it really sucks for the rockets that the blazers are coming on so strong this season. its going to be really hard for us to get into the playoffs after this bad start. we are going to be fighting with utah, portland AND golden state for that 8th spot all damn season.
The Blazers are trying to copy the Yao/McGrady format with Oden and Roy, but with excellent roleplayers. They will be even more badass if Oden can recover fully next year.
if the rox had top 7 picks for 10 years like they did, they'd have the depth of talent that portland has.
Imagine the Blazers with Yao. WOW I wish we had a team like that. All these teams are moving up in talent and the Rockets keep moving down.
Even though I'm not a Blazers fan, I'm glad to see them turn their franchise around. They aren't the Jail Blazers anymore. They have a winning attitude despite being a young and inexperienced squad. Lots of teams have more talent but the Blazers have confidence and fighting spirit.
has to do with cultivating young talent rather than trading or signing overpriced vets in thier prime or just past that. the rockets have been doing the latter (james, steve) but are seeing first hand how to build a winner (brooks, head).
the blazers have talent too. you don't know the limit of their talent cause they are young. look at Roy and Aldridge, both easily much better than they were last year. also look at the Lakers, look how much better Farmar and Bynum are.
The city of Portland is buzzing about the Blazers again. This hasn't happened in the three years I've been here. Last year I got cheap courtside tickets for $20 to see the Rockets when they came here. Won't happen again this year as tickets are sold out for every game now (has this ever happened in Houston?) I'm not sold on the Blazers though. I need to see them beating some legit playoff contenders before I give my props to them. Most the teams they have beaten in this winning streak are bottom dweller type of teams and a semi-good team that they match up really well against (Golden State).
35 - 9 score for the 4th quarter......... what the ..... 9 points in one quarter wow, and to think this is the same philli that smashed us its good to see portland shake things up a bit, hopefully adds pressure to the rockets and instill more of a sense of urgency in them to improve. I really dont feel the sense of urgency from Tmac at all..... but i hope that changes when he comes back into the rotation. aldridge, roy, oden, the former 2 have done so well so far yet still can prove alot more, oden is a very interesting prospect also, cant help but like this team, outlaw too!
I'll go on record before the game starts: The streak ends tonight in Utah. Based on the way the Jazz played the Celtics, the Blazers will go down tonight.
Thier 13 game winning streak coincided with James Jones going from DNP to getting minutes and hitting over 50% in FG and 3P.
Yes, but essentially this is the same team from last year......but they jettisoned Zach Randolph and added Steve Blake, and it has made a big difference. They are fun to watch. DD
I agree on the need for a competent PG but Blake isn't the reason for their turnaround. Roy is a completely different player and is healthy. Aldridge has raised his game and is consistent. Both Webster and Outlaw are playing on another level. Outlaw has had some incredible 4th quarters. James Jones is deadly on corner 3s. Plus, their team chemistry is much better with Zach Randolph. The Blazers have the youngest team in the NBA and their returning players have matured a lot. Blake isn't really that good, makes a lot of mistakes, but he fits in well. Roy is their real PG. Don't be surprised if Blake isn't on the team next year.
