Rip City Uprise -- Playoffs 2010

Games 1 & 2 in Phoenix have passes and so far the Suns and Blazers split the series 1 - 1. Portland made a big steal in capturing game 1 but left game 2 to a Phoenix win in a lackluster effort from the Blazers.

Game 1 we saw the Blazers team that has a real shot at moving forward in the playoffs. We saw phenomenal performances from Andre Miller, Jerryd Bayless, LaMarcus Aldridge and Nicolas Batum. We saw ball movement, defense and a sense of urgency that led to the Portland win. Going into game one practically everyone (besides Blazer fans) was expecting a Phoenix sweep, what with B Roy being out,  and Portland showed heart and proved them wrong. Guys stepped up and earned that W.

Box Score:

Game 2 was a different story. There was no ball movement, lackluster defense and no sense of urgency. Phoenix killed us with the double team on LaMarcus and denying Andre Miller the ball. It was an ugly game. Aldridge had such a weak night that he sat for most of the 4th quarter while our "clean up crew" (rookies) came out and put in more effort than we had seen all game. Martell Webster was one of very few, if any, bright spots. He gave everything he had all the way through the end and put up nice numbers, 16 points and 5 rebounds.

Box Score:

The Blazers next travel back home to face the Suns at the Rose Garden for games 3 & 4. Game 3 is Thursday at 7 PM PST on NBATV and Game 4 is Saturday at 1:30 PM PST on NBATV.

**IMPORTANT**
If you're attending game 3 on Thursday, be sure to WEAR RED in support of the Blazers!! We'll be trying to Red Out the Rose Garden to welcome home our team! Be sure to pass the news along and spread the word so we can have a sea of red in the crowd!

Blazers Playoff Fate is Sealed and Fan Appreciation Night Results in a Loss

Tonight was Fan Appreciation Night at the Rose Garden to commemorate the final game of the regular season and honor all the fans who have made the RG one of the most dangerous places for teams to play in in the NBA. Tonight also sealed the Blazers' playoff fates with the San Antonio loss to Dallas and a Phoenix win over Utah.

Prior to the game, the Spurs loss to the Mavericks giving Blazers the 6th seed in the playoffs! We clinched 6th which, when you think about it, is absolutely crazy considering everything this team has been through this season. Knowing this, Nate McMillan decided to rest Marcus Camby and Andre Miller only played a couple minutes to keep his consecutive game streak alive. LaMarcus Aldridge was also out for tonight's game with a stomach flu bug. This meant a lot of guys who don't normally see minutes saw a lot of time on the court. The most significant of these was Jeff Pendergraph, who was tonight's top player with a career high 23 points shooting 11-15 from the field, 4 rebounds and 2 steals. Pendergraph was definitely 'A Little Bit' Crazy tonight, in the first half alone he had something like 3 or 4 monstrous dunks. Jeff wasn't the only one to feel the heat tonight, Marty Party was in full swing tonight with 18 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists. Dante INFERNO Cunningham also made a big contribution in the first half, before having to sit out due to a stomach bug during halftime, with 13 points, 11 boards, 1 assist and 1 blocked shot. I'm also proud to announce that Patty Mills got some considerable playing time and contributed 11 points shooting 4 - 8 from the field and 2 - 3 from the arch, 1 rebound and 2 assists.

Here's A Look At The Rest of the Box Score:

This game was definitely not the high note of the season but considering that our "second string" players (so to speak) were playing for us we did pretty damn good. The Blazers did end up losing tonight 122 - 116 but they fought hard and didn't just roll over when technically they could have. Jeff Pendergraph showed what he's capable of and gave a huge boost to the team coming off the bench and we saw some great things from Dante and Patty Mills, the future of this team. One of the biggest things I saw tonight though, was smiles. Smiles from EVERYONE. Every fan, every player and every coach. Tonight was about winning or losing it was about having fun, playing some basketball and celebrating the fact that we are going to the playoffs.

Pictures I Took From the Game Tonight:

Rip City Uprise -- Playoffs 2010

Portland clinched the 6th seed and with a Phoenix win against Utah tonight, we will be facing the Suns in the first round of the playoffs. Here's a look at the first round schedule:

Game 1: Sunday, April 18th
Portland at Phoenix
7:30pm on ESPN

Game 2: Tuesday, April 20th
Portland at Phoenix
7:00pm on TNT

Game 3: Thursday,  April 22nd
Phoenix at Portland
7:00pm on NBATV

Game 4: Saturday,  April 24th
Phoenix at Portland  
1:30pm on TNT

Game 5 (if necessary): Monday, April 26th
Portland at Phoenix
TBD

Game 6 (if necessary): Thursday,  April 29th
Phoenix at Portland
TBD

Game 7 (if necessary): Saturday,  May 1st
Portland at Phoenix
TBD 

I think we can all start breathing a little easier now that we know what we're up against. Phoenix is not going to be an easy match-up by any means but I think we are true contenders in this series. This match-up is going to be a "battle of tempos" according to Nate McMillan and he couldn't be more correct. Phoenix is going to run and pull the screen and roll like there's no tomorrow. The Blazers are going to need to rest and rejuvenate themselves and really prepare mentally for this match. I think we can shock the world and go far in these playoffs if we come prepared. If we win this series, Portland will face the winner of the Dallas v. San Antonio series which would be so exciting to see if Portland could possibly go all the way to the Western Conference finals! I know we can go far if we play like a team, so let's go and show the world we're capable of greatness Portland!

Portland Seals OKC's Fate & Golden State @ The Rose Garden -- A Preview

Unfortunately, I did not get to see the POR vs. OKC game live (seeing as I was laughing with Conan O' Brien in Eugene) BUT what I did see, I LOVED. Don't get me wrong, I love Brandon Roy and he is the undisputed leader of this team but this season at least, it seems this team plays more like a TEAM when Brandon goes down, like something clicks and a new sense of urgency is instilled and everyone plays up the level they're capable of. When I say everyone, in the OKC game's case, I mean Marcus Camby. Say what you want about missing Travis and Steve (I still do) but the Camby trade had to be the best move we made this year. I truly believe that if Camby was not on this team, we wouldn't be looking forward to a possible 6th seed berth in the playoffs, or the playoffs at all for that matter. Camby went for an incredible 30 points on 12-16 from the field, 13 rebounds and 3 steals. He lead this team to the win and will hopefully lead us to even more wins in the post season and beyond. Portland's win over OKC also sealed the Thunder's fate in the playoffs as they are now locked in the 8th seed and will meet the Lakers in the first round.

Here's A Look At The Rest of the Box Score:

Photo of the Night:

MAR-CUS CAMBY *clapclap* *clapclapclap*

*If you'd like to hear the audio of the Rose Garden going CRAZY and chanting Marcus' name, please listen and download it HERE

The Blazers next game is their last regular season game and it's against the Golden State Warriors at the Rose Garden. It is Fan Night so those of you who, like me, will be in attendance be sure to bring the energy and make it loud to celebrate this great season and our playoff berth! 

                                       Probable Starters:

Portland Trail Blazers:                                    Golden State Warriors:

  LaMarcus Aldridge                                           Corey Maggette

    Nicolas Batum                                                Anthony Tolliver

   Marcus Camby                                                  Ronny Turiaf

  Rudy Fernandez*                                                Monta Ellis

    Andre Miller                                                    Stephen Curry

* -- Rudy is getting the start in place of Brandon Roy who is out with a knee injury

• Golden State has won 13 of the past 19 games in the series. Already with a 2-1 series lead, the Trail Blazers are a win Wednesday away from their first series win since 2002- 03, when they earned a 4-0 sweep. 

• Portland has won each of the last four games against Golden State at the Rose Garden.

• The Warriors had won nine straight meetings in Oakland before the Trail Blazers gained a 27-9 advantage in the fourth quarter in a come-from-behind win, 110-105, on March 11. 

• The Trail Blazers have earned a 141-109 rebounding edge, including a 52-33 margin on the offensive glass, in three meetings between the teams this season.

• In three series contests, Brandon Roy leads Portland with 31.7 points per game (32- 55 FG). Andre Miller has added 17.3 points per contest. 

• Portland has closed the season at home against Golden State three times before, compiling a 2-1 record in those contests. The teams last met in a regular season finale on April 18, 2007, a victory for the Warriors, 120-98.

• Golden State won last season’s series, 2-1, with the home team winning all three contests. 

• The winning team has scored more than 100 points in each of the last 13 games in the series. Both teams averaged better than 105 points per game (Portland, 105.7; Golden State, 105.3) in three meetings last year.

• The Trail Blazers earned a 125-112 rebounding advantage, including a 46-34 edge on the offensive glass, in three series games in 2008-09. Portland outscored Golden State in the paint, 144-110. 

• The Warriors gained 30 points on the Trail Blazers in three games by shooting 90-for- 100 (90.0%) from the free throw line last year. Portland went 60-for-77 (77.9%).

• Brandon Roy led the Trail Blazers with 26.0 points (58.0% FG, 6-9 3-PT), 5.3 assists and 2.67 steals (tied) in three games against the Warriors last season. 

• Portland committed 56 turnovers, including a season-high 23 in Oakland on Feb. 12, while Golden State tallied 47 turnovers in three meetings last season.

• Warriors Head Coach Don Nelson has coached more games vs. the Trail Blazers than any other active NBA head coach (52-54). 

• Golden State television broadcaster Jim Barnett played in Portland’s inaugural season in 1970-71, averaging a team second-best 18.5 points per game.

Let's go get that 51st win to close out a great season Portland!!

Picture: Yahoo! Sports

Blazers at Staples Center -- A Preview

Tonight the Blazers have traveled back to the city of Angels and the Staples Center to take on the Los Angeles Lakers, one of Portland's biggest rivals. This game brings a huge pivotal moment in the Blazers' season as it could very well tell the tale of the post season. With a San Antonio win last night, Portland is going to have to fight that much harder to obtain the 7th seed so we could very well see a POR/LAL match up in the first round.

• The Lakers have won five straight contests between the teams in Los Angeles and 14 of the past 16. Portland’s last road win in the series came on Feb. 21, 2007 (112-108). • The Trail Blazers earned a 107-98 victory in the first game of the series Jan. 8 in the Rose City behind Brandon Roy’s 32 points (9-11 FG, 13-14 FT). Portland never trailed, leading by as many as 20 points in the fourth quarter.

• Portland had defeated the Lakers in nine straight meetings at the Rose Garden before L.A. earned a 99-82 win on Feb. 6 in a game played without injured stars Brandon Roy and Kobe Bryant. The Lakers carried a 47-30 rebounding margin, including a career-high tying 22 boards by Lamar Odom, and a 48-22 advantage in points in the paint.
• Portland and the L.A. Lakers meet just three times this year, as the Lakers are one of two teams the Trail Blazers visit only once (San Antonio). Portland’s only trip to STAPLES Center to face the Lakers on Sunday marks its final road contest of the season. • The Trail Blazers and Lakers split last year’s series, with each game going to the home team. Portland won by 12.5 points per game at the Rose Garden, while Los Angeles outscored Portland by 17.0 points in two games at STAPLES Center.
• In four meetings last season, the Lakers outshot the Trail Blazers, 46.0% to 41.1%, from the floor. Los Angeles bested Portland from the foul line, 80.5% to 67.3%. • Brandon Roy led Portland with 21.7 points, 6.0 assists and 1.67 steals in his three games vs. the Lakers last season.
• Rudy Fernandez and the Lakers’ Pau Gasol were the two leading scorers on the Spanish National Team’s silver medal performance at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, falling to Nate McMillan and the United States in the championship game. • Lakers radio broadcaster Mychal Thompson played seven seasons for the Trail Blazers from 1978-86, averaging 16.7 points, 8.9 rebounds and 1.39 blocks in 551 games.

                           Probable Starters:

    Portland:                                                      Los Angeles:

LaMarcus Aldridge                                              Ron Artest

   Nicolas Batum                                                 Lamar Odom

   Marcus Camby                                                    Pau Gasol

   Andre Miller                                                  Shannon Brown*

    Brandon Roy                                                    Derek Fisher

* - Shannon Brown would be starting in place of Kobe Bryant, who's been out the past couple games for his finger, but he is probable for tonight's game.

In our last game against Dallas, we allowed their physicality and the officiating determine the outcome. If we want to come away with a win tonight, we need to really battle the Lakers and come out with urgency. The Lakers have really been struggling as of late with the loss of Andrew Bynum and if we battle down low and play the level of basketball this team is not only capable of but has proven this season, we can come away with one of the biggest wins of the season. 

Go get it Portland!! 

LA Clippers Preview

Tonight the Blazers are in the city of angels to take on the Los Angeles Clippers! It'll be a night of reunions as Portland will take on ex-Blazers Steve Blake and Travis Outlaw for the first time since they were traded.  Marcus Camby, center, will also be taking on his old team for the first time in a Blazers uniform.

•  Portland has won five of the past six games and eight of the last 10 against the L.A. Clippers, including three straight wins at the Rose Garden. The Trail Blazers had beaten the Clippers in Los Angeles in four consecutive meetings before the Clippers earned a 105-95 victory the last time the teams met in Los Angeles on Jan. 4.

•  The Trail Blazers lead this season’s series, 2-1, with the home team winning each game. Both teams have shot better than 50.0% from the floor (Portland, 50.2%; L.A. Clippers, 51.6%). Martell Webster leads all players in the series with 22.7 points in three contests, including a career-high tying 28 points (9-13 FG, 7-11 3-PT) Feb. 16 in Portland.
•  In the first three games of the series, Portland has accumulated a 28-18 advantage in steals, turning the ball over 38 times while forcing 52 Clippers turnovers.
•  The Trail Blazers bested the Clippers, 3-1, in the 2008-09 series, Portland’s second straight series win over the Clippers and 18th since they moved to Los Angeles in 1984-85.
•  In four contests last season, the Trail Blazers outscored the Clippers, 107.0-91.8, and shot 48.7% from the floor while holding Los Angeles to 41.8% shooting.
•  The Trail Blazers acquired Marcus Camby from the L.A. Clippers in exchange for Steve Blake, Travis Outlaw and cash considerations on Feb. 16. Camby averaged 8.0 points, 13.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 3.00 blocks against Portland in two meetings before the trade. In 269 games as a Trail Blazer, Blake averaged 8.9 points and 4.7 assists, while Outlaw posted averages of 9.6 points and 3.4 rebounds in 377 games with Portland.
•  Andre Miller played with the L.A. Clippers in 2002-03, averaging 13.6 points, 4.0 rebounds, 6.7 assists and 1.24 steals in 80 contests.
•  Clippers forward/center Brian Skinner played 27 games for Portland in 2005-06, averaging 3.8 points, 4.7 rebounds and 19.1 minutes.

The Clippers have lost 5 straight and 15 of their last 17 games. Whereas the Blazers are coming in fresh off a win in Sacramento on Saturday. Keeping momentum will be the kicker of this game. The Blazers tend to play down/up to the level of whoever their playing and if they give the Clippers any shred of hope tonight they can kiss a W goodbye. Since the trade deadline the Clippers have had some big wins and with Kaman, Gordon and Blakey holding them down they are definitely capable of coming out strong. I think with the looming threat of playoff positioning in mind though, B Roy won't let Portland come out with anything less than a win.

It'll be interesting to see how things play out with Steve Blake and Travis Outlaw though, (I have heard from a reputable source that Outlaw might now be playing tonight, which is fine with me. It'll hurt to see him suit up against us) seeing as to how close they were with all members of this team (sans Marcus Camby and Travis Diener of course).  Hopefully we come and strong and have a big win tonight!

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I know it's been awhile, and instead of clogging up the page with a bunch of re-caps I'll just recommend that you check out the sites linked in the sidebar for some excellent analysis and post/pre game articles!

LAKER NATION --- APRIL FOOLS

*EDIT*
hah, got you good. Not gonna lie, changing my twitter layout was the most painful part but I love a good April Fools joke on the internet, I always love going to Google and seeing what kind of joke they play. But never fear Blazer fans, I have not gone to the dark side. I still hate the Lakers and live for the Blazers !

It's Laker Nation from now on y'all.


I loved my stint with the Blazers but hot damn I love my Lakers more.


It's been hard this past year suppressing my love for all things Lakers, Kobe Bryant and Ron Artest especially.


I'm working on a new layout and banner so the temporary one above will have to do for the time being.


We had a good run Blazer Nation but LAKER NATION IS WHERE IT'S AT!!


GO LAKERS!!!