NorthWest Sports Blog brings you daily features on Oregon, Washington State, and BC amateur and pro sports teams.
NWSB Writer Bryant Knox recaps the Portland Trail Blazers’ most recent roster moves. Nearly 24 hours before the team’s season opener, the Blazers opted to decline team options on Elliot Williams, Luke Babbitt and Nolan Smith for the 2013-14 season. All three players have the potential to make a roster next season, but at this point, it doesn’t look like it’s going to be in PDX.
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 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 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 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 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 Writer Blair Thomas talks about the latest news of northwest grown and former Portland Trail Blazer Brandon Roy. Due to Portland’s decision to waive Roy under the league’s amnesty clause, the guard cannot play for the Blazers until the 2014-15 season. Though many would like to see the Roy back on the team, we hear the Indiana Pacers have shown quite the interest. Also Portland is chasing Indiana center Roy Hibbert.
NWSB Insider and Portland Trail Blazers writer Rick Stella tells us the 5 moves new Blazers GM Neil Olshey needs to make for the Blazers to be competitive in 2012-13. By resigning JJ Hiskson, Olshey will have a player that is already comfortable with the system, and the core group of players. Of course if everybody in Rip City had their way, the newest Blazer this summer will be Steve Nash. Just look at his track record and ask yourself why you wouldn’t want this guy?
What might Portland do? Greg Oden or Kevin Durant? This question lingered for months leading up to the 2007 NBA Draft where the TrailBlazers overcame a 5% chance at the #1 overall pick in that year’s Draft lottery. The pick, used on Ohio State center Greg Oden, would later come back to haunt the Trail [...]
NWSB Insider and Portland Trailblazers writer Blair Thomas has an opinion on the 2012 Rip City hiring of new GM and former Los Angeles Clippers GM Neil Olshey who yesterday was named to the same role on Monday, just three weeks after his team was eliminated in the second round of the NBA playoffs by the San Antonio Spurs and a regular season record of 40-26. Here are a few reasons to love it and hate it in Rip City.
NWSB Insider and Portland Trailblazers blogger Rick Stella examines the week that was in Rip City. After a weekend spent drowning away my sorrows for the loss of Gerald Wallace and Marcus Camby, its time to try to figure out what the new guys actually bring to the team. Jonny Flynn, Hasheem Thabeet, and Mehmet Okur (Sort of), and Shawne Williams (Sort of) welcome to the Northwest.
NWSB insider and Trail Blazers blogger Blair Thomas brings us the latest NBA trade rumor coming out of Rip City. Rajon Rondo in a Blazers uni? Hey it could happen one day. The Blazers need a jolt in the worst way possible. Blair discussed how the shadow of Brandon Roy still lingers at One Center Court and Rondo’s arrival at PDX would give the fan base something positive to talk about.
