I told you I was going to squeeze as much basketball content out as possible. Good to see that TrueHoop has hopped on the WNBA bandwagon. And you all thought I was going crazy. It’s a shame the better of the pro playoffs have been relatively ignored. I would much rather watch the WNBA and Taurasi, Hammon, Bird and co. compete on TV than high school basketball. I’m sorry, I have no desire in watching OJ Mayo jack up a bunch of threes and a bunch of other guys try and do things they cannot do. I’d rather watch well-played, hard-fought basketball and that’s what the WNBA has been providing in the post-season. Regular season? Questionable.
Now onto the major story…Greg Oden and his knee. What is going on? We all know he is going to be out just by process of the surgery. None of us needed an intro to logic class for that. However the timetable will remain a mystery until tomorrow or Friday. Is it the obligatory 6 weeks for the surgery? 3 months? A year? Blazers fans must unite and pray we don’t hear or the words ‘ACL, PCL, MCL or microfracture’ and ‘Greg Oden’ in the same sentence tomorrow. I will gladly take a meniscus issue for Mr. Oden. Memories of Sam Bowie are ingrained in old Blazers fans heads.
(By the way…ask someone younger than 20 who was drafted before Michael Jordan and you’re guaranteed to draw blanks. I’m telling you, I feel like people of my age will be the last who will be able to carry any sort of NBA history. It is getting quite sad to think about.)
Back to the Blazers..most of the reaction that I have recieved on the subject falls into one of two categories. One is from joyous Sonics fans or bitter Blazer fans saying ‘I told you so’ or ‘Durant isn’t hurt now is he’ or some sort of corny nonsense like that. The other is from Blazer fans having panic attacks left and right, as if Oden being out would magically hit an imaginary self-destruct button on this season. The main problem I am having with most Blazer fans is their inexplicable raise in expectations. It is great to love this team because they work hard and have great personalities. But they are not winning a title anytime soon. Playoffs will be a reach for the next year or two. Celebrate that we have the blueprint and the foundation to get things done. But do not get overzealous. I know the bandwagon Blazer fans. They are the same ones who gave up in ’03 when we fell 0-3 in the first round to Dallas…but were right back when we came all the way back.
I mean lets take a look at the roster. We’ve got three (four if Taurean makes it) point guards who probably should not be backing each other up. Steve Blake is more than serviceable as he’ll just have to direct traffic. Jarrett Jack is completely incapable of shooting, running or sometimes passing. Sergio Rodriguez has no defense and is erractic, exactly the opposite of what this team needs. So naturally there will be a demand from the fans for him to play. Then there is B-Roy who will be the primary ballhander and playmaker. Know that when the Blazers need a bucket or want something to happen the ball will be in his hands. Don’t forget about Martell Webster. For all the hype about his potential and his ability, he has got to get a brain to be productive. He can be a dangerous asset for the Blazers if he can better his shot selection and confidence. You know the guy at pickup who if he misses his first two shots is either a) completely ineffective for the rest of the game or will b) keep taking horrible shots until he scores. That is kind of like Martell Webster. If he misses a couple he’ll start passing up open shots to force the issue. The Blazers really need Webster to step up as he can provide the perimeter threat they so desperately need.
At the small forward spot it is a competition between James Jones and Travis Outlaw. I’m not sure I’ll ever feel comfortable with my squad if these two are competiting for the starting job but such is life. This is an obvious statement but when Jones is on, watch the bleep out. But again when he is off watch the bleep out. Jones can provide some shooting ability and athleticism that is necessary. Will he be able to make the shots. He’s not surrounded by Nash, Marion, Amare and Raja anymore. Those threes aren’t going to be as easy and comfortable as before. It will be interesting to see what he brings to the table. Travis Outlaw is an enigma because the coaches won’t get off his back. He’s athletic and he can score. We all know that. My question with T-Law is not WHAT he can do it is IF he will do it. His confideence wavers from left to right entirely too much for me to be comfortable. He very quietly had a solid year for the Blazers last year…can he step up to the plate now that we sacrificed Ime for him.
By the way…lets not forget about Ime. By putting our future into James and Travis we had to let Ime go. The guy was a hard worker and our best perimeter defender. Who is going to step into that spot? Plus he could make an open three and spread the defense. You can’t immediately replace that kind of value…and he would end up in the perfect place. How do the Spurs have Udoka and Bruce Bowen? Shouldn’t Phoenix be a little more mad about this? By the way if I’m the Suns I need to get the #1 seed and stay away from the Spurs until the Conference Finals.
Back to the Blazers. We’re left with the big men aka the meat of the team. If Oden goes down…let us not panic Blazer fans. We still have LaMarcus Aldridge and Channing Frye. Both are on a mission and are hungry. They may be the same player but hey I’ll take them both. LaFrentz can still hit an open three and trot up and down the court. The key is…what are we going to get out of Joel Przybilla. In his breakout season in 04-05, Mo Cheeks found a way to get the most out of the big man. How you might ask? By giving him one role on offense. A pick and roll that always sent Przybilla to the basket so he could either get a pass for a dunk or rebound the basketball. We know what he can do but will Nate put him in the best position to succeed? Only time will tell.
Definitely did not see myself talking about the Blazers that much…however it was necessary. Any chance I get to talk about hoops I’ll probably overdose until the season starts. EuroBasket starts the quarterfinals tomorrow with two games. Russia vs. France and Spain vs. Germany. I take Tony to lead Les Bleus to the semis. Spain and Germany is a completely different story…but I have to go with the home team and the favorite Spain to get the job done. They have too much for Dirk to go up against. Only time will tell.
NFC Power Rankings coming tomorrow.