Blazermania

I got this cool gem of a gift I received from my cousin. It's the Blazermania LP. It re-caps the entire championship season. Schonely's voice has a lively spark throughout each track. I get chills hearing "Rrrriiip City!" with the energized crowd roaring with the classic crackle from a hunk of black wax turning 'round and 'round. Bill Schonely's calls are so lively that it harkens back to a time in Blazermania when we we're on top. There's this level of new excitement. Bill has the perfect set of vocal chords to convey the team from the hardwood to my ears. His play by play of the Lucas/Dawkins fight is amazing and so fun to hear. When the Blazers stop the 76ers for the last time in game 6, I love his fervor, his tenacity and child-like excitement as the Blazers secure their only title. He's so keyed up that he notes the exact time, down to the second when we won the world championship.
 
When the needle of the record player reaches the center of side two, the record over. There's this eerie clicking loop as the needle is trying to send out more audio but only scrapes the edge of blank vinyl and a faded label at the record's center. Ssssk click, ssssk click, ssssk click. Where there was once the amazing call of the Blazers winning it all filling my room, there's now only silence. Silence broken by this horror film esque clicking of the finished LP. Ssssk click, ssssk click, ssssk click. I look over my shoulder to see the black disc rotating with a slight warble to it's orbit. It wants to keep playing. I want it to keep playing. But the Blazers of the 1976-77 season are done playing.

The Blazers of the 2013-2014 season aren't done playing. They have a playoff series to win to keep this season alive. Listening to Blazermania has reminded me why I love this time of year so much. It's exciting. It's unpredictable. I don't want that record needle to hit the end of this season too soon.

I am not ready to hear: Ssssk click, ssssk click, ssssk click.

Rip City.

I'm Seeing Stars!

For the first time in 20 years the Blazers have two players going to the All Star Game. Congrats to Aldridge, Lillard and Blazer basketball. It's great that we have such talent on our team to showcase on the national stage.

High fives rule.

Kevin Love being named a starter over Aldridge is something I don't agree with. Love averages basically a point and a rebound more a game than LA.  It's obvious Aldridge's contributions are worth way more to the Blazers who are 34-13 than Love's Timber-pups with a lowly record of 23-24. When two players are so evenly matched, I think the team record should be more of a factor.

Lillard's continuing his magical beginnings with an All Star nod after last year's ROY and All Star skills competition title. He continues to step it up. A lot of people think the Sun's Goran Dragic got snubbed but it's clear, the coaches made the right call by sending Lillard.

Fans shouldn't be able to vote for the All Star game. Why? Kobe's an All Star! He's played in 6 games this year and averaging under 14 points. It's a joke. I think Bryant handled it great giving Lillard a shout out saying; "My advice would be to vote for some of these younger players, the Damian Lillards of the world." It was jubilant to have an NBA great show praise to Dame.

Portland sending two players to the All Star game is a huge step in the right direction. We've won as many games now as we did all last season. With over two months to play we've got a lot of work to do, but it's obvious, we've got the star talent to get it done.

Rip City, baby!

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