Strong start can set pace for Blazers' season

[tlongII]

http://www.oregonlive.com/sports/oregonian/john_canzano/index.ssf/2009/08/canzano_when_hope_is_a_powerfu.html

The Trail Blazers opened the NBA season in Los Angeles a year ago by serving as a bug on Kobe Bryant's windshield.

The Lakers raised their Western Conference championship banner that day. They put on a pre-game show that hammered the theme: "This is our time." And then, they pummeled the Blazers and sent Greg Oden to the locker room early in what ended up a sobering day.

So yeah. Some kind of wonderful to see the Rockets coming to Portland on opening night this season, isn't it?

A rematch of the first-round playoff series. Another return to Portland for Aaron Brooks and Rick Adelman. I get it. You get it. The league schedule-makers were doing their best to set up something you'd salivate for.

http://photos.oregonlive.com/photos/oregonian/173297e44a5f8ee100c8a5ff8ba1acfe.jpg

It ends up a great matchup at home for a franchise that probably had a break coming this summer.

Ron Artest is gone to Los Angeles. Yao Ming is out. But I don't think the Blazers have forgotten the awful scene at the Toyota Center as last season ticked to a close in what was a frustrating series.

Rockets fans turned into a mob. They booed. They jeered. They fought each other, and threw liquids at Blazers executives. On the court, Houston pushed, and shoved, and proved it was too physical, and too experienced, for Portland.

After the final game of the season, Steve Blake sat in the Blazers locker room staring at a wall. Rudy Fernandez dressed quickly and shook his head. Brandon Roy stayed in the shower long after most of his teammates were gone.

There was tension in that room.

Which is only to say, sorry Rockets, but whoever opened the season against the Blazers is probably going to get a fair share of that frustration.

I love the opening opponent. I love that the Blazers start at home. I love that Portland's first extended road trip features Memphis, Minnesota, New Orleans, Charlotte and Atlanta and not the row of perennial playoff winners from last year.

Remember that grind?

Last season, the Blazers were the second-youngest team in the league, but played the toughest opening month in NBA history. It was tense, and there was no margin for error. And maybe that helped a young team grow.

This year, the pressure is really on. Because Portland has a favorable early schedule, and lots of talent, and it won 54 games in the regular season a year ago. Which is only to say the franchise has an opportunity to build a strong start, and I wouldn't be the least bit surprised to see the Blazers holding the best record in the West on Thanksgiving Day.

Would you?

We've talked a lot this summer about the organization's failure to get things done. But on Tuesday, as you looked at the team's cozy schedule and realized that Brandon Roy and the team were on the same page when it came to his contract negotiations, you couldn't help but feel optimistic.

A source close to the Roy negotiations told me on Tuesday that the two-time All-Star was eager to get the deal done. And that the Blazers were also on board, and wanting to make the deal official.

By 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday the sides had a verbal agreement. And the fingers of Blazers fans that were running down the schedule earlier in the day, suddenly started skipping.

The Blazers aren't perfect.

They have a question at small forward. Nobody knows who the starting center will be. There's still some strife in the front office, now and then. But they have a favorable schedule, and a star on board, and suddenly, this is an organization providing us something special today.

Hope is a powerful thing.

[iggypop123]

an easy schedule just means the end is going to be hell

[Double-Up]

"After the final game of the season, Steve Blake sat in the Blazers locker room staring at a wall." :lol

[JustBlaze]

Nuggets

[redzero]

Oh, they might beat a Yao-less, Knee Mac-less, Artest-less Rockets team. Big deal.

[djohn2oo8]

http://www.oregonlive.com/sports/oregonian/john_canzano/index.ssf/2009/08/canzano_when_hope_is_a_powerfu.html

So yeah. Some kind of wonderful to see the Rockets coming to Portland on opening night this season, isn't it?

A rematch of the first-round playoff series. Another return to Portland for Aaron Brooks and Rick Adelman. I get it. You get it. The league schedule-makers were doing their best to set up something you'd salivate for.

http://photos.oregonlive.com/photos/oregonian/173297e44a5f8ee100c8a5ff8ba1acfe.jpg

It ends up a great matchup at home for a franchise that probably had a break coming this summer.

Ron Artest is gone to Los Angeles. Yao Ming is out. But I don't think the Blazers have forgotten the awful scene at the Toyota Center as last season ticked to a close in what was a frustrating series.

Rockets fans turned into a mob. They booed. They jeered. They fought each other, and threw liquids at Blazers executives. On the court, Houston pushed, and shoved, and proved it was too physical, and too experienced, for Portland.

After the final game of the season, Steve Blake sat in the Blazers locker room staring at a wall. Rudy Fernandez dressed quickly and shook his head. Brandon Roy stayed in the shower long after most of his teammates were gone.

There was tension in that room.

Which is only to say, sorry Rockets, but whoever opened the season against the Blazers is probably going to get a fair share of that frustration.

I love the opening opponent. I love that the Blazers start at home. I love that Portland's first extended road trip features Memphis, Minnesota, New Orleans, Charlotte and Atlanta and not the row of perennial playoff winners from last year.

Remember that grind?

Last season, the Blazers were the second-youngest team in the league, but played the toughest opening month in NBA history. It was tense, and there was no margin for error. And maybe that helped a young team grow.

This year, the pressure is really on. Because Portland has a favorable early schedule, and lots of talent, and it won 54 games in the regular season a year ago. Which is only to say the franchise has an opportunity to build a strong start, and I wouldn't be the least bit surprised to see the Blazers holding the best record in the West on Thanksgiving Day.

Would you?

We've talked a lot this summer about the organization's failure to get things done. But on Tuesday, as you looked at the team's cozy schedule and realized that Brandon Roy and the team were on the same page when it came to his contract negotiations, you couldn't help but feel optimistic.

A source close to the Roy negotiations told me on Tuesday that the two-time All-Star was eager to get the deal done. And that the Blazers were also on board, and wanting to make the deal official.

By 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday the sides had a verbal agreement. And the fingers of Blazers fans that were running down the schedule earlier in the day, suddenly started skipping.

The Blazers aren't perfect.

They have a question at small forward. Nobody knows who the starting center will be. There's still some strife in the front office, now and then. But they have a favorable schedule, and a star on board, and suddenly, this is an organization providing us something special today.

Hope is a powerful thing.

Is it a common thing for the Portland media to be attention whores? No one threw anything at anybody

[djohn2oo8]

This article will be an epic fail if the Rockets win that game

[2Cleva]

tlong - why not post the whole article? Can't stand the pain?


The Trail Blazers opened the NBA season in Los Angeles a year ago by serving as a bug on Kobe Bryant's windshield.

The Lakers raised their Western Conference championship banner that day. They put on a pre-game show that hammered the theme: "This is our time." And then, they pummeled the Blazers and sent Greg Oden to the locker room early in what ended up a sobering day.

But you know that's wrong. LA doesn't hang any banners but World Champion ones.

You want the truth? You can't handle the truth!

http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/multimedia/photo_gallery/0805/caught.in.the.act0509/images/10.jpg

[lil_penny]

Is it a common thing for the Portland media to be attention whores? No one threw anything at anybody

The channel for the blazers showed stuff getting thrown at the team as they were starting to leave the court at the end....... few cups here and there

[kwamay_brown54]

That game 1 performance of the rockets@blazers might have been one of the most thorough beat downs in playoff history that I can remember. The arena was so juiced and yoked before the game started, and then the rockets surgically dismantled the hapless blazers right in front of the fans eyes. It was something special no doubt. When Yao went 9/9 in the first half, I almost choked on my pizza.

[JordanL]

Is it a common thing for the Portland media to be attention whores? No one threw anything at anybody

Okay...

Well I saw it with my own eyes... so...

[djohn2oo8]

2 or 3 people do not constitute a mob

[JordanL]

2 or 3 people do not constitute a mob

Ah, well yes, I agree that part of it is pretty overstated. They shouldn't have used the word mob, for sure.

We had some pretty rowdy individuals last time the Lakers were in town, though they didn't engage the players/team execs.

[Kai]

Rockets fans turned into a mob. They booed. They jeered. They fought each other, and threw liquids at Blazers executives. On the court, Houston pushed, and shoved, and proved it was too physical, and too experienced, for Portland.

After the final game of the season, Steve Blake sat in the Blazers locker room staring at a wall. Rudy Fernandez dressed quickly and shook his head. Brandon Roy stayed in the shower long after most of his teammates were gone.


God, talk about your yellow journalism.

[sook]

Holy cow what blind homerism.

[sook]

These men have no shame.

[JordanL]

Rockets fans turned into a mob. They booed. They jeered. They fought each other, and threw liquids at Blazers executives. On the court, Houston pushed, and shoved, and proved it was too physical, and too experienced, for Portland.

After the final game of the season, Steve Blake sat in the Blazers locker room staring at a wall. Rudy Fernandez dressed quickly and shook his head. Brandon Roy stayed in the shower long after most of his teammates were gone.


God, talk about your yellow journalism.

Regardless of the specifics, Houston fans were probably one of those worst winning crowds I've ever seen. They were so happy to get out of the first round, that I kind of understand it though.

[Kai]

Regardless of the specifics, Houston fans were probably one of those worst winning crowds I've ever seen. They were so happy to get out of the first round, that I kind of understand it though.

lol, While I don't really agree at all, even if it were true it wouldn't really bother me.

[JordanL]

lol, While I don't really agree at all, even if it were true it wouldn't really bother me.

I wouldn't expect it to bother you. That's why I'm surprised that so many Houston fans have been quoting that part... why would anyone care?

[djohn2oo8]

All in all, no one cares about this one game

[Kai]

I wouldn't expect it to bother you. That's why I'm surprised that so many Houston fans have been quoting that part... why would anyone care?

I guess it sort of makes it seem like these writers are sore losers. At least that's how I interpreted it.

[JordanL]

I guess it sort of makes it seem like these writers are sore losers. At least that's how I interpreted it.

Well, I doubt the writers are. They probably wrote that because they expect their readers to be sore losers... but most Portland fans I've seen kinda shrug... they don't think Houston is making it this year because of injuries so it's like... why not worry about the next season and who we have to beat there?

[cobbler]

2Cleva is right on. The Lakers hang nothing but championship banners. You will not see a conference banner in Staples. The writer will call it peotic license... and we call it wannabe drivel!

[sook]

Regardless of the specifics, Houston fans were probably one of those worst winning crowds I've ever seen. They were so happy to get out of the first round, that I kind of understand it though.

I thought you guys had a parade for making the playoffs?

[tlongII]

Regardless of the content of the article, the fact of the matter is we are going to PUMMEL the Rockets on opening night! It won't make up for the loss in the playoffs, but it will be nice nonetheless.

[tlongII]

And then we will turn our attention to securing the best record in the Western Conference.

[tlongII]

If we have HCA against the Lakers they will have no chance.

[JordanL]

I thought you guys had a parade for making the playoffs?

Naw, we just got together in the Pioneer Courthouse Square in downtown and watched some live bands perform, got free promotional stuff from the team, and listened to the players talk for a bit.

EDIT:

If you really want to get into a city-vs-city fight, I've been to Houston enough times that I have a list of things I hate. (I have to fly in through GWB Houston Intercontinental to visit my sister in Sulphur, LA.)

[spursfaninla]

And then we will turn our attention to securing the best record in the Western Conference.

/blind hope

Blazers should hope for 3rd, should get at least 4-5th realistically, without serious injuries to either Denver, Dallas or the Spurs...LA realistically probably owns 1st, again unless serious injuries.

[djohn2oo8]

If we have HCA against the Lakers they will have no chance.

Sorry T-long, the Blazers had homecourt against the rox, and lost 4-2, which should have been a sweep....What do you think the Lakers are gonna do to them?

[Rogue]

Sorry T-long, the Blazers had homecourt against the rox, and lost 4-2, which should have been a sweep....What do you think the Lakers are gonna do to them?
The Blazers lost that series because of nothing but the relatively little experience of playoffs, but Andre Miller will bring them whatever they need to be a great team, even probably the 4th best team in the west only behind Mavs, Spurs and Lakers.

IMHO the Rockets also have a bright future, the current suffering will only make the young guys grow faster than they would without frustrations.

[tlongII]

Series Won:
Lakers: 9
Blazers: 2

2002 Western Conference 1st Rd L.ALakers 3 - 0 Port. Trail Blazers
2001 Western Conference 1st Rd L.A. Lakers 3 - 0 Port. Trail Blazers
1900 Western Conference Finals L.A. Lakers 4 - 3 Port. Trail Blazers
1998 Western Conference 1st Rd L.A. Lakers 3 - 1 Port. Trail Blazers
1997 Western Conference 1st Rd L.A. Lakers 3 - 1 Port. Trail Blazers
1992 Western Conference 1st Rd L.A. Lakers 1 - 3 Port. Trail Blazers
1991 Western Conference Finals L.A. Lakers 4 - 2 Port. Trail Blazers
1989 Western Conference 1st Rd L.A. Lakers 3 - 0 Port. Trail Blazers
1985 Western Conference Semis L.A. Lakers 4 - 1 Port. Trail Blazers
1983 Western Conference Semis L.A. Lakers 4 - 1 Port. Trail Blazers
1977 Western Conference Finals L.A. Lakers 0 - 4 Port. Trail Blazers

2010 is calling!

[tlongII]

It's just too bad we have to wait so effing long to play the Lakers this season!

[JordanL]

Sorry T-long, the Blazers had homecourt against the rox, and lost 4-2, which should have been a sweep....What do you think the Lakers are gonna do to them?

Should have been a sweep? The Blazers lost games 3 and 4 by a combined four points... WTF are you smoking.

[OceaNus]

It's just too bad we have to wait so effing long to play the Lakers this season!

What is it with LA that gets you baddies so riled up? You still mad?

http://sportige.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/nba_a_shaquille_395.jpg

[spursfan1000]

Blazers will be a even nicer team than they were last year mostly because of the young guns progressing, but they also have a experienced point guard in Andre Miller, I expect them to either go to the Western Conference Finals or get very close to advancing in 2nd round.

[kwamay_brown54]

When the lakers come to play at the Rose Garden twice a year, I compare it to them getting a limit breaker in the Final Fantasy video game. For that one game, their team plays at a super high and intense level, and their fans go absolutely ballistic, but once the lakers leave town the limit break ends, and then they come back down to earth and suck again.

[23LeBronJames23]

What is it with LA that gets you baddies so riled up? You still mad?

http://sportige.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/nba_a_shaquille_395.jpg

he just cant wait to see the game i mean its a pretty good match up.