ducks
09-15-2003, 07:25 PM
Monday, September 15
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Trail Blazers put aside off-court problems with wins
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Associated Press
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) _ While the Portland Trail Blazers' off-court reputation took a beating, the team did some beating of its own on the court.
Portland has won 12 of its last 15, with seven of those wins coming on the road. The Trail Blazers' latest victory was a decisive 118-94 decision over the Cleveland Cavaliers Monday night at the Rose Garden.
The Blazers have done it with solid play and steady intensity, belying the image that they're a team on the edge of a serious meltdown.
``We'd still just want to play well,'' guard Derek Anderson said, ``even if everything else was perfect.''
It certainly hasn't been perfect.
With a deep and talented roster, the Blazers started the season a disappointing 3-6. Then they were hit by a disturbing string of high-profile legal problems.
Damon Stoudamire and Rasheed Wallace were cited by Washington state troopers for marijuana possession on Nov. 22 after they were stopped for speeding on the way home from a game against the rival Seattle SuperSonics.
Stoudamire and Wallace, passengers in the car, pleaded innocent and face hearings on the matter later this month.
On Nov. 25, Ruben Patterson's wife dialed 911 to report domestic abuse. Patterson was taken into custody, but his wife later asked prosecutors not to press charges and the case was not pursued. Patterson was nonetheless fined $100,000 by the Blazers for conduct detrimental to the team.
The Blazers' reputation had already been marred by marijuana charges filed against Stoudamire earlier in the year, and guard Bonzi Wells' one-game suspension for spitting San Antonio's Danny Ferry during a game.
The public outcry was considerable. One fan put up a billboard in downtown Portland reading: ``Boycott Blazers,'' the sign reads. ``We need a team that can beat L.A., not women and the justice system.''
It got worse when veteran Scottie Pippen suggested in mid-December that the Blazers might not have what it takes to contend for a championship, comments he later backed away from.
Later in the month, the Blazers mixed it up with the Golden State Warriors in a post game brawl that resulted in a two-game suspension for Wells and a $15,000 fine for Wallace. Golden State's Chris Mills was suspended three games for his part.
The Blazers won that game against Golden State 113-111 on Wallace's buzzer beating jump shot. It turned out to be their fourth win in a string of eight straight.
Despite the turmoil, the Blazers have continued to win. Since their loss at Milwaukee on Dec. 13, the Blazers have lost just three other games: on New Year's Eve at Chicago, at home last Tuesday against Phoenix, and Friday night's close 82-81 loss to the Nuggets in Denver, where they haven't managed to win in six tries.
``I think we were good all along, the difference is now we're getting a call here and a shot there and we're winning these games,'' he said. ``But I think the talent was always there.''
Cheeks said he stopped trying to make sure that every one had a few minutes here and there, and instead focused on a rotation that was best for the job.
``We put ourselves in position _ even as all that stuff was going on _ we still stayed in a group and were unified,'' Cheeks said. ``We didn't break, we didn't give up.''
But just because the Blazers' are playing well doesn't mean their troubles are over. Controversy continues to swirl around the status of Stoudamire, whose playing time has diminished with the off-season acquisitions of guards Antonio Daniels and Jeff McInnis.
Stoudamire, a Portland native, publicly voiced frustration over his minutes, and was benched for 10 games during the current streak.
But after the team _ and the local fans _ rallied around him when he came off the bench against the San Antonio Spurs last week, he tempered his anger.
``I'm happy that the team is playing well. A lot of good things are happening to us. I want to be a part of that,'' Stoudamire said. ``I don't want to cause any negativity.'' link (http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/gen/wire?messageId=24179549)
*
Trail Blazers put aside off-court problems with wins
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Associated Press
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) _ While the Portland Trail Blazers' off-court reputation took a beating, the team did some beating of its own on the court.
Portland has won 12 of its last 15, with seven of those wins coming on the road. The Trail Blazers' latest victory was a decisive 118-94 decision over the Cleveland Cavaliers Monday night at the Rose Garden.
The Blazers have done it with solid play and steady intensity, belying the image that they're a team on the edge of a serious meltdown.
``We'd still just want to play well,'' guard Derek Anderson said, ``even if everything else was perfect.''
It certainly hasn't been perfect.
With a deep and talented roster, the Blazers started the season a disappointing 3-6. Then they were hit by a disturbing string of high-profile legal problems.
Damon Stoudamire and Rasheed Wallace were cited by Washington state troopers for marijuana possession on Nov. 22 after they were stopped for speeding on the way home from a game against the rival Seattle SuperSonics.
Stoudamire and Wallace, passengers in the car, pleaded innocent and face hearings on the matter later this month.
On Nov. 25, Ruben Patterson's wife dialed 911 to report domestic abuse. Patterson was taken into custody, but his wife later asked prosecutors not to press charges and the case was not pursued. Patterson was nonetheless fined $100,000 by the Blazers for conduct detrimental to the team.
The Blazers' reputation had already been marred by marijuana charges filed against Stoudamire earlier in the year, and guard Bonzi Wells' one-game suspension for spitting San Antonio's Danny Ferry during a game.
The public outcry was considerable. One fan put up a billboard in downtown Portland reading: ``Boycott Blazers,'' the sign reads. ``We need a team that can beat L.A., not women and the justice system.''
It got worse when veteran Scottie Pippen suggested in mid-December that the Blazers might not have what it takes to contend for a championship, comments he later backed away from.
Later in the month, the Blazers mixed it up with the Golden State Warriors in a post game brawl that resulted in a two-game suspension for Wells and a $15,000 fine for Wallace. Golden State's Chris Mills was suspended three games for his part.
The Blazers won that game against Golden State 113-111 on Wallace's buzzer beating jump shot. It turned out to be their fourth win in a string of eight straight.
Despite the turmoil, the Blazers have continued to win. Since their loss at Milwaukee on Dec. 13, the Blazers have lost just three other games: on New Year's Eve at Chicago, at home last Tuesday against Phoenix, and Friday night's close 82-81 loss to the Nuggets in Denver, where they haven't managed to win in six tries.
``I think we were good all along, the difference is now we're getting a call here and a shot there and we're winning these games,'' he said. ``But I think the talent was always there.''
Cheeks said he stopped trying to make sure that every one had a few minutes here and there, and instead focused on a rotation that was best for the job.
``We put ourselves in position _ even as all that stuff was going on _ we still stayed in a group and were unified,'' Cheeks said. ``We didn't break, we didn't give up.''
But just because the Blazers' are playing well doesn't mean their troubles are over. Controversy continues to swirl around the status of Stoudamire, whose playing time has diminished with the off-season acquisitions of guards Antonio Daniels and Jeff McInnis.
Stoudamire, a Portland native, publicly voiced frustration over his minutes, and was benched for 10 games during the current streak.
But after the team _ and the local fans _ rallied around him when he came off the bench against the San Antonio Spurs last week, he tempered his anger.
``I'm happy that the team is playing well. A lot of good things are happening to us. I want to be a part of that,'' Stoudamire said. ``I don't want to cause any negativity.'' link (http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/gen/wire?messageId=24179549)