Ok, well the Blazers are 1-2 on this young season and look like a team trying to find their identity.  To be fair, they have run into three teams most likely to make the playoffs this season.  The schedule doesn't get any easier as they face the Jazz in Utah on Wednesday and come home to host the Rockets on Thursday.

 This is a great test for this Portland team.  Their record might not be what they want, but they have shown things that were not expected yet.  The play of Rudy Fernandez and Nicolas Batum almost make Portlanders forget about that other rookie...ol' what's his name.  Fernandez continues to impress with his calm matter and his ability to somehow find a way to put the ball in the basket.  His defense was originally criticized before the season began, but really has not caused a problem throughout the season.  He may not be spectacular, and take too many risks on defense, but it has not caused Coach Nate McMillan to look for a replacement.

Continue reading "Time for more PT for rookies"

Is it just me or is Joel Przybilla one of the most underrated players in the NBA?
 
When most fans around the league think of Przybilla, they think a good rebounding, offensively challenged backup center.  But what many people don't realize is that Przybilla is shooting 83% from the field.  Last time I checked, that's not too bad.  Sure he isn't popping 15-foot jumpers, but he knows his role, and if he outside of five feet, he isn't looking for his shot.  Przybilla is great at setting picks and looking for the offensive boards.  He is averaging over 16 rebounds per 48 minutes.  I will take that kind of production from my center any day.
 
I went to the Chicago-Portland "game" (I put game in quotations, because it was more like a massacre than an actual game...seriously a sixth grade girls team could have put up a better fight than the Bulls that night), and sat next to a lady from Illinois who was in Portland on a business trip.  She was not a sports fan, but knew the Bulls decently well.  I didn't know she was a Bulls fan until halftime and when she told me, I responded by saying that if I would have known that, then I would have rubbed it in earlier (if anyone missed it, the Blazers won by 42). 

Continue reading "Przybilla's The Thrilla? More like Przybilla the Unsung Chilla...or something like that..."