It's Just Another Day For Dre

Sun, 31 Jan 2010 09:26:00 -0800

Brandon Roy's Unique Approach To All-Star

Fri, 29 Jan 2010 16:22:00 -0800

Brandon Roy certainly has the stats of an All-Star. Ninth in the league in scoring at 23.1 points per game. One of just three players in the league averaging at least 23.0 points, 4.5 rebounds and 5.0 assists. Third

01.28.10 Trailblazers.com Podcast

Thu, 28 Jan 2010 12:11:00 -0800

As my girlfriend Bonnie can would tell you, I'm terrible at talking on the phone. I view the phone as a means to convey quick messages, rather than engage in meaningful conversations. It's just the way I am. I need a visual to spark conversation.

Which is why I love having someone else with me in the podcast studio. It just flows much better; ideas come

Jazz 106, Trail Blazers 95: Post-game Interviews

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 23:22:00 -0800

Video: Brandon Roy Discusses His Hamstring

Tue, 26 Jan 2010 14:49:00 -0800

Brandon Roy was at the practice facility today working out with trainer Jay Jensen after receiving treatment on his

Batum Is (Probably) Back

Mon, 25 Jan 2010 14:05:00 -0800

Everyone has been waiting anxiously for Nicolas Batum to make his 2009-10 season debut. Nate McMillan has pined for his young defensive stopper. The fans have craved seeing their favorite baby-faced Frenchman out

The Anatomy Of An NBA D-League Call Up

Sat, 23 Jan 2010 20:15:00 -0800

Trail Blazers rookie Patty Mills was recalled from assignment with the NBA D-League’s Idaho Stampede on January 23. The following is a step by step retelling of the events that resulted in Mills ending up in Detroit with the Trail Blazers for their 97-93 victory against the Pistons.

On January 22, Jerryd

All Dressed Up With Somewhere To Go

Sat, 23 Jan 2010 12:37:00 -0800

If you're like me (which you probably aren't, but just play along) one of the first thoughts that popped into your mind when you heard Patty Mills would rejoin the Trail Blazers in Detroit for tonight's game against the Pistons was "What is he going to wear?" Coming straight from Boise (or maybe Albuquerque, the Stampede play there tonight), would he have a Trail Blazers

Practice In Boston: Roy Leaves For Seattle, Batum Cleared For Contact

Thu, 21 Jan 2010 15:49:00 -0800

The Trail Blazers stayed in Philadelphia for the third night in a row before leaving for Boston Thursday afternoon, so they’re sure to be straight on their Ben Franklin trivia when they get back

Rudy Works His Way Back

Tue, 19 Jan 2010 19:46:00 -0800

Getting back onto the court was the hard part for Rudy Fernandez. Despite feeling relatively pain free a few weeks after undergoing a microdiscectomy in the first week of December, Fernandez had to bide his time, let the healing process proceed.

Now that he has been cleared to play, doing just that in Portland’s last three games, Rudy begins the second phase

Talkin' With Travis: 'I Miss You Too'

Fri, 15 Jan 2010 16:19:00 -0800

In the second installment of "Talkin' With Travis", Travis Outlaw catches up with Nicolas Batum after an intense

Talkin' With Travis: Welcome Back Rudy

Thu, 14 Jan 2010 17:11:00 -0800

In what I hope will become a regular feature here on trailblazers.com, Travis Outlaw interviews teammate Rudy Fernandez

Highlights Abound As Trail Blazers Beat Bucks

Wed, 13 Jan 2010 23:43:00 -0800

As Brandon Roy said post-game, the Trail Blazers weren't really out for revenge tonight after losing to the Bucks

Video: Jeff Pendergraph Interviews Jeff Pendergraph

Mon, 11 Jan 2010 17:38:00 -0800

Cleveland 106, Portland 94: Postgame Interviews

Sun, 10 Jan 2010 22:26:00 -0800

I guess you can't expect to win when you dig yourself a 15 point hole in the first half, but for a minute there it really felt like

Video: Postgame Interviews

Fri, 08 Jan 2010 22:59:00 -0800

Bask in yet another Trail Blazers victory over the Lakers at the Rose Garden. Another big one on Sunday versus the Cavs. Need to bring the same energy and intensity to that contest as well. Watch some of the post game interviews from the locker room.

Consistency The Key For McMillan

Wed, 06 Jan 2010 13:39:00 -0800

New challenges often require new solutions, and a wave of injuries has been one heck of a challenge for Nate McMillan this season.

Going from a team that some thought had too

Aldridge Back But No Where Near Better Than Ever

Wed, 06 Jan 2010 00:03:00 -0800

LaMarcus Aldridge is in a tough position. His left ankle, which he rolled against the Warriors on January 2, is far from healed. According to Aldridge, it’s at 70 percent, which makes doing the things on the court that he’s accustomed to doing incredibly difficult. Braces and tape can only do so much.

Nevertheless, Aldridge played 41 minutes on Tuesday

NBA Dunk Of The Night: Juwan Howard Over Chris Kaman

Tue, 05 Jan 2010 09:45:00 -0800

No Such Thing As A Game 'You Should Win'

Mon, 28 Dec 2009 23:21:00 -0800

Nate McMillan was asked a couple of questions about beating teams you presumably should beat during pre-game media availability. Basically the line of questioning stemmed from a notion that, after beating Miami, Dallas, San Antonio (on the road) and Denver, dispatching the 7-22 Philadelphia Sixers should be all but a given. McMillan wasn’t buying it.

“I’ll

Juwan Howard's Veteran Lessons

Mon, 28 Dec 2009 16:34:00 -0800

There is simply no substitute for experience. In this way, the NBA is no different than any line of work.

Those with the savvy and knowhow gained from seasons upon seasons

12.23.09 Trailblazers.com Podcast

Wed, 23 Dec 2009 13:54:00 -0800

Anything happen lately in regards to the Trail Blazers? I've been so busy preparing for Christmas that I haven't been playing close attention. Is Greg Oden still having a good season? How about that log jam at small forward? Dealing with all this depth must be really stretching Nate McMillan coaching chops.

Oh wait.

On this early edition of

Great Win. Now What?

Tue, 22 Dec 2009 21:04:00 -0800

First the great new. The Trail Blazers beat the Mavericks 85-81 in Dallas for their first victory in Big D in the last 11 tries. Simply a fantastic win, and it assures the team comes home from this difficult road trip no worse than 2-2. You could argue we've had more impressive road victories a third of the way through this season than we had all of last year. That's a

Call Of The Game: Bayless For Three

Fri, 18 Dec 2009 00:11:00 -0800

If you didn't enjoy watching Jerryd Bayless tear through the Phoenix Suns for a career-high 29 points, you're either a hater, a Suns fan or simply not a fan of basketball, in which case you should ask yourself why you were watching TNT so late into the night.

Bayless did most of his damage in the paint or at the free throw line, but he also added two corner

Call Of The Game: Webster With Authority

Tue, 15 Dec 2009 23:45:00 -0800

Martell Webster does most of his damage from beyond the three-point line, but he's got more than enough athleticism to do work in the paint. His highlight reel dunk tonight over Jason Thompson is proof of that.

So here's your charge: Who's call of that dunk was better. Post you comments below.

First up, Mike Barrett and Mike Rice ...

McMillan Considers Sharing The Board

Tue, 15 Dec 2009 17:23:00 -0800

Most of the discussion around Monday night’s game against the Kings, at least among Trail Blazers fans, pertains to which players are playing when, and how much. Is Andre Miller going to start? Will Jerryd Bayless see more time? How about Dante Cunningham?

The answers to those questions will be reveled soon enough, but you might see a few things you weren’t

Can You Hear Me Now?

Sat, 12 Dec 2009 10:14:00 -0800

There might not be anything more detrimental to a coach than being “tuned out” by his players. Once you lose the collective ear of your guys, that’s pretty much it. You can pack up and start talking about “spending

Monty Williams Calls In The Sleeper

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 13:01:00 -0800

We saw Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge return to their old ways Wednesday night. LA handled the work early, scoring 16 of his 20 points in the first half, and B.Roy closed the game, dropping in 10 of his game-high 29 points in the fourth quarter. And both Andre Miller and Joel Przybilla deserve some kudos for scoring in double figures.

But one of the names

The Lineups May Change, But The Goals Don't

Tue, 08 Dec 2009 20:22:00 -0800

The 2009-10 season started out with incredibly high expectations, and with good reason. Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge signed contract extensions, assuring their place as pillars of the Portland roster for years to come. Greg Oden was healthy, in shape and prepared to take his place among the best centers in the league. Nicolas Batum had a great summer, making his bones

Greg Oden Will Not Stop

Tue, 08 Dec 2009 11:26:00 -0800

It’s a shame that the Trail Blazers will have to continue the 2009-10 season without Greg Oden. GO’s injury falls pretty low on the list of injustices in the world, but that doesn’t make it any easier to stomach. Hard work should always be rewarded and respected, but sometimes it doesn’t play out that way. Life is often unfair.

Now Oden has even more work

Start Over, Again

Mon, 07 Dec 2009 10:48:00 -0800

That’s the question Joel Przybilla asked me as he sat down after practice last night in New Jersey. He’s got a point. I probably could dig back through my notes to retrieve Przybilla’s thoughts on once again being inserted into the starting lineup in place of Greg Oden, but I’d rather get an updated perspective.

But as it turns out, Przybilla doesn’t have

12.05.09 Pregame: Rudy Out, Oden And LA Probably In

Sat, 05 Dec 2009 18:28:00 -0800

Some quick updates before the start of tonight's game versus the Rockets at the Rose Garden.

• Rudy Fernandez is out for tonight's game with sciatic pain, which basically means his back is killing him. He'll undergo and MRI tonight and is listed as questionable for Monday's game in New York versus the Knicks.

• LaMarcus Aldridge said he will

Remembering Fernando Martin

Thu, 03 Dec 2009 14:19:00 -0800

12.03.09 Trailblazers.com Podcast

Thu, 03 Dec 2009 12:38:00 -0800

The rest of the state is talking Ducks and Beavers, but Dave Deckard of Blazersedge.com and I, Casey Holdahl of Trailblazers.com, stick to the Trail Blazers in today's podcast.

In this edition we discuss the reasons for the three-game losing streak, what it might take to get back on track, the "aura" of the team over the last week, injuries and the importance

Nobody Knows You When You're Down

Wed, 02 Dec 2009 01:10:00 -0800

There’s been a fair amount of chatter about Brandon Roy being selfish. The guy has been a consummate team player, carrying the weight of this team the past three seasons as they’ve overachieved their way to respectability. He’s done everything that the organization has asked of him.

Along the way he’s earned awards, All-Star appearances and contract

Smilin' Jeff Pendergraph

Fri, 27 Nov 2009 12:37:00 -0800

It’s not often that you see guys smiling ear to ear after an NBA practice, but when Jeff Pendergraph walked off the court after participating in drills for the first time since undergoing hip surgery three months ago, the toothy grin plastered across his face was impossible to miss.

“I’m so happy right now,” said Pendergraph. “I’m like a little kid.”

Maurice Lucas Continues To Battle

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 10:25:00 -0800

It’s easy to lose perspective during the course of an NBA season. Between practices, shoot arounds, film sessions, games, travel, appearances and the other ancillary responsibilities that overtake the lives of players and staff for the better part of seven

Oden Answers The Challenge, And Then Some

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 00:32:00 -0800

Last season, everyone wanted to dunk on Greg Oden. Some were successful, some weren’t, but at least one guys from every team tried. Rumor was that a few teams had even put out bounties on Oden’s head, with cash money

Q&A With Joel Przybilla

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:26:00 -0800

Standing in at a shy 7-1, Joel “The Thrilla” Przybilla has emerged over the years as a grizzled veteran on a young team full of promise.

Always a hard worker but never a prolific scorer, Przybilla is known for his shot blocking

Don't Play With The Game

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:49:00 -0800

The current iteration of the Portland Trail Blazers have never won in ORACLE Arena. Nate McMillan, Brandon Roy, LaMarcus Aldridge: none have won as Trail Blazers at Golden State. Only Joel Przybilla and Travis Outlaw were on Portland’s roster the last time the Blazers beat Golden State 78-75 at ORACLE on November 3, 2004, though neither played. That was the season opener,

Outlaw Out But Not Down

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 17:53:00 -0800

It figures Travis Outlaw would break his foot trying to make a play on defense.

For a guy who is maligned by his detractors for playing less than average defense, it seems cruelly poetic that Outlaw would injure himself on a routine closeout.

Video: Oden Blocks, Rudy Steals, Outlaw Dunks

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 12:30:00 -0800

NBA.com pushed a redesign ... sometime since the last time I checked out the mothership's homepage. Looks nice. Congrats to the folks at Turner, who are running the show over there, on the hard work. NBA.com also pushed a new video feature, weekly Top 10 lists, recently, which beats the pants off of weekly power rankings, especially this

Don't Feed The Jinx

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 12:33:00 -0800

I do a lot of standing around in the Trail Blazers locker room prior to games at the Rose Garden. Sometimes I’m waiting for a player to show up for an interview. Other times I’m just killing time before Nate McMillan’s pregame media availability.

Batum's New Attitude

Fri, 02 Oct 2009 10:31:00 -0700

It seems like almost everyone started out doubting Nicolas Batum.

After Kevin Pritchard and his staff orchestrated a trade with Houston to acquire the lanky Frenchman, the overwhelming sentiment amongst the media was that he would stay in Europe for at least another year, maybe more. People wondered whether his slight frame would allow him play the more physical

Photos, Video From Day Two Of Training Camp

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 18:15:00 -0700

We've finally got some moving pictures for you ravenous fans out there. Videographer Ron Quant put together a nifty little package with footage that you won't see anywhere else.

A New Addition To The Practice Facility

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 09:34:00 -0700

The Trail Blazers had some business to tend to today at the practice facility before officially starting training camp. Before attention could be turned to the 2009-10 season, there was one remnant of the 2008-09 season that needed to be addressed: a Northwest Division Co-Champions banner.

Bayless Getting To Know 'The Glove'

Tue, 29 Sep 2009 16:20:00 -0700

Pritchard and Buchanan Pre=Draft Quotes: June 17

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 15:09:00 -0700

It should come as no surprise that much of the interest from the media today revolved around Tyler Hansbrough's workout. Being a National Champion and the National Player of the Year will do that. But Kevin Pritchard and the rest of the staff in attendance today in Tualatin wanted to make sure everyone knew that the workout was hardly a one-man show.

Pritchard and Buchanan Pre-Draft Quotes: June 16

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 17:28:00 -0700

An interesting mix of prospects at the practice facility today, which speaks to the situation the Trail Blazers are at the 24th pick.

"Being the 24th pick, you don’t know who is going to fall to you so your focus is on a larger range of guys as far as who will be available," said Nate McMillan. "We know its going to be a ton of guards that go early in this draft,

June 16 Workout Schedule

Mon, 15 Jun 2009 16:23:00 -0700

Pre-draft workouts kick into gear tomorrow, as today at 3 p.m. is the last chance for underclassmen to pull their names out from draft consideration. Either you're in, or you're out.

Things start up again on Tuesday with six more workouts. The players are ...

Terrel Harris, Guard (Oklahoma State);

Buchanan Pre-Draft Quotes: June 9

Thu, 11 Jun 2009 12:01:00 -0700

Shooting guards and power forwards turned small forwards were on display today for yet another pre-draft workout in Tualatin. Shooting guards Osiris Eldridge (Illinois State), Wayne Ellington (North Carolina), Danny Green (North Carolina), and Josh Shipp (UCLA) took turns on the wing while Damion James (Texas) and Dior Lowhorn (San Francisco) added a little post presence

B.Roy On The Draft: In KP He Trusts

Thu, 11 Jun 2009 11:59:00 -0700

I noticed a fanshot over at Blazer's Edge on the topic of which player Brandon Roy would like the Kevin Pritchard to draft. The rumor goes (and I'm only calling it a rumor because I didn't hear it myself) that Roy told Brian Wheeler who he'd like to see the Trail Blazers target,

KP Pre-Draft Workout Quotes: June 5

Thu, 11 Jun 2009 11:58:00 -0700

The varsity staff was on hand today at the practice facility to watch the first full blown workout of the pre-draft season. Kevin Pritchard, Tom Penn, Nate McMillan, Dean Demopoulis, Monty Williams, Chad Buchanan, Steve Blake (with shoulder sling) and the training staff were in attendance to watch six players go through about an hour worth of drills and scrimmages. Nothing

June 9 Pre-Draft Workout Participants

Thu, 11 Jun 2009 11:58:00 -0700

The second round of pre-draft workouts has looks to have a bit more name recognition. Should be an interesting day at the practice facility. The participants are ... Osiris Eldridge, Guard (Illinois State); Wayne Ellington, Guard (North Carolina); Danny Green,

Mock Up: Snap Judgements

Thu, 11 Jun 2009 11:56:00 -0700

The lottery did have a small impact on the Trail Blazers draft fortunes, as we're now in possession of the 33rd pick in the second round thanks to the Clippers, but as you're well aware, we've been locked into the 24th pick since the tiebreaker ceremony on April 17. With the draft lottery taken care of (way to go Clips), the first wave of mock drafts are popping up

Roy, Webster Make Finals Predictions

Fri, 05 Jun 2009 10:52:00 -0700

I don't know about you, but I'm over trying to figure out how the 2008-09 season is going to play out. I certainly didn't expect the Magic to dispatch of the Cavs with relative ease, and I thought the Lakers run at the top of the Western Conference would come to a merciful end. But I was wrong. Part of that probably has something to do with the fact that I'm wrong

Waiting On Team USA Invitations

Tue, 26 May 2009 15:44:00 -0700

Nothing official has been released regarding the Team USA mini-camp at the end of July aside from the news today that Toronto Raptor coach Jay Triano will be running the show in Las Vegas. There's been a lot of unofficial confirmations regarding who has been

Show Your Support For Brian Grant

Tue, 19 May 2009 08:12:00 -0700

Brian Grant, one of the all-time beloved Trail Blazers, went public today to discuss his battle with Parkinson's Disease. It's a terrible affliction for anyone to deal with, but it must be that much more difficult to be diagnosed with this disease when you've relied so heavily on your body for your

Brandon Roy And Winning What Others Have Won

Mon, 18 May 2009 11:25:00 -0700

Brandon Roy has put together quite the list of accolades in just three NBA seasons. He was nearly unanimously voted Rookie Of The Year in 2007. In 2008 and 2009, Roy was selected as an All-Star. And his latest honor, that of being named to the All-NBA Second Team, might be his most impressive individual accomplishment yet. All in all, it’s been a stellar start to

Pre-Draft Workouts: Day One

Wed, 13 May 2009 09:28:00 -0700

The march toward the 2009 NBA Draft started in earnest today with six players put through the motions at the Trail Blazers practice facility. It was the first of a two-day series

Pre-Draft Workouts: Day Two

Wed, 13 May 2009 09:28:00 -0700

The two-day run of early pre-draft workouts got underway Tuesday at the practice facility in Tualatin, with two point guards, two wings and two posts being put through the motions

Name That Player Quote Answers

Wed, 13 May 2009 09:27:00 -0700

First off, thanks to everyone who sent in their best guesses as to which quotes came from which players. It was interesting to see which quotes almost everyone nailed and which

Let The Pre-Draft Workouts Begin

Wed, 13 May 2009 09:25:00 -0700

It's hard to believe it was only a week ago the Trail Blazers' 2008-09 campaign came to an unceremonious conclusion in Houston. The sting of a season ended far too quickly is

Once Ron Goes Roy, He'll Never Go Bryan

Wed, 13 May 2009 09:24:00 -0700

At first, it seemed as though Ron Artest's declaration that Brandon Roy was "probably the best player I've ever played against" was a bit of a farce; an attempt at reverse psychological warfare. Artest backtracked the next day, declaring,

First And Last

Mon, 04 May 2009 15:32:00 -0700

Watching the final game of the Portland/Houston series at the Toyota Center, I was struck by how similar that game was to Game 1. Not Game 1 of the series, but the first game of the season in Los Angeles against the Lakers. Maybe it was because I saw both games in person and had the same sick feeling in the pit of my stomach walking back to the locker room in Houston

Thrilla Night

Thu, 30 Apr 2009 14:32:00 -0700

It seems almost rude to single out any one player for praise in a game featuring great all-around team play. There was LaMarcus Aldridge canning jumpers and improving his defense in the second half on Luis Scola. And Brandon Roy battling influenza-like symptoms to provide stability in the fourth quarter. And of course their was Rudy Fernandez, who, despite scoring

Artest's Rankings Change Daily

Thu, 30 Apr 2009 14:31:00 -0700

Ron Artest made quite a stir yesterday when, during an interview with Craig Sager, he noted Brandon Roy was “probably the best player I’ve played against.” Sager, not surprisingly, followed up immediately asking if Artest did indeed think Roy was better than NBA golden boys LeBron James and Kobe Bryant, to which Artest restated that Roy was “the best player I’ve played

McMillan Can Coach, Can't Read Minds

Thu, 30 Apr 2009 14:30:00 -0700

Nate McMillan has been asked by the media to play psychiatrist throughout Portland’s first round series. Time and time again, McMillan is asked to gauge the mental state of his team through queries like …

“What’s the team’s mood like today?”

“Is the team loose?”

“How is the team recovering mentally from last night’s loss?”

Outlaw And An Imperfect Game

Tue, 28 Apr 2009 16:47:00 -0700

If you’ve seen Travis Outlaw play over the course of the last two seasons, you know he’s never afraid to take the big shot, or any shot for that matter. And in his opinion, there are very few attempts that he would consider a “bad shot.”

“Not be bragging on myself,” says Outlaw in a slightly joking tone, “but I feel like a guy is with me until I jump. Don’t

Leadership Via Fist Bumps

Sun, 26 Apr 2009 17:18:00 -0700

Throughout the course of the season, Travis Outlaw and I have developed somewhat of a postgame routine. After I get done bouncing from locker to locker collecting video or audio from various players and coaches, I stand in front of Travis’ stall with a copy of the final box score as he asks me questions about his statistics or those of the player he spent the bulk

Playoff Basketball - Fact or Fiction?

Sun, 26 Apr 2009 17:13:00 -0700

It’s said that one of the biggest adjustments for young teams in the postseason has to do with the way the game is officiated. The argument goes that referees allow a more physical style of play once the playoffs start. Let the players decide the game. That's "playoff basketball."

Sounds plausible, but is it really the case?

The numbers

Quick Q&A with KP

Sun, 26 Apr 2009 17:12:00 -0700

I had a chance to talk briefly with General Manager Kevin Pritchard yesterday about the teams performance in the playoffs thus far, what he's learned about the Trail Blazers and what it takes to become an elite player in the NBA.

How satisfied are you with the teams’ performance three games into this series? Is this about

Three Wrongs Don't Make a Technical

Sun, 26 Apr 2009 11:08:00 -0700

I guess I owe Joel Przybilla an apology.

Yesterday after practice, Joel and I were discussing the notion that referees allow more physical play in the playoffs (more on that in a bit) when I mentioned the technical foul he picked up in the first quarter of Game 3. It seemed to me that Joel had been on somewhat of a streak when it comes to technicals.

Trail Blazers Not Letting a Loss Linger

Sun, 26 Apr 2009 10:13:00 -0700

Game Three had all the looks of a blowout. All the signs were there, from the Trail Blazers' inability to score early to the crowd being fired up to the phantom technical on Joel Przybilla. Nothing went Portland's way. Nothing.

But unlike in Game One, the Blazers got their collective act together enough to make a ballgame out of Game Three. It wasn't

Start It Up

Wed, 22 Apr 2009 13:02:00 -0700

Since we're a little more than two hours away from the start of Game 2, it's probably a good time to talk about starts and how important they are, especially in playoff games. After a demoralizing Game 1 in which the Trail Blazers were all but buried in the first quarter, getting off on the right

Rip City Uprise Rally

Mon, 20 Apr 2009 11:30:00 -0700

Few things arouse the interests of Oregonians more than sun and the Portland Trail Blazers, so it’s no surprise that up to 15,000 fans crammed into Pioneer Courthouse Square to bask in the warmth of a beautiful day and the Trail Blazers’ first postseason appearance in six years at the Rip City Uprise Rally.

Those who couldn’t find an extra inch in

Rudy And The International Experience

Mon, 20 Apr 2009 11:29:00 -0700

Rudy Fernandez, despite his rookie status, has played in big games against grown men. Years playing in the ACB and Euroleague has given Rudy more than a taste of what it takes to get it done with big things on the line.

"I play in playoffs every year in ACB," said Fernandez. "In Spain, the first round is 1-1-1. The second round is best of five, 2-2-1.

Work Now, Watch Later

Mon, 20 Apr 2009 11:27:00 -0700

The Trail Blazers usually get together the day after a game at the practice facility to watch film. Players and coaches meet as a team and in groups separated out by position to go over what went well and what didn’t, and depending on the ratio of good to bad, it’s either an enjoyable overview of a well played game or a tortuous

The Case: Nate McMillan For Coach Of The Year

Wed, 15 Apr 2009 19:31:00 -0700

There are very few mysteries in the NBA. It’s a league of scouts. Everything there is to know about a player or team is annotated, analyzed, reanalyzed and synthesized into a handy report, known in these parts as “a book”. Once you’ve put in that work and put together that book, you’ve got a solid idea of the strengths, weaknesses and tendencies of an individual

With One Game To Go, Here's the Playoff Scenario

Wed, 15 Apr 2009 19:30:00 -0700

OK, we here at Portland Trail Blazers HQ know there has been some confusion as to the Western Conference playoff standings. It's difficult stuff. So in an attempt to clear up some of the misconceptions, our crack sports communications staff has put together a handy-dandy primer of all the possible playoff scenarios with one game left in the regular season. Here goes

McMillan On Playoff Matchups 'Everyone Wants Us'

Wed, 15 Apr 2009 19:28:00 -0700

Don't Sleep On Our Swagger

Thu, 09 Apr 2009 08:56:00 -0700

The evolution that has allowed the Portland Trail Blazers to go from one of the worst teams in the NBA to playoff contenders in just a few short years has been multifaceted.

There’s the continued and accelerated maturation of Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge. The out-of-nowhere emergence of Nicolas Batum. The veteran presences of Joel Przybilla, Steve Blake

On The Way To Respect

Tue, 31 Mar 2009 13:22:00 -0700

Respect is often hard to come by when you’re young. Real respect has to be earned, so it makes sense that those who are new to the game would have to accumulate lumps and the corresponding experience to win the over doubters. The Portland Trail Blazers, through a series of arduous yet rewarding seasons, are reaching the point where they now demand and command the

Dunking In The Face Of Finesse

Tue, 31 Mar 2009 13:19:00 -0700

LaMarcus Aldridge, for all of his offensive gifts, isn’t considered a dunker. In fact, most fans would probably complain Aldridge spends too much time outside of the paint, preferring the 15-footer over the two-handed jam. And there’s some merit to that. Aldridge undoubtedly works the inside/out game, and often times, that ratio shades toward the latter.

Trail Blazers & Brackets Don't Mix

Tue, 31 Mar 2009 13:18:00 -0700

This may or may not come as a surprise, but NBA players don't have much free time. Between practice, travel, games, community events, family obligations, and sleep, there's not many hours to focus on anything else. So while most of America is enamored in March Madness, the Trail Blazers

Staying Up To Avoid A Letdown

Tue, 31 Mar 2009 13:15:00 -0700

I have no idea if there is such a thing as a “letdown game,” but if there is, tonight’s tilt against the Memphis Grizzlies would probably qualify, for a few reasons.

The Trail Blazers are coming off a huge win, both in terms of score differential and playoff positioning. Beating the Suns by twenty points while reducing the magic number to six went a

In Response to Image, "LA Posterizes Numerous Nets"

Mon, 16 Mar 2009 10:15:56 -0700

LaMarcus Is Way Cool

Mon, 16 Mar 2009 09:53:00 -0700

iamatrailblazersfan.com Blog Feed

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France's Loss Might Be Portland's Gain

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McMillan Says Team USA Is Going Small

Buck Williams Is Back

You Can't Overpay For A Championship

If Howard Goes, Pendergraph Still Has His Back

Australian Fact Or Fiction With Patty Mills

Striking A Balance At Summer League

Batum Bids Webster A Fond Farewell

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May 27 Trailblazers.com Podcast

What You Learn At The Chicago Pre-Draft Camp

May 20 Trailblazers.com Podcast: Salary Cap Edition

Mike Rice's Snap Draft Judgments

May 13 Trailblazers.com Podcast

The Lasting Benefit Of Being Active On Draft Day

The Return Of The Trailblazers.com Podcast

The Persistence Of Playoff Memory

Game 5 Pregame Notes

Shootaround Question: Where The Crowd At?

Shootaround Question: How WIll The Suns Come Out?

Shootaround Question: The Mindset Before Game One

In McMillan's System, Possession Is Nine-Tenths Of The Law

Camby Gets 30 For 50

Video: Brandon Roy Discusses Knee Injury

Brandon Roy Out For Tonight's Game Against Thunder

Playoff Race Update: April 8

April 5 Trail Blazers Courtside Podcast

Notes From Practice: Roy Sits, Pendergraph Gets Hit

Daily Playoff Race Update: April 5

Daily Playoff Race Update: April 1

Video: Brandon Roy Decides It's Time To Dunk

March 29 Trail Blazers Courtside Podcast

Daily Playoff Race Update: March 30

Daily Playoff Race Update: March 29

Williams Brings Batum Back Down To Earth

Video: Internal Media Day Live Chat

Podcast: Trail Blazers Courtside And Joel Przybilla On The BFT

Nicolas Batum's Memory Is As Long As His Arms

Video: Nicolas Batum's Best Blocks

Getting The Double Down

Video: Andre Miller's First Dunk As A Trail Blazer

Podcast: 03.02.10 Edition of Trail Blazers Courtside

Whole Lotta Highlights: Portland 103, Memphis 93

Whole Lotta Highlights: Portland 101, Toronto 87

Jeff Pender-graphs: A Different Kind Of Ride

Whole Lotta Highlights: Portland 102, New Jersey 93

Jeff Pender-graphs: The Nickname Of The Game

Podcast: 02.22.10 Edition of Trail Blazers Courtside

Live By Batum, Die By Batum

Kevin Pritchard On The Trade Deadline Aftermath

Clippers Talk Marcus Camby

Video: Marcus Camby's Reaction To Being A Trail Blazer

Video: That Dante Has Some Jumping Ability

Jeff Pender-graphs: You'll Bite Your Tongue Off!

Podcast: 02.08.10 Trail Blazers Courtside

Podcast: 02.08.10 Trail Blazers Courtside

Video: LaMarcus Aldridge On 'Jim Rome Is Burning'

Video: Brandon Roy To Miss The All-Star Game

Notes From Practice: Roy Plays, But Still Questionable

Nicolas Batum And The Birth Of The Cool

Podcast: Trail Blazers Courtside