NorthWest Sports Blog brings you daily features on Oregon, Washington State, and BC amateur and pro sports teams.
NWSB Insider and Portland Trail Blazers blogger Byrant Knox gives us his 2012 starting lineup strength and weaknesses breakdown for each player. With Meyers Leonard, Wesley Matthews at SG, LaMarcus Aldridge at PF, Rookie Damian Lillard at PG, and Nicolas Batum at SF RIP City has some real great players to build around. One thing we know pretty well at this point, is what each starting player brings to the table.
NWSB Insider and Seattle area blogger Chris Hall breaks down the arena deal for the city of Seattle. He points out it will eventually mean the Return of The NBA to Seattle, he says the money side of the equation is sound for Seattleites, and the City council, points out a Potential NHL Team could show up one day too, says its great as there’s some Competition for The Mariners now and says Chris Hansen is a MAN amongst men.
NWSB Writer Bryant Knox talks about Damian Lillard’s best and worse case NBA comparisons. Everybody wants to compare prospects to current NBA players. While it may be unfair to cast a rookie in another man’s shadow, it’s never too early to think about what he could be heading deep into the future. Derrick Rose is regarded as the best guard in the NBA. Not unlike Lillard today, Jerryd Bayless was supposed to be the point guard of the future.
NWSB Writer Blair Thomas previews what is sure to be a very interesting matchup between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Portland Trail Blazers in 2013. Both teams look to compete for playoff spots in the Western Conference heading into the upcoming season. Here is a breakdown of how the teams match-up head-to-head in 2012-13. Key players are those such as Damian Lillard and Meyers Leonard.
NWSB Insider and Portland Trailblazers blogger Bryant Knox weighs in on the NBA’s best power forwards today and asks the question is LaMarcus Aldridge among the best? When Brandon Roy was still in Portland, he was the man and Aldridge was his sidekick. Not any more. Aldridge’s career-high 21.8 points and 8.7 rebounds in 2011 came in a season where the Blazers ran the slowest pace in the NBA. Watch out 2012.
NWSB Insider and Portland Trail Blazers blogger Bryant Knox weighs in with his predictions for the 2012 PDX Blazers. Without sounding too cliché, the most realistic prediction has to come somewhere in-between the best and worst-case scenarios. He says Meyers Leonard and Nicolas Batum could also be pleasant surprises in Rip City next season.
NWSB Insider and Portland Trail Blazers blogger Bryant Knox weighs in with his top 5 matchups to watch out for this NBA season for the Canucks. The schedule came out Thursday. With so many new faces on the team’s current roster, anticipation is high. The Nov. 8 game vs. the Clippers will be the first time that national audience gets a look at Damian Lillard. Watch for a Brandon Roy in the Rose Garden in 2012 again too.
NWSB Insider and northwest sports blogger Alistair Corp tells us today that Don Levin has publicly emerged to try to bring an NHL team to the Seattle area, and he’s prepared to spend $100 million. The development popped up three days before King County discusses and votes on investor Chris Hansen’s proposal to build a $490 million NBA and NHL arena. Wayne Gretzky was in town too. Coincidence?
NWSB Insider and Portland Trailblazers blogger Bryant Knox weighs in on the chances for Damian Lillard to win the 2012-2013 NBA rookie of the year award. Following his MVP performance in the Vegas Summer League, it’s easy to see how he can make a case for the award. What also makes Lillard special is that he ability to find teammates and run the offense. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Thomas Robinson, and Anthony Davis are competition.
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 Bryant Knox previews the 2012 Portland Trailblazers summer league season. He asks five important questions ahead of tonights matchup versus the New Orleans Hornets. Can Meyers Leonard bang with the bigs of the NBA? Does Damian Lillard have the court vision of an NBA point guard? Also what will Wesley Matthews gain from playing in the Summer League? And more…
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.
