. . . sumpin' something.

Maybe the refs'll tip the games to the Blazers ... say, could Paul Allen buy his own refs? or let the fans wear belts dangling holsters and six-shooters, as a subtle little hint???

I like it when Nate said, "We talked as a group."
Sure, if you call Andre hurling f-bombs at the coach for a half hour, "talking as a group."
The only difference is that I don't think we should trade him. I think we should make him the captain...just to see what happens.
It reminds me of Nate's other gem, "It doesn't matter who starts."
Yeah, right.

Then what? Be back at square 1 like the end of last year where the choice at the starting point guard is a good team player who cannot put numbers and would be third string on any other team in Steve Blake; some unknown rookie in Jerryd Bayless who puts up numbers here and there, but is yet to prove that he can finish a season with assist and ppg comparable to Andre Miller.

The problem is what Jack pointed out at the beginning of the season. Nate McMillan is a great coach for a young team where he can dictate the locker room, practices and flow of the game. The Trailblazers are growing up, giving their own input, rebelling in how every move is made, and McMillan is not adjusting his coaching style.

Andre Miller as the savvy veteran who led the Denver Nuggets into the playoffs has put up with McMillan's nonsense for long enough, talked back in practice, and now bloggers are calling for Andre Miller to go?

Completely illogical.

If it were up to me, Dre would stay and some other folks would go. But that ain't gonna happen. Just sayin'.

Did you happen to see the trouble the 76ers gave Orlando in the playoffs last year? That was Andre. When he left, the 76ers went in the toilet.
I like him. He looks cool, just a little like Richard Pryor and he makes very quick decisions that lead to easy assists.

Hans Christian Andersen told a tale about the emperors new clothes. Sounds like Andre understood the moral in it.

"Completely illogical."

I didn't hear any mention of Brandon Roy, but this might be the genesis of a lot of issues.

Trade Blake, keep Miller. Let him play.

Trade Roy for a scoring center. Start Miller. Blake is great off the bench

I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks Miller looks like Richard Pryor. I keep waiting to hear him say, "DEAD honkey."

Bayless is the point guard of the future. With good coaching, he could be another Rajon Rondo. Blake is the guard of the past. He really isn't anywhere near as "steady" as he is described. In fact, he's about the most inconsistent player on the team. So we're going to have to stay with Miller now, but he won't be around next year.

Well, Paul Allen's money bought the win and referees tonight. Portland had 39 free throw attempts with 32 made against the Laker's 10 free throw attempts and 5 made.

The refs (Bill Spooner, James Capers, Mark Lindsay) are not known to me. I never see these names in the box scores of playoff games. Are any of them Pacific NW natives?

What, no mystery fouls on Kobe tonight? Maybe because he couldn't hit the broad side of a barn. My heart bleeds for him and his fans.

I am sure it does Jack, just as my heart will bleed for Blazer believers when they get bounced out of the first round of the 2009-2010 NBA playoffs or do not even make it at all due to injuries.

For me, I see the regular season as a game of avoiding injuries or getting them early to avoid limping into the playoffs and developing some semblance of a half court game emphasizing defense and rebounds.

Teams such as Phoenix, Portland, and Golden State run and gun it to the delight of viewers, but get methodically shut down in the playoffs once they come up against a good, half court team such as the Lakers, Cleveland or Boston.

Orlando last year was a fluke.

The Blazers probably won't get far this year, but let me tell you, friend -- the Lakers blew tonight. And we all loved it.

Yeah, it is easy to do the whole game-by-game thing. We all get caught up in it.

As far as we know, the Trailblazers could have their team back from injury status and ready to push in the playoffs, while the Lakers lose Bryant and/or Bynum.

I just have to reiterate that the regular season is regarded too highly. Ask Dirk Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks how their 2006-2007 season league high wins prepared them for Golden State in the playoffs. Ask Lebron how the Cleveland Cavaliers league high wins prepared them for the 2008-2009 playoffs.

Regular season wins don't mean anything in the playoffs beyond home court advantage. Regular season is a game of gin rummy, while the playoffs are a game of chess.

So long as you make it to the playoffs with no key injuries late in the season and your team can play a halfcourt game, then you are prepared.