NorthWest Sports Blog brings you daily features on Oregon, Washington State, and BC amateur and pro sports teams.
NWSB Editor Bryant Knox takes a trip down memory lane and recaps the Portland Trail Blazers’ five worst draft picks in franchise history. Greg Oden, Sam Bowie, LaRue Martin, Martell Webster and Sebastian Telfair all make the list. With the 2013 draft right around the corner, let’s hope Portland grabs someone closer in talent and potential to Damian Lillard and LaMarcus Aldridge.
NWSB Editor Bryant Knox takes us on a trip down memory lane, recapping the final season of the I-5 Rivalry between the Portland Trail Blazers and the Seattle Supersonics. Kevin Durant, Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Ladridge all had solid performances that year. The two teams split the series 2-2. Durant and Greg Oden were going to be the two players to renew the rivalry, but the injury-plagued career of Oden and the sale of the Sonics put those thoughts to rest, at least temporarily.
NWSB basketball insider and Trail Blazers blogger Steve Lee tells us At the very least, these players could help bridge the transition gap of a once promising lineup as the future Blazers learn the NBA ropes. With the Portland Trail Blazers in full rebuilding mode Leandro Barbosa, Derek Fisher, Michael Redd, Kenyon Martin are all possible players the could bolster the RIP city roster for opening day.
NWSB Insider and Portland Trail Blazers blogger Bryant Knox is back today to weigh in on the legacy of ex-Rip City coach and former Seattle Supersonics legend Nate McMillan in another episode of our Moments In Time series. McMillan was fired last season, and while his departure wasn’t the way most envisioned it, he has earned himself a permanent spot in Rip City’s history, alongside Brandon Roy.
NWSB Insider and Portland Trailblazers blogger Blair Thomas tells us why he’s a sold out 100% PDX basketball fan for life. It is about family. From 1977 to 1995 Rip City sold out 814 home games, the longest streak in American major professional sports. The Blazers made the city proud and the family thanked them in return. PDX was lucky to have had Clyde Drexler. LaMarcus Aldridge is the promise of a bright future.
NWSB Insider and Portland Trail Blazers blogger Jon Irwin tells us the five players that make up his all time starting team in the next chapter of our Moments In Time series on Northwest sports teams. The players mentioned on this list include: Bill Walton, Brandon Roy, Scottie Pippen, Rasheed Wallace and Clyde Drexler. That sounds like a dream team to me!
NWSB Editor and Writer Chris Anderson talks about the recent news that the ex-Blazer Jamal Crawford will be playing for the Los Angeles Clippers next season. Opting out of his second year with the Blazers, Crawford became a free-agent and per a report by the LA Times will sign with the Clippers once the NBA moratorium on free agent signings is lifted. Despite being from around the area, Crawford would like another change of scenery.
NWSB Editor and Writer Chris Anderson talks about Damian Lillard, Portland’s 1st pick in the 2012 NBA Drat (6th overall). After weeks of working out many athletes and reviewing countless hours of film, the Blazers found themselves drafting Damian Lillard from Weber State with the 6th overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft. He can hit shots from anywhere on the court, drive to the lane, and rebound.
NWSB Insider and Portland Trail Blazers blogger Steve Lee Stella tells us all about what true Rip City hoops fans already know. The Blazers have drafted poorly in their history. Possibly the poorest of all NBA teams. Many fans are well aware of the wisdom and success that was put into and come out of selecting such memorable names as Sebastian Telfair, Martell Webster, Greg Oden, LaRue Martin and Sam Bowie.
NWSB Insider and Portland Trailblazers blogger Blair Thomas weighs in with a very touching and pleading letter to Trailblazers owner Paul Allen. Blair Thomas poses the question of who cares who the next GM or head coach will be if the owner doesn’t care about winning? Enough of the lottery picks, we don’t need another Greg Oden! We need an owner who is as passionate about this team as the fans in Rip City are.
NWSB Insider and Portland Trailblazers blogger Blair Thomas weighs in with the impact of the LaMarcus Aldridge injury on the team and RIP City in general. Purely, from a financial perspective, the team will lose money with a minimal drop in ticket sales for the last two games. Despite the “sell-outs” there were a plethora of empty seats at the Rose Garden on Wednesday night.
NWSB insider Rick Stella brings us a good one on recently departed Portland Trail Blazers head coach Nate McMillan. A black cloud surrounded the team when McMillan took over in 2005, but he cleaned the team up quickly. After finally getting rid of the Jail Blazers nickname, McMillan moved on to lead the team to 2 50-win seasons and back to back playoff appearances.
