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 Steve Lee recaps the first half of the 2012-13 NBA season. There are key wins and key losses that have put the Blazers where they are today, which is one spot out of the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. Damian Lillard, LaMarcus Aldridge and Nicolas Batum have all had great seasons, which is why the team is playing better than most anticipated.
NWSB Insider and Portland Trail Blazers writer Rick Stella gives us his weekly Rick’s Picks, naming the All-Star performances showcased in Rip City. The Blazers beat a struggling Heat team while helping their record, and LaMarcus Aldridge, Nicolas Batum and Wesley Matthews earn All-Star recognition, while Nicolas Batum takes home honors for Dunk of the Week.
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 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 Northwest sports blogger Steve Lee tells us five teams that should draft Terrence Jones in this years upcomming draft. Of course number 1 on this list it the Portland Trail Blazers, as Jones is a native Oregonian, but other than Portland, Steve tells us that the Phoenix Suns would be a nice place for him to land as well. Complementing Marcin Gortat, Markieef Moris, and Jared Dudely in a big lineup. In Portland, Jones could run the wing with Nic Batum moving to shooting guard.
NWSB Insider and Portland Trailblazers writer Steve Lee has grades for the 2011/12 Blazers. RIP City finished the season 8 games out of a playoff spot. Jamal Crawford’s return to the Northwest did not end with as much fanfare as it start with. There wasn’t much that LaMarcus Aldridge did that could be classified as negative this season. Raymond Felton’s report card was a blueprint of a roller coaster.
NWSB Insider and Portland Trailblazers blogger Steve Lee weighs in today with a piece on the 2012/13 roster spots that are open for RIP City. He talks about J.J. Hickson, Joel Przybilla, Luke Babbitt, Nolan Smith, and Nic Batum. The future for these five gentlemen is up in the air. Hickson and Felton have the opportunity to resign.
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.
State of the Portland Trail Blazers. Steve Lee our man with his pulse on the Trailblazers NBA Hoops beat is back with another edition of the Notebook. The April 2nd, 2012 edition. Since the trade deadline, Jamal Crawford has been stuck in a Kobe Bryant like shooting slump, shooting 26% from the field. Once a promising young forward with the Cleveland Cavaliers, J.J. Hickson has looked good in RIP City.
NWSB Portland Trail Blazers insider Rick Stella weighs in with his five trades the Blazers should be looking at making in 2012. Its a fun take using the NBA trade machine. Portland moving Raymond Felton, Wesley Matthews, or Nicolas Batum for starters, getting back Steve Nash, D.J. Augustin, Jrue Holiday, Lou Williams, and James Harden. Here are the five best trade options for Portland.
