Good game by Portland. Am I the only one who likes their team? Aldridge is really improving...he and Oden should be a deadly force for a while. Man I wish we coulda got Roy....
Why we care that much about this game? We won't face the Lakers in the 1st round and we won't jump over them in standing either.
Brandon Roy was the difference. We caught a break when he missed our game in Portland last week. Without him, the Blazers would have folded up and tanked in the 4th quarter. They are shaky and unsteady without him on the floor.
I like this team. They seem like a bunch of good young players who get along and play hard. I don't like that Portland is building up to be a powerhouse. The West is loaded enough as it is, thank you very much!
Nice win for Portland in a game that just further emphasizes my point of how I would much, MUCH rather play an egotistical, untested team like the Lakers rather than Utah.
I think Aldridge will be better than Oden. Plus, he might get more touches than Oden, therefore hindering Oden's growth on the offensive end.
Aldridge may be a better scorer than Oden but a better player overall? No way. I think they will be the perfect compliment for each other. I don't think Oden will need the ball every time to dominate. He will clean up all the mess on the offensive side but more so his presence will be felt on the defensive end. Blazers will be a force to be reckoned with for years to come.
Lakers defense is horrible. Their weakness is lack of a big man down low who isn't soft like Pau. They have that big man in Bynum ofcourse. Their other glaring weakness is that they can't stop dribble penetration. Other than Kobe and Fisher their other two guards suck at defense.
My prediction: this team will be the most overhyped in the pre-season with the "return" of Oden. I think they'll be a very solid team, better than this year, but not as good as the preseason hype might suggest.
this "Andrew Bynum will be back soon to save the Lakers" excuse is getting old. the kid averages a double double for three months of his career and he is the new Kareem... cosign...
Aldridge will easily become a 20/10 player if he can improve his rebound. His points can easily come by if Aldridge increases his playtime by 2+ minutes and attempts 2+ more shots. A David West type player with better size. But yesterday's game, it's Channing Frye who got to a hot start and kept the Blazers going. 9/12 22 pts 11 rbs, not bad.
I can't quite figure out Channing Frye. Sometimes he plays like last night, other games he's worthless. Next season, Oden and Aldridge are the starters. Do they want Frye back along with Przybilla?
Landry taking so long to get back to normal after being out a short period of time makes me wonder if Bynum will be a factor at all this season. Of course they're not the same player, but still.
The Blazers will keep Przy for sure. I think McMillan will bring Oden off bench and start Przy first. Frye is an interesting player. A jump shooting forward with good size and athleticism. But Frye is poor defender and rebounder. You can play him to spread the floor or in some match-up situations. It's a player good to have but Frye's rookie salary is a little expensive for his productions. Frye is under his rookie contract anyway. I think the Blazers may trade him since the Blazers have too many forwards and will need some roster spots for their drafts picks and Spain dude.
