HA! I called it back on March 1st when you lamented Patterson's departure:

I'd bet that Pritchard will get the GM title by the end of the month.

What do I win?

On second thought, scratch that - I think we all win with this selection...

I'm holding the celebration until the arena deal is fixed, the relationship with the numbskulls in the Emerald City is clarified, and we go through a spring and summer with nothing too lame taking place. Although if they shipped Zach out, I'd be tempted to call right away.

Another loss tonight to the worst team in the league. How many losses in a row is that with Randolph on the floor? Pull the trigger, Kevin.

Wins will only damage the Blazers at this point. The more losses will mean more lottery balls come May. With Pritchard drafting I have a high confidence level that he will take the best available player. Randolph won't be traded yet, Mid-season next year at the soones, there are no takers..

It's sad but true that a loss is better than a win right now. Zach clearly needs to go, and I'm tired of arguing why. The Pritchard signing is great though, it's about time and PHEW!

"We might be talking the beginnings of a reconciliation"? C'mon, Jack, be fair. The reconciliation began when the team started dumping talented but troubled guys in favor of rebuilding. At this point, I think the reconciliation is actually close to complete. Just need to dump Darius, do our best to trade Zach, and (I agree with you) clarify the Seattle issues. But otherwise, the team has done pretty much everything possible to dig out of its hole and show us it means business when it says it wants to regain our love.

Wins are better than losses, I agree, at this point. That said, I don't see B Roy buying into tanking a season, and he's our leader not of the future, but of today. So I highly doubt that a tank-job is on. And that, in and of itself, says something for the restored character of the franchise.

Wins will only damage the Blazers at this point.

Perhaps that explains why Dickau was still playing during key moments late in the game.

I don't think it's a tank job either, I just think there's a lot of negative forces at work right now. I think many of those forces could be fixed with the removal of Zach but there's still a few lurking problems that have nothing to do with him. Jarret's tendency to pout when things get rough, Outlaw and Webster's inconsistency, Joel's all-around status, serious lack of interior defense, etc.

There should come a time not far away when losing at home to the worst team in the league is simply unacceptable but that's still a ways off.

From today's Oregonian:

"Pritchard, 39, becomes the youngest general manager in the NBA, bringing with him skills that are wide-ranging, if not unique, to the position.

He has made an effort to connect to the Blazers fan base, admitting that he scans and anonymously responds to Blazer chat rooms on the Internet."

From 'Rusty' this morning:

""We might be talking the beginnings of a reconciliation"? C'mon, Jack, be fair. The reconciliation began when the team started dumping talented but troubled guys in favor of rebuilding. At this point, I think the reconciliation is actually close to complete. Just need to dump Darius, do our best to trade Zach, and (I agree with you) clarify the Seattle issues. But otherwise, the team has done pretty much everything possible to dig out of its hole and show us it means business when it says it wants to regain our love.

Wins are better than losses, I agree, at this point. That said, I don't see B Roy buying into tanking a season, and he's our leader not of the future, but of today. So I highly doubt that a tank-job is on. And that, in and of itself, says something for the restored character of the franchise."

-hmmmm....

In any case, good news! I'd love to cheer the home team once again. I can even remember going to the BP gas station every week as a kid in the early 90's to collect the 'collectable' team posters. Still have them in a box too with my Rip City sign I made my parents keep in the window long after the seasons were finished. Its been many years, and will probably be a few more before we get another Blazer Rap album, (unless Zack has a studio for his 'hoops fam') but I'm hopeful and excited about the new players and with a few more major tweaks (c'mon drop Zach already!) my ass will be back in their seats.