NorthWest Sports Blog brings you daily features on Oregon, Washington State, and BC amateur and pro sports teams.
NWSB Writer Steve Lee gives you his five reasons on why the Portland Trail Blazers will not make the playoffs in the upcoming basketball season. With the ever increasing talent surrounding the teams in the west, Portland lacks the depth, and talent to make a run for the postseason. Plus, there is the injury curse that plagues Rip City. All in all, this Blazers team is just too young and unexperienced to beat out the likes of Dallas for the final playoff spot.
NWSB Insider and Portland Trail Blazers writer Rick Stella tells us the five reasons why its ok for RIP city hoops faithful to get comfortable with the Terry Stotts hiring. For starters the early criticism of the Terry Stotts hire was the players’ desire to retain Canales as the head coach. They flat out like the guy. Wesley Matthews, and LaMarcus Aldridge were fond of him and instantly taken aback by the hiring of Stotts. It’s all good now.
NWSB Insider and Portland Trail Blazers blogger Bryant Knox weighs in with some predictions for the offense in Rip City in 2012 under Terry Stotts. The season could be full of rough patches, as the team will enter with a young, inexperienced roster, but know right now that even if the team can’t find success right away, they’re going to put on display a far more entertaining brand of basketball in 2013. The utilization of LaMarcus Aldridge should be nothing new.
NWSB Writer Blair Thomas talks about the Portland Trail Blazers new coaching hire this week one Terry Stotts. Stotts record is 115-168 in his prior two stints as head coach with the Milwaukee Bucks (2005-07) and Atlanta Hawks (2002-04). Blair says if the new coach has the ability to communicate with LaMarcus Aldridge, then Rip City could find itself at the beginning of a revival.
NWSB Insider Bryant Knox brings us a summary of how the Portland Trail Blazers did in the Summer League that just wrapped up. Damian Lillard was outstanding, earning co-MVP and owning one of the best moments of the tournament – a monstrous slam dunk. Second year player Nolan Smith was doing well until an injury sidelined him. And Kaleb Canales is showing why he was chosen as the replacement at the helm of the Blazers.
NWSB Insider and Portland Trail Blazers blogger Jon Irwin tells us the latest on the RIP CITY coaching search. Jerry Sloan is a no. Portland might have offered Phil Jackson a deal. Jackson may or may not have turned down that offer. Jackson is interested in a president/part-time coaching role with Brian Shaw. Neil Olshey might be trying to force Jackson out of the job. At this point, it’s impossible to say what’s going on with Rip City.
NWSB insider and Portland Trailblazers blogger Blair Thomas brings us his reasons why he loves and hates the Blazers offer sheet to Nicolas Batum. Re-signing him now would be the perfect time in his career to do so. He’s already a fan favorite and will grab a starting spot with a deal like this. On the other hand, he will need to produce more and the Blazers are hoping to avoid a bidding war for Batum.
NWSB Insider and Portland Trailblazers writers Blair Thomas has an opinion on what the 2012 NBA off-season should hold for Raymond Felton in Rip City. Portland’s fans had a legitimate gripe. ESPN.com’s John Hollinger had Felton ranked #43 for point guards in his Player Efficiency Rating, which assesses a player’s per-minute productivity. Not good to say the least.
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 Blair Thomas asks five very important questions regarding the Portland TrailBlazers. With the off-season off and running for the Blazers, Blair poses some good questions to the franchise. What are the teams areas of concern and who will take over both the Coach and GM positions? The team has two players that other teams have strong interest in: Nicolas Batum and LaMarcus Aldridge.
NWSB managing editor Q brings us his Love Em & Hate Em recap from Thursday night’s game between the Portland Trail Blazers vs. Utah Jazz. J.J. Hickson and Jonny Flynn ended the season on a good note while Wesley Matthews and Luke Babbitt ended the season on a sour note. With the Blazers season over after this contest, it makes you start pondering offseason decisions.
NWSB managing editor Q brings us his Love Em & Hate Em recap from Monday night’s game between the Portland Trail Blazers vs. San Antonio Spurs. The Spurs are an excellent team, but losing by 35 points really shouldn’t happen. Portland didn’t show up to fight in this one, and that was disappointing to see. Raymond Felton and Wesley Matthews combined to shoot 14 for 40.
