Comments on: How the Trail Blazers should play tonight

By: colganc

colganc — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 06:00:12 +0000

Going small is bad only because we don’t have a solid backup PF who can play high level defense. On any rotations Frye or Outlaw will get destroyed by Yao.

By: Ian

Ian — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 02:27:35 +0000

In case you thought tonight’s game was about the Rockets or Blazers, you were obviously wrong.

This game is about JOEY CRAWFORD. He’s why people pay to see the game.

By: Darren

Darren — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 23:59:39 +0000

Hey Dwight,

I generally don’t agree with most commentaters, but totally agreed with your analysis of the game and the comments you’ve made since then. When we went at Yoa, we were converting, when we startred fading away we didn’t get anything – points or fouls. I disagreed with Darnell Valentine after the game as I thought strong d would have generated offensne too. Guess I’m rambling – hope they do better tonight.

By: Big D

Big D — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 23:29:12 +0000

Dwight I hope you are right for your Blazers in 5 prediction!

By: Panama

Panama — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 21:03:11 +0000

They need to front Yao. Other teams have had great success with that. Also, do not allow them to drive into our paint. Force them into jump shots and we win…

We need to be aggressive offensively and that means driving to the hoop. We need to crash the boards and use our youth to wear them down a bit

Houston is beatable. In fact, mentally they are not that strong of team. However, we need to show them that we are a real threat. I believe we can do that tonight.

By: Bill McDonald

Bill McDonald — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 19:59:17 +0000

You know what scares me? What I read in the Oregonian about Aaron Brooks knowing Brandon Roy since grade school. If the pundits knew that they should have never wondered – as they did – about how Aaron would handle the pressure.
See, most guys I know including me, are permanently stuck in the glory days of playing sports as a kid. Oh, we mature and go on, but in sports, nothing will ever mean as much to us as those childhood memories. I don’t remember whole years but I can remember things I did in baseball when I was 9.

One reason I predicted that Eli Manning would have a great Super Bowl is that his brother had won it.
It wasn’t some big adult thing. He tapped into playing with his brother in the backyard and did great. Same sort of deal.

When Aaron Brooks sees Brandon Roy that’s going back to 3rd grade. There is no way Aaron is going to feel like this is new territory. This is tapping into the real stuff in all true sports fans – those childhood glory days.

That worries me. I suspect Aaron will play great again. I don’t know how great – but I don’t see him choking.

See, we think we’re looking at the NBA Playoffs in the Rose Garden. Nope. This is just a couple of kids names Brandon and Aaron in a neighborhood gym in Seattle.

By: GRAHAM

GRAHAM — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 19:58:36 +0000

Dwight, nice job last night on Courtside, I thought you blended in very nicely. I know that it’s not your show, but a few less calls from the fans and more of you guys swapping stories would make a more entertaining product. I also understand that they got stood up by a couple of guests, but between you and Rice, I would think there is enough material there for a 24 hour marathon show.

By: two4larue

two4larue — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 18:33:28 +0000

Houston’s matchups give Portland fits…this is nothing new, it’s been that way for years. Before Adelman was the Rockets coach, van Gundy had a similar W-L record against the Blazers

So I’m not sure if Red Auerbach, Jack Ramsay and Pete Newell were coaching Portland right now that they’d have all the strategic “answers” to these matchup/style/tempo issues–but it would be interesting to watch them try, I suppose

The Blazer’s roster needs to be upgraded. I’ve been harping on this all season, but KP chose to “stand pat” at the deadline (aside from Diogu-Ruffin deal, of course) Yes, the team won 54 games with great chemistry. But there are players on this team who are not (and I suspect never will be) playoff contributers on a championship-caliber team. Sure, it’s painful to watch the Roy struggle because he’s not getting enough support. But part of this playoff process/evaluation will be to determine who the real “keepers” are, and who needs to “go” in favor of experienced veterans who will help the 2010 Blazers beat teams like Houston and ultimately, L*A.

So take your medicine, Blazer fans. The “cure” can’t come until draft day. And I expect KP will be active, as usual (hopefully trading away draft choices for proven vets…)

By: Arvydas

Arvydas — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 17:17:36 +0000

Run Rudy and Travis off of curls all night long. We need a quick hitting offense. Houston wants us to run the shot clock down and settle for a shot under duress, thus limiting Roy and Blake.

Speed is a big advantage for us but you wouldn’t know it from Game 1.
Part of the problem is Steve Blake will have to adjust his game. Handing the rock to off to Roy every time down the floor won’t cut it. We need quick penetration and kick outs.

By: Dwight

Dwight — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 17:15:30 +0000

Thanks Bill… best part of doing that show was just a chance to talk with Wheels, Mike and Mike for two hours. They’re all just what people think they are — great guys. And even with Rice’s goofiness, it’s usually a pretty high-level basketball discussion, which is always a good time.
– Dwight