nice, it also brings a level of added attention from your opponents, something LaMarcus Aldridge, just one day removed from being named a Western Conference All-Star for the first time in his career, experienced Friday night in the form of constant double-teams from the Hornets in New Orleans.

February Is The Cruelest Month For LaMarcus Aldridge's Opponents

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 17:04:00 -0800

Not many folks out there likely consider February their favorite month, at least among those of us residing in the northern hemisphere. LaMarcus Aldridge might be an exception. While he may enjoy the sun of the summer months to the wind and rain of February, he surely takes great pleasure in his performances during the second month of the year.

Jan. 31 Just Casey: Live From The PF

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 17:19:00 -0800

Greetings friends. If you missed it live, please enjoy Tuesday's edition of Just Casey, which took place at the practice facility. Guests include Marcus Camby, Jamal Crawford, Elliot Williams and Nicolas Batum. Also included is footage for a short, halfcourt scrimmage, Nate McMillan taking questions from the media and Armon Johnson blowing kisses to the camera. Give it a watch.

Highlights: Trail Blazers 109, Suns 71

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 23:04:00 -0800

Blowouts are always a great opportunity to get some highlights in, and the Trail Blazers did just that tonight in their 109-71 victory Friday night against the Phoenix Suns. And that goes double when you're blowing out a team who blew YOU out earlier in the season.

Here are some of the top plays from Friday night's victory, along with some commentary from

The Rhino Waits For No One

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 16:40:00 -0800

Eighteen seconds, eight seconds, forty-one seconds, fifteen seconds. These are not the average attention spans of American teenagers or the timing of the traffic signals on West Burnside. Those numbers are actually the amount of time it has taken for Craig "The Rhino" Smith to put up his first shot after checking in during the last four games versus the Grizzlies, Kings, Pistons and Raptors. In all four of those games, Smith took a shot on Portland's first offensive possession after his number was called by Coach Nate McMillan. When "The Rhino" gets in the game, he's looking to get buckets.

LaMarcus Aldridge And Now, The Envelope Please

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 11:54:00 -0800

When we arrive at hotels on the road, there’s usually a table set up in the lobby upon which various items sit. Things like bottles of water or Gatorade, cookies, fruit and those stubby glass bottles of pop that only hotels seem to stock. But the most important item, one that is a sight for sore eyes when you’re arriving well after 2 AM in the morning, is the envelope containing the keycard for your room and a sheet of paper that lists everyone’s room number and the location of the room the team will use for catered meals and meetings. On the front of each envelope is the first initial and last name of whomever it happens to belong to, with the room number typically handwritten on the flap. It’s a system far superior to the alternative of having 30-some odd people traveling with the team going to the front desk one-by-one to check in.

Wesley Matthews' Own Personal Temple Run

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 20:49:00 -0800

There’s a game for IPhone and IPad called "Temple Run" that is described by a site that reviews games developed for mobile devices, SlideToPlay.com, as follows: "In pretty much every treasure hunting adventure movie there’s one specific scene in which the plucky hero finally gets his hands on the treasure but then has to navigate a maze of booby traps in order to get out alive. Temple Run is this scene and nothing else.” The game has gained a significant level of popularity and pop culture notoriety similar to what was seen during the “Angry Birds” craze of 2011. Various members of the Trail Blazers, whom, even with this season’s condensed schedule, have a fair amount of idle time, enjoy playing the game (and talking trash about their scores on Twitter) as well.

Talking A Big Game

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 21:52:00 -0800

There was a time when LaMarcus Aldridge, when asked about being a leader, would note he was the type of person who preferred to lead with his play, rather than his words, do the talking. And at the time, it wasn’t that big of a deal. Brandon Roy was around to say what needed to be said, both on the court and in the locker room, and that gave Aldridge the luxury of

If The Gucci Loafer Fits, Kurt Thomas and Craig Smith Will Wear It

Sat, 14 Jan 2012 01:27:00 -0800

Kurt Thomas and Craig Smith were the last Trail Blazers to leave the locker room after Portland’s 98-78 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers January 8 at the Rose Garden. As Thomas headed toward the exits, he made a quick stop at Smith’s locker in an effort to thwart a potential disaster in the making. Smith was slowly tending to the last few buttons on his shirt when Thomas pointed down at a pair of black and white Gucci loafers placed neatly on the carpet.

Highlights: Trail Blazers 105, Clippers 97

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 23:39:00 -0800

Of the two teams playing at the Rose Garden Tuesday night, the Los Angeles Clippers have the high-flying, highlight-producing reputation, hence the whole "Lob City" moniker. But the Trail Blazers, having moved away from a more deliberate, halfcourt oriented offense, are fast becoming more frequent members of the Top Ten Plays crowd. And Tuesday night, the number of Trail Blazers highlights far surpassed those executed by the Clippers. In short, the Blazers beat the Clippers at their own game. The following are some of Portland's best plays from Tuesday's 105-97 victory. There's a little something for everyone, unless, of course, your a Clippers fan. I've got nothing for you guys.

Video: David Aldridge And Frank Isola Show Love

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 08:01:00 -0800

David Aldridge has long been one of my favorite NBA scribes, and he does nothing to change that opinion on today's edition of "The Beat" on NBA.com. Aldridge, along with Frank Isola of the New York Daily News and NBA TV, talk up our beloved Trail Blazers while discussing the best teams in the West and the worst teams in the East. Pretty easy to figure out where we fit in that equation.

Gerald Wallace, Reluctance and Windmills

Fri, 06 Jan 2012 01:32:00 -0800

Gerald Wallace possesses elite athleticism, even for an NBA player, but you’d hardly know it sometimes. His physical prowess is often on display when going toe-to-toe with the likes of Kevin Durant and Kobe Bryant all within a 72-hour window, but when it comes showing off his vertical, Wallace chooses, more often than not, to play it low. Part of that can be attributed to his down-to-earth, understated southern swagger, with yet another factor being self-preservation. The guy hits the hardwood more frequently than just about any player in the league, so any activity that might lead to yet another collision with the court is avoided like grim death. Wallace is often times so averse to finishing above the rim that he makes plays more difficult than they have to be, if he’s able to finish them at all. There have been numerous occasions during this young season in which Wallace has tried to tip the ball in rather than slamming it home, and with mixed results.

Marcus Camby And Champagne Every Night

Sat, 31 Dec 2011 17:13:00 -0800

After our first three home games this season, I’ve stood near the back of the locker room waiting for the crowd of reporters to disperse, trying not to be a part of the huddle mass of media who, through no real fault of their own, keep the players from being able to dress. You typically get better answers when you’re talking to players in smaller groups anyway, and since I’m not usually writing on deadline, I have the extra time to bide after games that most journalists simply don’t. I typically wait out the horde near Marcus Camby’s locker, which is near the corner of locker room, closest to the exit. And since the two lockers nearest Camby’s, those of strength and conditioning coach Bobby Medina and player development director Dean Cooper, are rarely occupied, he’s is afforded more personal space in the post-game locker room than most. So while LaMarcus Aldridge, Jamal Crawford, Gerald Wallace and Raymond Felton have to cut a path through a sea of reporters to get to their lockers, many times while donni

Ray Felton Schools Nolan Smith On The Tricks Of The Trade

Tue, 27 Dec 2011 17:02:00 -0800

Raymond Felton had been laying the groundwork for an opening night prank since before the start of training camp, though it's unlikely he knew it at the time. He was just trying to be a good vet by taking rookie guard Nolan Smith under his wing, offering advice on the intricacies of playing the point in the NBA. He even had the rookie and his family over for Christmas dinner. And Smith was appreciative.

My 2011-12 Season Predictions

Mon, 26 Dec 2011 10:06:00 -0800

The regular season is finally upon us. And after watching a full slate of Christmas Day games, I'm geeked to get the 2011-12 season underway tonight.

But before that, here are my predictions for the Trail Blazers and the league in general. Predictions are always a craps shoot, but in this late-starting, 66-game season, my guess is that these educated guesses

Basketball Is Back At Wells Fargo Fan Fest

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 22:27:00 -0800

After seven months of dormancy, Trail Blazers basketball returned to the Rose Garden Friday night. It was only an intrasquad scrimmage, with the “White” team, comprised mostly of the presumed starters, beating the “Black” team of substitutes 67-47, but the crowd on hand for the 2011 Wells Fargo Fan Fest showed their appreciation as though it was a regular season victory. Gerald Wallace, who finished the scrimmage with 14 points, six rebounds, three steals and three blocks in 29 minutes for the Black team, was named Fan Fest MVP. Wesley Matthews lead the Black team with 18 points and Nicolas Batum finished with 12 points despite going 0-for-7 from the three-point line. Elliot Williams, who missed all of last season after two knee surgeries, lead all scorers with 19 points in the losing effort.

Transcript: Chad Buchanan On Jamal Crawford, Brandon Roy

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 19:08:00 -0800

Today interim general manager Chad Buchanan addressed the media at the practice facility after the Trail Blazers used the amnesty clause on Brandon Roy, which allowed the team to sign free agent Jamal Crawford. This is what Buchanan had to say about adding Crawford, the decision to amnesty Roy and the roster going into the 2011-12 season.

Training Camp Day Four: Kurt Thomas Is Upon Us

Mon, 12 Dec 2011 17:53:00 -0800

There were new faces and change of paces at Day Four of the Portland Trail Blazers' 2011 training camp. With just 14 days left until the start of the regular season, Portland's front office, along with Nate McMillan and his staff, are making some tweaks that will hopefully yield positive results.

Video: Training Camp Scrimmage

Sat, 10 Dec 2011 15:44:00 -0800

Usually Nate McMillan limits the amount of live action the media gets to see at the end of practice, and with good reason. It's easier to ... correct behavior when there's not a pack of reporters and cameramen just a basketball court away. The possibility of distraction is always a problem, and that possibility is exacerbated by the compressed timeline leading up to the first game of the season the day after Christmas. There's no time to lose focus. Not this year. But sometimes, Coach throws us a bone and allows the media to watch the team run, as he did today after the second day of training camp. Maybe he thought, after the day we all went through Friday, that watching actual basketball would be the best thing for everybody.

Video: Elliot Williams, Nolan Smith Get Up

Wed, 07 Dec 2011 17:08:00 -0800

We typically give the players their space during informal workouts prior to the start of training camp, as we spend plenty of time together (certainly more than they would like) during the season. Usually some of us will sit on the bench at the practice facility and watch pickup games, maybe talk a bit with the players about the summer, but generally, we try to stay out of the way while guys get themselves ready for the season. Which is why we usually don't do much in the way of video or photos during these informal runs, much to the dismay of many of you out there who ask for footage every single year.

Remembering The Roster

Fri, 02 Dec 2011 11:55:00 -0800

It took a little longer than usual, but the 2011-12 NBA season if finally upon us. Or at least, it almost is. The ratification of a new collective bargaining agreement, free agency, training camp, media day (and the day-long live video chat that goes along with it), Wells Fargo Fan Fest and two preseason games all have to be squeezed in before the start of the

Make Time For Fast Break

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 16:39:00 -0700

Last night, the Hollywood Theater on 42nd and Sandy hosted a one night showing of Fast Break, the 1978 documentary focused on the individual players and personalities who helped the Trail Blazers win their only NBA World Championship. If you didn't make the show last night or have yet to see Fast Break, you're doing yourself a disservice.

Arvydas Sabonis Elected President (Of Lithuanian Basketball Federation)

Mon, 24 Oct 2011 11:55:00 -0700

It's been a rather eventful summer for Arvydas Sabonis. In the span of a few months, Sabas was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, returned to Portland for the first time since retiring, only to be greeted by thousands of fans at Pioneer Courthouse Square to celebrate said Hall of Fame induction, acted as ambassador during Lithuania's hosting of EuroBasket 2011 and suffered a heart attack which, at least for now, will keep the big man from indulging in some of his favorite pastimes. Though of these events brought attention to a man who would rather live out his days in relative anonymity, Sabonis approached each with humility, humor and a touch of self-deprecation. Very presidential.

Singularity in Basketball?

Wed, 12 Oct 2011 15:34:00 -0700

Team owner Paul Allen and Mark Grieves, Vulcan's director of knowledge systems, have published an article in Technology Review disputing the argument of Raymond Kurzweil that "the Singularity," which, as I understand it, is the point where computers become smarter than humans, is only 35 or so years away. According to some, the Singularity would result in humanity being "completely and irreversibly transformed."

Bucky Buckwalter: Bound By Basketball

Tue, 27 Sep 2011 20:12:00 -0700

As a young boy growing up in La Grande, OR, Morris "Bucky" Buckwalter had hopes that basketball would take him somewhere. He'd spend hours shooting on a hoop made out of timber with a rim that occasionally had to be bent back into shape. His father, a salesman for the Utah Woolen Mills who attended the University of Utah and gained an appreciation for the game by watching the Utes, instructed Bucky and his brothers on the finer points of a game invented by Dr. James Naismith roughly 60 years prior.

Vintage Features: Meet Rod Strickland

Mon, 26 Sep 2011 15:57:00 -0700

There's something about the mid-90's Trail Blazers teams that feels so anonymous to me. I think back to the years immediately following the last trip to the NBA Finals in 1992 and nothing of consequence comes to mind. That's probably due to a combination of five-consecutive first round exits that followed losing to Michael Jordan's Bulls in the Finals, the staggered departures of franchise mainstays Clyde Drexler, Terry Porter, Jerome Kersey and Mark Bryant and the poor state of my long-term memory, of which roughly 95 percent is consumed by plot lines from The Simpsons and Beverly Hills 90210.

Habitat For Humanity Build Gets Off To Quick Start

Fri, 16 Sep 2011 14:44:00 -0700

When you're playing for a Nate McMillan team, you better come ready to compete from the opening tip. He's not a man who suffers turnovers or mistakes, and if he thinks one of his players isn't up to the task on any given night, he won't hesitate to make a change, and quickly. He doesn't care about your reputation, how much money you make or how many years you've been in the league. If you're not able to fill your assigned role, you're getting the hook. But on Thursday, it was McMillan who was on the receiving end of an early substitution at the Habitat For Humanity build in the Rockwood neighborhood in Gresham.

Habitat For Humanity Pays Off

Fri, 09 Sep 2011 12:43:00 -0700

Rick and Nona King seemed to do everything right. They met at church and courted for around two years before getting married. A few years later, they had their first child, a son. Another couple of years, another son. With a household of four, it made sense to squirrel away any savings they could muster in an attempt to buy their own home. "We tried to buy a house once and within our price range," said Nona, "but everything was like the lowest level. There were houses with floors leaning, a lot of different … interesting things. So ok, let's not do it yet. Let's wait."

Vintage Features: Life On The Road

Mon, 22 Aug 2011 13:07:00 -0700

Having traveled with the team on and off for the last four seasons, I can say from experience that all of the sentiment expressed by the players during this Blazers Broadcasting feature entitled "Life On The Road" from the 1991-92 season is true. It's great for the first couple of years, but the shine wears off after that. Then again, you get a completely different perspective covering the team while on the road, so any vicissitudes associated with barnstorming across the country with the Trail Blazers are well worth the inconvenience.

Live Chat Recap With Arvydas Sabonis: There Will Be Break Dancing

Thu, 18 Aug 2011 11:27:00 -0700

During the course of a 20 minute interview, most of which was comprised from questions from all of you faithful viewers out there, Arvydas spoke candidly on a whole range of subjects including playing against Shaq, being tired of basketball after his retirement, officiating and break dancing. It's worth watching, I promise, especially since it's impossible to convey Sabas' nuances in written form, but if you're short on time, you can read some of the finer points of the interview below.

Sabonis: 'Better I am not main man, ok?'

Wed, 10 Aug 2011 09:42:00 -0700

Maybe the best thing about Arvydas Sabonis being inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame this weekend is that we're now being treated to some great vintage Arvydas content. Sabas tended to be a tad reclusive, so there's not a ton of stories and videos about the Lithuanian superman available (at least in English), but what is out there is now being "floated up," as we say in the internet content business.

Vintage Features: Uncle Cliffy Arrives

Mon, 08 Aug 2011 12:18:00 -0700

Having the opportunity to meet my all-time favorite Trail Blazers is one of the great things about working for the team. And in a week and a half, I'll hopefully check Arvydas Sabonis off the list of icons who I've meet since starting here in 2007 (tickets to the meet-and-greet with Sabonis, which are only $50 and are tax deductible, are available for purchase here). If I do have the opportunity to meet Sabas, there will be just one name remaining on my list of my favorite former Trail Blazers who I would like to meet. That name is Clifford Robinson.

Rip City Magazine Rewind: Arvydas Sabonis Sudden Impact

Fri, 05 Aug 2011 12:30:00 -0700

It was announced this week that former Trail Blazers great and Hall of Famer Bill Walton will present Arvydas Sabonis at the 2011 Naismith Hall Of Fame induction ceremony on August 12. A very appropriate choice considering the similarities between the two. Both are former Trail Blazers centers who were the best passing bigmen of their generations. And as we know all too well, both careers in Portland were cut far too short.

Rip City Magazine Rewind: Sabas Speaks Out!

Tue, 26 Jul 2011 17:40:00 -0700

We had planned on releasing the Rip City Magazine Rewind's in chronological order, but after hearing that Arvydas Sabonis is going to be in Portland starting on August 18, we decided to move up Sabonis' covers. Not that I needed much reason to highlight more Sabonis stories.

Arvydas Is Coming

Mon, 25 Jul 2011 20:57:00 -0700

Arvydas Sabonis has always preferred to stay close to home. His career as a one of the greatest centers to ever play the game has taken him all over the world, but that was a requirement of the work rather than a perk, at least for Sabonis.

"I prefer to stay home," said Sabonis in an 1997 Rip City Magazine interview, "play with my kids, take hot

Bits And Pieces Of The 2011-12 Schedule

Wed, 20 Jul 2011 08:35:00 -0700

I haven't had a whole lot of time to digest the team's 2011-12 schedule, thought that didn't stop Mike Rice and I from talking about it for an hour or so after the official announcement was made by the NBA. And though I haven't had a chance to dig into all of the minutia, I do have a few quick thoughts on how our 82 games shake out this season. Check out Mike Barrett's post if you want a more detailed breakdown. I'm just giving you the broad strokes.

Sabonis: Heads Above The Rest

Thu, 14 Jul 2011 10:41:00 -0700

As I'm sure you're aware, Lithuanian superhuman and former Trail Blazer Arvydas Sabonis is set to be inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame on August 12. It's a much deserved honor. In terms of his international career and influence, Sabonis is an unquestioned "first ballot" hall of famer (or at least he SHOULD have been a first ballot HOFer). No discussion is necessary.

The Long Strange Trip Continues, Via Bike

Tue, 12 Jul 2011 10:23:00 -0700

Greetings friends. Glad to be back to blogging after a much too brief vacation. From the looks of it, I didn't miss much, though I missed you all dearly.

First up, I direct your attention to a guest post on the Bike Portland blog written by cycling

Rip City Magazine Rewind: Clyde's Golden Year

Thu, 30 Jun 2011 23:08:00 -0700

In November of 1992, the Trail Blazers launched Rip City Magazine with the goal of "capturing all the excitement and action of Portland's 23rd season, neatly packaged for you to read and review time and time again, now and in future years." Here we are almost 20 future years later, and Rip City Magazine lives on. And this summer, we'll dive into the archives to offer up some of the most memorable covers and stories from nearly two decades of RCM.

Rip City Magazine Rewind: Clyde's Golden Year

Thu, 30 Jun 2011 20:13:00 -0700

Rip City Magazine Rewind: Clyde's Golden Year

Thu, 30 Jun 2011 17:59:00 -0700

Summertime Player Chats

Wed, 29 Jun 2011 10:52:00 -0700

This has been the first busy week we've had here at Trail Blazers HQ since the end of the season. It's been a nice change of pace. Having some peace and quiet is cool for about a week or so, but boredom tends to set in pretty fast when you're used to covering the team seven days a week for six months. So having new players in town feels like Christmas, even if it's only for a day. Luckily, we have some things to remember them by, specifically the chats we conducted with Raymond Felton, Nolan Smith and Jon Diebler Monday afternoon. If you missed it live, or on trailblazers.tv, you can now what it below.

Mission Accomplished?

Thu, 23 Jun 2011 22:48:00 -0700

First off, best of luck to Andre Miller and Rudy Fernandez. Both were important pieces for this franchise over the last couple years and should be commended for their contributions. I'll miss them both, personally and professionally. But as one door closes, another opens. The acquisition of Raymond Felton from the Nuggets in exchange for Miller (and maybe some other pieces. Who knows at this point?) gives the Trail Blazers a relatively young guard who could be the point guard of the future.

Darius Morris Does His Best Andre Miller

Wed, 22 Jun 2011 11:17:00 -0700

After just two years in Portland, Andre Miller has become one of the most beloved Trail Blazers in recent memory. His unassuming, team-first approach to the game, status as the NBA's preeminent ironman and willingness to mix it up when the situation calls for it has endeared Miller to a fanbase that places a premium on players who adhere to working class values. Show up for work everyday, put the needs of the employer ahead of personal goals, lead by example and stay until the work is done. That's Andre Miller. But Andre won't be around forever. Twelve seasons and 915 games, the majority of those consecutive, take a toll on a player's body. While Miller hasn't shown any substantive signs of letting up, there's going to be a time when someone else will have to assume the mantle at point guard. That could be Michigan's Darius Morris, a player many already compare to Miller.

Staying Up On The Sleepers

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 14:21:00 -0700

Marc Spears of Yahoo! Sports posts a list of 15 "sleepers" who may or may not hear their names called during the 2011 Draft on Thursday. It makes sense that the list would be so large considering this whole draft is a bit sleepy. I mean, Spears leads the article off by featuring Washington State's Klay Thompson (son of former Trail Blazers Mychal Thompson), and he's projected by many to go in the Top 10! As a general manager, you may need to shake yourself if you're still sleeping on a guy who's most likely to be selected in the late lottery.

ESPN: Faried Could Be Kersey

Mon, 20 Jun 2011 10:03:00 -0700

Over at ESPN's TrueHoop blog, Peter Newmann and Dean Oliver ask if Morehead State's Kenneth Faried, a player many mock drafts have the Trail Blazers selecting at pick No. 21, is worth taking in the lottery based on advanced metrics. The hypothesis is that rebounding, a skill at which Faried excels, is "the single statistic most likely to translate to the next level" according to Newmann and Oliver. And since Faried is the most prolific rebounders in the draft, Newmann and Oliver ask if he's undervalued, especially in a draft with no sure-fire superstars. The supposition is driven home when Faried's collegiate rebounding numbers are compared to that of former players, including a much-beloved Trail Blazer.

Predraft Workout: Nikola Vucevic

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 16:26:00 -0700

"It kept spinning and spinning," said USC's Nikola Vucevic, "and you didn't know when it was going to stop." Vucevic, who was in Portland on June 16 to workout for the Trail Blazers a week before the NBA Draft, wasn't talking about one of those shots that circles around and around the rim before falling through the net. Nor was he wasn't speaking figuratively about the predraft process of flying to a city, working out for two hours and then boarding a plane for another city and yet another workout.

Predraft Workout: Jeremy Tyler

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 14:13:00 -0700

Predraft workouts just aren't as important as they used to be. With rules changes regarding the number of players who can participate in a workout at one time, the increased focus on scouting during the collegiate season, the accessibility of game footage and the reluctance of some players to compete head-to-head prior to the draft, the stock that teams once put into what they see during workouts on their own practice courts isn't what it was even five years ago. But there are a few players for whom predraft workouts are just as important as ever. Jeremy Tyler is one of those players.

Predraft Workout: Kyle Singler

Thu, 16 Jun 2011 17:37:00 -0700

There's not much mystery when it comes to Kyle Singler. After four years at South Medford High School followed by four years at Duke, there's not much people around these parts, especially those who follow basketball as closely as the Trail Blazers' scouting staff, don't know about the 6-8 forward. In Singler's case, that's a good thing. While many players are drafted based off what they may become only to never realize that potential, Singler is the kind of player who is going to be drafted because teams know exactly what they'll get, a savvy, hard working forward who knows an willingly accepts his role.

No Change In Ford's Newest Mock Draft

Wed, 15 Jun 2011 11:20:00 -0700

The NBA Draft is a week from tomorrow, right? I only ask because as far as I can tell, few people are paying attention to next Thursday's festivities. Maybe people are still focused on the Finals or are tired of paying attention after the Finals. Maybe it's because of the perceived lack of high-end talent in this draft. Or maybe it's the uncertainty on the horizon. Heck, maybe it's because they moved the event from New York City to Secaucus, NJ. Whatever the reason, there hasn't been much of anything to report despite the draft being eight days away. No rumors with any real legs, no prospects climbing up or falling down the mock drafts.

Trailblazers.tv Top 10

Fri, 10 Jun 2011 15:56:00 -0700

It's been seven months since we launched Trailblazers.tv (or TBTV for short), and we're still learning the ropes roughly 2,000 archived videos later. While it's still a work in progress, it's already come a long way from me sweating bullets and mumbling and staring blankly into a camera during the first episode of Just Casey (click that link at your own risk).

Predraft Workout: Kenneth Faried

Thu, 09 Jun 2011 14:38:00 -0700

Kenneth Faried considered leaving Morehead State for the NBA after a junior season in which he averaged 16.9 points and 13.0 rebounds for the Eagles. He eventually decided to head back to campus, which was probably a wise decision. In his final season as a collegiate, Faried passed future hall of famer Tim Duncan for most rebounds in the modern Division I era. The extra season also allowed him to move into second all-time in double-double behind Duncan. Now Faried isn't saying he's the next Tim Duncan, but when asked about being undersized to play power forward in the NBA, the 6-8 banger from Newark compared himself to another all-time NBA performer.

Predraft Workout: Matthew Bryan-Amaning

Wed, 08 Jun 2011 16:09:00 -0700

Matthew Bryan-Amaning (known in some circles as "MBA" for obvious reasons) played four seasons at the University of Washington. Born in London, Bryan-Amaning has also played for the British national team, something he thinks will help him as he tries to start a career in the NBA. "Every summer I end up going back to play with the national team, kind of get an atmosphere of how it is playing with pros and that pro kind of lifestyle," said Bryan-Amaning, who was one of six players to workout for the Trail Blazers on June 6. "All those guys on the national team are a majority of pros and they've been through the same process before."

Report: Trail Blazers To Work Out Thomas

Tue, 31 May 2011 16:02:00 -0700

In news that should come as a surprise to no one, HoopsHype is reporting the Trail Blazers will work out Washington's Isaiah Thomas on June 6. So far Thomas is the only player that HoopsHype has working out for the Trail Blazers, though the team has yet to release to the public the names of participants or dates of workouts.

Arvydas Sabonis Only Talks Docs

Thu, 26 May 2011 10:58:00 -0700

There's a short interview with the reclusive yet much-beloved Arvydas Sabonis over at Real GM. Sabas briefly discusses his early days in the NBA, differences between the pro game in the States and Europe, his refusal to sing "Happy Birthday" and travel in the NBA. Arvydas was asked if he still keeps in contact with any of the people who played or worked for the Trail Blazers during his days in Portland, to which he replied...

The Best Of What's Around

Wed, 25 May 2011 17:30:00 -0700

I said during Tuesday's Just Casey, even with the abrupt dismissal this week of Rich Cho, that the Trail Blazers general manager job is still a great gig. Some of you wrote that off as PR regurgitation from a company man. That's understandable, but consider a few things. First off, NBA general manager jobs are always desirable. There's only 30 such positions in the world, said positions pay relatively well and you have an opportunity to be a World Champion without ever putting on a pair of sneakers.

Q&A With Chad Buchanan From The Predraft Combine

Fri, 20 May 2011 15:54:00 -0700

Members of the Trail Blazers scouting and front office staff are at the NBA Predraft Combine at ATTACK Athletics facility in Chicago. It's the first large-scale workout leading up to the draft on June 23. Chad Buchanan, Portland's director of college scouting, is among the Trail Blazers contingent in Chicago. I caught up with him Thursday to get an update on what he's seen so far in Chicago. Read what he has to say about this year's draft class, the lack of live contact drills, the team's evaluation process, who players compare themselves to and how some guys are like the new girl in school.

Report: Trail Blazers Interview Jimmer Fredette

Fri, 20 May 2011 11:08:00 -0700

I'll have a longer Q&A with Chad Buchanan, director of college scouting, about the Chicago predraft combine a bit later today, but thought this little line item from Sam Amick of SI.com regarding the Trail Blazers interviewing BYU wunderkin Jimmer Freddette would be a good jumping off point:

Nate McMillan On Trail Blazers Courtside

Tue, 17 May 2011 11:37:00 -0700

Another week of offseason, another great, vital content-producing edition of Trail Blazers Courtside with Mike Barrett, Mike Rice and Brian Wheeler. Go ahead and click the play button a few inches north of here if you missed it live Monday night. Guests on this week's show include Lakers radio analyst (and former Trail Blazer) Mychal Thompson and Dallas Mavericks assistant coach Dwane Casey. But the heavy hitter this week is our own Nate McMillan, who discusses a whole host of topics, including his son's graduation from Arizona State, the Mavericks sweep of the Lakers and if that makes him feel better about how the Trail Blazers season ended, his thoughts on the Mavs/Thunder series and, most importantly, his thoughts on what roster "tweaks" the team might be considering.

Chad Buchanan Talks Draft On Courtside

Tue, 10 May 2011 17:31:00 -0700

If you haven't already, go ahead and watch the May 9th edition of Trail Blazers Courtside with Brian Wheeler, Mike Rice and Antonio Harvey that's embedded right up yonder. Guests include assistant coach Bernie Bickerstaff, the Portland Tribune's Kerry Eggers and NBA.com's Scott Howard-Cooper. But the stuff I think you'll really be interested in comes courtesy of Chad Buchanan, our director of college scouting. Buchanan, or "Buck" as he's know around the practice facility, talks about the underclassmen who decided to go back to school, how said underclassmen returning has affected the quality of the 2011 Draft, the four-year Dukies, which positions the team might focus on improving through the draft, why the team probably won't have as many workouts at the PF as they've had in recent years and he finishes by lamenting the first round loss to the Mavericks. It's all good.

Video: Patty Mills Is The Aussie Abroad

Fri, 06 May 2011 09:47:00 -0700

Maybe I'm the only one who hasn't already seen this "Aussies Abroad" feature from ESPN Australia about everyone's favorite bala Patty Mills, but somehow I doubt that. I'm usually on top of these kinds of things, so if I haven't seen it, I'm guessing you haven't seen it either

The More Dre Changes, The More He Stays The Same

Thu, 05 May 2011 15:59:00 -0700

Andre Miller doesn't care much for change. For example, when asked about how he plans on spending his offseason, Dre noted he would "do the same things he's been doing", a regiment that includes "sitting around," lifting no weights, doing no cardiovascular training and eating "hamburgers, hot links on the Fourth of July."

Initial Thoughts On The 2010-11 Season

Fri, 29 Apr 2011 00:47:00 -0700

There will be time to remember the highs and lows of the 2010-11 season, and equal time to look ahead, but let's wait on that for a little while. I'd rather let the players and coaches, who sacrifice more than most people realize, give their initial thoughts on the season now that it's over.

The First 'Must Win' Of The Season

Wed, 27 Apr 2011 17:18:00 -0700

There's a few questions that get on Nate McMillan's nerves. He's over answering whether his team is "ready to play." He almost religiously refuses to label almost any contest as a "big game," as it's antithetical to his strongly-held belief that no one game counts more than another. And usually he's incredulous when asked if a game is a "must win." But on Wednesday, after what could be Portland's last practice of the 2010-11 season, McMillan readily used the term for the first and maybe only time this season, and for good reason. If the Trail Blazers don't win Game 6 Thursday night at the Rose Garden, they're done. So McMillan, being the literal man that he is, didn't have a problem calling Game 6 what it is.

Game 5 Highlight Roundup

Mon, 25 Apr 2011 20:17:00 -0700

It figures the game I decide to put together a post of highlights, we have very few to single out. The Trail Blazers played well enough to win in the first half, but were just dominated, to the nth degree, on the boards in the second half. People may complain about the discrepancy in foul calls, but for me, this one comes down to the Mavericks just owning the Trail Blazers on the offensive glass. Giving up 20 offensive rebounds is unacceptable. But anyway, here are what few stellar highlights were produced in the 93-82 Game 5 loss to the Mavericks in Dallas. Game 6 is on Thursday (tipoff time STILL to be determined) at the Rose Garden.

Done. Done. On To The Next One.

Mon, 25 Apr 2011 08:54:00 -0700

There's an old sports adage about not letting a loss beat you twice. As in, the negativity, lack of confidence, or whatever the side effects of losing may be for a particular team has the potential to bleed over into the next contest if dwelled upon for too long. But the same might also be true when a team gets a victory like the Trail Blazers did at the Rose Garden in Game 4.

Brandon Roy, Talk Of The Locker Room

Sat, 23 Apr 2011 19:54:00 -0700

It's games like these that put screenwriters out of work. When real life delivers storylines like the one we witnessed in Game 4, there's no need to indulge in fiction. A rally from 23-points down would be story enough, but for the comeback to happen on the shoulders of Brandon Roy, is just too much. It's just about perfect. Which is what the Trail Blazers needed Brandon Roy to be Saturday afternoon at the Rose Garden. Anything less would have resulted in a close loss, but a loss nonetheless. Brandon Roy is 99 percent of the reason why the Trail Blazers will head to Dallas tomorrow with the series tied 2-2.

Matthews Feels The Rose Garden Flow, Sends The Ball To It's Home

Fri, 22 Apr 2011 01:49:00 -0700

Wesley Matthews was feeling a bit shortchanged going into Thursday night's Game 3 against the Mavericks. Early foul trouble in Game 1 and a head-to-head collision with Jason Terry in Game 2 robbed Matthews of his chance to find any kind of rhythm in Dallas. So when asked at Thursday morning's shootaround if he had put together a complete game in either Game 1 or 2, the second-year guard out of Marquette opted to look forward rather than look back. "Not yet," said Matthews, "but that's the great thing about the NBA is you always have another opportunity. Ours is tonight. We've got to take care of business at home."

Gerald Wallace Finds Home On The Road

Mon, 18 Apr 2011 18:14:00 -0700

In a way, ever game Gerald Wallace has played with the Trail Blazers has been a road game. With his family still in Charlotte, Wallace comes "home" to an empty hotel room regardless of where the game is played. That's never an easy thing to do. And when you have a performance like the one Wallace had in Game 1, the idea of being alone with your thoughts and thousands of miles away from your loved ones is excruciating.

No Need To Panic

Sun, 17 Apr 2011 13:28:00 -0700

For some reason, people rarely ask me what the post-game atmosphere is like after a victory. But when the team loses, everyone wants to know what the vibe in the locker room was like. Thing is, the Trail Blazers locker room after a win isn't really all that different than after a loss. That's not to say wins and losses don't have an affect on the mood of some guys, but when you play 82 games a season, emotions tend to even out. And even though the the stakes are heightened during the playoffs, guys know that one game, be it a win or a loss, is still just one game.

Defending Dirk Starts With Batum

Fri, 15 Apr 2011 22:58:00 -0700

There's no one better in the NBA at hitting off-balance shots than Dirk Nowitzki. You can play him as close as the referees will allow, defend his tendencies to perfection, and he'll still hit a one-legged fadeaway in your grill at the shot clock buzzer. Nicolas Batum has seen Nowitzki hit that kind of shot time and time again, but hitting leaning jumpers that would be low-percentage shots for almost anyone else in the league isn't the craziest thing Nic has seen Dirk do.

Just Casey From Yesterday

Fri, 15 Apr 2011 10:09:00 -0700

The April 14 edition of Just Casey, which streamed live from the first day of playoff practice at the PF, had a little bit of everything. Or at least a lot of something. If you watched it live, you got to see what Marcus Camby, LaMarcus Aldridge and Nate McMillan had to say to the media as it happened. There was Andre Miller shooting for an hour after practice was over. And another interview with Marcus Camby. Also a shooting contest between Luke Babbitt and Hersey Hawkins. Other things happened too, but now I don't remember what those things were.

And Now We Know It's Dallas

Wed, 13 Apr 2011 22:16:00 -0700

LaMarcus Aldridge's hard work wasn't rewarded this season with an invitation to the All-Star game, but I'm guessing that if had a choice, he'd take a playoff series in his hometown over a few February days in LA. And that's exactly what is going to happen. The end result of the Mavericks securing the third seed by beating the Hornets and the Lakers locking up the second seed by beating the Kings is that now the Trail Blazers will head to Dallas to take on the Mavericks in the first round. Game 1 will either be on Saturday or Sunday. We'll know which day we'll play sometime later tonight.

Trail Blazers Clinch While Fernandez Let's Go

Tue, 12 Apr 2011 23:43:00 -0700

The Trail Blazers clinched the 6th seed in the Western Conference playoffs by virtue of beating the Memphis Grizzlies 102-89 Tuesday night. That's all fine and good, but we still don't know where we're going or who we'll be playing when the 2011 NBA Playoffs begin this weekend. But on Tuesday night, something happened that could up being more important to Portland's playoff fortunes than finding out who the opponent is eventually going to be. Rudy Fernandez, who has been suffering through the worst shooting slump of his career, finally found his range from the 3-point line. After going a combined 2-of-22 (thats a whopping 9 percent shooting for you wicked smart kids out there) over the past six games from beyond the arc, Rudy came up big against the Grizzlies, making 4-of-5 three-pointers to finish the night with 18 much-needed points off the bench.

Everything you wanted to know about playoff seeding but were too bored to ask

Mon, 11 Apr 2011 10:39:00 -0700

Greetings and welcome to the last week of the NBA regular season! There's been somewhere around 2,400 games played in the Association this season and yet very little has been solidified when it comes to playoff positioning in the Western Conference. Sarah, our resident playoff positioning expert, has a more in-depth update on where the Western Conference playoff race stands, but in the meantime, I thought you might enjoy a explanation from our friends at Elias Sports Bureau regarding all the possible scenarios regarding the Trail Blazers' potential seed in the playoffs, which is dependent on what the Trail Blazers, the Hornets, the Nuggets and the Grizzlies do in the remaining games of the season.

Patty Mills On The Hangtime Podcast

Thu, 07 Apr 2011 11:34:00 -0700

We haven't shot an "On The Streets With Patty Cakes" episode in months, but the dynamo that is Patty Mills, aka Pat Stacks, is still getting respect for his comedic skills, as well as his fund-raising bone fides. In the April 5 edition of the NBA.com Hangtime Podcast with Sekou Smith, Lang Whitaker and LeMont Calloway, Patty talks about his Assist Australia campaign, the upcoming post-season, the status of basketball in Australia and when you may or may not be able to see a new edition of "On The Streets."

Matthews Cool With Curry

Tue, 05 Apr 2011 17:14:00 -0700

Ask Wesley Matthews about Stephen Curry, and the first thing you're likely to hear has nothing to do with basketball whatsoever. "Steph still owes me some money!" said Matthews. "Nah, I'm just playing. He paid me." Good thing, not that Matthews would have a hard time finding Curry. After all, both guards share similar back-stories and, to a certain extent, have followed similar paths. Both are sons of former NBA players and both of their mothers were standout college athletes. And both were expected to follow in their fathers' collegiate footsteps, though neither did (Matthews because he felt Wisconsin offered a scholarship only because they had to and Curry because Virginia Tech wanted him to walk on).

Batum Finds Peace, Perspective Off The Bench

Fri, 01 Apr 2011 23:54:00 -0700

Nicolas Batum wasn't told by Nate McMillan that he would be coming off the bench against the Oklahoma City Thunder until Friday morning, but he already had a suspicion that the wheels which would put Marcus Camby back in the starting lineup were already in motion.

"I knew it was going to happen sometime," said Batum. "In my mind, I knew it was going to happen"

A Hungry Wallace Hunts Best

Mon, 28 Mar 2011 01:36:00 -0700

When told how many minutes he played Sunday night against the Thunder, Gerald Wallace didn't complain that he was sore from all the pounding one incurs when playing just three minutes shy of an entire NBA game. Or that he was worried about whether he would be able to bounce back in less than 24 hours for the next game against the San Antonio Spurs. His only complaint was one that even we mere mortals, including those of us who couldn't keep up with a tortoise for 45 minutes, let alone the likes of Kevin Durant, could easily identify with. "I played 45 minutes?" said Wallace with a genuine tone of disbelief. "I feel pretty good. I'm hungry, but I feel pretty good after that."

Batum Beats Buzzers, Ruins Dinner Plans In The Process

Sat, 26 Mar 2011 21:56:00 -0700

As far as Nicolas Batum knew, he and Tony Parker were still on for dinner Friday night after the game. After all, both players knew when they initially made plans to dine post-game that only one of their respective teams' would win, so it's understandable why Batum told the horde of reporters jockeying for position around his locker that he and Parker were still going to break bread even though the Trail Blazers had rallied back in dramatic fashion to beat the Spurs in one of the most amazing finishes in Rip City's history. But there was a reason why many of the media in attendance chuckled when Batum declared that dinner with Tony was still a go. They knew something that Batum didn't. They had the benefit of watching the replay of Batum guiding Andre Miller's pass into the basket as time expired numerous times. They knew that it was Parker who was left in Batum's jet wash as he elevated and tapped the ball toward the basket for the game-winning bucket.

Four Bigs Plays In 32 Seconds

Sat, 26 Mar 2011 00:24:00 -0700

Nate McMillan talks all the time about big plays, and how the teams that run the NBA know how to come through in the clutch with those plays. The Portland Trail Blazers haven't always been one of those team you can count on to come up with the big play, but on Friday night against the Spurs, they squeezed a month's worth of big plays into the final 30 seconds to get a much needed victory. The following is a retelling of those four plays -- a steal by Andre Miller, a steal by Wesley Matthews, two free throws by Nicolas Batum and Miller's lob to Batum to win the game -- by the players and coaches to made and drew up those plays.

Andre Miller Gets Cousy

Tue, 22 Mar 2011 15:12:00 -0700

Boston Celtics great and NBA Hall of Famer Bob Cousy had been out of the league for more than a decade before Andre Miller was born. Their paths have never

Players Make Shots, But Coach Still Calls Them

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 22:43:00 -0700

It almost sounds ungrateful to say it, but blowouts aren't only difficult for the team getting blown out. That's not to say that you would rather be on the losing side, and it's infinitely more gut-wrenching to lose by 30 and to win by 30 but as Brandon Roy said after the game, it's not exactly easy to keep your focus when leading by 35... in the first quarter. Said Roy: "It's tough to play up by 40!"

Just Casey: Episode 37

Wed, 16 Mar 2011 16:14:00 -0700

On the March 16 episode of Just Casey, we briefly remember the recently departed Nate Dogg, look at the headlines surrounding the Trail Blazers' 104-101 victory against the Mavericks, gloat about LaMarcus Aldridge being included in ESPN.com's MVP rankings, consider the future rankings of the Trail Blazers and, as always, answer questions from the chatters.

Memory Is The Diary That Matthews Carries With Him

Sat, 12 Mar 2011 00:36:00 -0800

Wesley Matthews will admit his memory isn't as short as it probably should be. Though he displays an uncommon poise and maturity for a sophomore pro, he sometimes has difficulty getting past the misses on offense and the makes on defense. "It's only my second year," said Matthews, "so I'm still struggling with the getting past the next play type thing, because I want it now."

The Gerald Wallace Beast Is Finally Unleashed

Tue, 08 Mar 2011 21:34:00 -0800

There was no mention of tears post-game in the Trail Blazers locker room. Or of "Heatles." Or of LeBron James spanking

Roy Likes It Rowdy, Wallace Won't Change And Andre Ain't Done

Tue, 08 Mar 2011 09:52:00 -0800

On Monday night the Trail Blazers got their last east coast road trip of the season off to a good start against the Dwight Howard-less Orlando Magic. Here's a few notes from the post-game locker room that you might enjoy before turning your undivided attention to tonight's game in Miami (current temperature sunny and 74 degrees) against the Heat.

Pregame notes: Howard, Ice Cream and Socks

Mon, 07 Mar 2011 15:24:00 -0800

Dwight Howard will be serving a 1-game suspension tonight after picking up his 16th technical (thanks Kyle Korver!) Friday night during a loss to the Bulls. One would assume Howard's absence improves the Trail Blazers' chances of leaving Orlando with a win, though the Magic, winners of seven of their last 11, do have a better all-round roster than they're probably given credit for.

Team Twitter: A Trip To Eugene

Mon, 07 Mar 2011 08:20:00 -0800

Over half of the Portland Trail Blazers roster, thanks mostly to the efforts of Patty Mills, uses Twitter and often times, they use the 140 characters allotted per tweet to converse amongst themselves. With that in mind, I introduce yet another post recounting the life and times of the Trail Blazers on Twitter. All text and photos come directly from the players' Twitter accounts. Please to enjoy, a trip to the University of Oregon with Patty Mills (@Patty_Mills), Wesley Matthews (WessyWes2) and Nicolas Batum (Nicolas88Batum), with appearances from LaMarcus Aldridge (@Aldridge_12), Marcus Camby (@MarcusCamby23), Rudy Fernandez (@Rudy5Fernandez), the Portland Trail Blazers (@PDXTrailBlazers) and Wears My Shirt (@WearsMyShirt).

'Joel got a lot of respect from everybody, even Free Throw Guy'

Sat, 05 Mar 2011 23:01:00 -0800

On Saturday night, Joel Przybilla and Dante Cunningham played their first games versus the Trail Blazers as members of the Charlotte Bobcats. Here is what some of the players and coaches had to say about going up against their former teammates just 10 days after the trade.

Hard To Recognize, Hard To Watch

Tue, 01 Mar 2011 23:46:00 -0800

Usually Nate McMillan is seething when he comes into the post-game interview after a performance like Tuesday night's 103-87 loss to the Rockets. But this time around, after the Trail Blazers were beaten soundly in their own house for the second consecutive game, McMillan seemed far more perplexed than furious, more incredulous than angry. Though that was just on the surface. Hard to imagine he wasn't furious after watching a team that was one of the hottest in the NBA prior to the All-Star break dismantled by a Rockets team that is now officially nipping at Portland's playoff heels. But while trying to come up with answers to questions about what is exactly going on with his team, McMillan readily admitted that he too was unable to ascertain the answers to the questions that both the media and fans were asking.

Gerald Wallace Is Nervous, Marcus Camby Is Starting

Sun, 27 Feb 2011 11:46:00 -0800

Plenty of notes from a busy Sunday shootaround before tonight's 7:30 PM game against the Hawks at the Rose Garden. Gerald Wallace participated in his first practice, albeit a shootaround, as a Trail Blazer Sunday morning in preparation for tonight's game. "It was great," said Wallace, who went through shootaround without his trademark headband. "Everybody made me feel welcome. Guys are trying to help me with the plays and get going. It's going to be a transition, it's a new system, whole new set of rules so it's going to take me a minute to adjust and get used to the plays and defensive strategies, but hopefully everything will work out good."

In Appreciation Of Joel Przybilla

Fri, 25 Feb 2011 18:32:00 -0800

Joel Przybilla joked after Wednesday night's loss to the Lakers that he "wanted to go out with a bang." Of course once I asked him officially, Joel said the extra bounce in his step had more to do with going up against a longtime rival than it did playing possibly his final game as a Trail Blazer. Personally, I think it was a little bit of both.

In A Day Of Questions, Brandon Roy Provides An Answer

Thu, 24 Feb 2011 00:10:00 -0800

The Trail Blazers didn't make a trade Wednesday night, though reports indicate that they're in discussions with numerous teams and could very well make a move before the noon deadline Thursday. And they lost to the Lakers at the Rose Garden, ending a six-game winning streak and pushing Portland back to the seventh seed in the Western Conference playoff table. But both the short and long-term prospects in Rip City nevertheless got a boost Wednesday night with the return of Brandon Roy to the lineup. Roy played limited minutes, scored just 5 points on 2-of-5 shooting and looked tentative at times, but he was back, reportedly pain-free and optimistic about his prospects for the future.

No Moral Victories, Even At All-Star

Sat, 19 Feb 2011 00:03:00 -0800

Sometimes, players can get used to losing. You end up on a team that always seems to be rebuilding, always looking to next season, and after a while, maybe the sting you felt after a tough beat is eventually replaced by subtle indifference. There are plenty of players in the NBA who, despite starting their careers as fiercely competitive, are slowly worn down by losing to the point where they don't much care if their team ends the night on the wrong side of the final score. Wesley Matthews is not one of those players.

Wesley Matthews Ready To Razzle Dazzle For Rookie/Sophomore

Thu, 17 Feb 2011 23:07:00 -0800

Wesley Matthews, to state the obvious, is a lot of things. Hardworking, skilled, resilient and tough-as-nails are just a few of the adjectives that come to mind when describing the second-year guard out of Marquette. But for all the things the Matthews is, the word "flashy" doesn't often come to mind when describing the style of play or personality that comprises one of the saviors of a team that is a surprising 32-24 at the All-Star break. After all, players are often a reflection of their coach, and both of Matthews' pro skippers, Jerry Sloan and now Nate McMillan, are about as flamboyant as buttered toast.

Team Twitter: Pin Pals And Alley Cats

Wed, 09 Feb 2011 17:25:00 -0800

Andre Miller Does It All

Tue, 08 Feb 2011 00:05:00 -0800

Andre Miller is doing a little bit of everything these days. Sometimes he's supporting his teammates by saying something he knows they can't. Other times he's pointing out inequities in foul calls (though he probably made no mention of that tonight after Portland shot 22 more free throws than Chicago). And other times, despite being mentioned in seemingly every trade scenario that involves the Trail Blazers, Miller declares in his own imperfect and misunderstood way that he'd like to "stay put" in Portland.

Chris Broussard: Aldridge Biggest Snub

Fri, 04 Feb 2011 10:06:00 -0800

I don't really dwell too much on LaMarcus Aldridge not being selected as a Western Conference All-Star reserve, but since we're less than 24 hours removed from the announcement, I figure it's OK to post this video of ESPN's Chris Broussard tabbing LA as the biggest All-Star snub.

Wesley Matthews Is Ready For Seconds

Mon, 31 Jan 2011 17:59:00 -0800

When it comes to deciding which players should make up the sophomore squad for the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge And Youth Jam (known hereafter simply as the Rookie/Sophomore game), Wesley Matthews' resume speaks for itself. Among his second-year peers, Matthews is first in three-pointers made at 86, second in scoring at 16.1 points per game, second in free-throws attempted (184) and made (154), fourth in free-throw percentage (84%), fourth in steals per game at 1.26, fifth in minutes per game at 33.1 and sixth in three-point shooting percentage (38%). He’s got the kind of game that is uncommon for a second-year player, and an undrafted player at that.

Nicolas Batum Does Not Need Convincing

Fri, 28 Jan 2011 00:39:00 -0800

He could have blamed it on bad luck, or a curse, or the hardwood floor of the Rose Garden. But when I sat down next to Nicolas Batum to figure out what exactly happened to his left knee in the second quarter of Thursday night's loss to the Celtics, Nic chalked up his and Portland's misfortune to something else.

"I know," said Batum. "I shouldn't have cut

Practice Report: Camby Walks, Batum Shaves, Matthews Wears Shades

Wed, 26 Jan 2011 16:14:00 -0800

I haven't been able to make it out to Tualatin for practice as much as I used what, what with hosting Just Casey or