Tough Gut Test

There's four teams we need to beat on their floor to really prove our playoff grit. Those teams are; Indiana, Miami, Oklahoma City and San Antonio. We got one this past week against OKC. Part one of the "Tough Gut Test" is passed. Winning on the road is what solidifies the foundation of a playoff contender.

I usually went with "ACDC, ACDC, ACDC." I didn't receive honors. Odd.

We've been tested and at times we're the ones doing the testing. I feel there's going to be tests given and received when we hit this insane road trip later this month of; Jan. 17 at Spurs, Jan. 18 at Mavs, Jan. 20 at Rockets, and Jan. 21 at OKC. All four of those teams will most likely be in the playoffs and it'll be a crystal ball of things to come. We're sitting really good with about a third of the season behind us. We will probably finish with a mark in the realm of 55-27 and probably the 2nd, 3rd or 4th seed. In my eyes that's good enough to receive a test, and hopefully pass our way beyond the first round. Please!? It's only been fourteen years since we've gotten out of the first round.
Okay, sorry, gotta compose myself.
One game at a time.
Both teams played hard.

Red Hot and Rollin'

Can you feel it? The Blazers are the best in the West. No doubt about it.
These Trail Blazers are legit. To legit to quit. *I'm doing the hand sign right now*

"Red Hot and Rollin'" is an old Blazer motto. Not anymore. This team is relevant even if the rest of the NBA doesn't see it. Oh the joys of a small market. No one looks at us up here in the rainy Northwest. Who cares? Let them look at the loss we hand them when they come to Portland. That'll teach 'em to forget about us.

No one saw this coming. I for one sure didn't. I posted a couple months ago that the Blazers would miss the playoffs. Granted, only 5 or so games separates us from the 9th seed. But here we are, alone atop the West. Enjoy the moment.

The best thing about the opening to this season is how fun it is. Granted, winning is fun, and we're doing plenty of that, but you can see the energy on the court. You can see the smiles on the court. You can see the smiles of Blazer fans everywhere. This is due to great team work.

I can feel it. The Blazers are the best in the West. No doubt about it.
I can feel the absolute jubilation for Rip City.

What We Know So Far

Finally, after a long offseason of dreary, disappointing news, the Blazers are back on the court! As sad as it is that the Rose Garden is (officially) no more. The newly dubbed Moda Center has been received with,  not much enthusiasm by fans. CJ McCollum, our instant offense, sixth man combo guard draft pick, who showed a lot of promise in summer league, broke his foot sidelining him indefinitely. What's worse is that he broke the same foot that sidelined him for the remainder of his season his senior year. But not all news is bad! There have been some really encouraging things so far this season. Here are a few.

Wesley Matthews Big Jump Forward

Wesley Matthews has gotten significantly better since his mediocre, injury filled campaign last year. After plateauing over the last three seasons, he has shown improvement in almost every part of his game. He is doing something now that I have never seen him do as a pro. He can now create his own shot and has done a fantastic job moving the ball. Between his improvement off the dribble and his improved playmaking, he has gone from role player to legit scoring option, which is huge for the Blazers. 

The Blazers New and Improved Bench

The biggest problem for the Blazers last year (apart from the ever present injury bug) was the Blazers awful bench. They averaged a league worst 18.5 points per game last year. But so far this year, it's actually been a strong point. Mo Williams is a perfect 6th man who brings experience and consistent scoring off the bench. Joel Freeland is the new White Gorilla. He fits a perfect role for the Blazers and creates dozens of second chances. Dorrell Wright hits the corner three and plays great defense. Thomas Robinson is a tenacious rebounder with a lot of potential and CJ McCollum will (hopefully) be coming back soon after the all star break.

Rip City still has a ways to go before it is a top 5 team in the West, but between the player development and the much better free agent signings of late, I am optimistic. I see playoffs in our future this year and hopefully for years to come. Oh and I forgot the most important move this offseason. NO MORE JAY JENSEN!!!!!!

-Jake

Moda Madness

The way it was. Perfect pinwheel placement.

My cousin and I went to the home opener at the Rose Garden on Saturday. Thanks to Moda Health and their insane ways of branding, two of the coolest things on the scoreboard above center court are now gone.

Remember the Portland city skyline that sat above the scoreboard? Gone.
Remember the giant Blazers pinwheel on the bottom of the scoreboard? Gone.

Hardly awkward. No skyline at top either.

The thing that peeves me the most is that the Moda logo covered up the Blazers logo on the scoreboard. If it was a Rose Garden logo I could understand, but covering the Blazers logo? It's basically saying Moda is better than the Blazers! Moda covering up the Portland skyline, well, of course, Moda's better than our city too.

Now we're just another bland corporate arena. And I leave with a blasé rah rah rah...

Playoffs? Not yet.

We won't make the playoffs this year.
Here's why.
Unknown chemistry, new players (seven), with a new-ish coach.
There's too much to juggle. And and AND! The West is too strong.
It's another growing pains season. See below.

Sorta like the Trail Blazers

Lillard's numbers will be down. It's for the better. He needs the rest. We're lucky Stotts didn't RG3 this kid. And the fact the Blazers are mainly guards (nine) will cause Stotts to have odd rotations and experiments to try and give the Rookie of the Year some rest.

"Wait 'til I hit the dance floor".

Also, lack of experienced big men down low. We have Lopez and Leonard. Granted, I am most eager to see these two at the start of the season but c'mon, Leonard was as awkward as a geek at a high school dance last year. Leonard's work ethic is unstoppable, though. This kid has a future and I can't wait to see his improvements.


Rip City has a future, but, it will have to wait one more year.

~JK

A weed in the Rose Garden.

It's official, the home of the Blazers is now called the "Moda Center". I am not a fan. The Rose Garden was a perfect name, free of big wig branding. It captured the DIY style of Portland. The Moda weed has sprouted up in the Rose Garden. At least Moda Health is a NW based company. Formerly known as ODS as of May. I guess that's a saving point, of some sort. *Sigh* Whatever.

Hey! 13 is a lucky number, right?

"The Rose Garden put us on the map, the Moda Center's going to take us into the future," Trail Blazers president and CEO Chris McGowan said.

Really? The future?

Will free agents go: "Hey, forget Los Angeles, did you hear that the Blazers now play in the 'Moda Center'? I'm gonna sign there!" Get real.

The future of the team is decided by the play on the court, not by a new name and logo on the court.

Blazer tid bits

Damian Lillard is the Rookie of the Year. No surprise there. He won the award on a unanimous decision. Lillard was the 3rd rookie all time with at least 1,500 points and 500 dimes joining Oscar Robertson and Allen Iverson. Damian joins Brandon Roy, Sidney Wicks, and Geoff Petrie as the other Blazer ROYs.

Hey, guess who's not gonna have the "evil touch" for our Blazers? Trainer Jay Jensen has moved on. I know it's unfair to blame Jay for Greg Oden, Brandon Roy and all the other Blazer injuries. Jay Jensen is to the Blazers as Steve Bartman is to the Cubs. A true scapegoat. And now, that goat is out to pasture.

We got a new assistant coach. Nate Tibbits. Who? Yeah, exactly. Whoop-dee-doo. Probably the easiest job in the NBA is the assistant coach. This is hardly worth mentioning, but, he is a new addition to the Blazers.

Spring time is tough when we don't reach the post season. This upcoming draft is pretty lame. We've been preaching the same thing over and over from the IBB camp: TRADE FOR VETERANS. Peace.