Our boy Simmons is intrigued

[andalusian]

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/110225/part2&sportCat=nba

Meanwhile, Portland stumbled into a front line of Marcus Camby, LaMarcus Aldridge (playing out of his freaking mind), Wallace and Nicolas Batum. Super-duper intriguing, especially from a rebounding standpoint: Camby and Wallace crash the boards as well as anyone at their positions. If Brandon Roy gives them anything, wouldn't Portland be lurking as a late bloomer this spring? Portland's crunch-time scorer (Aldridge) is playing as well as anyone in the West right now. You're telling me you'd want to play a Game 6 in Portland down 3-2? And besides, isn't the West totally up for grabs, or am I crazy? It's about time MJ did something nice for Portland -- he's been haunting the Trail Blazers for three decades much like Stevie Nicks haunted Lindsey Buckingham.

I have to admit, me too. This is going to be an interesting end of the season, for sure.

Add the fact that Portland stumbled into a good defensive team - with good defense on the perimeter (Batum, Wes) and in the post (Camby, Wallace, LMA) - and it is going to be an interesting team to watch.

 

[MIXUM]

IF we make the playoffs.

fact is we lose to denver and will be 2 and a half back with 24 left and a brutal schedule. also we are 1 game ahead of jazz and grizz and 3 ahead of suns.

take a look at suns upcoming schedule

 

[andalusian]

IF we make the playoffs.

Of course. Also if the world does not end before the playoffs because the Mayan calendar does not account properly for global warming.

 

[Nikolokolus]

It's going to be tight to the finish, but if everybody can stay somewhat healthy, I'll take our best seven (eight?) players against the lineups of any of those other teams we're battling for the sixth through eighth seeds.

 

[BrianFromWA]

"fact is" if we win tonight at home against DEN we're 4 back of HCA in 5th/6th place and only miss the playoffs if NOH, DEN, UTH, and PHX all get in instead of us. Then we're stuck with Miller, Matthews, Batum, Crash, LMA, Camby, Roy, Oden and a lotto pick.

 

[MIXUM]

you are an absolute fool if you think playoffs are a lock.

 

[MIXUM]

you are forgetting jazz and grizz

personally if those guys you named cant beat out the teams mentioned.... why should we be excited?

 

[Nikolokolus]

you are an absolute fool if you think playoffs are a lock.

Of course it's not a lock ... but out of the teams knotted up in that battle I like our chances better than the Grizz, the Suns or Jazz. Nuggets look completely reinvigorated so I'd call it a push with them and I'm still not sure what to make of the Hornets; everything depends on Paul's knees holding up.

 

[Mote]

IF we make the playoffs.

fact is we lose to denver and will be 2 and a half back with 24 left and a brutal schedule. also we are 1 game ahead of jazz and grizz and 3 ahead of suns.

take a look at suns upcoming schedule

This has to be you and your significant other going out to dinner.

 

[MIXUM]

suns, grizz are gonna push hard. both made playoff type moves.

jazz are a wild card. still talented but seem to be in a downward spiral

 

[blazerboy30]

fact is we lose to denver and will be 2 and a half back with 24 left and a brutal schedule. also we are 1 game ahead of jazz and grizz and 3 ahead of suns.

I don't think you understand what a "fact" is.

 

[BrianFromWA]

you are forgetting jazz and grizz

personally if those guys you named cant beat out the teams mentioned.... why should we be excited?

Personally, if you're not excited with how we're playing without 2 centers and an all-star, and seriously think that PHX, MEM AND UTH is going to play better than us over the next two months, then you're not in a logical frame of mind and it doesn't really matter.

 

[maxiep]

If Simmons think we "stumbled" into that front line, then he has no idea what GMs and scouts do. Little that KP did and Cho does is seat-of-the-pants.

 

[MIXUM]

on paper we are better but they are so much deeper then us

 

[andalusian]

on paper we are better but they are so much deeper then us

You only think that because Nate was holding Babbit and playing him little to hide his explosive talents. He will now unleash him on the world to see - and the Western conference will reel in his wake.

 

[PapaG]

I don't think you understand what a "fact" is.

The fact is that the Blazers will be 2 and a half back wirth 24 left and a brutal schedule if the Blazers lose.

It was clunky wording, but not difficult to understand, IMO.

 

[MIXUM]

lol.... babbitt

why didnt we trade him instead of cunningham?

 

[andalusian]

lol.... babbitt

why didnt we trade him instead of cunningham?

Because Cho looked at MJ in the eye and said - we will not let go of Babbit. And MJ blinked.

 

[Minstrel]

lol.... babbitt

why didnt we trade him instead of cunningham?

lolz i know

why didnt we trade babbitt for chris paul? that would have been even better stupid cho

 

[Pinwheel1]

suns, grizz are gonna push hard. both made playoff type moves.

jazz are a wild card. still talented but seem to be in a downward spiral

I didn't Goran Dragic was that bad. I think getting Brooks was a good move for the future, but as a back up PG is that really a playoff type move? I think they will play Nash and Brooks at the same time and will be fun to watch, but that trade does not seem to effect them one way or another.

 

[Nikolokolus]

I didn't Goran Dragic was that bad. I think getting Brooks was a good move for the future, but as a back up PG is that really a playoff type move? I think they will play Nash and Brooks at the same time and will be fun to watch, but that trade does not seem to effect them one way or another.

I'd rather have Dragic to be completely honest. Brooks is a nice scoring point guard, but he doesn't defend and he's not much of a setup guy. To me this is a lateral move at best for the Suns.

 

[illmatic99]

He got it wrong. We sent them our 2013 first rounder, not 2011.

 

[Harry's Raincoat]

Babbitt will be more valuable to us in the future with low-post beasts Aldridge and Oden. Cunningham was probably required by CHA anyway.

 

[blazerboy30]

The fact is that the Blazers will be 2 and a half back wirth 24 left and a brutal schedule if the Blazers lose.

It was clunky wording, but not difficult to understand, IMO.

You must be new here, and haven't read many of MIXUM's posts.

 

[B-Roy]

I'd rather have Dragic to be completely honest. Brooks is a nice scoring point guard, but he doesn't defend and he's not much of a setup guy. To me this is a lateral move at best for the Suns.

Dragic is incredibly turnover prone and would drive Nate crazy. He's a good talent for sure, but I fear he'd be stuck in Nate's doghouse if we got him.

 

[HailBlazers]

And besides, isn't the West totally up for grabs, or am I crazy? It's about time MJ did something nice for Portland -- he's been haunting the Trail Blazers for three decades much like Stevie Nicks haunted Lindsey Buckingham.

For once your not crazy, and funny too!

 

[BBert]

Freaking Simmons. Portland "stumbled" into a front line of Marcus Camby, LaMarcus Aldridge, Wallace and Nicolas Batum? It just happened by accident? What a douche. I guess we "accidentally" signed Wesley Matthews and "accidentally" traded for Brandon Roy, too.

 

[Rhal]

We don't have a bench man. Roy/Rudy/Wallace/Towel/Towel/Mills/Towel/Babbit.

If Babbit can actually shoot like i'v heard them say he can then we have a very explosive bench scoring wise. Those towels are no joke, they can really catch you unaware and pick your pocket before you know whats up.

 

[oldmangrouch]

you are an absolute fool if you think playoffs are a lock.

True. If the *team* starts thinking they are a lock - and starts to coast - that will be ugly.

OTOH, this trade clearly improves the Blazers' odds.....and the fans have a right to be happy. Good news is a rare and precious commodity around this franchise.

 

[BlayZa]

the season was over long ago , look it up. this is all a dream.