Pro hoops rumbles on without the Blazers
The Blazers' season is over, and the inevitable topic of conversation among fans of the team is roster moves that would improve the lineup next year. (Our view: Trade anybody but Roy and Aldridge, if it means an upgrade.) This will go on for another week or two, and then the internet buzz will turn to what moves are actually being contemplated by the team management. By the time the league playoffs are over, the trade rumors will be flying.
But sports fans, the playoffs are far from over. This evening (5:00 our time) will see the conclusion of a first-round war between the Chicago Bulls and the Boston Celtics whose length and intensity can only be described as "epic." (All the journalists are attaching that word to the series today, but our buddy Bill was on it as early as Tuesday.) The teams have played seven overtime periods in six games. There was a scuffle in Game 6, which went to three overtimes before the Bulls pulled it out. The defending world champs are without one of their big three, and it's given the Bulls their opening. It all gets settled tonight on the parquet floor in Boston. Game 7, baby.
A few ex-Blazers are still functioning in the playoffs. James Jones, who was around Portland for a cup of coffee last year, is starting at small forward for the Miami Heat, who have their Game 7 with the Atlanta Hawks tomorrow (10 a.m. our time). Jones has averaged 10 points, 2 rebounds a game in the playoffs -- shooting in the high-50-percent range and hitting 90% of his free throws. His teammate is Jamaal Magloire, the backup center who played for the Blazers a couple of years ago. He's been coming off the bench in Miami, and the other night he had 7 rebounds in 13 minutes against the Hawks, in a blowout for the Heat.
The starting center for Miami? Jermaine O'Neal -- another one of the Blazers' big man prospects who never prospered in Portland. He's bounced around quite a bit since leaving Mike Dunleavy's Portland pines. Alas, he suffered a concussion taking an elbow to the head from someone named Zaza Pachulia a couple of games back, and he may not play tomorrow. (Zaza Pachulia? Hey, don't forget, Fiat owns Chrysler now.)
Elsewhere, did you know that Houston guard Von "illa" Wafer was once a Blazer? I missed that one, too. Of course, he's still playing, as long as the NBA playoff script will let him.
There are probably a few other Blazer ghosts still on the court in the playoffs. I was surprised to see Theo Ratliff still playing, as a Philadelphia Sixer. Apparently, he was unhappy there, and if his 36-year-old legs are still in the league next year, they will be somewhere other than in the City of Brotherly Love. His Philly squad bowed out in 6 games against Orlando.
| Posted at 2:15 PM | Permalink |
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Comments (4)
Let us not forget, Adam Morrison's Lakers are still in the playoffs too. Granted he's not playing, but he's on the roster. Raise your hand if you thought he'd get his ring before Roy and Aldridge.
Posted by Chris Snethen | May 2, 2009 2:45 PM
You know another echo from that year? The other night, JJ Reddick came out of obscurity to bury 5 3's as Orlando finished off the 76ers with Dwight Howard suspended. There were those that didn't see him making it in the pros.
As far as the Lakers go, the better they do against the Rockets, the worse it will be for the Blazers roster. Let's say the Rockets surprise them and compete mightily...then the Blazers can say we weren't that far off. But if Houston does nothing against LA everything gets worse for us.
Posted by Bill McDonald | May 2, 2009 4:32 PM
the Celtics advance.
I'll say it again: don't underestimate them. I predict--unless the Kobe-LeBron Show Fix is truly in--that they'll dispense with the Cavaliers in 6 or 7. Paul Pierce and Ray Allen have the Will to Win. and most of the team has been to the Show.
Posted by ecohuman.com | May 2, 2009 8:26 PM
I'll say it again: don't underestimate them.
Oh, I'm underestimating them. They should have lost that game last night. If Chicago is a little more experienced, and they take better shots at the end of the game. They win.
The Celtics are lucky to advance. They tried to give that game away. I say Magic in 6.
Posted by Justin Morton | May 3, 2009 8:15 AM