Bleacher Report - Portland

The 113th Civil War: For Bragging Rights, the Rose Bowl, and Revenge

Tristan Holmes — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 02:32:21 -0500

The funny thing about any “game of the year” in college football is that they seem to, for lack of a better word, “reproduce” as the season goes on.

The Ducks opener against Boise State was the “game of the year” for the Broncos to keep their BCS hopes alive. That is about all I want to say about it. If I am forced to remember anything else, I may cry.

Five consecutive wins later, and Oregon played USC in the “game of the year” to decide the fate of the Trojan dynasty. On Halloween, the Ducks treated their fans to a sweet 47-20 final.

A defensive meltdown against Stanford and a home win against Arizona State later, and the Ducks faced off against Arizona in the desert for the right to control their own destiny for the Rose Bowl, in the latest “game of the year” in the Pac-10.

ESPN’s Game Day could not have picked a better venue. A back-and-forth game was finally settled in the second overtime as Jeremiah Masoli tumbled into the endzone over two Wildcat defenders to finish the “instant classic.”

But another team has also been taking care of business.

After some issues early in the season against Cincinnati, Arizona, and USC, the Oregon State Beavers have finished strong (as they have tended to do during both of Mike Riley’s tenures as head coach), and for the second year in a row, have the opportunity to go to the Rose Bowl if they can beat Oregon.

Oregon State’s coaches have tried to play down the revenge factor, but there is no denying the fans (and some of the players, if you were paying attention to twitter) are relishing their chance to inflict the same pain on the Ducks that they endured a season ago.

That they could make up for last year and reach the Rose Bowl with a win makes this Thursday a perfect opportunity that the Beavers are in no mood to waste.

But standing in their way is an Oregon team that demonstrated last week that they can overcome mistakes to find a way to win in the clutch.

It all adds up to the first time in 113 meetings between these two teams where either winner is guaranteed a birth in the Rose Bowl.

It is the de-facto Pac-10 championship game.

It is the game for bragging rights in a state where almost every resident has some ties to one of, and often both, universities.

It is the Civil War.

It is the game of the year.

So what do these teams need to do to come out on top in what many consider the most important game in the history of this heated rivalry?

For the Ducks, it would be nice if they could simply do what they did last year and score more than sixty points. But a repeat of that performance will be tough to come by.

The Ducks’ offense came through when the chips were down in Tucson, but the late game heroics seem to have distracted most observers from the fact that the Wildcats contained Oregon throughout most of the second and third quarters.

For that stretch of the game, Arizona was able to do what no other team has done all year, shut down LaMichael James. With that threat taken away, the Ducks were treading water. Only later in the game, when they were forced to respect the pass, did the Wildcats allow James to contribute again, and it cost them a victory.

The Beavers best bet on defense is to find a matchup against Jeremiah Masoli running the ball that they feel confident with, like the Wildcats had with their safeties, and have the rest of their defense concentrate on shutting down James. With their two leading rushers stymied, the Ducks would be forced to go to the air.

That isn’t as bad a situation for Oregon as it was before the start of Pac-10 play when Masoli was struggling with his throws.

But it is a much more manageable situation than having to deal with all the plays the Ducks can throw at a defense when the option runs are working.

Unlike last year, Oregon State comes into this game with both of the “Super Rodgers Brothers” ready to go. That alone could be the difference between victory and defeat, assuming the Beavers defense keeps the score manageable.

Oregon’s defense will have to step it up a notch if the Ducks hope to spoil their rivals’ finale once again. The past several weeks have seen weaknesses exploited by Oregon’s opponents, and these deficiencies need to be addressed in order to beat the Beavers.

The biggest concern for Nick Allioti and company is finding a way to stop power runs. The Ducks have great overall speed on defense, but the line is undersized and Stanford, Arizona, and even Arizona State (in a limited way) had success when they ran inside, where they could seal off pursuit from the perimeter and simply bowl the athletic Oregon defenders backwards.

Oregon State has a good offensive line, and Jaquizz Rodgers excels going up the gut where he can hide behind his linemen and dart through the gaps. He isn’t as strong as Toby Gerhart, but he presents an entirely different set of challenges to would-be tacklers.

Complicating matters is that Sean Canfield and the Beavers passing game are the most productive in the Pac-10. Canfield is completing a staggering 70% of his passes, and with James Rodgers at his disposal, a big play is never far away.

If Oregon is to have success on defense, they must get Oregon State out of proper down and distance situations. This will allow the Ducks to use their speed and multiple blitz packages to pressure the quarterback and get their dynamic offense back on the field.

Assuming turnovers and special teams play are about even, the winning team will be the one that gets the most production out of their star running back.

If the Ducks can do that, it will lead to big plays from their spread formations.

If the Beavers can run well, they can grind out drives that will sap Oregon’s undersized defenders and let them break the game open late.

When it comes to the running game, physicality determines who will succeed. So it will all end up being decided by which team can get in the best hits.

In a rivalry like this, it should never be any other way.

MY CALL: Oregon Ducks 31, Oregon State Beavers 27

Read more Portland news on BleacherReport.com

Why Leave The Civil War Up to Chance When You Can Jinx Oregon State?

Keith Becker uosportsdude.com — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 20:27:04 -0500

The biggest game of my life as a sports fan is Thursday. And as the clock creeps closer to kickoff with each minute ticking by, I am only getting more and more nervous.

Obviously, I can’t do anything to directly help Oregon increase of their chances of winning, so I will resort to doing what I what do best: using my sharp, snarky, witty (I could go on forever…) humor to jinx Oregon State into losing a game that will only make those blockhead students from Corvallis just that more ashamed to call themselves Beavers.

It’s the least I could do. Seriously.

Jacquizz Rodgers has never fumbled once in his 498 career carries.
Because of that, his extra year of experience, and exceptionally sturdy knee ligaments, Rodgers is obviously better than LaMichael James.
The fly sweep is the best play in college football, much better than Oregon’s pitiful spread option attack.
Oregon State is first in the Pac-10 in passing yards while the Ducks sit in last place. There is no doubt that Sean Canfield is a better quarterback than Jeremiah Masoli.
The Beavers have allowed the fewest rushing yards in the conference and tenth fewest in the country. It doesn’t matter that teams just decide it’s easier to throw the ball. Numbers don’t lie!!!
Crucial statistic: OSU has a better net punting average than the Ducks. Knowing that, why even bother playing the game? The Beavs have it locked up.
Jacquizz Rodgers has a 547.6 quarterback rating. Talk about Heisman!
If the Civil War was decided by picking two players from each team and adding up the points from their first name Scrabble-style on a per-letter ratio, the Beavers would win in a landslide. Jacquizz and Zeke? Are you kidding me? Can you even imagine how many points that would be on a triple word score?
Oregon State had more four-star recruits than Oregon in 2006. Talk about veteran leadership!
After last season, ESPN’s Ted Miller ranked Quizz as the fourth best player in the Pac-10. The Ducks didn’t get a single player in the top eight.
OSU cheerleaders are way hotter than Oregon cheerleaders, and look, they even took buddy pics ! How cute!
Oregon State has two more alumni than Oregon who have been in space. Look, they’re even smarter than us too!
In a state known for being green, Chip Kelly drives a Land Rover while Mark Riley drives a Prius. Everyone is always talking about how being environmentally friendly pays off in the long run. The environmental karma Gods are watching!
And lastly, the Beavers have a player with 12 fingers. Talk about an advantage; imagine what you can do with all those fingers! He could enjoy 12 ring pops at the same time! Delicious!

I sure hope the Gods of reverse jinxing are Oregon alums. Go Ducks!

Portland Trail Blazers Host Civil War Night: Is That Really a Good Idea?

Busta Bucket — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 17:54:23 -0500

I just got a heads up that the Portland Trail Blazers are hosting a Civil War Night tomorrow at the Rose Garden. Highlights include Beaver on Duck crime during time-outs, people wearing orange and yellow to a Blazer game, and ticket prices being cut to where they were last year. Hooray!

Not really. I am not a big fan of the promotional events and am especially irritated when people wear non-Blazer colors to games at the Rose Garden. I would rather fans were focused on cheering for the Blazers tomorrow instead of fighting over the Civil War. Especially considering the teams recent struggles.

Don't get me wrong, I am heavily invested emotionally in a certain University, but I will be at the game tomorrow decked out in red and black! Here's the release, get tickets and go to the game:

TRAIL BLAZERS TO HOST CIVIL WAR NIGHT TOMORROW

Rose Bowl on the line between the Ducks and Beavers

PORTLAND, Ore. - The Portland Trail Blazers are supporting Oregon's biggest in-state rivalry, college football's Civil War, Tuesday, December 1st vs. the Miami Heat.

Fans of the Oregon Ducks and Oregon State Beavers are eligible to receive discounted tickets. In-game activities will pit Ducks and Beavers fans together in contests and on big screen features. Following the game, all participating fans will be led down to the court to shoot a free throw. Fans are encouraged to wear their team's school colors to the game.

With much more than bragging rights on the line, this year's Civil War marks the first time in the game's 113-year history that the winner is guaranteed a Rose Bowl berth.

Tickets for Civil War Night can be purchased by calling 503.963.3963 or going online at http://tickets.trailblazers.com/deals/ (promotion code: Civilwar).

Read more Portland news on BleacherReport.com

The Blazers: Veteran Leadership Must Start With Roy, Aldridge, and Oden

Brian D. — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 14:27:02 -0500

After a 4-1 road trip and a stretch of dominance against weak teams which saw them run their record to 12-5, the Blazers are suddenly in danger of getting Nate McMillan fired, missing the playoffs, and being moved to another city.

Well, maybe the sky is not falling quite that dramatically. They are, after all, 12-7, which isn't horrible. However, their last two losses, to Memphis and Utah, have been inexcusably bad.

Fingers are pointing everywhere. It's the offense that is sputtering because Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge can't adjust to Greg Oden's presence. It's Brandon's fault for not adjusting to Andre Miller. It's Miller's fault for adjusting to his new role by pouting and being lazy. It's Nate's fault for making too many adjustments and throwing his team off-balance. It's the injuries to Nicholas Batum and Travis Outlaw, which have caused everyone to have to adjust.

About the only guy who can't be blamed is Greg Oden, which must be refreshing for him. Well, Joel Przybilla's played pretty well, too.

The truth of the matter is: the entire team, with the exception of Oden, seems to have taken being good for granted. It's a typical sophomore jinx, and it's almost unavoidable.

It's one of the reasons the Blazers and their fans knew they needed more veteran leadership if they were going to take the next step. Veterans know things young players don't, at least, those that have been successful do.

If you watch the Blazers, you see a team that probably thinks they are playing hard, when in reality they are not. You see a team that somewhere, in the back of their minds, decided that they are good enough to coast in the early season and save themselves for the playoffs. Clearly, Brandon Roy has taken this approach, going so far as to avoid playing basketball in the off-season.

While Nate McMillan is not happy about his team's effort, there is probably very little he has been able to do about it. After all, as easy as the opponents have been, the team's schedule has been grueling. It's difficult to try to coax more effort out of a team that is short-handed and has played more games than any other NBA team, especially when they already think they are playing hard.

Moreover, the Blazers have had scant opportunity to practice, so it's no wonder the offense has been out of sync.

To Roy's credit, he sounded the alarm about the team's offensive problems earlier than anyone else. For his trouble, he was accused of being the source of the problem, and his pronouncements were seen as self-serving.

However, if Roy was thinking like a veteran, he would understand that the offense is not the real problem. It's all about the effort. Specifically, it's about the effort on the defensive end.

When a team in any sport is struggling offensively, it's up to the defense to make up the ground. In baseball, teams with Cy Young caliber pitchers can win games even when their offense is slumping. In football, teams like the Ravens and Steelers of recent years have won Super Bowls without great quarterbacks, because the defense covers a multitude of sins.

In basketball, this is a fact that veteran players learn over time. The offense may be hit and miss, but the defensive effort is something you can always control.

The Blazers are a group that has played great defense against poor teams. That's typical of a young team: when things are clicking and the game is fun, everybody gets in on the act. You start chasing loose balls, going for steals, rotating more quickly, moving your feet, etc.

Against good teams, the defense has struggled at times, especially when the team is tired. And that means that there is no cushion for the sloppy offense.

Ideally, Portland would have a veteran leader on this team who would be talking about defense all the time. More importantly, they would have a player who would be leading by example on the court by always giving great defensive effort.

On the Blazers, the four players who consistently give good effort on defense are Joel Przybilla, Steve Blake, Greg Oden, and Nicholas Batum. Unfortunately, Joel doesn't play enough minutes and isn't really a vocal kind of guy; Blake gives great effort but not great results; Oden is not a veteran and sits on the bench a lot with fouls, and Batum is injured.

Now, the Blazers did bring in two veterans this year, supposedly to provide leadership: Andre Miller and Juwon Howard. Howard has been a great influence, but doesn't play enough to make a difference. Miller simply doesn't play defense, so he's no help at all in this regard. Moreover, he seems to endorse the idea of coasting early in the season, having come into camp out of shape.

Ultimately, of course, this team belongs to Brandon Roy, LaMarcus Aldridge, and Greg Oden. These are the big three, like Bird, Parish, and McHale. All the others are all supplemental players. The fate of this team rests on the shoulders of those three, and they will have to figure things out, offensively and defensively.

Blazer fans have to hope they figure out how to be veterans in a hurry.

Read more Portland news on BleacherReport.com

Brandon Roy, the Portland Trail Blazers, and Struggle

Busta Bucket — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 20:56:52 -0500

These are interesting times in Rip City.

The Blazers, still young, have all the talent to become an elite team. We all see that. The enormity of this team's potential is a major reason for our instant frustration when they struggle. After all, success is not guaranteed.

To have a team so young and loaded never amount to much would be heartbreaking. Maybe the anxiety resulting from this uncertainty is responsible for us forgetting that the way to the top is rarely a straight path.

If championship success ever happens, it often arrives only after some significant obstacles are overcome: playoff heartbreak, team chemistry issues, injuries, or whatever.

"These setbacks are normal, perhaps even helpful," is a belief that I'm clinging to as I watch Portland struggle. It was never realistic to expect smooth sailing. But when the losses come the finger pointing starts, even when the losses are few.

So far, I’ve heard or read from different sources that this is Nate’s fault, Miller’s fault, Kevin Pritchard's fault, Roy’s fault, Aldridge’s fault, “injurie’s fault”, and nobody’s fault. If things continue none of us are safe from blame. Not me. Not my imaginary goldfish. Nobody.

The criticism that has stuck with me the most is Dwight Jaynes' recent post . Not so much the exploration of who threw whom under the bus, it was his point that Brandon Roy needs to learn how to become a real shooting-guard that became lodged into my mind. The claim was that both Roy and the team would be better off in the long run as a result. If only Nate would take a stand with Roy and make it happen.

“Roy seems like he’s being kind of a diva,” my Dad e-mailed me.

It was shocking to read something like that given the golden status of Roy in my family. It was even more shocking that such a statement actually resonated with me. Roy wants to win, but right now he seems to think that it can only happen his way. That his way is the best way.

If that means ignoring Oden in the post or failing to embrace Andre Miller, so be it. His way has worked before, and it will keep working if people would just stop messing with it.

Ultimately, Roy needs to realize that this team is too talented to run so much through one player. Roy has a selfless game in many ways, which makes me uneasy about going so far as to label him as selfish. But maybe he does need to get out of his comfort zone. All would benefit from his learning to be effective while playing a traditional two-guard role.

This thought doesn't diminish Brandon in any way. When the game is on the line, we know who the ball goes to. We know he's the alpha. We also know that there is talent on this team that is being underutilized, and that it is hurting. Portland can never fully upgrade their back court if Roy refuses to grant autonomy to the point guard.

What Roy is going through isn’t so unusual. Multiple young, talented ball-dominating 2 guards have been slow to truly embrace the team concept. Weary of trusting anyone else to help shoulder the load, they seize control and are slow to relinquish it. It took Jordan years (and Phil Jackson) to learn that he would win more if he bought into the team.

It took Kobe years (and Phil Jackson) as well. If Brandon has yet to internalize such principles completely, just remember that he still has time and that other players have overcome similar issues.

In a convoluted way, what I’m trying to say is that patience is in order. This team will have setbacks. Setbacks are normal. As mature as Brandon Roy is he is still a young player learning to trust his team.

He may need to grow his game in different ways and adopt a different mentality, but knowing what we do about Roy I'm choosing not to worry yet. Also, I think I implied that Portland should try to hire Phil Jackson. That was unintentional and completely subconscious. I hate my subconscious.

Read more Portland news on BleacherReport.com

Game 19: Blazers 92, Jazz 108

Busta Bucket — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 13:16:34 -0500

Well, usually this would be a recap filled with four-letter expletives and multiple call-outs, but it's hard to get too mad about this loss because it was par for the course. Weak Blazer defense, stagnant offense, too many jump-shots, yada yada yada...this game was over five minutes in and I wasn't all that surprised. I'm growing indifferent to this team in the early going which I find somewhat troubling.

Utah's two stars, Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer absolutely murdered the Blazers tonight. The two combined for 50 points, 22 assists, and 18 rebounds. D. Williams is a Top-Three PG in the league, and Boozer seems like he's put contract issues aside. It's clear that Mr. Aldridge has a long way to go to making an all-star team over Boozer.

Most of all this seemed to be a game of two teams heading in opposite directions. Utah has everyone healthy, and they are really clicking on all aspects. Blazers on the other hand, well, I don't think anyone knows where they are going, but it's not up.

You can't argue with a 12-7 start, but if you have an ounce of basketball savvy you would know that the Blazers have not looked good for the most part this year. They've had a cupcake schedule and have been outclassed by most of the decent teams they've played.

The team has had a lot of games so far (most in the league at 19 games) so perhaps it is just fatigue. Whatever it is, this does not look like a team ready to challenge for the Western Conference title, let alone get out of the first round.

Box Score

Jason Quick's post-game reactions


3-18 on 3-pointers Andre Miller playing six minutes Letting Utah shoot 60% D. Williams and Boozer looking like Stockton and Malone	Mike and Mike questioning McMillian's substitution pattern of Oden Bayless and Cunningham getting good run Toby Gerhart and Stanford being a good distraction from the Blazer game

Read more Portland news on BleacherReport.com

Thugs "R" Us: Looking Back at the Infamous Portland Jail Blazers Era

Mike B. — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 04:27:19 -0500

Things are really looking good for the Portland Trail Blazers. Led by youngsters Brandon Roy, LaMarcus Aldridge, and Greg Oden, the Blazers are truly one of the most talented teams in the NBA.

Most people would agree that this up-and-coming ball club could win a championship or two in the near future.

But things in Portland haven't always been so peachy.

A few years ago, the darkest period in franchise history existed known as the "Jail Blazers" era. Those were the days when the roster was filled with players who constantly made headlines for the wrong reasons.

The turmoil began in April 2001 when Shawn Kemp ended his first season with the team by checking into a drug rehabilitation center for cocaine abuse.

In May 2002, Zach Randolph was cited for underage drinking in his hometown of Marion, Indiana.

November 2002 was a month in which three controversial Blazers' players were in the news.

Rasheed Wallace and Damon Stoudamire were cited for misdemeanor marijuana possession after their car was stopped on the way home from a game in Seattle. Both players agreed to attend drug counseling and stay out of legal trouble for a certain amount of time to have charges dropped against them.

In addition, Ruben Patterson was arrested on felony domestic abuse charges on his wife. The charges were later dropped.

Four months later, rookie forward Qyntel Woods was cited for speeding, driving without insurance or a driver's license, and of course, marijuana possession.

In April 2003, Randolph punched Patterson in the face during practice breaking his eye socket. Ouch, that must have been a pretty hard punch. Maybe Patterson's wife had paid Randolph to do it. Just kidding.

In July 2003, Stoudamire was back in trouble with the law. The former Rookie of the Year was arrested at an Arizona airport after he was caught with an ounce of marijuana wrapped in aluminum foil.

Man, that's the third use of the word, "marijuana" in this article.

Anyway, during the 2004-05 season, Woods pleaded guilty to misdemeanor animal abuse. I guess Michael Vick wasn't the first athlete linked to dog fighting.

And head coach Maurice Cheeks was later fired after being cussed out by both Bonzi Wells (in 2003) and Darius Miles (in 2005).

I heard that Miles actually called Cheeks the "N" word. That's pretty interesting since Miles is African American as well. I just don't get it.

In closing, I left out several events that occurred during that forgettable era simply because I didn't want this article to be 30 pages long.

My advice to all NBA general managers: Don't build a team with a bunch of dysfunctional players.

It will never work.

Read more Portland news on BleacherReport.com

The Black Friday Debacle: The Blazers Love to Shop

Busta Bucket — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 14:43:53 -0500

Many fans were puzzled as they watched last night's game vs. Memphis as to why the Blazers were sleepwalking through the first half. The effort was not there, and the 31-2 run by the Grizzlies didn't seem to even piss off any of the players. Zero emotion was shown.

What was wrong with this team? It was as if they hadn't gotten any sleep the night before.

That got me thinking...sure they're multi-millionaires, but that doesn't mean they don't love a good bargain. Fleets of vehicles and plasma TVs in every room of your house add up pretty quickly.

These guys must have been out waiting in the Black Friday lines just like the rest of us. They were exhausted from the shopping, crowds, and chaos that comes along with Black Friday.

That is the only way to explain the effort (or lack thereof) put forth in the first half last night. So from here on out, the loss to the Grizzlies on the day after Thanksgiving shall me known as the Black Friday Debacle.

Management better make sure the players do their shopping online next year.

Read more Portland news on BleacherReport.com

Game 19: Blazers @ Jazz, 6:00pm

Busta Bucket — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 11:05:49 -0500

The Blazers get a chance to right the ship in Utah after the Black Friday debacle last night against the Grizzlies.

Utah Jazz coverage at True Blue Jazz .

Blazers

Analysis

Jazz

If there is one guy not on the Blazers that I have a man-crush on, it's Deron Williams. Even though he is on the hated Jazz, I enjoy his game more than anyone else in the league. Tonight however, I won't enjoy him shredding our defense. Steve Blake and Andre Miller can only hope to combine for an offensive output like Deron's. Miller will be key in the second unit; hopefully he takes this matchup to heart and has a big night in the state of his alma mater.

Brandon Roy will be under a lot of defensive pressure in Utah tonight. Matthews and Brewer will be locking down Roy, which should open up opportunities for other guys. Roy did put up 33 points last time around in SLC though. Rudy needs to show up tonight to help the second unit. I'm not particularly worried about Matthews or Brewer bringing any offense, they are here to complement Deron. Roy and Rudy FTW!

Andrei Kirilenko has thrived in his role has a backup. He seems to have a need to get lost in the mix and just do what he does best, play defense, and do everything but score. I think this is the type of matchup that sways based on who has home court. Martell's inconsistencies will likely be in effect tonight. After a hot night last night, will he have the same confidence going tonight? The X-factor will be Cunningham. He's really starting to make a name for himself and earn playing time. Dante continues to impress, but I like the Jazz here.

Carlos Boozer is back to his old self with the Jazz. When he's committed, he's an absolute monster. He's averaging 21 points and nearly 12 rebounds at home this year. Plus his backup, Millsap, is no slouch. He's at 10 and 6 on the season and these guys are really cleaning the glass. LaMarcus will have a tough time finding the paint so that jumper will need to be extra smooth tonight. I just don't see how we stop Boozer and Millsap at Utah.

In order for Portland to win this game, we must win this matchup in a big way. The Jazz have a solid power forward tandem but our center tandem needs to be better. Okur, as always, will be floating around the perimeter, hopefully not getting it going from long range. But Greg's game continues to improve and should be good again, especially with Andre feeding him the rock. I like our centers here, but this game will be tough. Utah has won 4 of their last 5, and seem to be picking it up.

Overall Winner:

Read more Portland news on BleacherReport.com

Blazers-Grizzlies: Portland Can't Overcome Long Midgame Drought

Busta Bucket — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 02:46:40 -0500

BOX SCORE

If NBA games had a fifth period, the Blazers might have been able to pull this game out. Then again, there's no reason to believe the Grizzlies would have stopped having an answer for every Portland comeback attempt.

The Blazers gave Memphis everything they had in the second half, outscoring the Grizzlies 57-45, but it wasn't enough as Memphis dominated Portland 106-96.

The game started out as expected with Portland holding an early 15-11 lead midway through the first quarter. Then what became an insurmountable lead began to take effect as Memphis continued to take it to the rim and get to the line as Portland continued to take jumpers and turn the ball over.

The dreadful quarter was fittingly capped off with Brandon Roy (uncharacteristically unaware of the game clock winding down) failing to get a shot off, followed by a chorus of well-deserved boos from the home crowd.

Memphis ended the quarter on an 18-0 run, holding the Blazers to 28% shooting.

Oh, but they weren't done yet. The Blazers were stuck with 15 points until about the 6:40 mark of the second quarter when Brandon Roy finally hit a jumper to end the long drought. By then the Grizzlies had done too much damage.

Memphis continued to pour it on as they seemingly couldn't miss, racking up 61 first-half points and heading into the locker room with a 22 point first half lead.

The Blazers came out and gradually fought back in the second half but every time Portland seemed to be making a move, Memphis would have an answer.

There was a feeling that although the Blazers were down double-digits for the majority of the game, they would find a way to sneak out a win. They were playing Memphis, after all.

Portland got the lead, which had gotten as high as 29, down to single-digits in the fourth and you had the feeling that they just might do it. But Memphis always had an answer.

It's hard to blame anyone for this loss. Memphis simply came to the Rose Garden and played a great game. The Blazers got worked. Z-Bo always seems to play well when he comes back to town, finishing with a typical 21 point, 9 rebound game.

Marc Gasol played fantastic, finishing with 19, 15, and 5. OJ Mayo had a solid night with 19 points.

The bench played well, as Hasheem Thabeet was terrific in the paint during the fourth quarter and Jamal Tinsley seemed to do whatever he wanted.

Memphis came to the Rose Garden and handed Portland its third home loss of the season, leaving Blazer fans with a sour taste as the team heads down to Salt Lake City for a meeting with the Jazz.

Hearing the boos at home (and deserving them)
Continuing to struggle at the foul line
Not much help from the bench
Roy and Aldridge playing 40+ minutes one night before heading to Utah

Martell gaining confidence
No one got injured

Read more Portland news on BleacherReport.com

Portland Trail Blazers of the Early 2000's: Tons of Stars, No Championships

Mike B. — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 16:56:48 -0500

After the Portland Trail Blazers were swept in the 1999 NBA Western Conference Finals, it was a given that general manager Bob Whitsitt was going to make some major moves in the offseason.

And of course, "Trader Bob" tinkered with the roster as expected. He traded the team's leading scorer, Isaiah Rider, and Jim Jackson to the Atlanta Hawks for Steve Smith. Then he signed free agent Detlef Schrempf.

Later, Whitsitt sent six bench players to the Houston Rockets for six-time NBA champion Scottie Pippen.

Instantly, the Blazers became one of the most talented teams ever assembled as they were two men deep at all five positions.

It just didn't seem real. They resembled a fantasy team that you would put together on a video game. But no, this wasn't a fantasy, this was real life.

The starting lineup was made up of Pippen and Rasheed Wallace at forward, Arvydas Sabonis at center, and Damon Stoudamire and Smith at guard.

The bench included guys like Briant Grant, Schrempf, Greg Anthony, Bonzi Wells, and a young Jermaine O'Neal. Not bad for a second unit.

The Blazers went on to win 59 games in 1999-00 and cruised through the first two rounds of the playoffs before facing Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant's Lakers in the conference finals.

Game Seven of the series ended up being one of the most memorable games in league history. The Blazers, who led by as much as 15 points in the fourth quarter, ended up losing both the game and the series.

Following the painful loss, Whitsitt pulled the trigger on a couple of more trades in the offseason, much like the previous summer. He shipped O'Neal to the Indiana Pacers in exchange for Dale Davis and dealt Grant for Shawn Kemp.

Now the Blazers had two more All-Star big men to try to stop O'Neal if they were to meet the Lakers in the postseason again.

Portland finished the 2000-01 campaign with a 52-30 record and of course, wound up playing the Lakers in the playoffs, this time in the first round. The series wasn't quite as memorable as the previous year's as the Blazers were swept by L.A., 3-0.

In the offseason, Smith was traded to the San Antonio Spurs for the younger Derek Anderson and both Schrempf and Sabonis retired.

The Blazers won 49 games in 2001-02 and met up with the Lakers in the playoffs for the third consecutive year.

The team was swept once again.

Sabonis returned the following season and the Blazers lost to the Dallas Mavericks in the first round of the playoffs.

I guess it goes to show you that you can't build a NBA team with a bunch of All-Stars and expect to win a championship.

Sure, that method may have worked for the New York Yankees, but that's baseball

Read more Portland news on BleacherReport.com

Rivalry Weekend Is Playoff Elimination Weekend

Crayton — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 13:15:12 -0500

If Texas, Florida, or Alabama lose this week, then they will most likely be thrown from the BCS title race. While some people stomp for a large, 16-team playoff; the truth is that under that format each of these teams might lose but would still ascend into such an expansive playoff, right...right?

Thanksgiving weekend is, for all intents and purposes, rivalry weekend. You have the Civil War, The Holy War, The Bedlam Series, the riveting Egg Bowl, and Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate.

The last thing these rivalry games need is one team resting their starters for the playoffs.

This year, the Civil War between Oregon and Oregon State would have tremendous playoff implications. The winner would gain a spot in essentially a play-in round, while the loser would have to settle for the Holiday Bowl, or worse.

Perhaps all games on rivalry weekend should be elimination games.

Imagine, if Florida loses to Florida State then the Gators would be eliminated. Sure, they may fall only to No. 6 in the BCS, but they would be ineligible for an at large spot in the playoff and would take the back-seat in the SEC tie-breaker to 'Bama because of their loss.

The Playoff

So what would the race to a 16-team playoff look like this weekend? We will assume that every team's final regular season game will be played this week and that next week Conference Championship Games will be replaced by the first round of the playoffs.

To replace the Conference Championship Games, four regional tournaments (West, South, East, and North) of four teams will be held on campuses the first two weeks of December; the winners of which will ascend into two of the five BCS Games on Jan. 1.

Eleven conference champions and five at large teams will go into the playoff. Rivalry Week losses will trump head-to-head in breaking conference ties and no team which loses on rivalry week will be eligible for an at large bid.

A maximum of three teams from each conference will be put in one of the regional tournaments so as not to monopolize the region. Here are the potential brackets:

(note: 30 teams are listed as hopeful; a full, extra playoff round with Georgia Tech already assured a playoff spot)

The West Regional Contenders

No. 3 Texas
The Longhorns have traversed their schedule unscathed and with the top seed in the West; but they face a tough rival in Texas A&M. A loss to the Aggies and an Oklahoma State victory over Oklahoma would force a tie for the Big 12 Championship, which the Longhorns would lose and be eliminated by virtue of their Rivalry Loss.

No. 6 Boise St
The Broncos have also gone undefeated through the season, except against an arguably weaker schedule and currently hold on to a first round home game. This week's elimination game against Nevada will decide which team will represent the WAC in the playoff.

No. 8 Oregon
The Ducks lead the Pac-10 but face elimination against Oregon State who can snatch the conference title away from them. If both Oregon and Boise State make the playoffs, the two teams would not be paired in the first round. If Boise State or Texas slip then the Ducks will find themselves with a first round home game.

No. 12 Oklahoma State
The Cowboys have a firm grip on an at large bid and can even grab the Big 12 title if they show up against rival Oklahoma and Texas slips against A&M. If both the Longhorns and Cowboys make the playoffs they will not be paired in the first round.

The West Regional Hopefuls

No. 16 Oregon State
The Beavers control their own destiny and can take Oregon's spot in the playoff with a victory over the Ducks this weekend in what amounts to a "Round of 32" game.

No. 20 USC
The Trojans need a lot of help to make the playoffs should they defeat rival UCLA this weekend. Four of the following Eight teams must lose: Florida, Alabama, Texas, Oklahoma St, Virginia Tech, LSU, Clemson, and Miami

No. 22 California
The Bruins played their rivalry game a week early and are have one more game against Washington. If USC also losses then California would make the playoffs from the longest of odds.

(7-0 WAC) Nevada
The Wolfpack can jump into the playoffs with a victory over Boise State and the WAC crown. It will be a tough game and Nevada will most likely play at Texas in the first round.

C-USA / Sun Belt Champ

If the Big 12 does not send two teams to the playoff then expect the westernmost of the Conference USA Champion or Sun Belt Champion to join the Western Regional Playoffs.

The South Regional Contenders

No. 1 Florida
The Gators have built up an impressive resume this year but face almost sure elimination if they lose against rival Florida State. Only a simultaneous loss by Alabama will save the Gators.

No. 2 Alabama
The Crimson Tide have also gone undefeated but still must defeat rival Auburn this Friday to make the playoffs. Otherwise they will have secured a first round home game against Troy.

(7-0 Sun Belt) Troy
The Trojans have almost clinched the Sun Belt and can do so with a win against Louisiana Lafayette or with a Middle Tennessee loss. The Trojans are looking to play at cross-state powerhouse Alabama in the first round.

(6-1 C-USA) East Carolina
The Pirates are the only Conference USA team in control of their own destiny. A win against playoff hopeful Southern Miss will clinch the conference and a playoff spot for the Pirates.

The South Regional Hopefuls

No. 15 LSU
The Tigers are the highest ranked team not yet in playoff position and play the Arkansas Razorbacks in the Battle for the Golden Boot this weekend. The Tigers can take the place of Alabama or Florida if one of those teams loses or they may edge out the Westernmost C-USA or Sun Belt champion if Texas or Oklahoma State lose.

No. 23 Houston
The Cougars are a game behind the East Carolina Pirates and need a victory over rival Rice and an East Carolina loss to secure the Conference USA title.

(6-1 Sun Belt) Middle Tennessee State
The Blue Raiders play Louisiana Monroe this weekend but need not only a victory but also a Troy loss to find their way into the playoff

(5-2 C-USA) Southern Mississippi
The Golden Eagles can play their way to a tie in the conference against East Carolina but will lose the tie-breaker unless Houston loses as well.

The East Regional Contenders

No. 5 Cincinnati
The Bearcats are riding an undefeated season into their season finale against Pittsburgh. The Bearcats are holding on to a top seed and two home playoff games but will lose it all with a loss to Pittsburgh.

No. 7 Georgia Tech
The Yellow Jackets have already clinched the ACC, the ONLY team guaranteed a playoff spot with a game remaining, so theirs is the rare instance when the rivalry game against Georgia does not have overt playoff implications. Even a loss to the Bulldogs may not steal Georgia Tech's first round home game.

No. 15 Virginia Tech
The Hokies are holding on to the last at large spot. Their rivalry game against Virginia should pose little problem, so expect Virginia Tech to play at the Big East champion in the first round.

(7-0 MAC) Central Michigan / Temple
The Chippewas and Owls are both tied for the MAC lead without a head-to-head matchup to break the tie.

If one of the teams stumbles this weekend against Northern Illinois and Ohio respectively then the MAC representative will be obvious, but it may be the polls which ultimately determine which team will ascend to the playoffs and play at Georgia Tech in December.

The East Regional Hopefuls

No. 9 Pittsburgh
The Panthers control their own destiny with their season finale against Cincinnati and a home playoff game against the ACC runner-up. Expect in years future, without regular season games in December, that Pittsburgh will conclude its season in the Backyard Brawl against West Virginia.

No. 17 Miami
The Hurricanes can slip in if a second at large team, perhaps Virginia Tech, stumbles. Miami begins a six-year series against USF this weekend in what should shape up into a solid rivalry.

No. 18 Clemson
The Tigers may have something to say about Miami getting the last at-large spot and will showcase their ACC-Atlantic champion team against the rival South Carolina Gamecocks. Whichever team between the Hurricanes and Tigers is ranked higher may end up with the last at large bid. Clemson has already played and defeated Miami in October.

(6-1 MAC) Ohio
The Bobcats actually have a shot at the playoff as long as they defeat Temple this weekend and Central Michigan drops its regular season finale. By virtue of their Rivalry Week Victory, Ohio will ascend into the playoff at Georgia Tech the following week.

The North Regional Contenders

No. 4 TCU
The Horned Frogs are undefeated thus far but need a victory against lowly New Mexico to stay in the playoffs and keep their top spot and two home playoff games.

No. 10 Ohio State
The Buckeyes have completed their season a week early, secured the Big Ten title outright, and earned a home playoff game. Expect next year, as the Big Ten adds a bye week, that the Michigan game will be moved to rivalry weekend.

No. 11 Iowa
The Hawkeyes have also secured an at large spot in the Northern Region by concluding their season a week early and will likely play at the Mountain West Champion.

No. 13 Penn State
The Nittany Lions have secured their playoff spot and will likely be the team chosen from Iowa to play in a rematch (in Columbus) against Ohio State in the first round.

The North Regional Hopefuls

No. 19 BYU
The Cougars will find themselves in a Holy War for the MWC title and playoff spot if TCU loses this weekend. BYU's lone conference loss is to the Horned Frogs and the tie will be broken by TCU's Rivalry Week Loss.

No. 21 Utah
The Utes may squeeze their way into a second straight Mountain West title with a victory over BYU and a TCU loss, but the chips are stacked against them as this week's game is played in Provo.

Read more Portland news on BleacherReport.com

Game 18: Blazers vs. Grizzlies, 7:00 PM CSN

Busta Bucket — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 11:50:46 -0500

Memphis Grizzlies coverage at 3 Shades of Blue .

Blazers

Analysis

Grizzlies

I still haven't seen what I expected to see out of Mike Conley. Towards the end of last season he seemed to be rounding into a good point guard in the NBA. But something happened and he is struggling again. Memphis brought in Jamaal Tinsley who is nothing more than a servicable back-up. I like Portland's point guards tonight. Andre Miller has been huge off the bench lately and Steve Blake should be able to get his threes going against the Grizz.

Brandon Roy continues to battle inconsistencies on offense. Sometimes it's the opponent focusing on Brandon and sometimes it's just the way the game is flowing. Portland has played a lot of bad teams and games get out of hand early. I see memphis putting up a fight and Roy getting hot early. Mayo will drop in about 20 but they'll be no match for Roy and Rudy.

After that huge night Saturday against the Timberwolves, Martell has gone back to his struggles. As long as he can contribute defensively and on the glass, he's an asset to this team. Cunningham has started to earn minutes and for good reason. He brings a very nice dynamic with his mid-range jumper and great defense. The problem is Rudy Gay is a very talented player and he'll win this match-up tonight.

The last time these two teams met, Zach Randolph was held to only 11 points. That was amazing considering his frequent motivation to kill the Blazers. I think he'll have a much better game tonight. He and Sam Young will control the boards and LaMarcus can only really hope to get some in this game. The fact that we're at the RG gives LA a good chance, but Z-Bo will be pissed, he might drop 30!

Greg Oden has really been a force lately and I'm excited to see him matched up with Marc Gasol. Gasol is a skilled offensive player and his rebounding numbers really depend on the opponent. I think we'll hold him under 10 boards tonight, the question is, can Oden stay out of foul trouble? Marc is crafty and able to draw a lot of contact, so it should be interesting. I do like Joel to dominate Thabeet and our centers take the match-up.

Overall Winner:

Read more Portland news on BleacherReport.com

Giving Thanks

Busta Bucket — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 12:08:07 -0500

’s record: 12-5 (.706)

Opponents: 100-148 (.403)

Opponents has beaten: 60-122 (.329)

We all have things to be thankful for. I'm adding the "Portland Trail Blazers early season schedule" to the list. There are different ways to view Portland's cup-cake sampling and the one you have might come down to your perspective on life.

Are you an optimist? If so, be very content that the Blazers are defeating the teams that they are "supposed to beat". After all, a team can only play the schedule it is given. Plus, the awfulness of the overall competition is a little skewed thanks to Portland playing the 1-14 Timberwolves three times.

Considering some bad luck with injuries (whether the injuries were actually bad for the team is a different discussion entirely, I'm going with the "injury bad" paradigm here for convenience) and some major new parts, Portland is doing pretty stinkin' well and remains on course for future NBA dominance.

(Optimist side note: Oden is leading the League in field goal percentage and is third in blocks per game. So the team is winning, Oden is showing significant improvement, and we're supposed to be worried about something?)

Then again, maybe you are a more jaded type of fan that is still in therapy working through your Jailblazers baggage. (Do you make your therapist pretend to be Bob Whitsitt so you can scream at them too? No?) Do you know how many teams Portland has beaten this season that are more than a single game over .500 as of this post? Zero. As in the absence of a single quantity.

Not to mention we're still not sure how this Andre Miller thing is going to work. And now that I think about it, I'm kind of freaked out by how many players on this roster pick up surgery-serious injuries.

To the optimists out there, I'd wish you a happy Thanksgiving but I'm pretty sure you'll already have one. To the Debbie-Downers, I recommend adding the hazelnut spice rum from Rogue to your eggnog. It is delicious and will help ease your pain. Win-win!

Read more Portland news on BleacherReport.com

Brandon Roy: Portland's New Villain

Brian D. — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 04:22:15 -0500

Last holiday season, I got free tickets to a Blazer game at the Rose Garden. They were good seats in the 100 level, and my eight-year-old son and I watched up close as Brandon Roy scored 52 points against the Phoenix Suns.

This came on the heels of Roy's dramatic buzzer-beating, game-winning three-pointer against the Houston Rockets a few weeks earlier.

Last holiday season, Brandon Roy could do no wrong in Portland.

He was favorably compared to the greatest Blazer of all time, Clyde Drexler. He was canonized by the normally contentious Portland media, who gushed about his work ethic, his unselfishness, his poise, and his professionalism.

He was, in no uncertain terms, the savior of the franchise.

And make no mistake: This was a franchise that needed saving. A franchise that only five years ago was named as having the worst public image in all of sports in a national poll. A franchise that was on the verge of being sold and possibly moved to another city.

A franchise that was known as "the Jail Blazers."

More than anyone else, Roy has been responsible for changing all of that, largely because he defied the conventional wisdom that prevailed during the Bob Whitsitt/Steve Patterson era and showed that he could be an All-Star and a good guy at the same time.

What a difference a year makes.

A year ago, Roy walked on water. He was the consummate politician, the public relations dream, and the inspiration to literally millions. In short, he was a localized version of Barack Obama.

But like Obama, he has been knocked off his pedestal by his own supporters. Just as a certain segment of Democrats and former media supporters have turned on Obama, so have a certain segment of Blazer fans and local sports media turned on Brandon Roy. The parallels are downright eerie, and the more politically minded among you can flesh out that analogy for yourselves.

Last year, the usual terms used by media and fans to describe Brandon Roy were unselfish, determined, team oriented, hard-working, media savvy, and team leader. He was lauded for always thinking of his teammates first and for keeping the young Blazers free of any ego trips.

When local pundits considered possible trades, it was always with the implicit belief that Brandon would protect the team from any incoming chemistry issues with his leadership and his sheer charisma.

As recently as the 2009 preseason, local media types like the Oregonian's Jason Quick and John Canzano waxed eloquently about Roy's leadership qualities. Just look at Quick's profile of Roy from exactly one month ago.

Or how about this offering from award-winning columnist Canzano from this past July?

Canzano says that Roy deserves "the key to the franchise." It's stunning, therefore, to witness the turnaround in the perception of Roy by the Portland media and Blazers fans this early in the regular season.

So far, Roy is averaging 19.8 points on 45 percent shooting, while grabbing about 4.4 rebounds and dishing five assists per game. These numbers are slightly down from last season, but this is hardly surprising.

The Blazers have seen the return of starting small forward Martell Webster, the improvement of Greg Oden, and the addition of Andre Miller. Of course Roy's numbers are going to be down, because he hasn't had to carry the team every night like he did last season.

Tonight, Roy scored 13 points on 5-of-10 shooting in an easy win against the New Jersey Nets. With the victory Portland improved to 12-5, which happens to be the franchise's best start since 1999-2000.

Yet numerous emailers to the Blazers postgame show suggested Roy's overall performance this season, as well as his diminished stat line, reflects the fact that Roy has been playing "lazy" and is "merely going through the motions." Others called him overrated and have suggested his recent max contract has gone to his head. Such thoughts were unthinkable a year ago, or even a month ago.

What happened?

Long-time Portland fans will remember the early 1990s, when the Blazers went from 39 wins to 59 and then 63 in consecutive seasons. During that stretch, Clyde Drexler's scoring average dropped from 27.2 in 1989 to 23.2 in 1990 and 21.5 in 1991.

That's a drop off of almost six ppg in two years, and it was almost entirely a result of the fact that Portland was so good that Clyde could sit out fourth quarter blowouts. Did people criticize Clyde for suddenly being lazy or for going through the motions? Absolutely not. He was praised for playing harder than ever while sacrificing his scoring for the good of the team.

So if Clyde, who will be the first to say he was never as polished or as professional a player as Brandon Roy, and who had a reputation as an unorthodox practice player at best and a coach killer at worst, was given the benefit of the doubt, why isn't Brandon Roy?

Various other emailers, bloggers, and sports radio callers in recent weeks have suggested that Brandon is on an ego trip; that he is responsible for sowing the seeds of division on the team; that he should defer to Andre Miller (!?), and even that he should be traded!

Whereas last year Roy was practically considered a saint in Portland, this year callers to local talk shows are suddenly reporting that he has been a jerk all along. Apparently, he refuses to sign autographs after games; he undermines other players; and, perhaps worst of all, he is patently un-American, since he refuses to stand with the team during the National Anthem.

In short, Brandon Roy has become a villain.

The media has fed the frenzy. Jason Quick, just weeks after posting his article praising Roy's leadership, has used local radio spots as a forum for hinting that Roy has been "uncomfortable" with Andre Miller, has adjusted poorly to handing over the reigns of the starting lineup, and basically pulled rank to get Miller relegated to the second unit once again. He has repeatedly used the word "troubling" to describe Roy's attitude.

And here is John Canzano's column from yesterday.

Apparently, Canzano's conviction that Roy should be given anything he asks for, including "Paul Allen's underpants," lasted less than four months.

On his local radio show today, Canzano took his condemnation of Roy's decision to stand in the Rose Garden tunnel during National Anthem performances a step further, stating that the subtext of this practice is a message to his teammates that he is above them, and that Roy is a selfish prima donna.

Enough already.

Brandon Roy is at least the third greatest player the Blazers have ever had. He is unquestionably the greatest team leader in franchise history. He has done nothing to deserve any of this, other than work on adjusting his game to the changing needs of his team.

Are the Blazers better off when Roy is in a rhythm and has the ball in his hands in the fourth quarter? Absolutely. Does Brandon know this? Of course. Does this make him an egotist? Absolutely not.

Why should we hold this against him? Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, and Larry Bird never hid the fact that they were franchise players, especially from their own teammates. Nobody ever criticized them for this.

Clyde Drexler once said that he'd rather miss the last shot at the end of the game than have anyone else take the shot, because he felt the team had a better chance to win with the ball in his hands. And he was absolutely right. Nobody blasted Clyde for saying that.

So why this change in attitude? I have no answer, other than the fickle nature of the media cycle, and the seemingly instinctive need for certain people to knock their heroes off their pedestals.

But in my opinion, when Blazer fans and perhaps especially media types think back to the days of Bonzi Wells, Darius Miles, and Rasheed Wallace, they should be slapping themselves with sheer glee that Roy is a Blazer, and that they have the privilege of watching and/or covering him.

You've never heard Brandon Roy say, "We don't care what the fans think." You've never heard Roy call his coach an "Uncle Tom" and throw racial epithets at him. You've never seen Roy sit on press row night after nauseating night and repeat, "It was a good game. Both teams played hard."

You have heard him say that he truly cares about his teammates, and that he puts the needs of the team ahead of himself. Sometimes, as uncouth as it may seem to some, the team needs him to be an All-Star, and to pull rank.

You would think Blazer fans and media, of all people, would know a good thing when they see it. Shame on them.

Read more Portland news on BleacherReport.com

Silva Week Five NBA Fantasy Waiver Wire Report: A Message For You, Rudy

Evan Silva — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 03:11:21 -0500

Normal Sized Leagues

I guess the definition of a normal-sized league, at least in my mind, is one consisting of 10 to 12 teams with rosters somewhere around 12-15 players. That should cover a majority of the fantasy hoops leagues in existence.

If your league is any smaller than that, the waiver options are endless and it's just too difficult to try to figure out whether you should pick up Kevin Garnett, Luol Deng, or Jason Richardson. While it's nice to have those kinds of options available, it can drive you nuts on a daily basis trying to figure out if you should change your roster, so I'd suggest adding a few teams to your league next year.

Chris Douglas-Roberts G/F Nets – Chances are that CDR has already been grabbed in your league after his last two games, when he set career highs in points, averaging 29 and 11 boards. But it remains to be seen how things are going to shake out in New Jersey once they're finally healthy.

There was a lot of hype on both CDR and Courtney Lee coming in, but CDR sure looks like the real deal as Lee continues to recover from a groin injury. I'm planning on starting CDR in a few leagues with four games next week.

Let's hope the last two games weren't the top of the mountain for him, and that he'll continue to produce once Lee and Devin Harris are back in action. He should come in around 15 points, 5-6 boards, two assists and a steal per game when it's all said and done.

Drew Gooden F/C Mavericks – Gooden has taken over for injured Erick Dampier and put up some very solid numbers over his last several games, posting double-doubles in three straight after doing almost nothing for the first two weeks of the season. I thought Gooden would play over Damp coming into the season, and he may now that Dampier is out indefinitely with an unknown illness.

Ersan Ilyasova F Bucks – Ilyasova quieted down in his last game, his first start of the season, with nine points, eight rebounds, a three and a block. However, he is starting and his previous line of 19 points, 12 boards, four 3-pointers and two steals was eye opening. My guess is he keeps it going and ends up being a serviceable forward in most leagues.

Larry Hughes G/F Knicks – Most of you know I'm not a Hughes fan but even a hater can't ignore the numbers. He's at 14.2 points, 4.3 boards, 4.6 assists, 2.2 steals and 1.2 three-pointers on the season, despite not even playing in the first two games.

He also nearly triple-doubled in his last game, which was easily the best of the season for him. He looked to be taking a hit with the arrival of Allen Iverson, but that surprise party has been canceled. If Hughes is out there, you have to pick him up. Just don't be surprised if the monster stats subside in the near future.

Jason Williams PG Magic – J-Will is starting for the Magic and got off to a slow start with four points, four boards, five assists, a steal and a three-pointer in 29 minutes Wednesday. Rashard Lewis somehow had nine assists in that one, but Williams should be the man for the next month or so. Give him a couple more games before judging him.

Rudy Fernandez SG Blazers – Rudy is going to get more minutes with Travis Outlaw shelved for the next couple months. He was hot against Atlanta on Monday, going for 19 points, four boards, four steals and a three in the loss, but had just six points, four assists and no threes in the next one. He might be inconsistent, but I'm guessing he becomes one of the more reliable reserves in Portland going forward.

Marco Belinelli G Raptors – Belinelli has been shooting lights out and burying threes lately. In fact, he's scored in double figures in five of his last six games and drained 15 three-pointers over that stretch. If you need threes, go get him.

Dahntay Jones G/F Pacers - Jones has had an amazing year thus far and I sincerely hope he will continue to start once Troy Murphy returns from his back injury. For that to happen, he'll have to get the nod over Brandon Rush, who has been as big a disappointment as Jones has been a surprise.

He's averaging 17.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.1 blocks thus far. Those numbers will eventually come down, but if he can continue to start, he'll be a solid option in four-game weeks. Same goes for Detroit's Will Bynum.

Deep Leagues

Deeper leagues are generally going to have 14 to 16 teams and go deep enough that most starters are not available on waivers. These players may not even be available in all deep leagues, but are generally available in many normal-sized leagues.

Carlos Delfino G/F Bucks – Delfino started for the Bucks in his last game, scoring 21 points, adding six boards and four assists, as well as draining four 3-pointers. There was a chance that Luc Richard Mbah a Moute was going to start in his place that night, but he was out with a foot injury. Delfino is still a bit risky, as this was really his only solid line thus far, but more could be coming if he keeps the starting job.

George Hill G Spurs – Hill was poised to get more playing time before Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili got dinged up (again), but is currently starting for Parker. I doubt Parker's out for long, but Hill is going to get run either way. He had 18 points, two assists and a three-pointer on Thursday, and should be a source of all three of those things going forward.

Terrence Williams G/F Nets – Williams has three double-doubles in his last five games, but those other two were duds. He's going to be inconsistent, but qualifies at multiple positions and has proven he can do anything but block shots. His season highs this year (usually in different games) are 20 points, 12 boards, 9 assists, 4 steals, and 2 threes.

I think he's a good guy to pick up in deep leagues, but I am concerned about how he'll be used once the Nets are back at full strength (which is close to happening).

Toney Douglas G Knicks – Douglas was terrible in his last game against the Pacers, as Wilson Chandler got hot, and the Knicks went with vets down the stretch to get a win. But prior to that one, he had scored 15, 23, 21, and 16 points over a four-game stretch. With Iverson not going to New York, there's still hope that he plays a role in the rotation.

James Harden G Thunder – Harden finally broke out with 24 points, three boards, three assists and six 3-pointers in his last game. He's coming off the bench behind Thabo Sefolosha, but could earn a starting gig at some point this season. His numbers weren't great before the last one, but he's probably worth a roster spot in deeper leagues.

Anderson Varejao F/C Cavaliers – Varejao lost his job to J.J. Hickson and has been dumped in many leagues, but the Cavs may still need his defensive skills. He still has double-double potential and can block shots and get steals. If you need a big man, give him a look. He's iffy right now with a hip injury, but should be back near full strength next week.

Wesley Matthews G/F Jazz – Matthews is starting for the Jazz and should hold the job if he starts performing. He hasn't done much yet, but might be worth stashing to see if he starts putting up numbers.

Others To Consider

Earl Watson, Luke Ridnour, Joel Przybilla, Ramon Sessions, Thabo Sefolosha

Extremely Deep Leagues

Dan Gadzuric F/C Bucks – With Andrew Bogut out, could get some nice run, points, boards and blocks.

DeAndre Jordan C Clippers – With Marcus Camby gimpy, Jordan could see an increased role and grab a lot of boards and block shots. Watch out for those free throws.

Marcus Williams PG Grizzlies – Mike Conley's not getting the job done in Memphis and could eventually lose him job to Williams, who had nine points, six dimes and a three in his last one. Just keep a close eye on him, and get ready to pounce if plays well on Friday.

Jonas Jerebko F Pistons – Jerebko is starting for the Pistons and averaging nine points, four boards, a steal, and nearly a block per game. He'll take a hit when Rip Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince return, but is worth a look in deeper leagues.

Donte' Greene F Kings – Greene had 24 points, five boards and two threes in his last one, but Andres Nocioni was out with a hip injury. He hadn't done much prior to that one, but could end up playing a nice role in the Kings' rotation.

Eric Maynor G Jazz – Maynor struggled in his last game, failing to score, but played very well when Deron Williams was out last weekend. He's going to get some run even with Williams healthy and might be worth a shot in a very deep league. Assists are his specialty, but he has only hit one three and collected three steals on the season.

Rodrigue Beaubois G Mavericks – Beaubois has started in four straight games with Josh Howard out and is averaging 11 points and a three-pointer over that stretch. With Howard out for the foreseeable future, RB is worth a look as long as he continues to start.

Others To Consider

Jason Maxiell, Jeff Foster, Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, Josh Boone, Goran Dragic

Read more Portland news on BleacherReport.com

Bill Simmons on Portland

Busta Bucket — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 10:41:13 -0500

I just checked out Bill Simmons' mailbag and found this juicy tidbit regarding his trip to Portland:

Q: Did your book tour include a stop at the Rose Garden for Pistons-Blazers last week? I hope you checked out the way the Garden treats Greg Oden. Every time he does something basic, the place explodes like he dunked from halfcourt. They are just willing themselves to think he will be good.
-- David G., Portland

Yes I did. And the best way to describe the crowd's support for Oden: It's like watching 15,000 parents rooting for their kid, only all 15,000 parents fathered the same kid. If he ever exploded for 30 points, 20 rebounds and eight blocks in a game, you'd have to carry each deliriously passed-out Portland fan out of the Rose Garden individually like they were victims of smoke inhalation in a burning house. (The funny thing is, everyone in Portland is nodding right now. And yes, I know he's had a couple of inspired games this season. You don't need to e-mail me the stat lines. No, really. Save us both the time. Let's not put too much pressure on him. Baby steps.) I was also startled by Portland fans arguably (see, there it is!) liking Rudy Fernandez as much as, and maybe even a smidge more than, the great Brandon Roy.

Read more Portland news on BleacherReport.com

Blazers vs. Nets, 7 P.M. CSN

Busta Bucket — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 10:24:22 -0500

The Blazers take on the 0-14 New Jersey Nets tonight at the Rose Garden. To be fair, the Nets have been without their star PG Devin Harris for most of the season and Courtney Lee (just returned from a groin injury) and Yi Jianlian (out with bad knee) have played a total of 10 games. Still though, they play in the East where they should get some win-able games here and there. The Blazers still need to take this game seriously, because you don't want to be the team that gives a win-less team their first W.

New Jersey Nets coverage at Nets Are Scorching and the Nets Daily Blog.

Blazers

Analysis

Nets

Blake continues to get open looks from beyond the arc. But overall has been very inconsistent. Andre Miller responded to being sent to the second unit with a tremendous game Monday against the Bulls. Sixteen points, five assists and a plus-30 leading the bench mob works for me.

If Devin Harris were at full strength and Rafer Alston was the back-up PG bringing the spark off the bench, then the Nets might get the edge here, but that is not the case. Harris has only played four games since coming back from injury, and is still coming off the bench as he gets back up to speed. Rafer meanwhile has been shooting 33 percent for the season in Harris' absence. Harris' return should lead to a little less Skip-To-My-Lou, which is a good thing for the Nets.

Roy is getting comfortable again at his natural "Point-Shooting guard" position, meaning he should be a happy camper. All season Roy has seemed bothered by the lineup changes and the overall play of the team. I don't care if he's been using his star status to get what he wants. I just want him to get "right". We're do for a monster game from our all-star.

Chris Douglas-Roberts has been filling in admirably while Courtney Lee was out with injury. CDR is a Most Improved Player candidate averaging 18 ppg (up from five ppg in his rookie year). Basically he is the only positive storyline so far this season for the win-less Nets.

Martell Webster the starter is a better player than Trenton Hassell. Since re-joining the starting lineup Webster has had a great game and a sub-par game, but the main thing is he's getting shots and his teammates are looking for him. An active Martell, combined with the minutes that Roy and Rudy get here, gives Portland the edge at this position.

LaMarcus is coming off one of his best all-around games of the season. LA has 24 pts, 13 rebounds, a block, and his first 3-pointer of the year in Monday's game versus Chicago. Josh Boone will not be able to handle the L-Train in this match-up, especially coming off a game last night against Denver's bigs. Another double-double is in Aldridge's future tonight.

I'm going to throw New Jersey a bone here. Brook Lopez gets the edge at the center position. Lopez is a rising star in the East averaging 17 ppg and nine rpg, while leading the NBA in blocked shots. He also had good games against us last year (22 points and 17 points). That, and I don't want to get too high on Oden after the career game that he had on Monday. The match-up against Lopez will be a good gauge of the progress and consistency that Oden has been showing off over the last few games. I hope we see the same confident, beast of a player that we saw last game.

Overall Winner:

Read more Portland news on BleacherReport.com

BCS Bowl Predictions: Pitt In, Cincy Out

Brian Nelson — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 19:17:14 -0500

After yet another ho-hum weekend of a forgettable college football season, things are about to get exciting.

All the noise about the BCS and the regular season isn't just noise anymore.

Fraught with intriguing story lines, bitter rivalries, sweet revenge and BCS-or-bust championship games, the next two weeks of college football will feature some of the most compelling and meaningful games of the season.

Finally.

Three games in particular will feature head-to-head battles for the BCS. The winner will go on to play on the big stage while the loser will likely be destined for "just-another" December Bowl.

· No. 5 Cincinnati at No. 9 Pittsburgh

· No. 16 Oregon State at No. 8 Oregon

· No. 7 Georgia Tech vs. No. 18 Clemson

We must also mention the National Championship semi-final—otherwise knows as the SEC Championship Game. Another intriguing story line. Another hate-filled, storybook SEC rivalry in the brewing.

Most likely, the winner will go on to play for the crystal football while the loser will spend the off-season explaining their loss to an MWC team in New Orleans.

Here's my take on where we stand now, and how the rest of the season will play out leading up to Selection Sunday.

What we know

Texas, Florida, Alabama and Ohio State are locks for the BCS, regardless of outcomes.

Most likely to clinch a BCS berth this week

TCU just needs a win at home this week against 1-10 New Mexico.

Who is on the bubble for an at-large?

Iowa, Penn State, Boise State, and Oklahoma State.

Who seems the least likely but still has an outside shot of getting in

· Unranked Nebraska needs to upset Texas in the Big 12 Title game

· No. 18 Clemson needs to beat Georgia Tech in the ACC Championship Game

· No. 19 Oregon State needs to beat rival Oregon at Autzen in the Civil War.

What other key games will likely determine BCS berths

· No. 12 Oklahoma State at Oklahoma

· Nevada at No. 6 Boise State

Who wins, who goes and who gets left out

Alabama over Florida 19-14

The Florida Gators' last-minute touchdown drive falls short as the Tide's dominant defense holds Tebow to 130 passing yards and 58 yards rushing. Mark Ingram strengthens his case for the Heisman with another clock-chewing 124-yard rushing performance.

Pitt over Cincinnati 20-17

Pittsburgh exploits the suspect Cincinnati ground defense with their explosive running game.

Oregon over Oregon State 37-31

The Ducks, who blocked the Beavers from the Rose Bowl last year, will stave off the Beavers once again despite a 140-yard rushing performance from Jacquizz Rodgers.

Georgia Tech over Clemson 28-24

Paul Johnson and the Yellow Jackets prove once again to be too much for Clemson despite their close game earlier at Georgia Tech—a game where the Jackets were aided by a phantom offensive holding call against Clemson late in the 4th quarter.

Oklahoma over Oklahoma State 24-20

Even though Zac Robinson returns to the field, Oklahoma stuns the Cowboys in Norman.

How will the BCS Bowl Selection play out?

· BCS Title Game : Texas vs. Alabama

· Rose Bowl: Oregon vs. Ohio State

· Orange Bowl: Pittsburgh vs. Georgia Tech

· Sugar Bowl: TCU vs. Florida

· Fiesta Bowl: Penn State vs. Boise State

How they got there

After losing Alabama to the BCS Title game, the Sugar Bowl will get the first replacement pick and will select the Gators.

The Fiesta Bowl will go next and replace Texas with Penn State, banking on the Joe Paterno entourage and the Nitts’ strong base of traveling fans.

The Orange Bowl goes next and will choose Pittsburgh to face ACC tie-in Georgia Tech.

The Fiesta Bowl will follow-up by selecting Boise State—a team that cut its teeth at the Fiesta Bowl and seems to travel well.

All of this leaves the Mountain West Conference’s TCU to the Sugar Bowl.

Read more Portland news on BleacherReport.com

Oregon Ducks Football Campus Voice: Right Now the Oregon Campus Oozes Confidence

Kyle Sponseller — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 15:51:33 -0500

If there were one word that could describe the mood on the University of Oregon campus, it would be confident.

In fact, students and players alike are oozing it. It is everywhere. It is impossible to go on campus and not be smacked in the face with it.

It is a great feeling to have and share with over 20,000 people within a two-mile radius.

Why wouldn’t Duck fans feel this way? There is no reason not to be confident or to be humble at this point.

With the Ducks coming off one of the most intense, exciting, and meaningful games in school history at Arizona on Saturday, Oregon is finally prime for a Rose Bowl berth.

In order to reach the almighty Rose Bowl, Oregon must wage civil war against its little brother to the north, Oregon State.

While some, in other parts of the state or nation, may be cautious or wary of facing the Beavers, Duck fans here in Eugene are looking forward to pouncing on the Beavers and defeating them for an entrance into the college football’s most prestigious bowl game.

Although the matchup is still more than a week away, festivities have already begun for Oregon students.

Oregon’s own Green Man and group Supwitchugirl have already started endorsing a yellow-out of Autzen Stadium for the Civil War and have begun selling their own yellow t-shirts to help the campaign.

The entire state of Oregon knows the stakes at hand in this season’s Civil War contest. It is being advertised and discussed as the most important and colossal meeting of the 113-year history of the matchup. There is no reason to believe that it is not.

Last season was fairly important in that Oregon State had an opportunity to go to the Rose Bowl with a victory but was unable to handle the Ducks’ offensive onslaught. Some see this as giving the Beavers the upper hand. They argue that Oregon State will have an advantage because they want revenge for what the Ducks did last season.

Revenge is on the mind of the Beavers. Earlier this week, it was reported that backup quarterback Lyle Moevao guaranteed a Beaver victory and revenge on his Twitter account.

This season, however, both teams are Rose Bowl possibilities. The winner will be bathing in roses, while the loser gets the thorns.

Despite the revenge argument, Oregon fans have no doubt in their minds that the Ducks have every advantage. The biggest and most influential factor will be that the game is at Autzen Stadium. Oregon has yet to lose a game at home this season and have lost just one game in the last 12 at Autzen.

Oregon fans are confident, yes, but with good reason. This next week should be one full of friendly trash talking between friends, family, and coworkers that will ultimately be resolved on the gridiron on Dec. 3.

Read more Portland news on BleacherReport.com

The Best Quarterback You've Never Noticed: Sean Canfield

Matt Keith — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 14:53:00 -0500

Ever heard of Sean Canfield?

If you are not a Pac-10 fan, the answer is probably, “No.” And that is a real shame, because Canfield, quarterback for Oregon State, is one of the better passers in college football, let alone the Pac-10.

But you better get acquainted with him soon. If he leads his Beavers to an upset win over the Ducks on Dec. 3, you will next see him playing in the Rose Bowl.

Why Canfield receives so little notoriety is beyond me. Sure, the fact that he never has a national TV audience plays a role, but why do you never hear any buzz about him in columns or on the radio? He deserves more attention for a variety of reasons.

For starters, Oregon State has posted an 8-3 record this year with Canfield at the helm. While Oregon, Cal, USC, Stanford, and Arizona have all taken turns sharing the spotlight in conference, Oregon State has quietly plodded along, moving into sole possession of second place behind the Ducks.

Ranked 16th in the AP poll, Oregon State is only now garnering attention as they stand as the last stumbling block in the way of Oregon’s pursuit of a Pac-10 title.

If the record isn’t enough to convince you of Canfield’s value at quarterback, just take a look at his stats. His completion percentage is 70.3. Better than Tim Tebow, Case Keenum, Jimmy Clausen, or Kellen Moore. He has thrown 19 touchdowns to only six interceptions. Better than Colt McCoy.

He does all this in a balanced offense, as well. Oregon State runs the football 49.6 percent of the time.

Why wouldn’t they, with Jacquizz Rodgers to hand the ball to? Particularly in goal-line situations, the Beavers want to let Rodgers slash his way into the end zone, driving down Canfield’s touchdown numbers.

That being said, Canfield does pass the ball quite a bit. Nearly as much as other top passers, so his great completion percentage and solid touchdown-to-interception ratio are not merely products of a system.

But what is perhaps most impressive about Canfield is the fact that all of his accomplishments have come in the deepest conference in college football.

Relax, SEC fans. I didn’t say the best; I said the deepest. The Pac-10 may not have a marquee team like Florida, Alabama, or Texas, but outside of Washington State there are no pushovers in the conference. Almost every team is really good, even if no teams are great.

Only the SEC can compete with the Pac-10 this year in terms of depth. Sorry, Big XII fans. 2008 was a nice year, but now more than half your conference is an absolute joke.

So for Canfield to have accomplished so much in the face of tough opposition is quite impressive.

Yet even within his own conference he gets little of the respect he deserves. Most people would probably identify Jake Locker or Jeremiah Masoli as the best quarterbacks in the Pac-10. Even freshmen Andrew Luck and Matt Barkley get more attention than the senior Canfield.

Canfield is an afterthought. Unknown by many, he has quietly given his team a shot at the Rose Bowl. Never spectacular, he has nonetheless been extremely consistent and reliable.

Does Canfield belong in the discussion of best quarterbacks in the country? No. He is not in the same category as Tim Tebow and Colt McCoy when it comes to leadership or winning ways. He doesn’t have the pure passing ability of a Jimmy Clausen.

But he combines those two traits, albeit on a lesser level. And for that he deserves the name recognition afforded to players such as Kellen Moore, Daryll Clark, and Terrelle Pryor.

And whether or not his skill set will transfer to the NFL is irrelevant. That question applies to most of the quarterbacks I named. Besides, we are evaluating best college quarterbacks, not best NFL prospects.

Sure, a select handful of quarterbacks are better. So put Tebow, McCoy, and maybe one or two others in the first-tier of college quarterbacks. Canfield is one of the foremost quarterbacks in the second tier.

But you don’t know who he is.

He will try to change that on Dec. 3. Try to help his team emerge as the best in the Pac-10. Try to prove that he is the best quarterback you have never noticed.

Read more Portland news on BleacherReport.com

Game 16: Blazers 122, Bulls 98

Busta Bucket — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 10:55:04 -0500

Well now that was a pleasant victory. Portland shot lights out at home and our bigs were dominant against a physically inferior Chicago Bulls team.

I had an afternoon push to attend the game, and I must say, the first row of section 331 is a solid value for Blazer tickets.

The Blazers looked good in person, but have they really made strides?

The Good

First things first, this game was absolutely won by our front line. I had a feeling LaMarcus would go for 20 & 10 and Oden would shut down Noah. Both things happened, plus Greg exploded offensively with 24 points and 12 rebounds.

One thing that did surprise me was the somewhat modest play of Derrick Rose. I thought he'd come in and torch Steve Blake. It was John Salmons and Luol Deng who ended up doing most of the scoring with outside jumpers. I guess that's the advantage of having Greg Oden. Rose won't drive as much and the over-sized wings for Chicago preferred to stay on the perimeter. Besides the great numbers, Oden is affecting games on every level.

I was also more than thrilled to see Dante Cunningham get 14 minutes of playing time last night. He started out a little hesitant, but once he got going, his defense, size, ability to rebound, that little jumper, everything looked good. He is our back-up power forward, but does Nate know that yet? Hopefully.

The Bad

There really wasn't much bad for the Blazers in this contest. It did seem like Salmons and Deng were able to shoot at will, but I think it was size mismatches more than defense. I remember one ill-advised jumper by Salmons where Roy was all over him. But John still canned it.

I watched the game with a UConn graduate and he remembers Salmons never, ever being shy about shooting. So be it.

Psychologically, it could have been bad for Greg when he was dunked on by Joakim Noah , but this is a different Greg Oden. He reacted by immediately calling for the ball on the other end of the floor. He took it right to Noah and scored. I liked the nastiness; Greg was a bad man last night. Ohio State got the best of Florida in that exchange.

Lastly, nothing bad about this particiular game, but the Bulls are not very good. We play two more bad teams on this early season cupcake schedule.

I still need to see this Blazer team play well consistently against top tier opponents. Saturday at Utah is a good start.

The Ugly

More specifically, Noah cannot hang with G.O., period. Greg finished the game with 24 points on 7-8 shooting, 12 rebounds, 2 blocks. Noah? 7 points and 8 rebounds.

I'm already tired of the national frenzy to anoint Noah the next great center. I've even heard a delusional Chicago writer is saying Noah should have been the number one pick in the 2007 NBA draft. Don't be silly Chi, you saw what happened last night, Noah will never be able to play with legit strength on the interior.

Box Score

Ben's Media Row Report

Last but not least, Greg's interview on NBA TV:

Read more Portland news on BleacherReport.com