Portland Trail Blazers News

Can Blazers snap losing streak in Oakland?
Comment
March 11
Oregonian
 
"Guard Andre Miller has averaged 18.5 points a game in the Blazers' first two games against Golden State this season. The Blazers have lost nine consecutive games to the Warriors in Oakland, and they'll try to snap that streak tonight at Golden State. Breaking that streak will not be easy for the Blazers, who haven't played very well in their past two games. The Blazers did win a home game against Sacramento Tuesday, but no one was really thrilled about the process. The Blazers didn't look sharp at all and nearly allowed the game to slip through their hands. Before the win against the Kings, the Blazers were roughed up by the Denver Nuggets Sunday in Denver. Playing against the ..."
Miller gives an assist to young readers
Comment
March 11
Portland Tribune
 
"Andre Miller was never much of a reader as a kid. "Read my schoolbooks," says the Trail Blazers' point guard, "and that was about it." Later, Miller says, he got into magazines and newspapers and the occasional book for recreational purposes. And somewhere along the line, he got the message that reading is knowledge, and knowledge can help a person get ahead in life. "Education is No. 1 before anything," Miller says. "That's what I teach my son." Miller's son, Duane, is 10, so he would have fit right into the scene last Friday at Gilbert Park Elementary in the David Douglas district. "Read to Achieve," a national "NBA Cares" initiative promoting reaching by schoolchildren, visited Gilbert ..."
Trail Blazers' defense remains a concern, despite win over Kings
Comment
March 10
Oregonian
 
"The Trail Blazers juggled their emotions as they left the Rose Garden on Tuesday with a less-than-impressive 88-81 victory over Sacramento. On one hand, it was a victory, bringing them another day and another game closer to their second consecutive playoff berth. On the other hand, it was a performance that did little to encourage the coaching staff, or the Blazers players, that they are worthy of postseason play. "I know, I know, I know," Nicolas Batum said when a list of dubious facets of the Blazers' performance were presented. "But we got the win. We have to keep our head up about that." The Blazers (38-28) have a four-game cushion over Memphis for the eighth and final playoff spot ..."
No masterpiece, but Blazers get past Kings
Comment
March 10
Portland Tribune
 
"For a player heralded as a bit of a savior since coming to the Trail Blazers in a trade with the Los Angeles Clippers three weeks ago, Marcus Camby had been an early disappointment. Until Tuesday night. For the first time, Camby displayed the game that made Portland target him before the NBA's trade deadline. The veteran center's contributions were critical in Portland's 88-81 victory over Sacramento at the Rose Garden. Camby scored six points, grabbed eight rebounds, blocked five shots and even took a charge as the Blazers (38-28) won with an otherwise lackluster performance against the lowly Kings (21-43). "Marcus was huge," Portland coach Nate McMillan said. "We don't win the game ..."
Health usually an issue for Marcus Camby
Comment
March 8
Oregonian
 
"The Trail Blazers could've used Marcus Camby against Denver Sunday night. The Nuggets outscored the Blazers 42-26 in the paint and many of the Nuggets' points in the paint came by way of dunks and layups (15 dunks or layups) in the game. That's exactly one of reasons why the Blazers acquired Camby, to block or alter a few of those high-percentage shot attempts. However, Camby sat out Sunday's game with a sprained ankle and his brittleness has followed him throughout his career. Sprained ankles have already caused him to miss two of the nine games that he was available to play since coming to the Blazers. He played five minutes before a sprained ankle forced him out of the Blazers' game ..."
Carmelo Anthony scores 30, leads Nuggets past Blazers
Comment
March 8
Oregonian
 
"Marcus Camby didn't play. Brandon Roy didn't show up. And the Trail Blazers defense was apparently left in the cargo hold of Blazer One. If Sunday was supposed to be a gauge of where the Trail Blazers stand in the Western Conference playoff conversation, the result was short and to the point: The Blazers do not belong with Denver in the West's high-rent district. Denver drilled the Blazers 118-106 behind 30 points from Carmelo Anthony, ending the Blazers' recent run of solid play and establishing at least a split in the season series. Denver has beaten Portland 12 times in the last 13 games at the Pepsi Center. Roy made his first shot -- a three-pointer -- but missed his next 10 in one ..."
It's Nuggets over Blazers, by a mile
Comment
March 8
Portland Tribune
 
"It was an uphill struggle all Sunday night in the Mile High City for the Trail Blazers. Denver jumped in front 34-21 after one quarter and held off every Portland rally en route to a 118-106 victory at the Pepsi Center. Carmelo Anthony scored 30 points to lead the Nuggets (42-21), who shot .589 from the field and equalled the most points scored by a Portland opponent this season. "We played him straight up, and our double-teams got to him late," Portland coach Nate McMillan said. "He's a tough matchup for us. They have shooters who can spread the floor, so you have to mix up your defenses and your double-teams. Tonight he had the opportunity to find shooters on the other side of the floor, ..."
Blazers center Joel Przybilla slips in shower, reinjures right knee
Comment
March 8
Oregonian
 
"Trail Blazers center Joel Przybilla on Saturday reinjured his surgically-repaired right knee and will require another surgery, the team said Sunday. Przybilla reinjured the knee Saturday morning when he slipped while entering the shower at his home in Milwaukee, Wisc. He flew to Portland on Saturday and had a magnetic resonance imaging test Sunday morning at the office of team doctor Don Roberts. The MRI showed a tear of the patella tendon that was repaired. Przybilla, 30, ruptured his right patella tendon in a Dec. 22 game at Dallas. He was 10 weeks post-operation and had just started to walk without a brace."
Blazers face tough test today
Comment
March 7
Oregonian
 
"Coming off a successful road trip and an easy home win, the Blazers are feeling frisky. The Blazers have three consecutive games and five of their last six games, including a road trip in which they won four of five games. The team is playing much better together and the chemistry is coming together. The Blazers have scored more than 100 points in six straight games for the first time since Feb. 4-17, 1998. Brandon Roy looks as if he has put the hamstring issue behind him. Andre Miller is playing as if he knows the offensive schemes and strategy. The players look as if they are beginning to peak at the right time - the stretch run and the playoffs. We'll see just where the Blazers are ..."
Marcus Camby injures ankle in practice, will undergo X-rays
Comment
March 6
Oregonian
 
"The injury bug bit the Trail Blazers yet again on Friday. Marcus Camby, whom the Blazers acquired near the NBA trade deadline to fortify the interior, injured his left ankle during practice and was scheduled to undergo X-rays Friday to learn the extent of the injury. During a intrasquad scrimmage, Camby ran into the basketball standard and was immediately pulled. He missed most of the two-hour workout. When practice was opened to the media, Camby was receiving treatment and was unavailable for comment. Coach Nate McMillan was hopeful the injury was not serious, but said his starting center would have X-rays taken as a precaution. "We're hoping it's going to be OK," McMillan said. ..."
Greg Oden still targeting playoffs as rehab continues
Comment
March 6
Oregonian
 
"When asked about if he is being realistic about returning for the playoffs - if the Blazers reach the playoffs - Greg Oden didn't hesitate. "I would like to hope so. I do think so," Oden said. "That's just me being anxious to get out there and play again." Oden said even if he doesn't play again this year, he'll be able to use his recovery as a springboard to the 2010-11 season. "I know next year is going to be right around the corner (after the playoffs)," Oden said. "If I can definitely get close to playing (this season), that means I can go into this summer with a good head _ that I'm ready." Oden came out after the Blazers ended practice Friday and shot very, very soft shots - ..."
Trail Blazers: X-rays on Marcus Camby's ankle negative
Comment
March 6
Oregonian
 
"Marcus Camby, who injured his left ankle today at Trail Blazers' practice, received some good news: precautionary X-rays were negative. The Blazers have officially listed their starting center as questionable for Sunday's game at Northwest Division rival Denver."
Trail Blazers rookie Jeff Pendergraph earns veterans' respect as the team's player representative
Comment
March 6
Oregonian
 
"The arrival of Marcus Camby has reduced rookie Jeff Pendergraph's role on the Trail Blazers, but it has not diminished his importance with teammates -- particularly when it comes to the future. Less than a year into his professional career, Pendergraph has become the Blazers' NBA player representative, meaning he is the acting liaison between his teammates and the NBA Players Union. That the Blazers have settled on a rookie second-round draft pick as their player representative is a reflection of Pendergraph's background and depth. On the court, he is a brawny, scrappy, physical presence who prides himself of sticking up for teammates and never shying away from mixing it up with opposing ..."
Marcus Camby injures ankle in practice, will undergo X-rays
Comment
March 5
Oregonian
 
"The injury bug bit the Trail Blazers yet again on Friday. Marcus Camby, whom the Blazers acquired near the NBA trade deadline to fortify the interior, injured his left ankle during practice and was scheduled to undergo X-rays Friday to learn the extent of the injury. During a intrasquad scrimmage, Camby ran into the basketball standard and was immediately pulled. He missed most of the two-hour workout. When practice was opened to the media, Camby was receiving treatment and was unavailable for comment. Coach Nate McMillan was hopeful the injury was not serious, but said his starting center would have X-rays taken as a precaution. "We're hoping it's going to be OK," McMillan said. "We're ..."
Marcus Camby looking forward to practice
Comment
March 5
Oregonian
 
"The Blazers have a 6-3 record since they acquired Marcus Camby in a trade, but even Camby admits he could be playing better and contributing more to the Blazers' effort during the stretch run of the season. "I can be whole lot better. I know I can," Camby said. "I was hoping everything would happen quickly for myself - like overnight." Camby came to the Blazers with the deserved reputation of being a rebounding and shot-blocking machine. He came into this season, his 14th, with a career rebounding average of 10.7 a game and blocked shot average of 2.6 a game. He is currently tied for third in the league in rebounding at 11.6 a game and sixth in blocked shots at 1.98 a game But Camby's ..."
Trail Blazers shift gears as NBA playoffs approach
Comment
March 5
Oregonian
 
"As the Blazers enter the most pivotal stretch of the season, they might just be playing their best basketball of the season. "I feel like we're playing great right now," LaMarcus Aldridge said. "With everything that's happened to us this year, I feel like we're finally figuring it out and we're finally doing it out on the court. Everything's starting to come together." In a way, the Blazers are in a similar situation to where they were at this point a season ago. With 18 games left in the 2008-09 regular season, the Blazers had won five of seven games and were gaining momentum for the stretch run. They went on to win 14 of their final 18 games, including their final six, finishing with ..."
Sergio Rodriguez finds a better fit with Knicks
Comment
March 5
Portland Tribune
 
"Sergio Rodriguez will soon be making a visit to the Rose Garden, and he is looking forward to it. The former Trail Blazer point guard will return to Portland March 31 when the New York Knicks face his old team. "I have a very positive view of Portland," says Rodriguez, who joined the Knicks last month after being traded there by Sacramento. "I love the city, the organization, the fans there. I miss my old teammates. "I made a lot of friends there. It will be nice to be back and visit and share a laugh with everybody, and to be in the Rose Garden again." I spoke with Rodriguez on Wednesday, a few hours before he was to take the court at fabled Madison Square Garden against the Detroit ..."
Blazers wear their playoff faces
Comment
March 4
Oregonian
 
"The Trail Blazers think they are beginning to have the look of a playoff team, and on Wednesday they did what a playoff team should do -- rout the Indiana Pacers. Behind the play of LaMarcus Aldridge early and Brandon Roy late, the Blazers cruised past Indiana 102-79 at the Rose Garden for their fifth victory in six games, moving them into a virtual tie with San Antonio for the seventh-best record in the Western Conference with 18 games remaining. "It's starting to come together," coach Nate McMillan said. The Blazers (37-27) are a season-high 10 games over .500 and lead ninth-place Memphis by 4 1/2 games and 10th-place New Orleans and Houston by five games. Even though Indiana (20-41) ..."
Puny Pacers no match for Blazers
Comment
March 4
Portland Tribune
 
"Indiana's Jim O'Brien had something unusual planned for the Trail Blazers Wednesday night at the Rose Garden. Call O'Brien's Pacers "Golden State East." They brought 7-2 center Roy Hibbert off the bench and started a three-guard lineup with 6-6 Brandon Rush, 6-1 Earl Watson and 6-0 T.J. Ford. Watson's defensive assignment was 6-8 Nicolas Batum, who had scored 52 points in his previous two games. Batum didn't hurt the Pacers - he finished with five points after going scoreless in the first half - but the Blazers were too much in too many areas in a 102-79 rout. "With that small lineup, we had to make them take tough shots and stay in front of those guys," Portland forward LaMarcus Aldridge ..."
Blazers sign Travis Diener
Comment
March 4
Oregonian
 
"He has no idea what his role will be, how much he will play and what the next two months of his NBA career will entail. But Travis Diener, the Trail Blazers' newest acquisition, is focusing on one fact that is undeniable. "To go from a team that was struggling to a team that is playing well and in the thick of a playoff race is new and exciting for me," Diener said after the Blazers' Wednesday morning shootaround. "I'm happy to be here and help out and try to win some games and make a playoff run." The Blazers officially announced Diener's signing today. The 6-foot-1 point guard arrived into Portland about 11:30 p.m. Tuesday night, checked into the hotel he will be living out of for the ..."
Beaucoup Batum
Comment
March 2
Oregonian
 
"Nicolas Batum: You either love him or love him.It took all of 17 games this season for Trail Blazers forward Nicolas Batum to have his breakout NBA game. Not that anyone who watches the Blazers or has followed Batum's career closely should be completely surprised by his 31 points, seven rebounds, 7 assists, three steals and zero turnovers (in 33 minutes) during Saturday night's blowout win over Minnesota. It's a moment that has been months in the making. After a somewhat surprising rookie campaign in which Batum started 76 games for the Blazers, he had a very successful summer playing for his national team during EuroBasket Championships. It was an offseason of development and a time for ..."
Sterling second half from Brandon Roy spurs the Blazers past the Grizzlies
Comment
March 2
Oregonian
 
"Halftime in the Trail Blazers locker room Monday wasn't a place for the easily offended, or weak minded. With one of the more important games of the season half over, the Blazers it seemed, had never arrived to play the Memphis Grizzlies. Brandon Roy was missing layups and throwing balls into the stands. Marcus Camby was forcing passes into the lane. Nobody had a shooting groove and the defense left the lane as open as a runway. Memphis led 53-41. So when coach Nate McMillan walked in to address the troops, you could have lit a match with his words. "He started to scream real bad," a wide-eyed Nicolas Batum said. The essence of McMillan's tirade? "Wake up!" Batum said. "He told us to ..."
Blazers rally, take down Memphis
Comment
March 2
Portland Tribune
 
"Things weren't going to so well for the Trail Blazers at the FedEx Forum Monday night. Memphis led 53-41 at halftime against a rather listless Portland team on the final stop of a five-game road trip. Then came the third quarter - a explosion of fireworks from the Portland side. When the smoke cleared, the Blazers had doubled their point total with a 41-point outburst to take an 82-74 advantage. It was enough to carry the Blazers to an important 103-93 victory over a Memphis team sitting behind them in the Western Conference playoff race. Portland (36-27) won four of the five games on the trip, falling only 115-111 in overtime at Chicago on Friday. The Blazers return home to play Indiana ..."
Trail Blazers to sign guard Travis Diener for 15th roster spot
Comment
March 1
Oregonian
 
"Travis Diener's 28th birthday is Monday and his present is a contract with the Portland Trail Blazers. The Oregonian has learned the Blazers will sign the former Indiana Pacers guard today to occupy their 15th roster spot once he clears waivers. Diener was waived by the Pacers on Monday after playing only four games because of an injured big toe on his left foot. The injury required surgery, and Diener had come back and played only 24 minutes this season. His last action was on Feb. 6 at Milwaukee when he played two minutes. Coming out of Marquette as a second round pick (38th overall) in 2005, Diener had a reputation as a sharp-shooter, but he has never lived up to that reputation in ..."
Blazers better neutralize Grizzlies' Randolph and Gasol; news, notes and links
Comment
March 1
Oregonian
 
"If Portland is to win tonight's game at Memphis and finished their road trip with a 4-1 record, they had better pay attention to stopping the Grizzlies' frontline players, Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol have quickly transformed themselves into one of the league's more productive frontline tandems. Randolph, selected to his first All-Star game last month, is averaging a 20.6 points and 11.9 rebounds a game this season. He is one of just two players (Chris Bosh) in the league who are averaging at least 20 points and 10 rebounds a game. Randolph had 31 points and a career-high 25 rebounds in the Grizzlies' 120-109 win at New York Saturday. Gasol is averaging 14.9 points, 9.4 rebounds and 1.6 ..."
Blazers' early March schedule is favorable
Comment
February 28
Oregonian
 
"Like a boxer ending a round with a flurry of punches to influence the judges, the Blazers finished the month of February with a flourish. After the 110-91 demolition of the Minnesota Timberwolves Saturday night, the Blazers ended the month winning three of their last four games. The Blazers needed those road wins, because with the recent wins, they managed to finish the month with a very mediocre record of 7-6. The road wins (New Jersey, Toronto and Minnesota) helped the Blazers reverse what had become a disturbing ,monthly slide this season. The Blazers posted a season-best record of 11-5 in November, they slipped to 9-6 in December and dropped even further with a 7-8 record in January. ..."
Nicolas Batum's big night propels Trail Blazers
Comment
February 28
Oregonian
 
"When the Trail Blazers think about winning an NBA championship down the road, it is with visions of Brandon Roy, LaMarcus Aldridge and Greg Oden leading the way. But Roy thinks the foundation for that championship lineup should include one other player: small forward Nicolas Batum. "I put him right up there with us as far as importance," Roy said earlier this month. "He's a glue guy, the type of guy every championship team has to have." On Saturday, Batum showed he can be that glue guy and more, turning in a performance that will tempt Blazermaniacs to fast forward their championship timeline. The 21-year-old Frenchman had 31points, seven assists, seven rebounds and three steals in 29 ..."
Kevin Love still productive coming off bench
Comment
February 27
Oregonian
 
"Kevin Love has accepted and grown accustomed to his new role of coming off the bench after some early anxiety and uncertainty. Love scored team-high 19 points and had eight rebounds in the Timberwolves' 109-92 loss at Oklahoma City Friday night. Love's point total marked the fourth consecutive game he has led the Timberwolves in scoring while coming off the bench. Love will attempt to reach five straight games when the Timberwolves host the Blazers tonight. "He struggled and resisted a little bit coming off the bench but for our team, it gives us better opportunities with both of our units," Minnesota coach Kurt Rambis told reporters after the game. "Once he got himself into a comfort ..."
Blazers fall in overtime
Comment
February 27
Oregonian
 
"It was almost as if Brandon Roy didn't know what to say. How to act. How to describe what happened Friday at the United Center. It was, after all, a rather new experience. There had been nearly 53 minutes of entertaining, dramatic and all together excellent basketball played at the United Center, and the Trail Blazers star decided it was time to do what he has so often done throughout his notable four-year career. It was time, Roy figured with under 10 seconds left and the Blazers trailing Chicago by two, to end this. Instead of going for the game-tying two pointer like he initially set out to do, he gathered himself behind the three-point line and let fly. "Felt good," Roy said. And ..."
Bulls gore Blazers in OT
Comment
February 27
Portland Tribune
 
"The Trail Blazers' two-game road winning streak came to an end Friday night at the hands of a streaking Chicago. The Bulls pulled off a 115-111 victory behind Derrick Rose's 33 points and Luol Deng's 23 points, seven in the extra period, which the Bulls won 12-8. Chicago (31-27) has won six of seven games since the All-Star break. Portland fell to 34-27 but remained in the eighth and final playoff position in the Western Conference race, two games ahead of New Orleans and a half-game behind San Antonio."
Rose, Deng lead Bulls in moving performance
Comment
February 27
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"With jumper after feathery jumper and a couple of dunks thrown in for good measure, LaMarcus Aldridge reminded a full house at the United Center just how wrong the Bulls were to trade him for Tyrus Thomas on draft night in 2005. But with drive after scintillating drive and some jumpers of his own, Derrick Rose showed those fans how one good pick can make up for a bad one. Aldridge burned the Bulls for 32 points, but Rose responded with 33 -- including 23 in the second half to rally the Bulls to overtime -- and let his supporting cast do the rest in a 115-111 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers. ''He was really good tonight. We tried everybody on him,'' Trail Blazers coach Nate ..."
Bulls beat Blazers 115-111 in OT
Comment
February 27
Chicago Tribune
 
"On a normal night, the Bulls' short, chartered flight to Indianapolis late Friday would have been filled with nothing but good vibes after a pulsating 115-111 overtime victory over the Trail Blazers. Instead, with Joakim Noah left behind in Chicago, the somber reality of his plantar fasciitis has risen again. Noah helped shut down a red-hot LaMarcus Aldridge and scored eight points with 11 rebounds in 27 minutes, his most action since Feb. 2. But he winced as he landed after drawing a foul with 97 seconds left in the extra session and that painful grimace hadn't subsided in the postgame locker room. "It sucks," Noah said. "It's the best decision not to play (Saturday) and try to do as many ..."
Trail Blazers considering veteran forward Kenny Thomas for 15th roster spot
Comment
February 26
Oregonian
 
"Veteran forward Kenny Thomas is a candidate for the Trail Blazers' 15th roster spot, according to the player's agent, Mark McNeil. The Blazers have one open roster spot, and must sign a player before Monday in order for that player to be eligible for the playoffs. Thomas, 32, was waived by Sacramento on Feb.18. "We've talked and we plan to speak again between now and Monday,'' McNeil said Friday. McNeil said two other NBA teams have inquired about Thomas' services. Trail Blazers general manager Kevin Pritchard on Friday said "we are watching to see what shakes out.'' Thomas is a 6-foot-7, 245-pound forward whose specialty is rebounding. He appeared in 26 games this season with the Kings. ..."
Trail Blazers: Rose blooms and Bulls take off
Comment
February 26
Oregonian
 
"The Chicago Bulls have moved into the sixth spot in the Eastern Conference standings, helped by their nice stretch of basketball - winning seven of their last 10 games - before they host the Blazers tonight at the United Center. The Bulls solid play in February continues the trend they started in January, when they posted a 10-5 record. The Bulls' surge - which has helped remove some heat off coach Vinny Del Negro - can be traced back to the improved play of Derrick Rose. The Chicago point guard was hampered with a sprained right ankle to begin the regular season and the sore ankle limited him in jumping, lateral movement and quickness during the month of November, in which Rose averaged ..."
Rudy Fernandez would rather help the Trail Blazers make the playoffs now, and talk about his future later
Comment
February 26
Oregonian
 
"It's a tricky subject for Rudy Fernandez these days when dealing with his future with the Trail Blazers. He says he is not unhappy in Portland. He likes his teammates. He likes the town. And he loves playing in the NBA. But at the same time, he would like to play more, and he doesn't foresee his playing prospects improving much with three-time All-Star Brandon Roy playing the same position. After doing an interview in New Jersey this week with a Spanish newspaper, an article was published painting Fernandez as if he wanted out of Portland. Frankly, I was stunned to hear the tone of some of his comments. That wasn't the Rudy I had been around this season. When I caught up with him in ..."
A frustrated Rudy is a productive Rudy
Comment
February 25
Oregonian
 
"Rudy Fernandez reportedly is unhappy with his role and is considering returning to Spain next season.That's the story that appeared in a European article Wednesday. The story indicates that Fernandez is tired of his lack of minutes and Nate McMillan's offensive philosophy that has shackled his creativity. Well, if his performance against Toronto Wednesday night is the result of frustration, the Blazers should pray that Fernandez remains frustrated for the remainder of the season. Fernandez went out and played one of his best games since coming to Portland in the Blazers 101-87 win at Toronto Wednesday night. Fernandez scored 17 points on six of nine shooting, including making three of ..."
Brandon Roy and Andre Miller lead Blazers to 2nd win in a row on the road
Comment
February 25
Oregonian
 
"Looks like the Trail Blazers signed the right free agent this summer after all. Nearly eight months after Hedo Turkoglu went back on his word and spurned the Trail Blazers' free agent offer in order to sign a similar deal with Toronto, the Blazers exacted a measure of revenge on Wednesday. And the player who led the Blazers to a 101-87 victory over Toronto was none other than Andre Miller, the player who was not Plan B, but Plan C on the Blazers' free agent wish list. Miller had 18 points, 10 assists, seven rebounds, three steals and no turnovers to trump Turkoglu's near-perfect night when he scored 24 points on 8-of-9 shooting. "Even though Andre may not have been the first choice, it ..."
'A good feeling' about playoffs
Comment
February 25
Portland Tribune
 
"An NBA general manager's work is never done, though a chunk of it can be accomplished at the midseason trade deadline. For Kevin Pritchard, there was a major "get" with the deal that landed center Marcus Camby from the Los Angeles Clippers in a move that seemed to strengthen the Trail Blazers' chances to make - and get something done in - the playoffs. In his third year as Portland's GM, Pritchard has put his stamp on a roster that remains one of the youngest in the league, but also now carries the veteran presence of Camby, Andre Miller and Juwan Howard."
Blazers make it two in row on road
Comment
February 25
Portland Tribune
 
"Good shooting and a balanced scoring attack paved the way for the Trail Blazers' 101-87 victory over Toronto Wednesday night at Air Canada Centre. It was the second win in two nights to start a five-game road trip for Portland (34-26), which is 11-3 in the second of back-to-back games this season. "I don't know why" the Blazers have been so successful in such situations, said point guard Andre Miller, who contributed 18 points, 10 assists and three steals with no turnovers in 33 strong minutes. "I guess that's the story of our season. "Back-to-back games are a mental thing. We've done a good job with that part. It was a good team effort by everybody.""
Marcus Camby will not play against Toronto because of sprained right ankle
Comment
February 24
Oregonian
 
"Trail Blazers center Marcus Camby has been ruled out of Wednesday's game at Toronto because of a sprained right ankle suffered Tuesday night at New Jersey. Camby becomes the third Blazers center to miss a game because of injury this season. Juwan Howard is expected to start. Camby sustained the injury when Nets center Brook Lopez ran into the back of Camby's legs. The Blazers center was trailing a Devin Harris-led fast break and was looking up at the rim when Lopez crashed into him. Camby's foot got caught and rolled. X-Rays were negative, but the sprain caused Camby to walk with a pronounced limp."
Nicolas Batum moves in as Trail Blazers starting small forward
Comment
February 24
Oregonian
 
"In a move aimed at both the rest of the season and the future of the franchise, Nicolas Batum will become the Trail Blazers starting small forward, coach Nate McMillan said before Tuesday's game at New Jersey. "I just felt after last game, that we are getting close (to the end of the season) and we need to go now,'' McMillan said. "Because it's bigger than just winning now. This is going to be the guy for the future. So let's go now.'' Batum, who is playing in his 14th game of the season after recovering from right shoulder surgery, replaces Martell Webster. McMillan on Sunday was pressed before the Utah game on why he wasn't starting Batum. He said he wanted Webster's shooting with the ..."
Camby, Bayless suffer ankle injuries
Comment
February 24
Portland Tribune
 (scroll down)
"A win is a win is a win, even against a team on a collision course with history as the worst NBA team ever. The Trail Blazers saw a 21-point third-quarter lead whittled to five with six minutes to go, then gathered to pull out a 102-93 victory over the New Jersey Nets Tuesday night at the IZOD Center. New Jersey is 5-52, with a chance to finish with fewer wins than the 1972-73 Philadelphia 76ers, in the record books as the worst team in NBA history at 9-73. It was only the third win in seven games for Portland (33-26), which had blown a 25-point third-quarter lead in a 93-89 overtime loss to Utah Sunday night at the Rose Garden. "We were in this situation again," said coach Nate McMillan, ..."
Collapse against Jazz places Blazers at crossroads
Comment
February 22
Oregonian
 
"The Blazers will have plenty of time to reflect on their ugly collapse against Utah Sunday during their long flight to New Jersey Monday morning. They blew a 25-point, third-quarter lead and lost the game in overtime. What will be very interesting to watch is how the players react to the loss, particularly with a five-game road trip that begins in New Jersey Tuesday. "It's real tough, but with a long flight (Monday), we'll think about it and regroup," said forward Marcus Camby, who had 18 rebounds in the loss. "Take our frustration out on New Jersey." It's the kind of loss that could send the Blazers spiraling out of the playoffs. The Blazers could still be thinking about the game and ..."
Blazers' big lead melts away; Jazz fight back for win
Comment
February 22
Oregonian
 
"One of the more stunning and painful losses this franchise has seen in some time happened Sunday when the Trail Blazers squandered all of a 25-point second-half lead and lost 93-89 to the Utah Jazz at the Rose Garden. Carlos Boozer sent the game to overtime at the regulation buzzer when he rebounded a Deron Williams miss and flipped in a mini hook shot. Boozer finished with 22 points and a career-high 23 rebounds and also hit the go-ahead basket in overtime, allowing the Jazz (36-19) to complete a four-game sweep of the Blazers for the first time in four years."
In the end, it's all that Jazz
Comment
February 22
Portland Tribune
 
"Midway through the third quarter Sunday night at the Rose Garden, most everyone was thinking the Trail Blazers had an important victory in the bag. "We're up 25 points, and it's over, right?" Portland's Nicolas Batum said with a shrug. "But nobody told Utah." Utah center Mehmet Okur was back in Salt Lake City with his wife, who had just given birth to her child. Forward Andrei Kirilenko had departed for good in the second quarter due to back spasms. The Jazz were taking a pounding, "and I was ready to gather the guys, load up the bus and head to the airport," Utah coach Jerry Sloan said. Just kidding. "I hope you know me better than that," the veteran Utah coach said after the Jazz's 93-89 ..."
Jazz has Blazers number
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February 21
Oregonian
 
"This will be the final opportunity for the Blazers to prove they can hang with the Utah Jazz during the regular season. So, far the only thing the Blazers have proven is they cannot stay within single digits of the Jazz. The Jazz have dominated the Blazers in the first three games of the series between the two teams. The average margin of victory for the Jazz in the series has been 14 points and the games haven't been that close. The Jazz built leads as large as 27 points in its 108-92 win at Utah Nov. 28 and the Jazz sprinted out to a 23-4 lead and led by as many as 25 points in its 106-95 win at Portland Jan.27. Utah's largest lead was "only" 16 points in the 118-105 win at Portland ..."
Trail Blazers put Celtics loss behind them and focus on playoff push
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February 21
Oregonian
 
"The excitement over the Marcus Camby trade has subsided, daydreaming about a new-look Trail Blazers lineup has passed and the reality of the moment has set in. With 25 games remaining in what figures to be a down-to-the-wire playoff chase, it's almost as if the Blazers (32-25), with a retooled roster and reshuffled rotations, are starting over from scratch. "It's not almost," coach Nate McMillan said, laughing. "It is starting over." One day after enduring their worst loss of the season, 96-76 to the Boston Celtics, the Blazers on Saturday morning returned to practice to accelerate this fresh start. The bulk of the extended workout, which lasted longer than two hours, was spent teaching ..."
Celtics beat down Blazers, and how
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February 20
Portland Tribune
 
"Maybe the Boston Celtics can put together a more complete game on the road against a quality opponent than they did Friday night at the Rose Garden. If so, it would be a sight to see. The Celtics staged a clinic at both ends of the court in a resounding 96-76 victory over the Trail Blazers. So dominant was Boston (35-18) that Portland established a bevy of season lows, including: • Scoring. The previous low came in an 89-77 to Oklahoma City on Feb. 9. • Field-goal percentage. Portland shot .338, erasing the previous low of .346 against Houston in the second game of the season on Oct. 29. • Field goals. The Blazers made only 22 shots, fewer than the 27 they converted against Charlotte on ..."
Analysis of Celtics-Blazers
Comment
February 20
Boston Globe
 
"This was the Celtics team we watched dominate opponents on the way to a 23-5 record. Boston had every reason to back down and wilt on the second game of a back-to-back set after Thursday's important win over the Los Angeles Lakers. The Trail Blazers debuted Marcus Camby while Brandon Roy returned to the lineup after missing the past game with hamstring troubles. But it was the Celtics who were the more energetic team and more passionate team during a 96-76 win at the Rose Garden. The Celtics held the Blazers to 34 percent shooting (22 for 65) and take away LaMarcus Aldridge and Jerryd Bayless and it was 12 for 43 (28 percent). The Blazers led early but Boston responded with a 24-10 run in ..."