Blazers report from ESPN Insider

[BlazerBeliever]

For what it's worth.

7. Portland Trail Blazers

The more things change: Besides their draft picks, headlined by promising forward Luke Babbitt, the Blazers haven't done a ton this offseason. They added 2-guard Wesley Matthews, who made a name for himself with his surprising rookie play last season in Utah, and they're likely to lose Rudy Fernandez, the athletic wing who's demanding a trade or a return to Europe (anything but another year in Portland!). Those additions/subtractions mean little and won't move the Blazers' needle up or down much. But there's another addition coming in the form of 7-footer Greg Oden. After missing all but 21 games last season with yet another major injury, Oden is expected to be healthy for the start of this campaign. If he can play a whole 82 games -- and play them well -- the Blazers could be the best of the rest (besides the Lakers) in the West. Oh, and there's been a shake-up in the front office, with Rich Cho leaving Oklahoma City to replace Kevin Pritchard as GM. Cho hired the capable Bill Branch (formerly of OKC) and Steve Rosenberry (formerly of Atlanta) as his assistant GMs.

The more they stay the same: Head coach Nate McMillan is one of the best in the league. He and veteran point guard Andre Miller clashed early last season before eventually making peace. Despite that well-publicized beef and all the injuries, the Blazers still won 50 games. With McMillan and Miller on the same page, the Blazers, if healthy, will be dangerous.

Chris Broussard is a senior writer for ESPN The Magazine.

 

[HailBlazers]

With McMillan and Miller on the same page, the Blazers, if healthy, will be dangerous.

Key, besides Greg of-course. Hopefully B-Roy is right about the team coming back early September as well.

 

[THE HCP]

I like it! DANGEROUS!

 

[Blazer_Mullet_Man]

Maybe the first time I've seen a fourth year player referred to, in the context of: "there's another addition coming" (minus Euro scrubs delaying their arrival - Sab excluded, naturally.)

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

Makes me wonder if replacing Rudy with Matthews will translate into more wins.

 

[Idog1976]

Maybe the first time I've seen a fourth year player referred to, in the context of: "there's another addition coming" (minus Euro scrubs delaying their arrival - Sab excluded, naturally.)

Broken record. Sorry about his cuckoldry. That must hurt.

 

[cdub503]

Makes me wonder if replacing Rudy with Matthews will translate into more wins.

One plays defense the other flops around and jacks up worse threes than jr smith.

 

[THE HCP]

Id take jr smith on or squad! We need a little gangster attitude on our team.

 

[blazerboy30]

Id take jr smith on or squad! We need a little gangster attitude on our team.

link?

 

[THE HCP]

link?

Are you asking for a link showing that we need more gangsta' on our team?

 

[Luther]

JR Smith is good but he's a fucking idiot. Anybody that gets "YOUNG MONEY" tatted on their throat is a moron in my book....throwing up gang signs during the playoffs isn't usually a good look either.

 

[Blazer4ever]

Trade Rudy for Jordan Hill

 

[Natebishop3]

Id take jr smith on or squad! We need a little gangster attitude on our team.

Yeah, we need a guy who is being investigated for choking someone....

 

[hasoos]

Makes me wonder if replacing Rudy with Matthews will translate into more wins.

Why don't you go take a look at their shooting percentages and see if you are asking that question anymore.

 

[andalusian]

Yeah, we need a guy who is being investigated for choking someone....

If only PJ Carlisimo was still our coach...

 

[maxiep]

Id take jr smith on or squad! We need a little gangster attitude on our team.

Isn't that your job?

 

[hasoos]

Yeah, we need a guy who is being investigated for choking someone....

Maybe we can bring back Latrell Spreewell too and rename the team the Portland Stranglers! We stop opposing teams best players by sending in two guys to strangle them each game. Now THAT is a defensive stopper!

 

[THE HCP]

Isn't that your job?

Very good point........ nevermind!

 

[andalusian]

Maybe we can bring back Latrell Spreewell too and rename the team the Portland Stranglers! We stop opposing teams best players by sending in two guys to strangle them each game. Now THAT is a defensive stopper!

Bring Ruben Patterson again and advertise every game as "The Blazers taking on the (insert city here) Nannies".

 

[MARIS61]

One plays defense the other flops around and jacks up worse threes than jr smith.

Rudy holds the NBA rookie record with 159 3-pointers.

 

[Natebishop3]

Rudy holds the NBA rookie record with 159 3-pointers.

What will Maris do without a Spanish scrub on our team? Maybe we should bring over Claver just so Maris can have someone to drool over.

 

[andalusian]

Rudy holds the NBA rookie record with 159 3-pointers.

It's a shame that in his 2nd year he only managed 98 then, huh?

It's also a shame his 3P% went down from .499 to .368 and his TS% went down and his WS/48 is 2/3rds of what he did as a rookie.

Time to accept that the Days if the Rookie Fernan are over.

 

[hasoos]

Back injuries have ended a lot of NBA careers. Just ask Nate McMillan.

 

[blazerboy30]

Are you asking for a link showing that we need more gangsta' on our team?

yes.

 

[jlprk]

It's a shame that in his 2nd year he only managed 98 then, huh?

It's also a shame his 3P% went down from .499 to .368 and his TS% went down and his WS/48 is 2/3rds of what he did as a rookie.

Is anyone aware that he missed half the season and was both catching up and recovering during the rest of the season?

 

[THE HCP]

I love Rudy and want him back! And on a side note, Stephan Curry broke his 3 point mark last year.

 

[julius]

I love Rudy and want him back! And on a side note, Stephan Curry broke his 3 point mark last year.

And, because of Don Nelsons offense, he managed to top that mark in only 18 games too!

 

[andalusian]

Is anyone aware that he missed half the season and was both catching up and recovering during the rest of the season?

What the eff does that matter? Rudy does not want to be here. Dude has not played well last year when given the chance. Be it because of injury, lack of desire, pettiness, whatever. Fact is, it is clear that this is time to move forward. I do not hate Rudy, I used to love him as a player and still wish he would be great for this team - but this is not going to happen, injury or not, given his behavior. Time to move on. Dude was either injured much worse than we were told at the end of the year, or he is a quitter - but anyway you slice it - it's time to move on.

I wish Rudy the best, I think that despite his whining ways the organization should try to help him as much as possible by trading him - even for a future pick - because I do not forget that he did take a big paycut to come play here, but - overall, this union is done.

Rudy is a nice player, he has some real talent and he has some real holes in his game - but at this point - I can not do anything but question his heart and I am looking forward to a resolution.

 

[jlprk]

What te eff does whining have to do with the post to which I responded, in which you said nothing about that. All you said was that his stats decreased from Year 1 to Year 2.

Yes, his total 3s went down, but in the same proportion as his minutes did.

 

[Natebishop3]

Is anyone aware that he missed half the season and was both catching up and recovering during the rest of the season?

Yup. A bruised ego has a long recovery time.