A potential lineup change; an analysis of Bayless; Butler to Portland?

• By Nick Poust
• February 8th, 2010

According to The Columbian's Brian T. Smith, " Trail Blazers head coach Nate McMillan said he is considering making changes to the team's starting lineup for Tuesday's game against the Kevin Durant-led Oklahoma City Thunder." At the center of the shakeup would be Nicolas Batum, who would be inserted as the small forward, presumably moving Martell Webster to shooting guard and Jerryd Bayless to the bench. As Smith states in his column, "McMillan has hesitated to make Batum a starter since he returned to the lineup, mainly because Roy’s expected activation would have forced two major rotation changes before the break." But, now that Roy will be out through the All-Star break, Batum's insertion into the starting lineup makes complete sense. He has not only shown off a improved jump-shot since...

Without Bryant, Lakers beat Blazers in Rose Garden for first time in 5 years

• By Nick Poust
• February 7th, 2010

In my preview of this game I said that for the Portland Trail Blazers to increase their home win-streak over the Los Angeles Lakers Kobe Bryant would have to be in a me-me-me mode, therefore making his teammates nonexistent. Well, their star didn't play, ending his streak of 256 games played. That was the worst thing that could happen for the Blazers and their crowd. The feeling in the Rose Garden was this when the news Bryant news broke: Put another victory in the win column for the Blazers; the Lakers don't stand a chance. The crowd wasn't as jubilant; there was rarely an eruption. The crowd cheered when Rudy Fernandez hit a buzzer-beating three-pointer to put Portland up by nine early in the second quarter, and did so again when...

Uh Oh: Roy officially out through the All Star Break

• By Nick Poust
• February 6th, 2010

I guess Brandon Roy's hamstring injury was worse than previously thought. The Portland Trail Blazers guard went from being "questionable" for tonight's game against the Los Angeles Lakers to out for the next week. But it is better to be safe than sorry. Here is the Press Release from the team: BRANDON ROY SIDELINED THROUGH ALL-STAR BREAK Portland guard to undergo PRP therapy on Monday PORTLAND, Ore. – Portland Trail Blazers guard Brandon Roy will miss Portland's next three games and the NBA All-Star Game with a right hamstring strain, it was announced today by General Manager Kevin Pritchard. "Unfortunately, I'm not where I was hoping I would be physically at this point, said Roy. "It's a setback and I'm obviously disappointed, but my entire focus is getting back on the court, contributing and helping...

Fernandez’s rally falls just short as Brooks, Landry lead Rockets to victory

• By Nick Poust
• January 30th, 2010

Just like against the New Orleans Hornets and the Utah Jazz, the Portland Trail Blazers were struggling for points late. A Houston Rockets defense that allowed them to score 31 first quarter points turned stifling, and the Blazers ran a frantic, fighting-the-shot-clock offense far too often in the second half. After a drought that lasted from the 3:20 mark of the fourth to the 27-second mark, Rudy Fernandez awakened his dead-tired and emotionally drained team. But it was a remarkable individual rally that fell short. The Blazers couldn't guard Hornets guards Chris Paul, or rookies Marcus Thornton and Darren Collison in their loss earlier this week. Next, they couldn't guard the Jazz's Deron Williams in a second consecutive defeat. Aaron Brooks was the latest guard "flying right by us," as head...

To start or not to start: Batum in, Webster to the bench?

• By Nick Poust
• January 30th, 2010

Portland Trail Blazers small forward Martell Webster has started 39 of the team's 48 games and is about to conclude a memorable January. This month, he leads the league in three-pointers made, draining 42 in fourteen games, and because of his relative dependability from long-range he is averaging 16 points. Yet, despite his accomplishments, he has been the streakiest of streaky. With Brandon Roy out, they have needed him to score and do so consistently. This he hasn't done since dropping 28 points on the Detroit Pistons a week ago. In his last three games, all Blazers losses, Webster has tallied a grand total of 30 points on 9-30 shooting, including 6-20 from three-point range. This is just a three-game stretch, but given Nicolas Batum's play since returning from injury, his...

Unbelievable! Miller dominates, leads Blazers to thrilling win over Mavs

• By Nick Poust
• January 31st, 2010

Returning to Dallas, where the Portland Trail Blazers lost their last center, Joel Przybilla, Andre Miller put together one of the best performances in team history. Coming off a three game stretch in which he scored a grand-total of 15 points on 4-25 shooting, Miller pulled out all the stops. He tormented Jason Terry, Jose Juan Barea, and Jason Kidd for 17 first-half points, posting all three up on multiple occasions, making layups, turnarounds, fades, and face-up jumpers. This was only the beginning. The contest was close throughout the first half and remained tight-knit into the third, primarily because of the play of Miller. After losing the ball in the lane, he tracked down Kidd, picked his pocket, and drove in for a layup. He was not only in a give-me-the-ball mode,...

Batum, Cunningham, and Fernandez leads Blazers past sluggish Bobcats

• By Nick Poust
• February 2nd, 2010

Off a rare miss by the Portland Trail Blazers Flying Frenchman, El Mago flew through a wide-open lane, snatched the caromed ball, and threw down a right-handed slam. The basket by Rudy Fernandez on the errant shot by Nicolas Batum put the icing on the Charlotte Bobcats cake. For once, a win came easy for the Blazers at the Rose Garden. They had struggled on their home-floor this season, with more losses, 9, than last year's total at the friendly confines. A majority of those defeats happened because of an inability to close out opponents. Portland pulled out this one with ease thanks to an exciting offense and a stifling defense. The Blazers jumped out to an early lead on the backs of Jerryd Bayless, Martell Webster, and LaMarcus Aldridge, but it...

The roster thickens: Travis Outlaw to return very soon

• By Nick Poust
• February 2nd, 2010

According to The Oregonian's Jason Quick, Portland Trail Blazers small and power forward Travis Outlaw is "expected to return and play this month, perhaps as soon as the February 21st home game against Utah." Outlaw has missed a majority of the season after breaking a bone in his left foot, and to while rehabbing he has kept himself busy by hosting "Talkin' with Travis", a show on which he interviews players in quite a hilarious manner. Prior to his injury, which occurred in the first quarter of a November 14th game against the Charlotte Bobcats, he was averaging just under 9 points and 4 rebounds per game. Quick mentions in that same article that "Outlaw on Tuesday went hard in a one-on-one session with assistant Monty Williams, and showed no sign...

Aldridge solid, but Blazers struggle on defense to Jazz

• By Nick Poust
• February 4th, 2010

The last time the Portland Trail Blazers played the Utah Jazz they fell behind by 19, 21-2, early in the first quarter. Tonight, their first quarter was much better. LaMarcus Aldridge was very active, scoring 11 points and grabbing 6 rebounds in an opening frame in which Portland scored 27 points. Though this start was much better offensively, their defense was no different. The Jazz scored 29 points in the quarter, living inside for the majority of their baskets. The Blazers defense, which ranked fourth in the NBA allowing just over 94 points per game, continued to stink, and a 63rd loss to the Jazz in their house was on the horizon. The Blazers shooting percentage dropped in the second, but that didn't stop them from trying to match the Jazz...

Aldridge and Webster lead Blazers to thrilling comeback win over Spurs

• By Nick Poust
• February 5th, 2010

The Portland Trail Blazers, struggling to find ways to score against the San Antonio Spurs, tallied just two points over the first three and a half minutes of the fourth quarter to fall behind by nine. Then, beginning with a driving layup and free throw by rookie Dante Cunningham, the tide turned and the Blazers found a groove. The two teams traded scores twice, culminating with a dazzling hook shot by Juwan Howard to pull Portland to within six, 83-77, near the period's halfway mark. Shots that were falling for the Spurs in the first three quarters clanged as the Blazers continued to take momentum away from their veteran opponent. Aldridge lost the ball attempting to set up shop down low, but it was fortuitously tipped out to Andre Miller, who...

Blazers/Lakers Preview: How the streak goes on

• By Nick Poust
• February 6th, 2010

On paper, the Los Angeles Lakers have the players to not only defeat the Portland Trail Blazers, but demolish them. Yet, despite having two seven-footers, Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum, one of the best players on the planet, Kobe Bryant, a stifling defender and bruising offensive player, Ron Artest, and a versatile forward, Lamar Odom, they have struggled to defeat the Blazers at the Rose Garden. In fact, they have lost nine straight games at Portland's friendly confines. In early January, the Blazers defeated the Lakers 107-98 for their ninth straight home win against their rival. At this point in the season they were already lacking the second of their two centers, Joel Przybilla. Los Angeles was missing Gasol for the game, a vital piece of their puzzle, but a team...

If happy and given his privacy, Andre Miller can take Blazers to the next level

• By Nick Poust
• February 6th, 2010

Steve Blake was serviceable last season, but the Portland Trail Blazers wanted more out of the point guard spot. Small forward and free agent Hedo Turkoglu was targeted, with the idea of playing him as a point guard in certain offensive sets, but after he spurned them in negotiations and signed with the Toronto Raptors, General Manager Kevin Pritchard shifted his attention to a more traditional option, Andre Miller, a 34-year old unrestricted free-agent who was coming off a stellar season with the Philadelphia 76ers. Many followers of the Blazers pegged Miller as too old, and would have rather seen the team go after a younger point guard, such as 23-year old Ramon Sessions. But Portland wasn't looking for another young player; they already had too many of those. They felt...

Games that defined the Blazers remarkable 2008-09 season

• By Nick Poust
• February 6th, 2010

The Portland Trail Blazers 2008-2009 season didn't get off to the best of starts, as center Greg Oden, who missed the previous season after undergoing micro-fracture knee surgery, went down not three minutes into their opener. The team, built around a extremely young core, didn't need this, nor the blowout loss to the Los Angeles Lakers that came with it. Things could only get better, and did they ever. On November 6th, the Blazers were looking to collect their second win of the season, and second against the Houston Rockets. They did in unbelievable fashion. Star guard Brandon Roy was hounded by Ron Artest, one of the best defenders in the league, throughout, reason for his abysmal stat line entering the final minute of overtime: 4-16 for 12 points. Then, after Travis...

Oden undergoes successful surgery; Potential replacements?

• By Nick Poust
• February 6th, 2010

Portland Trail Blazers rookie guard Patrick Mills broke his foot prior to the season. Then, Nicolas Batum injured his shoulder and underwent surgery to repair a torn labrum. Rookie Jeff Pendergraph followed by injuring his hip, which required surgery as well. In mid-November, Travis Outlaw fractured his foot stepping awkwardly on his way up for a shot against Charlotte. This past Friday, head coach Nate McMillan ruptured his achilles attempting to practice with his team. Rudy Fernandez's back pain recurred; he is suffering from sciatic pain, and could possibly miss the upcoming four-game road trip. LaMarcus Aldridge hurt his knee against Oklahoma City late last month, and had played in pain before missing their contest against the Miami Heat. Dante Cunningham, who started in his place during that game, narrowly...