Trail Blazers vs Pelicans Monday, 03/05/12 AT 07:00PM

Around The World: March 5

03/06/12

Written by: DHawes22

March 5

Trailblazers.tv: Video: Trail Blazers 110, Timberwolves 122

Trail Blazers: An Ode To Pete The Rhino, By Craig Smith
"You see Pete and I are one and the same We both relocated to Portland for an opportunity at a new life Although our size can be intimidating and we can be pegged as aggressive In nature, we are able to differentiate between when it is necessary To be aggressive And when it is okay to be passive "

Trail Blazers: Trail Blazers v. Hornets Preview
"The Hornets could be in for another tough time on offense considering Carl Landry (MCL sprain), Emeka Okafor (sore left knee), Jason Smith (concussion) and Eric Gordon (right knee injury) are expected to be sidelined. They could have Trevor Ariza back after he missed the last two games with an illness."

Trail Blazers: The Rhino Celebrates Dr. Suess' Birthday
"After the reading commenced, Craig opened the floor for questions and answers. The entertaining questions ranged from “Can I have a hug”, (to which his response was an ear-to-ear grin and a resounding “yes!”), to “How tall are you?”. The latter question provoked a roaring “WOW!” when he answered with, “6 feet, 7 ½ inches."

Trail Blazers: Crawford: ‘If we’re serious about the playoffs it has to be now’
“Just knowing the importance of this game. And the importance of every game, honestly. Like I said, there’s 29 or 30 left so every game counts. Every single one counts. We don’t have the time or the luxury to flip a switch and turn it on. if we’re gonna do it, it has to be now. If not, we’ll show that side too.”

Oregon Live: Blazers notebook: Nate McMillan says players not communicating on court; Raymond Felton says he might start again
“I really don’t have the answer for that,” Camby said. “Coach turned around and asked guys, ‘Do you know what we’re doing, the game-plan?’ Everyone said they know what the game-plan was. I don’t know why it doesn’t translate out to the basketball court. That pretty much was the message the whole day.”

Oregon Live: Blazers Insider: For Portland, only hard decisions remain this season
"We are looking at every option right now," said Miller, who works with acting general manager Chad Buchanan to shape the roster. "If there are some good deals out there to be made, then we will deal. If not, we will ride out the season and see what we can do at the end of the season. But we still want to make the playoffs. For sure. It's something we are still shooting for."

Oregon Live: Blazers Insider: Trail Blazers roster appears headed for overhaul
"In other words, a season once filled with so much hope has shifted toward a season that now feels like a major transition period. It doesn't feel like McMillan will be back next season. And it doesn't feel like Camby, Wallace, Felton or Crawford, all with contracts that can be terminated at the end of the season, will be back, either."

Columbian: Blazers need to work on getting together on court
“You hear them talking on the bus, you hear them talking in the locker room, but on the floor there is not a lot of communication,” McMillan said. The No. 1 thing you have to do is communicate and we have not been doing that well.”

Blazersedge: Game 38 Preview: New Orleans Hornets vs. Portland Trail Blazers
"Lots of people are worried about the long road trip ahead. I am too, a little. The most likely outcome is the Blazers fighting hard just to stay around .500. On the other hand, as odd as it seems, this kind of trip may be exactly what the Blazers need. Their backs are against the wall with no room for "we can't win on the road for some reason" excuses. They have neither distractions nor comforts of home. Nor do they have anyone to look at besides each other for the next couple weeks. I wouldn't be utterly surprised if they came out of this trip in better shape than anticipated, stealing at least one improbable road win from the high-level teams on the docket. That single boost of confidence could turn the season around...not enough to gain a mid- or high-level playoff spot, of course, but at least enough to solidify a low one."

Hoopsworld: Blazers’ Jamal Crawford on the Move?
"Sources confirm to HOOPSWORLD that Crawford, who was signed as an unrestricted free agent this offseason to be retired shooting guard Brandon Roy’s replacement, is on several team’s radar. The Los Angeles Clippers and Minnesota Timberwolves are pursuing him the strongest, but the Sacramento Kings, Toronto Raptors and Milwaukee Bucks have also expressed interest."

Ball Don't Lie: Jonas Valanciunas dressed up as possible wizard, referee during Lithuanian All-Star Game
"I choose to believe that Raptors.com's Jay Satur is right and that Valanciunas' "old man with a cane" get-up was actually a Gandalf costume, if for no other reason than I like to imagine him hedging to hem up a point guard on a pick-and-roll and screaming, "YOU SHALL NOT PASS!" (Lithuanian basketball + "Lord of the Rings" = slam dunk. Thanks again for reading Ball Don't Lie, your home for the nerdiest possible joke combinations.)"

The Basketball Jones: Video: Tim Duncan owns Chris Andersen’s face
"It’s kind of surprising you don’t see more NBA players use the smash-a-guy-in-the-face-then-dribble-around-him move because it is very effective. Maybe it’s not taught at Pete Newell’s big man camp but I think they should add it to the curriculum."

DIME: Oregon’s Olu Ashaolu “Vince Carters” Utah For A Huge Dunk
"The worst loss in Utah history (Andre Miller isn’t walking through that door, Salt Lake City) was punctuated by Ashaolu’s dunk, which made the rounds on Sportscenter’s top 10."

SLAM: Post-Up: Point Guard Hard
"Deron Williams wants his name in the No. 1 point guard talk, too. All he did last night was drop a cool 57 on the Bobcats, all of them much-needed, as the Nets escaped Charlotte with a 3-point win, moving to 12-26 on the year. Charlotte blew a 16-point lead, and now owns a 4-31 record. Williams brought New Jersey back from an 8-point halftime deficit thanks to 40 second-half points, including 22 in the third quarter. He scored more points from the free throw line alone (21) than the rest of the Nets starters scored total (20). Bottom line, dude was ridiculous. DWill added 7 assists and 6 boards, and the only other Net in double figures was Kris Humphries, who put up 11 points and grabbed 13 rebounds."

ESPN: Power Rankings
"Don't see the Blazers firing Nate McMillan without a full-time GM in place because then Paul Allen has to take all the heat for what would likely go down as an unpopular decision. It's more likely that Portland focuses on trades to shake things up, shopping Ray Felton, Jamal Crawford and ... stay tuned."