Tonight's game was why I watch sports - in the hopes that something fun and inspirational will happen.
Take this young man Jeff Pendergraph. He hadn't played an NBA game in his life 'til a few days ago. He's a rookie, coming off a hip injury and he has to be out of shape.
So next thing he knows, he's not just getting a few minutes - he's an integral part of our line-up, one of the limited roster who can play. Suddenly, we're counting on him, and he's out there guarding Tim Duncan, playing alongside such seasoned veterans as Dante Cunningham. It's the old baptism by fire routine.
Or take Juwan Howard going from bench-warming, garbage time insurance policy to our starting center. He's old and he's near the end of a long career going back to the Fab Five, and now we're calling on him to be a major part of our team?
It's charming in a way. All of us find ourselves in unlikely predicaments from time to time. Those WTF moments. So how did these Blazers handle it?
Not only did they do okay, but they did great. They won and they appeared to have a great deal of fun along the way. You know that plane-ride home was a blast.
And an entire town that was disheartened is now back into it - not for what we hoped it would be - but for what it is. It's...in a weird way...better than normal - at least it was tonight. Nate was moved - he said it was his favorite road trip ever. The announcers were impressed and proud too. This had a little Hoosiers movie magic to it, especially against those pompous Spurs, essentially a lobbying firm that dabbles in basketball.
This could still be a great season to be a fan. Not because we'll go far into the playoffs. Hell, we might not make the play-offs.
But every victory now is going to be a triumph. We are fighting more than just the other team. We're fighting against the cruelty of fate. These players were downright noble tonight. They were heroic.
Personally, I can't wait for the next game. Go Blazers.

What made it fun was that they did it without Roy. If Brandon had been out there doing his one-on-one thing, the storybook quality would have been lost. Not to mention the game.

Popovich just like Belichick is learning that it is the players who play the game and sometimes...Well those players do not mesh with your draw ups and schemes (note Richard Jefferson).

Furthermore, with NBA teams putting sizeable multi-million, multi-year investments in players via contracts, why in the hell do the owners allow them to play overseas or in any sort of summer league except the Olympics?

Hell, Argentina ain't paying Manu Ginobili to stay in top shape, yet they get him for scott free during the NBA offseason?!? Same goes for Tony Parker and France, Dirk Nowitzki and Germany, etc.

If I was an NBA owner with a stud European player, there is no way in hell that I am letting a clause in your contract allowing for offseason play in your home country unless your home country wants to foot a quarter or more of your contract.

Great win by the Trailblazers.

Bold prediction: San Antonio will not make the 2009-2010 playoffs.

It was more like a summer league game to these players with Monty walking the sidelines instead of Nate. I like that as Nate's tendency has always been to micro manage everything rather than let them just play the game.

This team would be much better with Brandon in a diminished role. Currently, it's a lot like the Farve situation in Minnesota, except at least Childress is attempting to regain control of team. I'm sure that day will come for a Blazer head coach too, just not Nate. In future games when Bayless is on the floor in the 4th and Brandon is watching him play team ball from the bench, maybe he'll get the message.

Favre and Brandon Roy in the same paragraph. Now that is a mighty bold assertion. That is like the comparison between LeBron and Kobe where one of them has 4 rings and the other has been the most hyped, unproven player ever whose first NBA Finals series was a 0-4 loss to the San Antonio Spurs. You cannot compare today's flavor of the decade with Hall of Famers.

I agree, Brandon Roy is given too much free reign when he has not proved that he can single-handedly propel his team to win a playoff series like Dwayne Wade. He needs a coach who is going to coach the team, not just move the lineup around to satisfy who "Brandon Roy" wants to play with. Another strong personality who has an All Star level talent would greatly help too.

Change your opening from 'Only kidding' to 'Seriously'. Brandon has shown his true colors early in the year. It is apparent he and Nate both need change their styles for this team to be a legit contender down the road. I would fire Nate deal Brandon in a second if I could get what I wanted in return.

They wouldn't have played like that last night if Brandon was on the court, guaranteed.

Probably a good time to Rate-a-Nate. After the unforeseen 3-1 on this roadtrip, capped by the Roy-less SA victory, this could be the highest number he gets all year.

As of this monrning, the Blazers are tied with Phoenix for 4th in the Western conference.

Even though our starting five has been decimated, the team profits from a limited rotation of basically about seven players. Everyone knows they are going to play and not be jerked out of the game for a mistake. Plus, they have a "nothing-to-lose" attitude because they are such low underdogs, which makes them more relaxed. When you are relaxed, you make more shots.

It won't last. We'll probably be humiliated by Denver. The relaxed attitude is hard to sustain. Then when a loss inevitably comes, some players will start second guessing themselves--like Blake has done most of the season.

One thing about Bayless: he's not afraid to take a shot. And he was blowing past Tony Parker the way Parker used to blow buy everyone else a few years ago.

I just like the imaginary phone call to the skeptical uncle. You know the one. The uncle who never really bought your act and thinks young people are all undeserving. I couldn't be the only one who had an uncle like that, could I? Anyway, here's how that goes in my mind:
"Hey, Jeffie, are you still banged up drawing a paycheck for doing nothing?"
"No, the hip injury is better. They cleared me to play."
"So what do you do now? Hold the coach's clipboard on the bench with the other rookies?"
"No, we had a lot of injuries and I'm in the rotation now. I'm getting some good minutes."
"Really?"
"Yeah, we played San Antonio last night and sometimes they had me on Tim Duncan."
"You're kidding. I bet that was ugly."
"No, I did okay. I mean he didn't light me up or anything."
"So how bad did they whup your ass?"
"Actually we beat them. Yeah, a bunch of guys came off the bench and got a win against Parker, Duncan, Ginobili, all those big stars."
"Hmm, say what's the weather like out there. You still getting that rain?"

I agree with Bill McDonald.

Maybe we had too much talent--which created problems with playing time and team chemistry.

Look what Bayless is accomplishing when he isn't looking over his shoulder.

I have tix for Golden State game. We'll probably be down to five healthy players by then.

Go Blazers!

Nick Fish