Damn it Bog, you jinxed us already with your whole nonsensical 'turning point'. I remember reading that and getting goose bumps. I was thinking that if a curmudgeon like jack was pronouncing everything ok, we were f***ed. Sure enough...

So I am posting a comment tonight because I am impressed. The team keeps showing heart, and they beat a good team tonight. Yeah we might be f***ed, but they didn't wilt. They stepped up. And we should be encouraging them to fight. So I am asking you to shut up. Go back to what you are good at, you know bitching about Mayor McCreepy, unfunded pensions, and portland's infatuation with stupid planning pictures. Let the team ride. See where it goes.

I admit I must have jinxed the star-crossed Blazers when I decided to write about how wonderful they were. I still vaguely root for them, but it's going to be a rough, rough go from here on out.

Before Przybilla went down last night, it was pretty much last year's team, with Miller replacing Outlaw and Rudy out for a month or two. Now it's a basket case. I'd rather see them get a lottery pick than get swept in a playoff series.

I think the biggest issue for Blazer fans now is Paul Allen's health. I have no idea to whom he's going to leave the Blazers when his final day comes -- and I pray that it's decades from now -- but I do know that they won't love the game as he does. They'll probably sell the team, and who knows what will happen after that. The fan base is about to get softer, and Seattle is still without a team that many folks up there wish they had back, especially now that Kevin Durant is a bona fide all-star.

That night I posted about how good the team was? That may be the last peak that Portland hoops fans enjoy for a long time.

Coach Nate has been accused of speaking in vague spin, saying things like, "It doesn't matter who starts" when we all know it does.

But last night, after the game and Joel's catastrophic injury, Nate said, "We keep losing guys and it’s nerve-wracking just to take the floor."

it struck me as one of those rare times when people in the public eye don't filter their words. It was someone lowering the PR wall and speaking from the heart.

It's ironic that early in the season when most everybody was healthy, the Blazers were pretty much a mess - not being able to play together, the Roy-Miller problem, etc. But now, as Jim Pasero on "Talkin Ball" pointed out last night, they are playing as a true unit, stepping up, and beating good teams on the road. They're actually fun to watch now, except when guys suffer season-ending injuries what seems like once a week. The style of NBA play is increasingly becoming small-ball, so who knows what effect all this will have.

Might be time to take a look at the Blazers' strength and conditioning program. This has gone beyond bad luck.

I'd never say I'm *glad* for the injury, because it's horrible for Joel, who seems to be a genuinely good guy, but given the direction the team was headed before his injury, I'd almost rather they go into the lottery than wind up as the 8th seed in the west and get swept by the Lakers.

At least nobody can put all the blame on Oden now.

Here's hoping Brandon's shoulder is okay....

Well, we back to where we were pre-Oden. We still need some front court muscle since Aldridge has abdicated that position.

An idea:

The season is a waste. The team isn't going anywhere. At least not this season.

Second...were the team healthy, some deals would need to be made. The logjam at the 3 would need to be addressed, and depending on the day of the week, either Blake or Miller would need to go. Also...Rudy.

So...why not put a package together and go get Shaq's expiring contract?

We get a big man to finish out the season until Oden and Przybilla get back. We trade players who needed to go anyway. We clear serious cap space for next season with all those yummy free agents coming available.

Win. Win. Win.

What, no Tonya Harding joke yet?

After beating the Spurs tonight without Roy, I'd say another major injury or two and the Blazers get to the Finals.

Trade for Shaq? All he'd do is stuff up the lane and prevent Roy and Bayless from making those driving lay ups. The dude is finished.

Rumor mill is saying we might package a guard, an injured player and a draft pick for Marcus Camby.