tlongII
01-05-2012, 10:01 AM
http://www.oregonlive.com/sports/oregonian/john_canzano/index.ssf/2012/01/canzano_trail_blazers-lakers_m.html
http://media.oregonlive.com/john_canzano_impact/photo/crawford-vs-thunderjpg-51624a9f04f37498.jpg
Jamal Crawford shoots over Serge Ibaka during Portland's 103-93 victory over Oklahoma City, a win that showed the potential of this Trail Blazers team.
For your information, the Trail Blazers don't want to be known as scrappers anymore. Turns out that NBA players who spend hours perfecting the nuances of their game, and employ agents, personal chefs and publicists, respond to being called a "scrapper" as if you've dropped their toothbrush on the bathroom floor.
Call them tough. Call them gritty. Call them determined.
But whatever you do, do not call the Blazers scrappers.
I think of it as a compliment. They do not.
Wesley Matthews Matthews cut me off days ago as I tried to tell him that the Blazers will steal some games in this shortened season because they'll real scra – "I think we have as much talent as anyone," he said. Also, Gerald Wallace bristled at the label. And Jamal Crawford talked on Wednesday, not about how gruff and tough his teammates are when elbowing Blake Griffin in the throat, but how happy they are when others on the team have success.
"It goes beyond being unselfish," he said, "you can see that the guys are happy for each other."
Is that different than other NBA teams?
"Without question it's different," Crawford said.
Keep an eye on that tonight, especially, as the Lakers come to Portland hoping to squash all the enthusiasm and unselfishness that has infected this city. A 4-1 start for the Blazers erases a lot of doubt around here. And even as the Lakers have a healthy Andrew Bynum and Kobe Bryant, this Blazers team feels built for an occasion such as this.
Lakers-Blazers? Well, the first time in a decade, the Blazers feel like the deeper, more talented, team. I know Bryant is still arguably the league's best player and can win games with little else around him when challenged, but the Lakers end up being the scrappers in this matchup?
Keep an eye on the way the teams play tonight. Because there's been a lot of talk through five games about the Blazers up-tempo offense.
Coach Nate McMillan has stopped talking about wanting to run and is finally pushing pace with good results. Portland is beating teams up in the paint, too, and is second in the league in rebounding. But what this Lakers-Blazers matchup feels like is an opportunity to show that for the first time since blowing that lead in the 2000 Western Conference Finals Portland has the better team.
Yes, the Blazers have had great success at the Rose Garden against the Lakers. Yes, the Blazers have won big games against Bryant and Co. Yes, the Lakers aren't even the defending champions in the conference this season. But everyone knows that if you're traveling to the City of Legitimacy, you ultimately have to exit at Lakers Blvd. and not lose control of the wheel.
Crawford said he understands the rivalry.
"That is a big deal, I'm already getting the 'Beat LA' tweets," he said.
This early-season matchup ends up a big deal, and not just because this is a shortened season. You could argue that the Lakers, again, wouldn't amount to much without Bryant. Also, that Portland has been as good as anyone in the conference this season, and that the Blazers only loss (at the LA Clippers) came because they played so poorly, not because the Clippers were better.
The story lines for this game end up riveting. There's drama. There's history. There are characters on both sides -- even if a lot of Portland fans are just getting to know the new players here.
Crawford has been a delight, on and off, the court. Kurt Thomas is appreciated. Raymond Felton Jr. is barely getting comfortable and already you can see where the Blazers are is headed.
Matthews was right.
This team has talent. It also runs around, dives for balls, rebounds, and beats up the opposition in the paint. Oregonian photographer Bruce Ely sits on the baseline during games. He's a keen observer with a rare seat. He turned to me after four games this season and told me that he's seeing Portland brutalize opponents under the basket and play more physically than they've done in the past seasons.
"That's new for the Blazers," Ely said. "Never seen it like that."
So yeah. The Lakers are in Portland tonight at the Rose Garden. There will be plenty of transplant Lakers fans who buy tickets and show up. And, like always, it's anyone's game. But in the end, what I'm most interested in learning isn't who wins Game 6 of the Blazers season. Or even who plays harder, or hustles more.
What I'm curious to know is, which of these teams is more talented. Which is the scrapper? Which is the team that simply needs to play its game and stay above the fray? Because I suspect for the first time in a long time, that answer comes dressed in red and black.
http://media.oregonlive.com/john_canzano_impact/photo/crawford-vs-thunderjpg-51624a9f04f37498.jpg
Jamal Crawford shoots over Serge Ibaka during Portland's 103-93 victory over Oklahoma City, a win that showed the potential of this Trail Blazers team.
For your information, the Trail Blazers don't want to be known as scrappers anymore. Turns out that NBA players who spend hours perfecting the nuances of their game, and employ agents, personal chefs and publicists, respond to being called a "scrapper" as if you've dropped their toothbrush on the bathroom floor.
Call them tough. Call them gritty. Call them determined.
But whatever you do, do not call the Blazers scrappers.
I think of it as a compliment. They do not.
Wesley Matthews Matthews cut me off days ago as I tried to tell him that the Blazers will steal some games in this shortened season because they'll real scra – "I think we have as much talent as anyone," he said. Also, Gerald Wallace bristled at the label. And Jamal Crawford talked on Wednesday, not about how gruff and tough his teammates are when elbowing Blake Griffin in the throat, but how happy they are when others on the team have success.
"It goes beyond being unselfish," he said, "you can see that the guys are happy for each other."
Is that different than other NBA teams?
"Without question it's different," Crawford said.
Keep an eye on that tonight, especially, as the Lakers come to Portland hoping to squash all the enthusiasm and unselfishness that has infected this city. A 4-1 start for the Blazers erases a lot of doubt around here. And even as the Lakers have a healthy Andrew Bynum and Kobe Bryant, this Blazers team feels built for an occasion such as this.
Lakers-Blazers? Well, the first time in a decade, the Blazers feel like the deeper, more talented, team. I know Bryant is still arguably the league's best player and can win games with little else around him when challenged, but the Lakers end up being the scrappers in this matchup?
Keep an eye on the way the teams play tonight. Because there's been a lot of talk through five games about the Blazers up-tempo offense.
Coach Nate McMillan has stopped talking about wanting to run and is finally pushing pace with good results. Portland is beating teams up in the paint, too, and is second in the league in rebounding. But what this Lakers-Blazers matchup feels like is an opportunity to show that for the first time since blowing that lead in the 2000 Western Conference Finals Portland has the better team.
Yes, the Blazers have had great success at the Rose Garden against the Lakers. Yes, the Blazers have won big games against Bryant and Co. Yes, the Lakers aren't even the defending champions in the conference this season. But everyone knows that if you're traveling to the City of Legitimacy, you ultimately have to exit at Lakers Blvd. and not lose control of the wheel.
Crawford said he understands the rivalry.
"That is a big deal, I'm already getting the 'Beat LA' tweets," he said.
This early-season matchup ends up a big deal, and not just because this is a shortened season. You could argue that the Lakers, again, wouldn't amount to much without Bryant. Also, that Portland has been as good as anyone in the conference this season, and that the Blazers only loss (at the LA Clippers) came because they played so poorly, not because the Clippers were better.
The story lines for this game end up riveting. There's drama. There's history. There are characters on both sides -- even if a lot of Portland fans are just getting to know the new players here.
Crawford has been a delight, on and off, the court. Kurt Thomas is appreciated. Raymond Felton Jr. is barely getting comfortable and already you can see where the Blazers are is headed.
Matthews was right.
This team has talent. It also runs around, dives for balls, rebounds, and beats up the opposition in the paint. Oregonian photographer Bruce Ely sits on the baseline during games. He's a keen observer with a rare seat. He turned to me after four games this season and told me that he's seeing Portland brutalize opponents under the basket and play more physically than they've done in the past seasons.
"That's new for the Blazers," Ely said. "Never seen it like that."
So yeah. The Lakers are in Portland tonight at the Rose Garden. There will be plenty of transplant Lakers fans who buy tickets and show up. And, like always, it's anyone's game. But in the end, what I'm most interested in learning isn't who wins Game 6 of the Blazers season. Or even who plays harder, or hustles more.
What I'm curious to know is, which of these teams is more talented. Which is the scrapper? Which is the team that simply needs to play its game and stay above the fray? Because I suspect for the first time in a long time, that answer comes dressed in red and black.