NorthWest Sports Blog brings you daily features on Oregon, Washington State, and BC amateur and pro sports teams.
Bryant Knox breaks down three spots where the Portland Trail Blazers need an upgrade. With JJ Hickson’s future up in the air, starting center is the obvious one. Eric Maynor’s future is also questionable in Rip City, so backup point guard is a priority as well. Wesley Matthews has become a very good player, but neither he nor Will Barton are great enough to hold down the 2-guard spot by themselves.
Bryant Knox previews the Portland Trail Blazers April 10 matchup against the LA Lakers. Portland took down the Lakers to start the year, but this LA team has seen a drastic change since the All-Star break. Whether Kobe Bryant is a scorer or a facilitator will play a big role in this one. Nicolas Batum, Steve Nash and Wesley Matthews are questionable, while Metta World Peace is out.
Bryant Knox previews the Portland Trail Blazers’ Dec. 29 matchup against the Philadelphia 76ers. Portland is coming off a disasterous performance against the Los Angeles Lakers, and a bounce-back performance is needed before they travel away from the Rose Garden for a four-game road trip. The key matchup in this one is between Damian Lillard and Jrue Holiday. LaMarcus Aldridge and Wesley Matthews are questionable.
Bryant Knox previews the Portland Trail Blazers’ Dec. 28 matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers. Staples Center hasn’t been kind to the Blazers throughout the years, but the team from PDX has shown once this season that they can take down the talented team from L.A. The key matchup is going to be between J.J. Hickson and Dwight Howard. Wesley Matthews is questionable.
NWSB Insider and Portland Trail Blazers blogger Jon Irwin breaks down the Lakers vs. Blazers matchup on opening night. Damian Lillard made his official NBA debut on Wednesday night The starters came up big, with Lillard and Nicolas Batum receiving praise for their play. However, in part to a stale game plan, the Blazers let L.A. get too close in the fourth quarter. And what’s with Steve Nash’s new ‘do?!
Bryant Knox previews the Portland Trail Blazers Oct. 31 matchup against the LA Lakers. The theme is going to be youth vs. experience. The Blazers have one of the youngest teams, while the Lakers have a veteran lineup looking to win right away. Damian Lillard versus Steve Nash is going to be fun for fans to watch, but the battle between LaMarcus Aldridge and Pau Gasol is going to be the key matchup. Kobe Bryant and Dwight Howard are questionable.
NBA Insider and one of our northwest hoops bloggers Steve Lee says this NBA season it appears as though two “Vancouverites”, (ok, one from Victoria) have flipped the script and are trying to make Hollywood into “Vancouverlite”. Steve points out at 7’0″, 265lbs, Rob Sacre will help solidify a frontcourt core of Howard, Pau Gasol, and Jordan Hill. It can`t hurt his game for Team Canada having Steve Nash to look to as well…
NWSB Insider and Pacific northwest sports blogger Steve Lee today weighs in with his seven moments in time for PNW sports fans. The 7 holy sh*t moments in time if you will. Canada’s golden goal. The Ichiro trade, the Seahawks Marshawn Lynch beastquake, the Steve Nash trade, the Seattle Supersonics leaving town, the Vancouver Grizzlies leaving town, the WWE invading Safeco Field all make the list.
NWSB Insider Bryant Knox poses a good question/option for Team USA. Could Team USA use a healthy LaMarcus Aldridge? Not since Clyde Drexler has the Portland TrailBlazers fielded an Olympian. With Dwight Howard, Chris Bosh and Blake Griffin out because of injuries, Tyson Chandler, Kevin Love and Anthony Davis are the lone big men on this year’s team.
NWSB Writer Jonathan Irwin gives you his take on who can fill the role at center for the Portland Trail Blazers. It’s been a whirlwind week for the Portland Trail Blazers. Desperately trying to fill the void at center, it was announced Monday the team’s offer to RFA Roy Hibbert is going to be matched by Indiana. Then comes Wednesday, when it was announced that Euro league big man Joel Freeland will officially be making his way to Portland on a three-year deal.
NWSB Writer Steve Lee takes you on a journey through his experience with the 2012 NBA Draft. After extensively combing through the mock drafts on ESPN, CNNSI, YAHOO, and pretty much everywhere in between and beyond for the past week and all through the morning, the day is finally here. Lee updates on picks and goes in depth about the Blazers draft picks. Meyers Leonard and Damian Lillard.
NWSB insider Steve Lee brings us an NBA draft preview piece today. Where will Gonzaga’s Rob Sacre land in this year’s 2012 NBA Draft? Steve lists 5 possible destinations, including the team closest to where he grew up and went to college, the Portland Trail Blazers. It seems like a bit of a stretch to see Sacre in a Detroit Pistons uniform for some reason and yet at the same time it makes a lot of sense.
