NorthWest Sports Blog brings you daily features on Oregon, Washington State, and BC amateur and pro sports teams.
NWSB Insider Bryant Knox breaks down how Gary Payton can help Damian Lillard become a better defender for the Portland Trail Blazers. Lillard has a ton of confidence on offense, and if there’s anybody who can help transfer confidence to defense, it’s the Glove. According to Jason Quick of The Oregonian, the two Oakland natives have talked, and they plan on working on Lillard’s defensive game during the 2013 offseason.
NWSB Insider and Seattle SuperSonics blogger Chris Hall brings us his top five Sonics all-time starting lineup. This list is the best of the best to ever play the game of basketball in the greatest basketball city in North America. Gary Payton, Shawn Kemp, Jack Sikma, Dale Ellis, and Dennis Johnson. The coaching nod goes to the great Lenny Wilkins. A great trip down memory lane by Chris.
Steve Lee profiles one of the Northwest’s own, Detlef Schrempf of the Washington Huskies, Seattle SuperSonics and Portland Trail Blazers. Along the way, Schrempf played with some of the Northwest’s greats, such as Gary Payton, Shawn Kemp, Sam Perkins and Hersey Hawkins. Schrempf has made himself a fixture in supporting the return of the NBA to Seattle, often appearing at rallies and speaking engagements on behalf.
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 Brandon Choate gets nostalgic today. With all the recent happenings in the fight to bring an NBA team back to Seattle, it tends to bring up old memories and open old wounds. Brandon opens that can of worms today and explains why he, as well as most others,still love their Seattle Sonics basketball team.
NWSB Insider and sports blogger Steve Lee has a great article today on the record holders that grace that great northwest sports scene. In just under two weeks, BC Lions receiver Geroy Simon will cement his place in the CFL record books as the league’s all time receiver. Other northwest athletes are in the books too. Ichiro Suzuki, Shaun Alexander, Damon Stoudamire, Gary Payton, Henrik Sedin have their own Moments In Time.
NWSB insider Jared Galde brings us his intimate feelings about the Seattle Supersonics rally at Occidental Park on Thursday. With the hero’s of Seattle’s past, and some of the biggest names in the Seattle music scene, the crowd of nearly 6,000 hung on every word. New found savior Chris Hansen stood at the mic and said this can happen, and will happen with the support of Seattle sports fans.
NWSB Insider and Portland Trailblazers blogger Blair Thomas weighs in with a very sensitive subject. The Sonics fans vs. Oklahoma City Thunder beef. Blair likens this to a bad breakup between a boyfriend and girlfriend, where the Thunder are the hot gf who goes on to make it big in life, and the Sonics fans are the bf who can’t seem to let go or get on with his life.
NWSB insider Rick Stella brings us his take on the announcement that Oregon State Beavers basketball player Jared Cunningham is going to declare for the 2012 NBA Draft. While fans may be upset with the decision, history shows it was probably a good bet. Now that he’s leaving Oregon State, though, can players like Roberto Nelson and Ahmad Starks step up to fill the void Cunningham leaves behind?
NWSB insider Blair Thomas brings us news of potential major changes at Oregon State University. Men’s hoops coach Craig Robinson may be lured close to his hometown to take the reigns at Illinois while the Beavers star player Jared Cunningham could easily join the NBA ranks if he desires. This could lead to a big trail of tears in Corvallis.
Another North West Coach in the spotlight today. Past Seattle Supersonics and current Portland Trailblazers bench boss Nate McMillan. Steve Lee one of our northwest hoops bloggers points out with a little luck on his side, chances are, the Trail Blazers and McMillan will soon reap the rewards of all their efforts and hard work.
NWSB insider Blair Thomas brings us his reasons why the Oregon State Beavers don’t deserve to make the NIT tournament yet. Although anything is possible in this year’s Pac-12, these Beavers are not anywhere close to the memories of when Gary Payton was a Beaver. Craig Robinson is slowly bringing this team back to relevance and if the team can make a run at the Pac-12 tournament.
