Oregon Sports Live

It’s been an exciting week for Blazer fans and a tough week for the Beaver faithful. Quack addicts were treated to a cherry sundae on Saturday only to have a huge piece of their secondary struck down with a bolt of knee-lightning by the football gods.

No matter who you root for, OSL’s got you covered on the commentary and analysis in this juicy podcast.  We also have a fantastic addition: an homage to commercial radio.  We do so in the fashion of a dynamic intro to the podcast (or billboard for you radio nerds). Click here for the podcast. On this week’s Three Guys on a Couch, we discuss:

– Walter Thurmond’s season-ending knee injury

– USC running back Stafon Johnson’s weightlifting accident and the impact it will have on the Trojans’ season

– The overall feel from Blazers Media Day (starting at around the 11 and a half minute mark, followed by many minutes of insight)

– LaMarcus Aldridge’s attitude regarding his contract negotiations

– The Andre Miller and Juwan Howard signings

– Dante Cunningham’s calm demeanor and playing time prospects as a rookie

– Bill Schonely’s first free agent choice over the summer, and The Schonz’s role in Portland’s 40th anniversary game (about 28 minutes in)

– A new segment temporarily named “Over-Under,” and yes, it’s exactly what you think (30 minutes in)

(click here for the podcast)

As always, feel free to post comments regarding the podcast or any other post on the Web site. We really want to hear your feedback on site content, and it’s really easy to do. Just click, type your thoughts, type your name, and click “comment.” Make your voices heard, OSL readers.

My head is still a bit in a fog from listening to hours of Blazer media day coverage yesterday.  So it goes without saying it’s been a slow morning.  The following news took a second to sink in.  The Oregonian is reporting that Duck cornerback, captain, All-American candidate, and unquestioned leader Walter Thurmond III will go under the knife.  Thurmond’s UO career is over, and he leaves with the most touchdowns (5) from any non-offensive player in Ducks history.

The Bellotti regime and athletic department were mum about Thurmond’s health all week, probably because they feared the news most Duck fans already assumed was coming.  The press release doesn’t indicate the severity or type of injury Thurmond sustained, nor when he’ll undergo surgery.

The Ducks’ health woes over the years are well-documented.  In recent years, many UO seniors have had to deal with career-ending injuries.  When taken in their entirety it’s rather alarming.  This is just a sampling:

- Cameron Colvin lost the remainder of his senior season thanks to an ankle injury.  At the time, Colvin seemed to emerge as a go-to receiver

- Brian Paysinger blew out his knee during his senior campaign.  Paysinger was the best Duck wideout that year.

- Dennis Dixon shredded his knee during his senior year, and thus the Ducks’ title hopes were shredded.

I’m sure there are other examples that are slipping my mind.  Please post in the comments if you recall.

Is there a senior curse in Eugene?  Maybe that’s why Jarius Byrd and Haloti Ngata jumped to the NFL.

Now add the Ducks’ unquestioned emotional leader to the collection of wounded web-foots.  Just like the former Ducks listed above, Thurmond seemed to finally be living up to his own hype.  Now, Walter Version3.0 is probably thinking about his professional career and whether he’ll be healthy come draft day.

That’ll have to wait, though, as Thurmond is now thrust even more into a leadership role, albeit a supporting part as a glorified cheerleader.  The hope is Thurmond can impart his wisdom on the youngsters in the Duck secondary.  John Boyett, freshman phenom Cliff Harris, and Javes Lewis can learn a lot from Thurmond.  Duck fans better hope they listen up.

The secondary responded very well during the Cal game, but they were running on adrenaline at the time.  It’ll be interesting to see how they cope without Thurmond for the rest of the year.  This will test the depth of the defense as a whole.  So far Nick Aliotti and John Neal have orchestrated a brilliant defensive effort.  Their jobs just became more difficult.

Kevin Pritchard seems to have a way of finding players that other teams just overlook (see Fernandez, Rudy and Batum, Nicolas).  It’s too early to tell if Dante Cunningham can be added to that list, but the young man from Villanova is impressive nonetheless.  Cunningham is extremely comfortable in a media smorgasbord environment, and he comes away looking and sounding like a seasoned veteran. Dante’s fellow rookie and new buddy Jeff Pendergraph is currently sidelined by a hip injury, but has a ton of potential and seems beyond his years maturity-wise.

On the other end of the spectrum lie Ime Udoka and Juwan Howard. These two NBA elder-statesmen bring a ton of experience to a young Blazer squad. This is of course provided that Udoka earns the 15th spot in training camp, which I think he will. But hey, what do I know?

All four Blazers were ready, willing and able to answer questions on Media Day.

Cunningham Is Comfortable In All Settings

Dante Cunningham:

- Cunningham is still super excited to be a professional. “This whole experience is new…the road trips, four different cities in a week, I can’t wait.”

- Head Coach Nate McMillan already praised Cunningham and said he would see playing time (McMillan made similar comments about former Florida Gator Taurean Green, but this feels different).  Cunningham is optimistic he’ll be a productive rookie: “I definitely hope so.  He’s saying that I have a good opportunity, a good chance, but I’m going to go out there and continue to work like I have no time on the clock.  That’s my goal.  That’s my plan.”

- Cunningham is very self-aware.  He knows his strengths and what he brings to the court: “Defense, rebounding, shooting the mid-range jumper.”  He says he plans on honing those abilities then expanding his game as time goes on.

- Cunningham says the scrimmages have been pretty exciting and competitive at the practice facility, and the guys don’t like to lose. Even in pickup games.

- How many times has Oden blocked his shot thus far?  “A lot, a few, I stopped counting after 10.”  He says Oden has thrown down on him a few times and given him a look like, “Hey rook,” and then laughed.

- On Brandon Roy: “He’s just so fundamentally sound, how he gets around you and how he uses his body. It’s really fun to watch.”

- Cunningham loved Roy’s humility.  He recalled their first meeting when Roy went out of his way to say hello and ask him to work out.

- He says any game on the East Coast is one he circled on the calendar.

- Cunningham says he’s definitely staying close to Maurice Lucas at the practice facility (click here for audio).

Pendergraph Is Recovering From Surgery

Jeff Pendergraph:

- When Pendergraph sat down, he had a big smile on his face, despite entering on crutches. He looked happy to be there as he addressed a small group of tape recorders and notepads.

- Jeff said his recovery from hip impingement surgery was “coming along nice.” He said his day consists of riding the bike, doing “hip mobilization exercises” and a pool workout.

- Pendergraph said his doctor told him that he would be doing on-court workouts by December or January, and he estimates he’ll be back playing by February.

- Jeff described the team as a “tight-knit squad” and said that the team has been welcoming of both himself and fellow rookie Dante Cunningham.

- On who has surprised him during scrimmages: “Martell, actually. I didn’t know he could shoot like that. He’s been shooting the lights out [of] the ball. Brandon is Brandon. Greg is doing good. He’s really aggressive in the post. He’s worked on his post moves a lot.”

- On observing the team during training camp: “I don’t want to be the guy who just shows up to do my own thing and then leaves. I want to be there watching to try to learn stuff and still be there for my team to show them I’m there to be with them.”

- On rookie teammate Dante Cunningham: “Me and Dante hung out a bunch. That’s my boy. Every time we talk, we just talk like, ‘I can’t believe we’re here. We’re in the NBA, man. That’s nuts.’”

Ime Udoka Is Excited To Return To PDX

Ime Udoka:

- Udoka isn’t guaranteed the final spot on the Blazer roster.  However, the Portland native talked a lot about his connections to the Blazer regime.  He said the opportunity to come back to Portland isn’t a new idea. “It’s kinda something Nate talked to me over the last few years about.  He always joked when my two years were up in San Antonio he was going to get me back.”

- Udoka says his approach is the same regardless of if he’s guaranteed a roster spot.  He said “it’s not the ideal situation” having to earn his way onto a roster again.  But Udoka’s initial success story was predicated on busting butt through lesser known leagues across the globe.  He is confident he can make another roster.

- Ime says he gained experience in San Antonio that will help the Blazers.  But it comes back to his old-standby: “Shooting the ball, defending, the safe stuff that got me here.”

- He’s been working out with Roy and the rest of the Blazers for a couple weeks.  Udoka says they joked about his return to Portland.  It’s clear Udoka has strong ties to Roy, Aldridge and the franchise (click here for audio)

- Udoka says watching the team from afar, the players’ development, growth and talent level is readily apparent.  He says he was proud of the team for making the playoffs, and he rooted for the Blazers all year long.

- Udoka said Roy and Aldridge were hot topics in the Spurs locker room (click here for audio)

- He said coming back to the team a second time is “a totally different feeling” and he says it’s a blessing to return to Portland.

- Udoka talked about watching Nicolas Batum improve, and his task bestowed from McMillan: mentor the younger players (click here for audio).

Howard Is One Happy Veteran

Juwan Howard:

- At the risk of sounding like a teenage girl from 1986 who just met Kirk Cameron, I have to comment frankly on meeting Juwan Howard. He is impressive. Everything about him, from his physical size to his candid expressions and responses to his genuine smile and laughter just screamed “this guy is going to be unbelievably important to this team.” He may not get a ton (or even any) minutes this year, but he absolutely commands respect, and that is going to translate into a more disciplined ball-club.

- Juwan described the team as talented and the city as pretty.

- Howard said he saw his role as one of adding depth and leadership to a “versatile” front-court. While describing how he would fit in as a post, he made sure to mention and compliment every single big man on the squad, even Jarron Collins, who hasn’t even made the team yet. This is one of the reasons why I think Howard is going to be so important this year.

- When asked whether he thought he could help alleviate the Blazers’ image as “soft,” Howard asked who had given the team that label in the first place: “Was it players on other teams that call them soft? That’s the most important thing right there. I haven’t heard that [from players on other teams]. So I think that’s a myth.”

- “We’ve got to let the other teams that come into this building and want to play us know that they’re in for a dogfight, night in and night out.”

- “If you want to be a very good team in this league, you’ve got to win on the road. If you want to win in the playoffs, you’ve got to win road games in the playoffs.”

- On interacting with teammates: “Coaches say they have an open-door policy. Well, I have an open-door policy when it comes to any of my teammates. If they ever want to lean on me for any information or soak up any information, they can be a sponge and do that. I think we’ve all got to be ready to help each other. I think we’ve got to hold each other accountable. We’ve got to prepare ourselves, take care of our bodies, work hard in practice, because it’s not going to be given to us.”

- Howard said he learned how to approach each game and take care of his body when he was a young player from Washington Bullet veterans, including former Blazer Harvey Grant. He also named Mitch Richmond as a vet who showed him a trick to accelerating post-game recovery: “He’d take great care of his body, and he’d get in a cold tub. I told him he was crazy, because I couldn’t handle a cold tub. He said, ‘young fella, in due time, this is going to become your best friend if you want to last in this league.’ So now I live and die by the cold tub.”

- The next question is suddenly so clear: how long until Juwan throws LaMarcus into a vat of ice water? My money is on sooner rather than later.

The Blazer point guard situation was the topic of the town on media day.  It seemed like every player heard 15 questions asking how they would mesh with Andre Miller.  The fact is, nobody really knows how the Mexican standoff at the point will play out.  Only time will tell in that regard.  The point guards deserve a post all their own, and we will assuredly devote more space to this issue in the near future.  For the time being, Andre Miller, Steve Blake and Jerryd Bayless all seemed none too pleased with the questions at hand.  That’s fair enogh.  I too would get tired of answering the same question reworded ad nauseam.  However, that’s the profession I went into, so I am duly exempt.

Andre Miller - Excited to Hear Your Questions

Andre Miller:

- Miller starts it out by saying “we have a long way to go.”  That means there are 82 games in a season.  He’s a savvy veteran folks.

- Miller says adding veterans to the mix is crucial, but he isn’t trying to rock the boat: “They have their nucleus here, and we’re just coming in here and trying to add to it.”

- Nearly every question centered on the point guard competition, and Miller handled the questions rather deftly, actually.  “Competition is a good thing, and anytime it’s really good competition it’s only going to make the team better.”  Miller says no matter how it all shakes out, “we’re teammates.”

- Again: “I’m not going to get all caught up in starting and all that stuff.”  He wants to fit in with the group (click here for audio).

- Asked about his chemistry with Roy.  Miller wryly said there is no chemistry yet; they’ve just been playing glorified streetball.

- Miller is a realist.  He isn’t going to make any assumptions about how he’ll mesh with a player.  He did admit to feeling a bit out of sorts having to deal with possibly coming off the bench, but he says “nothing is guaranteed. Only a contract is guaranteed.”

- He says as a professional he hopes to bring “good habits” to the young guys, and that means just going about his work.  He cited Wesley Person as an influential veteran who he learned from and watched his practice habits and how he prepared for a game as a Cleveland Cavalier.

Blake Is Anxious To Start Practice

Steve Blake:

- Steve said that after the surgery his shoulder feels just as good as it did before the injury to his rotator cuff, and he said his shot feels even better thanks to how much he shot the ball over the summer.

- Expect to see an improved left hand out of Blake. “For a long time, [working on my left hand] was all I could do. So instead of staying home, I figured I might as well work on something.”

- Blake said he was looking forward to the competition of training camp, and that he feels that nothing is ever a given in regard to earning the starting spot.

- On running more this year: “Yeah, I think I’ve said that going into every training camp (laughs), but if we start out running and it’s successful, then yeah, absolutely. I’ve played that style in Denver, and I’ve played it where you slow it down. So I’m comfortable going either way. I think we have the talent to do it, but the coaches have to decide whether that’s the best style for us.”

- Steve also said he’s looking forward to having Juwan Howard as a teammate, and that the younger players should “absolutely listen” to Juwan when he has something to say.

- Blake said that he did not train mixed martial arts this summer as he had a year ago (with Portland’s own Nate Quarry) because of his shoulder injury, but that he plans to train again next summer.

Bayless Was Curt To Say The Least

Jerryd Bayless:

- Bayless appeared irritated that he had to answer questions from the media. It could be that he was dreading the “where do you fit in now that the team signed Andre” question. Or maybe he was just having a bad day. But whatever it was, Rex was not in a good mood.

- He was tight-lipped with his responses. When asked what his expectations were for himself this year, he said he would “play hard, and whatever happens happens.”

-He’s been working on “everything” over the summer to “get better as a basketball player.”

- Jerryd said he was “fine” with the Andre Miller signing, although I’m not sure that’s the case.

- Bayless did say that he could learn from Miller by watching, just as he had learned from Steve Blake the year before.

- On whether he’s trying to be a combo guard or a pure point guard: he said that he was going to enter the season with a “free mind” and that he doesn’t know what his role will be on the team this year.

Roy, Aldridge, and Oden may ink the sneaker deals and attend the photo shoots, but there’s always more to a team than its marquee names. Often times, the most integral of pieces are hidden deep within the core of the squad, much like the creamy white filling buried beneath the fluffy yellow exterior of a basketball Twinkie. Or something. Point is, we talked to more players.

Przybilla: The Face of Fear

Joel Przybilla:

- On signing Juwan Howard and Andre Miller (click here for audio): it’s a blessing for both himself and the younger guys on the team. When young players have a problem, sometimes they prefer to talk to a teammate rather than a coach. It’s nice to have more veteran voices in the locker room to “put guys in their place.”

- The realistic goal is to win the division outright. “We may only win 50 games this year, but it may be a better year than last year because the West is getting so tough.”

- On Game 1 against Houston: “They hit us in our mouth, and we didn’t know what to expect. So we’ll be ready this year. It’s going to be a lot of fun.”

- Joel said that it’s going to be a competition for every spot, and although Greg wants to start at center, Joel also wants that privilege. However, he also said he doesn’t mind coming off the bench, and that it’s a long season.

- In one of the more genuine and heartfelt responses of either Media Day, Joel explained that it’s good to have Coach Luke back  (click here for audio).

Nicolas Batum:

- The language barrier still makes it a bit difficult to understand the understated Frenchman at times, but certain things need no translation.  It’s clear Batum desperately wants to be the starter again this year.

- Batum said he is a bit tired from the Eurobasket competition.  He hasn’t had much time off this summer.

- However, Batum claimed he was one the best, if not the best, scorers in every game he played.  He feels confident in his offensive game going into his sophomore season.

- One point of possible concern for Blazer fans is Batum’s shoulder.  He said it wasn’t 100 percent, that it was just “okay.”  Batum hasn’t had much time to recuperate and doesn’t appear to be getting a break any time soon.

Martell Webster Is Ready To Go

Martell Webster:

- Martell said his foot is 100 percent.  He said missing last year was very difficult mentally, and staying away from the practice court was even tougher (click here for audio).

- Talking about Batum wanting the starting position: “that’s great motivation for him.  For me that’s just not where my mind is this year and for this team.”

- Webster said he’ll obediently follow Coach McMillan’s instructions, and if he doesn’t start he can live with that.  Webster said he’s more focused on “being on the court when the buzzer rings.”

- Webster said he couldn’t keep away from the basketball court.  He says applying pressure helped the blood circulate and heal faster.

- On signing Andre Miller: Everybody is excited….”It’s just great to have a great point guard who can alleviate pressure.  It opens up the court for a lot of people.”

- On playing time:  “It’s always a problem; that’s inevitable.”  Webster then quoted a generic motivational poster: “In order to achieve great things, you have to sacrifice. Once we understand that, you know, the sky’s the limit.”

- A TV reporter asked if there was a hungrier player on the Blazer roster.  Martell provided a fantastic answer (click here for audio).

- Martell said the team has only one goal left: win a title.

- He admitted that he is more serious these days, but only to a certain extent.  He promises to remain his “charismatic self” and have the whole team laughing to cut tension.

OSL's Andrew Theen Is Skeptical About Outlaw's Rebounding Improvements

Travis Outlaw:

- Outlaw is sporting a new and very different look: hair.  He claimed he forgot to cut it.  And that he’s “trying to look his age.”

- Travis said he is happy to be back in Portland despite the various trade rumors involving his name throughout the summer.  Outlaw  said he “understands it’s a business.”

- Travis said he has put in some work over the summer.  This is a contract year for Outlaw, but he says his biggest focus is winning.

- Outlaw says “last year I worked hard, but I came down with a staph infection.  This year I didn’t catch no staph infection.”

- Travis is trying to bring in some new skills.  What are those?  Typical Outlaw moves (click here for audio).

- Travis said McMillan puts him on the best offensive player a lot, and that’s a huge compliment for his defensive abilities.

The Blazers finally start what should be a fiery and competitive training camp tomorrow.  We touched base with all the players on the active roster.  This post focuses on Brandon Roy, LaMarcus Aldridge, and Greg Oden.  More content is on the way:

The Blazers' Unquestioned Leader: "No More Regrets"

Brandon Roy:

- Roy was asked right off the bat about Andre Miller’s influence.  The Natural said Miller’s influence begins with his passing ability, and continues with his veteran presence in the locker room (click here for audio).

- Roy says “We have no more questions about what we need,” the team just has to go out and do it.

- Brandon says Greg Oden will be as good as he wants to be. Also, apparently Greg has added some face-up moves and a little touch to his game  (click here for more audio).

- Brandon on LMA’s contract dispute: He has to understand it’s a business deal and it’s a process.  “He’s an important person to me as a friend and a teammate.”

- Martell is more focused and wants to show he can play at a high level this year.

- Nate no longer has to push the team as much – guys are pushing themselves.

- On the playoff loss and the attitude for this year: “Houston just wanted it more.  Next year let’s not have any regrets. We want it now. If a team beats us and they were just better than us, then we can live with that, but let’s not have any regrets.”

- Brandon is excited to no longer pace himself as much and hold back until the fourth quarter because of the Blazers’ depth.

- Though Roy thinks he’s still best with the ball in his hands, he wants to get better at coming off of screens. However, he still wants to run the pick-and-roll as the ball-handler, because he thinks that gives opposing two-guards problems on defense.

- Roy is an old man trapped in a young man’s body.  While many players focus on adding a new move or jumper, Roy says watching TV and simply thinking helps his game (click here for audio).

- Brandon is an absolute pro at talking to the media at this point. He seems to genuinely enjoy being The Man. If I could use one descriptor to describe Brandon’s demeanor, I’d invent a new word that means confident, in-charge, and affable.

Greg Oden Is Already Smiling More

Greg Oden:

- Many of the Blazers facing battles for starting positions shied away from answering the question of whether they wanted to start. Mr. Oden did not (click here for audio).

- Greg had a busy summer working out with assistant coach Bill Bayno.  Oden said the big goal for him this summer was losing some weight.  He said he feels quicker on his feet, and that helps with rebounds and being in the right position defensively.

- Greg on Juwan Howard, “First off he’s a Michigan guy so I don’t talk to him that much.”  Good to have the jokester Oden return.  In all seriousness though, he says Howard “can pass, he’s smart, yes he does lead the floor out there.  He’s telling guards where to go.  Good for me to see and learn.”

- Oden on the how the team stacks against the rest of the league, “We can’t be looked at as just a young mistake now, we’ve got smarter guys who know what to and not to do.”

- He admitted to still feeling pressure on his shoulders, but now he wants to show off all the hard work he’s put in this summer on the court.

- Greg seemed genuinely excited to see Coach Lucas come back: “There were some times last year when he was gone and then did came back for a couple days and I end up having a good game.  I think it was because of him and how he took me under his wing when I first got here.

- “I want to be the guy who can protect the basket.”

- Realistic expectations from Greg: Screw that, “the goal is always to win the championship.”

- Oden addressed his foul issues from a year ago. “It comes to me being lighter, just being able to move my feet better and getting in the right spots and not being a half second late and getting a foul called, maybe it’ll be a charge this time or I’ll be in the right spot and guys won’t put me in that predicament.”

- Oden on how he lost weight, “I go to Whole Foods every now and then.”

"Oh man, I have to talk about the contract again?"

LaMarcus Aldridge:

- LMA touched on the overall goals that the team is facing.  He’s not ready to start with the championship as a goal. “We’ve got to put little steps,” meaning start with a division title and move from there.

- The contract dispute still weighs heavily on LaMarcus, and he doesn’t hide that.  “I can’t say I’m happy about it’ (click here for audio).

- That being said, he says it won’t change his focus.  He says he owes it to the fans too to be focused.  He wants it to be finished by the 31st, but he can’t guarantee it.

- Lamarcus joked that every year he claims he’ll make the All-Star game.  He doesn’t want to have to make that claim in vain again.  He says every year he’s gotten closer…

- Aldridge says he spent a lot of time working on his left hand this summer.

- LMA on Greg: “He’s back to the guy we met when he got drafted.  More fun, more easy-going, more laid back.  I think he seems like he’s happy to be here again like when I first met him.”

- Aldridge said the summer was very interesting on the free-agent market.  He says Andre Miller will be a big asset whether he starts or not.

-On seeing his good friend Sergio Rodriguez moving on: “It was tough. Seeing him go was tough, but you know it’s a business and you know both parties wanted it, I can’t say I know that but I think both parties wanted it.  I just want to wish him the best.”

Will Portland's Big Three be ready for the media onslaught at 2PM? Photo courtesy of hoodiefanatic's flickr.

Hey guys and gals. If you hadn’t noticed, it’s Monday, which means three things:

1) You’re probably at work. Sorry about that one. I would be, too, except my schedule changes week-to-week, so I have inconsistent days off.

2) Trail Blazers training camp starts tomorrow. Try to contain your excitement.

3) It’s day two of Blazers Media Day, which means that in a few hours fellow OSLer Andrew Theen and I will be at the Rose Garden talking to the Blazer roster.

We’ll be posting some good old fashioned basketball content this evening, and if all goes to plan you will enjoy it greatly.

If you have any questions for any of the players, drop us a line at oregonsportslive@gmail.com, and we’ll do our best to get your query answered by the big guys in black and red. Keep in mind that the proceedings start at 2PM, which means you guys are on deadline if you want your questions to be read. So be quick like lightning.

Before I say goodbye, I need to pass along this little beauty that I found while searching for information on the Jarron Collins training camp invitation. I hope you all guffaw as mightily as I did upon seeing such a glorious sight.

Oh, Jazz fans. You’re too much.

I think Ed Dickson slept well last night.  Like a baby even.  The Ducks found a way to incorporate the big guy in a huge way.  Jeremiah Masoli is no longer a huge question mark, and all of a sudden the LeGarrette Blount punch seems like a distant memory.

It’s amazing what a good old-fashioned beat-down can do for team morale.

The Beavs…well, the defense needs to pick it up.  The season is still young, and OSU is known for its late surges…but do they still have it in them?

The Blazers are bringing in an old familiar face to compete for the last roster spot.  Do you reward that warm sentimental feeling in you soul at the expense of a big body that could help keep Greg Oden and Joel Przybilla healthy?  It’s an interesting question.

OSL’s Joe Jackson and Andrew Theen marinated in the details of another Sports Saturday on this podcast (click here for audio).

Of note:

- Nick Aliotti and the UO’s “Picasso” moment

- The Return of Masoli’s Mojo

- How the Ducks D is doing it without a go-to leader

- OSU leaning too much on Quizz

- The OSU defense needing to emerge soon, or this could get interesting

- Ime Udoka’s role in training camp

- Do you reward that sentimental feeling in your soul?

All this and much more.  (click here for audio)

Much more content is coming your way soon.  We’ll be at the training camp opener on Monday so keep coming back for more!

Also, check out our twitter feed.

Peace y’all.

The Big, Bad Ducks Proved Too Much For Visiting Cal. Photo courtesty of Don Hankins' flickr page.

College football Saturday is a special day.

Every once in a while, something extraordinary happens on that big old field of green we call a gridiron. And when it does, it rouses a response nearly beyond description within a team and its fan base.

Elation? Sure. Vindication? Probably. But it’s more than that. It’s also a feeling of togetherness — a feeling of synergistic satisfaction that can only be felt when a team puts forth an exceptional effort.

Often times, that galvanizing experience takes the form of an upset, a rout, or a gutsy performance. For the Oregon Ducks on Saturday, it took the form of all three.

Here are my thoughts on the game, recorded live as I watched.

Pregame:

– What a tremendously awkward grilling montage set to the Dave Matthews Band. Yep, nothing says FOOTBALL SEASON quite like the Dave Matthews Band, am I right? Oh, wait. Sorry, I got my wires crossed. Turns out, nothing says RHYTHMIC GYMNASTICS quite like the Dave Matthews Band. Apologies all around.

– Earlier this week, I said that Dennis Dixon’s fake Statue of Liberty play was the coolest thing I’d ever seen on a football field. That was before I saw Oregon’s futuristic Rose Bowl-era throwback jerseys. I want to get down on one knee and propose to those things.

First Quarter

15:00: Walter Thurmond III receives the kick, and we’re und — OH MY GOD. If anyone has any information regarding that hit and run, please contact your local authorities.

14:30: Kenny Rowe turns the corner and nearly erases Thurmond’s fumble by causing one of his own. Oregon’s defense needs to keep that kind of thing up if they want to compete today.

14:06: Cal is forced to settle for a field goal. Oregon’s D looks razor sharp.

12:33: Jahvid Best takes two quick carries and moves the chains easily. That’s a bad sign if you’re a Ducks fan.

11:20: Cal wide-out Verran Tucker drops an easy ball over the middle after QB Kevin Rile buys some time on third down. Bears fans are grinding their teeth right now.

10:31: Two fumbles on the same play somehow ends up earning Oregon a first down. Cue the Benny Hill music. LaMichael James also took a nasty hit on that play. I’m not a doctor, but if I had to guess, I’d say that looks like a separated shoulder. As James painfully exits the playing surface, Oregon assistant coaches motion for Walter Thurmond to scoot over to make room on the bench labeled “Talented But Broken Ducks.”

8:20: Looks like Oregon Offensive Coordinator Mark Helfrich is trying to give Masoli some confidence with his play-calling. I’m seeing lots of quick-outs and bubble-screens. Smart, especially considering Cal isn’t biting on the zone-read.

5:55: Oregon PK Morgan Flint celebrates his 15th birday by knocking through a 30-yarder. Many happy returns, Morgan! Tie game, 3-3.

2:00: LaMichael James is back in the ballgame. Good to see such a talented young man avoid serious injury. Hopefully the same will be true of Walter Thurmond and TJ Ward.

Second Quarter:

14:55: The Ducks draw first blood as Masoli fakes the bubble screen and finds Ed Dickson in the corner of the endzone. Great play call — like a boxer using his jab for three rounds to lull his opponent to sleep before feinting that same jab and delivering a hellish right hand. Neat little two point conversion, as well. Costa to Flint — not something I thought I’d be writing yesterday. 11-3, Ducks.

12:03: Talmadge Jackson III interferes with Verran Tucker in the endzone. Tucker takes exception, popping up and pounding his chest like J.R. Rider, circa 1997. Offsetting penalties are whistled. Jeff Tedford has some choice words for Tucker. I can say with 100-percent certainty that the word “stupid” is among those words.

10:20: California PK Vince D’Amato hooks a 40-yarder, making that taunting call against Tucker all the more crucial.

9:52: Benny Hill strikes again: two fumbles occur inside of 10 seconds of gameplay. The Ducks just dodged a serious bullet.

8:20: Remene Alston plunges forward, burrows into the pile, and barely breaks the plane of the goal line.  Oregon may yet give USC a run for their money in the “stable of running backs” competition. 18-3, Oregon.

2:22: Oregon’s D is composed entirely of fit, hungry lions. Also, is it me, or is there an unsettling symmetry to all the boneheaded plays so far today? Fumbles, penalties, embarrassingly bad punts … I’m just saying. It’s odd.

1:00: LaMichael James takes his turn crossing the goal line after an impressive Ducks drive. This is the offensive unit that was predicted to show up in Boise. 25-3, Duckies.

Third Quarter

14:31: Bair, Tukuafu, Toeaina, Rowe, all of Oregon’s big boys are making life hell for Kevin Riley. Cal fails to convert on fourth-and-10 and again walks away with no points despite driving deep into Duck territory.

9:05: Ed Dickson, welcome to the 2009-2010 NCAA football season. Dickson has nine catches for 106 yards (an average of 11.8 yds/catch) and two TDs. I have a feeling that Ducks fans are thinking one thing and one thing only right now: FINALLY. 32-3, Quack Attack.

5:30: Masoli finds Drew “DJ” Davis near the sideline to convert a third-and-six. Masoli is throwing the ball differently than he has in previous games. By that, I mean that the balls being thrown are not traveling at the speed of light and may therefore be caught by mortal men. Seriously, Masoli is finally putting some touch on the ball.

2:06: But not on that one. Masoli delivers a rocket-laser to (you guessed it) Ed Dickson over the middle after a crafty fake speed-option. What a catch by Dickson for his third touchdown of the afternoon.39-3, Gang Green.

Fourth Quarter

12:08: Some blushing Ducks fans finally get their wish, as Nate Costa relieves Masoli at QB. Something tells me that these same folks will be sporting “Masoli 4 Prez” t-shirts next week (that is, until he throws his next interception).

8:15: Flint hits a 40-yarder, and Ed lifts him gleefully above his head as though Flint were his little brother. Or, you know, a life-sized Ken doll.

8:03: I don’t know much in this crazy, crazy world. But I do know this: Kevin Riley is rattled. Bad.

3:34: Well, it’s like my mama always told me: when Beau Sweeney enters the game, it’s time to end the diary.

Final Score:

Oregon: 42

Cal: 3

Make sure to check back later today to catch a brand new episode of OSL’s hit podcast, Three Guys on a Couch. Topics for discussion will include but are not limited to: Oregon/Cal and what effect it will have on the polls, Arizona/OSU and Sean Canfield, and the Trail Blazers signing former Blazer Ime Udoka to a non-guaranteed contract.

The Ducks Need LaMichael James To Be A Work Horse

At the beginning of the college football season, the UO-Cal match-up became a trendy game to keep an eye on.

This was the game where a challenger to USC’s Pac-10 dominance could emerge.

The Cal Bears might just be that heir apparent.  They are riding high, ranked sixth in the polls and featuring arguably the best running back in the country — Jahvid Best.

With USC’s shocking loss in Seattle last week, many national pundits have all but anointed Cal as the Pac-10 champion.

But there is more to Jeff Tedford’s squad than just Jahvid Best.

The Golden Bears feature a dynamic and quick defense, and a confident quarterback with Oregon roots in Kevin Riley.

If Oregon executes its defensive gameplan to perfection, this conference tilt could rest on Riley’s shoulders.

Oregon Defensive Coordinator Nick Aliotti is almost maniacal in his attempts to stop the run.   Stopping Best’s backup Shane Vereen is just as important for Oregon.

The biggest question marks rest heavily on Oregon’s offensive execution.   The Ducks need their offensive line to continue to gel and provide ample protection for Jeremiah Masoli.  In addition to giving him time, the boys in the trenches  need to break big holes open for freshman tailback LaMichael James.

The young lineman have improved every game so far, but this week the improvement needs to be significant.

The Ducks have no chance in this game without a nearly flawless defensive effort and the virtual elimination of offensive miscues.  It feels like too much to ask of this team right now…that’s why I’m predicting a 28-17 Cal victory.

However, with the Autzen Stadium crowd at full roar, there is still hope for the Ducks.  If Oregon’s opportunistic and speedy defense can generate some points for the Ducks, they could steal this game and end Cal’s magical season before it even fully starts.  But regardless of how Saturday’s ballgame transpires, Oregon’s defense can’t make a habit of bailing out its offensive counterpart week after week.  Otherwise this will be a long season for Ducks fans.

To the links:

- The Cal coaching staff is littered with former UO coordinators.  The San Jose Mercury News says one former Duck, Bob Gregory, is writing the book on how to stop Oregon’s spread attack.

- ESPN’s Ted Miller caught up with Chip Kelly for an extended interview filled with classic Chip straight talk.  Kelly is defending both Masoli and his quarterback’s inconsistencies (as you would expect him to).  Kelly says a green offensive line and inexperienced skill players are huge factors:

“You can’t do anything to manufacture experience. You can create environments in practice and all those other things, but that’s not what it’s like when there are 60,000 screaming fans. That’s just part of the deal. The only way you get experience is by playing and that’s what they are doing now.”

- Adam Jude of the Register Guard profiles the Ducks linebackers. The strongest unit on the defense this year will have to do a lot to contain the speedy Jahvid Best.  For their part the Ducks essentially say, “hey we’re pretty fast too.”

- Elsewhere in the Willamette Valley, the OSU Beavs look to rebound against a mysterious Arizona team.  The Salem Statesman-Journal notes the Beavers are looking to end an ominous streak of Pac-10 openers.

-Everyone seems to agree the Pac-10 is wide open this year.  The Corvallis Gazette Times asks, could the Beavs emerge as world beaters again?   I think OSU had better sort out whether they have a QB controversy first.

- The Trail Blazers finalized their training camp roster.  The final invite…you might’ve heard of him.  As Joe Freeman notes, Ime Udoka brings another experienced voice to camp.

Which Way Will Blazer Fortunes Tip This Season? Photo courtesy of nzgabriel's flickr stream.

Coming off a 54-win season and their first playoff birth since 2003, the young Portland Trail Blazers certainly have solidified themselves as a presence in the Western Conference for years to come. Yet, looking ahead to the 2009-2010 NBA season, Portland is not without question marks heading into training camp.

With the start of the Blazers’ camp looming on Monday and in light of OSL’s recent interviews at media day yesterday, it’s time to take a look at some tipping points and their potential consequences for the upcoming Blazer season.

1) Small Forwards

The Rub: If there is one great unknown entering training camp this year it must be the small forward position. Coach McMillan has stated that, following an impressive and unexpected rookie season and a strong Eurobasket showing in which he averaged 10 points and 5 rebounds, Nic Batum will enter training camp as the expected starter. After looking like a more complete player than ever before last preseason, Martell Webster will finally return to action after watching from the sideline with a fractured foot. Add to that a hungry Travis Outlaw in a contract year and you’re looking at quite a logjam.

However, as has been often repeated, finding time for too many minute-worthy players is a good problem to have. That said, the challenge for McMillan is to find the right combination of the right number of minutes to maximize the contributions of those players.

The Prediction: After the skills and poise that Batum has shown in the last year, it would take a miraculous training camp showing by Webster to dislodge the young Frenchman as the starter. Look for Nicolas to play a similar role to last year, but with an improved offensive repertoire. Fortunately, as Webster has previously stated, he is not as concerned about being the starter as he is about being on the floor at the end of the game. If Webster can return with his shooting touch, a keener nose for the basket, and greater effectiveness with the ball in his hands, he’ll get plenty of crunch-time minutes. Even if Outlaw shows increased awareness on defense and a desire to rebound the ball consistently, it appears a majority of his minutes will come at the backup power forward position.

2) The Growth of Greg Oden

The Rub: After an up-and-down rookie season, reports of Greg Oden’s off-season progress have been encouraging. In an interview with OSL on Wednesday, Assistant Coach Maurice Lucas said he believes that Oden has a greater understanding of how hard he has to work in this league in order to be an impact player. Another year of recovery from micro-fracture surgery and a summer of hard work (including a stint at the USA Men’s Select Team) should give Oden more tools to prove he can be a force on both ends of the floor. Most importantly, if Oden can use his leaner frame and quicker feet to continue to affect shots and gobble up rebounds without racking up fouls, his impressive per-36 averages can realize their true potential.

Still, even in light of positive reviews of Oden’s growth, the Blazers’ staff remains tempered in their expectations for the coming season. Also easing the pressure is the continued and consistent presence of Joel Przybilla. Who will be the starter on October 28th? Who knows –  and frankly, who cares? The fact remains that the Blazers’ depth at the center position is strong and can grow even stronger if Oden is healthy and effective.

The Prediction: Oden’s scoring, rebounding, and shot-blocking statistics will show a significant improvement from last year, not because he improved drastically in any of these areas, but because his minutes will jump from 21 per game to 25-30 per game as a result of his fitness and a year of NBA ball under his belt. If there was one consistent aspect of Oden’s game last season, it was that he became more comfortable and effective the longer he could stay on the floor. Look for the big man to average upwards of 12 points, 10 rebounds, and two blocked shots per game.

3) Backup Power Forward

The Rub: After brief flirtations with Paul Millsap, David Lee, and others over the off-season, Portland enters the fall of 2009 with familiar faces at power forward: LaMarcus Aldridge…and various question marks. Sure, the Blazers have swingman Travis Outlaw, recently-signed journeyman Juwan Howard, and Summer League standout and athletic young man Dante Cunningham, but what do they really have? Outlaw is truly somewhere between a big, athletic small forward who can score, and a small, athletic power forward who can’t rebound. Juwan Howard is an NBA veteran and has certainly shown he can score and rebound the ball, but how much does he have left in the tank? Dante Cunningham looked great over the summer, but is he ready to provide bigtime backup minutes on a playoff-bound team (and, c’mon folks, it’s Summer League)?

The truth is, none of these players provide a surefire answer to questions raised in the playoffs about Portland’s toughness and ability to respond to physical play. Either one of these players is going to have to step up and fill that role, or the Blazers will have to acquire a more physical power forward during the season. If neither of those things happen, the team will be left with a big hole that other teams will take advantage of during the playoffs.

The Prediction: Coach McMillan sounded off about Dante Cunningham’s role in the upcoming season during a video chat on Wednesday. He seems to believe that Cunningham can and will play meaningful minutes for the team this year — certainly more than just garbage time. However, it will quickly become apparent that Cunningham is more of a project and less of a current viable option. Unless Juwan Howard shows a pep in his step and wins the role, the most likely result will be a mid-season trade for a Udonis Haslem/Ronny Turiaf-type backup for Aldridge. This will provide the Blazers with greater toughness and rebounding off the bench.

To wrap up our coverage, we’d like to present two exclusive interviews. OSL’s Mike Whitman discussed the team’s immediate future with shooting coach John Townsend and assistant coach Joe Prunty.

John Townsend -

OSL: There are only a few teams in the league who employ a shooting-specific coach. Talk about how your role has expanded with this year’s team.

JT: I don’t know if it’s expanded so much as it is me being more hands on. You know, my first year year with the team, I went with Taurean Green and Josh McRoberts to the D-league and spent some time with them…especially Josh who was probably one of my main assignments. Compared to now, you know, last season, I traveled quite a bit with the team. I was on every trip except for one, where I had an intestinal virus, and they wouldn’t let me fly. So it wasn’t like the team wanted me to stay back. So I would say it’s just more hands on now. I mean, my first year, I would still get all the players who needed some work, needed some reps, or needed a little tweak, and I’ve done that last season as well. So it’s probably just a little more hands on, where I can get some reps with the guys before games or on days off.

OSL: You say “the guys.” I’ve heard you’ve been working a lot with Martell during his downtime as he recovers from his injury. Is that correct?

JT: I haven’t spent that much time with Martell. Martell is a gym rat as it is. He’s in the gym a lot. If I’m there, and he has any questions, obviously I’m available. The way I coach, it’s more like [I'll say], “Hey, Martell, everything looks great, and these are the two things that you’re doing really well. I don’t know if he’s lost weight, but he’s really lean. He’s light on his feet. He’s jumping well on his shot. He basically has his shot back from what it was this time last year.

OSL: Somebody else who has slimmed down is Brandon Roy. A concern could be that him being lighter could hurt him going to the hole and banging bodies. Do you think him being lighter will help his jump shot?

JT: Yeah, I think it’ll definitely help his jump shot. I think for him, just watching him shoot…he had a repetition this fall where I think he had 16 in a row…four in a row from four different spots. It’s just a matter of him getting his timing back and jumping. I mean, he shoots better with a hand in his face, because you jump up, and you don’t think about it. You just shoot it. Compared to if he’s left open, he just doesn’t have that timing yet where he just jumps up and lets it fly. But he’s been shooting the ball really well. I think lighter for him all around is going to be better, and even on his jump shot.

OSL: Has anybody else taken a big stride so far, or is there anything that’s jumped out at you as a coach that’s a big improvement for somebody?

JT: I think Steve Blake has maintained his consistency. He’s an unbelievably smart worker, and you could translate that as being a hard worker. But he knows what he’s going to do and how he’s going to do it. Whether or not somebody else is doing something different, well, that’s somebody else. That’s not Steve Blake. He’s very, very smart. He’s very consistent at what he does. So I would say it’s very impressive considering he shot basically 43 percent – a career year from three – with a major injury to that shooting shoulder. And coming of the surgery, I think he’s maintained consistency.

I think Jerryd Bayless is shooting the ball a lot better. He was working with [former Phoenix Suns head coach] Frank Johnson. Frank got him to do some of the things I couldn’t get him to do in regard to jumping, which transferred into a higher lift and a better, more consistent jump shot. So, he shot the ball really well in some of the scrimmages that we saw this fall.

I think Travis and Martell have both shot the ball really well. So, we’ll see.

Joe Prunty -

OSL: I’ve heard this year that the Trail Blazers are going to try to play faster and get more fast-break buckets. The last couple of years, the Blazers have been one of the slower-paced teams in the league. Is there any truth to that?

JP: Well, that’s the funny thing. I think a lot of teams around the league always say, “Oh yeah, we’re going to run, or we’re going to do this or that.” What you end up doing is what fits best with winning games with your personnel. I think there might be a few more opportunities to run [for us]. We did improve last year from the previous year.

To backtrack a little, when I was [an assistant coach] in San Antonio, we were known as a slow-down [style team]. And the fact of the matter was, it wasn’t that we didn’t run, we just didn’t run like Phoenix did. So, we were always willing to look for a great way to get an easy basket. So if there was an opportunity to run, then we would do it. But we weren’t going to do it at the expense of throwing the ball all over the gym. And I think it’s very similar here. We’d love to run if that’s going to produce an easy basket. But if it’s not, then we’re not going to do it for the sake of just getting a shot up in five to 10 seconds if we can get a better shot in 15 seconds. If there are opportunities, we’ll take them, but not at the expense of turning the ball over.

OSL: Do you think that running might be more of a focus due to the acquisition of Andre Miller?

JP: Well, that’s what we’re going to find out. Does he help our guys…throwing the ball ahead? And Steve does a very good job with that. Do our guys get out and run the wings better? We did a really good job at the end of last year running lanes, LaMarcus in particular on what we call a rim run, and running the floor hard. And so there’s a lot of components to doing it, and you never want to put it on just one person. We think he can help, because he gets the ball up, and he does make other people better, but it requires the wings running, and it requires the bigs running and having good floor balance.

OSL: That was one of the things last year that really jumped out at me was LaMarcus making that rim run right down the center of the floor at sort of a strange time where defenses weren’t really expecting. You’ve got your wings running full-blast and the five trailing the ball, and then LaMarcus just in front of the ball scoring easy buckets. What can we expect from LaMarcus’ game this year? Has he put on any muscle? Are we going to see anything different out of him?

JP: You know, I haven’t seen him recently, but I will soon with camp starting [Monday, Sept. 28]. One thing, and this is important for all our guys, you can’t rest on anything that you’ve done in this league. Whether it’s winning 20, 30, 40, 50 or 60 games. You know, the Lakers are the defending champions this year. They’re not resting on being the defending champions. Every team wants to go out and get it done this year. So it’s not just LaMarcus. It’s everybody. We want to take another step. Improve at least one facet of your game, and maintain all the other ones. Whether it’s being a better defender and still shooting 40 percent from the three, or getting 10 rebounds instead of 7 and blocking a few more shots. If we can increase it and improve it, we want to do that. And that’s everybody, not just one guy.

OSL: Brandon is coming in much lighter this year, right around 203 lbs. I also heard from shooting coach John Townsend that Martell is a little bit lighter. He thinks that’s going to help them with their outside game as far as jump shooting, getting more lift, things like that. Do you think that will hurt them driving in the lane, Brandon especially having less meat on his bones?

JP: Obviously in this league, being in great condition is of paramount importance. You can never underestimate that. Playing the game the right way, sharing the ball, playing good defense requires you to be in excellent physical condition. One of the things that great players do is they adjust their games as need be to improve it. So Brandon isn’t going to do something that’s going to be a detriment to one area of his game. If he’s lighter or heavier, then he’s going to do things a little bit differently based on that.

A guy like Tim Duncan, for example, has never been a tremendous athlete. But if something is bothering him, then he doesn’t go to that as much, or he’ll find a different counter to it. So I use a guy like him because he’s been an MVP, because he’s won championships. Well, that’s what we’re trying to get to with our guys. And so that’s something for a guy like Brandon to do. How can I improve in one phase of my game without being a detriment to another part. So, I don’t think it’s going to hurt him in the post or something like that. And I think he’ll figure those things out, because he’s that smart, and he’s that talented.

But I also think a guy like Martell is going to have to figure his niche out. He only played five minutes last year. And I know for me that I don’t want to put too much pressure on him to begin the season. You can’t make up for one year in one game. It’s going to take time to get back into the rhythm, feel comfortable, get re-acclimated with the system. Don’t put any pressure [on yourself] other than getting better everyday. And I think that if we do that as a team, that will take care of a lot of that stuff. If we just get better as individuals and as a team, all these other things, whether it’s weight or conditioning, they will take care of themselves.

Just an FYI that the players portion of media day is Monday.  We’ll be in attendance as well.  Feel free to chime in with suggestions for questions or something you’d like to know from the Blazers squad.   Tune in to OSL for more Blazers content, podcasts, and more exclusive content.

Also check out our twitter feed for more insight.

Welcome to Part 2 of the first day of Blazers Media day.  OSLers Mike Whitman and Andrew Theen were in attendance.  Here are some insights from assistant coaches Monty Williams and Maurice Lucas.  More to come.

Monty Williams (click here for interview with Monty)

- Coach Williams said his recruitment for the head coaching job in Minnesota was “flattering” and a “good portfolio builder.”  He praised Kurt Rambis as a great choice.  Williams said of the T’Wolves, “they have to want you, and in my situation they didn’t and you have to live with that.”

- Williams is totally jacked for the season opener.  He said he loathes training camp because you “plod along.”  He really hates training camp.

- Williams said if he were playing…training camp would be a different story.  Unfortunately as a coach, “I’ve got to be as objective as I can and help these guys get a fair shake.”

- One final jab at training camp, “It’s like digging a ditch.  It’s not that exciting.”  Tell us how you really feel Monty.

- Williams said he expects the team to get off to a great start and really shock some teams because of the addition of Andre Miller and a “more enthusiastic Greg Oden.”  Williams talked more about Greg’s development, learning how to deal with the rigors of the professional game, and just exerting more effort on our audio snippet.

Maurice Lucas Is Back And Everyone in The Blazers Organization Is Pumped

Maurice Lucas (click here for interview with Coach Lucas)

- Coach Lucas is back after a scary year of medical issues.  Lucas had surgery for bladder cancer in April.  He says he’s “feeling pretty good.  The strength isn’t there in full yet.”

- Lucas obviously “didn’t pay a whole heckuva lot of attention” to the woes of Greg Oden last year.  He was coping with his own serious medical issues, but Lucas says during the playoffs he started to feel better and watch more of the action.

-Lucas said Greg Oden had to go through a stage of his career where he struggled mightily.  Lucas said he believes last year was that year.

- Coach Lucas talked to us for a long time, and he talked about philosophical issues: whether a big man is born with “the killer instinct” and if not, how to hone it.  He talked about what could be LaMarcus Aldridge’s big year, Dante Cunningham’s talent, and more.  Listen to the 5 minute clip with “The Enforcer” Coach Lucas from the link above.

It’s hard to believe, but the NBA season is just over a month away.  The Trail Blazers coaching staff and Kevin Pritchard catered to a dozen or so beautiful media types for a couple hours on Wednesday.  OSLers Mike Whitman and Andrew Theen were part of that crowd.  Here are some takeaway thoughts from KP and Coach Nate McMillan’s interrogations:

Kevin Pritchard Speaking to the Masses

Kevin Pritchard:

- KP made the point of saying that every year and each team has a new identity.  The identity of this year’s Trail Blazers is still under construction.  Pritchard did say, “we’re going to compete like crazy.”

- He said the goals this year are higher: win the division outright, and win a playoff series.  “The crowd in this building gives us a huge advantage.”

- Pritchard talked about losing in Houston last year and looking at his star players as they left the court: “I can tell you that they felt incomplete.  And that gives me hope.”

- “We’re going to do some damage.  We’re not afraid to say that.”

- Nate “is as good as they are” regarding managing rosters and lineups.  Pritchard says, “that’s how you win championships.

- Pritchard said the team is loaded with “creators” and he included Rudy Fernandez in that category.  Rudy didn’t show a lot of off the dribble last year, but he sure did include his teammates in the action.  That is a form of creation in and of itself.

- Pritchard’s team motto for the season could make an interesting T-shirt idea:  “Hard, Fast, Together”

- KP tried to lift the load off of Oden’s shoulders.  “Don’t point a finger at one player.  When he plays, we’re a better team.”  He cited statistics as proving that.

- Andre Miller is “The Director” and he “doesn’t take plays off.”  Pritchard says Miller will help the younger players develop quicker because he makes everyone around him a better player.

Nate McMillan Says He's Ready For The Season Opener Right Now

Nate  McMillan:

- McMillan seemed excited to talk about Andre Miller, who he classified as  “a guy who can make some decisions.”  He’s adding the decision-maker to Pritchard’s “director” nickname.

- He said that the goals of the last four years have been met, transitioning from a team that no one respected to a team that wins games.

- “We want to win our division. That’s a goal, to win a playoff series.”

- McMillan said this year’s team has the most depth of any squad he’s coached. “I’ve got to get guys to play at their highest level. I think we had the depth at the start of the season, and then Martell went down and we lost that depth.”

- He said adding Miller and Howard is huge for the veteran experience factor.

- Nate danced around the question of whether the Blazers had a roster logjam, but said he felt the depth was a good thing. When pressed for a number, he said you start with 10 guys, but he felt comfortable playing any of the 12 guys on the bench.

- “I think we’ve positioned ourselves to compete in the West. Our goal is to win big in the playoffs, and the ultimate goal is a championship.”

- When asked if this was the first year that the Blazers had no excuses, Nate said that they’ve never made excuses.

- On Greg Oden: “He understands that we need him this year.”

- “If we all show improvement, we’re going to win a lot of games.”

- McMillan admitted that a lot of things “went right for us” last year.  We’ve got to show it and still must do it.”

- “We need to get better” on the defensive end and we know that.”

Interviews and analysis with Monty Williams, John Townsend, Maurice Lucas, and Joe Prunty still to come…

A couple noteworthy items are hitting the interwebs this morning:

- The ever busy Rob Moseley says the Ducks might take a trip down memory lane this Saturday and wear their Rose Bowl era jerseys.  Old school uniforms are all the rage these days.  The Blazers are also adding a retro feel.  It’s not surprising that UO is experimenting with more uniforms.  Rumors circulated for months about a retro uniform combination.  If the idea is to trick mighty Cal into playing like the weakling Golden Bears of 1994 (finished 4-7 that year), then this might be a nice ploy.

- Maurice Lucas is returning to the Blazers sidelines after battling bladder cancer and surgery this past year.  This is such great news for Coach Luke, the organization, and especially the Blazer big men.  I lost my grandmother to bladder cancer as a young kid, so I’m well aware of the dangers posed here.  It’s been a scary year for the entire Blazer family, so it’s good to see Lucas is well enough to attend home games and practices.  Greg Oden told me last fall he really missed hearing Luke’s words of wisdom and advice.  Oden is benefiting from working with Bill Bayno as well, but working with a fellow big man is an added bonus.  It’s easier to relate to someone who’s endured the same battles in the league.  Plus you don’t have the added stress on the neck caused by looking downward at the smaller assistant coaches.  Blazer fans can rest assured Lucas’ return will only aid the development of the bigs.

- Speaking of Greg, a Bucks blogger steps to the big man’s defense. This year poses a great opportunity for Oden to emerge as a more consistent force down low.  That’s the only way to silence his vocal critics.

- This is a brutal assessment of the Blazers franchise (pretty out of the ordinary) from TSN.com.  The author says the Blazers are seen throughout the league as “inhospitable” to players, and he describes Kevin Pritchard as being arrogant and seeing himself as “bigger than the league.”  I’m not sure I’ve seen a more negative assessment of the Trail Blazers.  The local storyline is predicated on the franchise moving beyond Steve Patterson, John Nash, and Trader Bob to a more accommodating era of management.  The national angle appears to focus on the Darius Miles saga and the unsuccessful free agent deals this summer.  It’s an interesting argument, but I’m not sure the rest of the league sees the team as “inhospitable.”  I think big free agents look at Roy, Aldridge, Oden, and company and don’t see the requisite shots and touches they want as marquee players.

Stay tuned for more Blazers coverage and analysis in the next few days.  Plus, we are trying to contact some former Ducks players to get their take on Nick Aliotti, the Ducks defense, and where the program is headed.