The Blazers return home for two games against the Kings and Suns, then hit the road for a brual four game swing (Magic, Heat, Mavs, Spurs). Will the fracturing disjointed squad still be above the .500 mark in the New Year? It’s a worthy question. We’ll tackle that question later on this week. Here’s four things we learned from the latest road trip.
1. LaMarcus Aldridge needs to stoke the fire – The Bucks game ended with disappointment and mild controversy, but LA finally showed the inner rage he needs to channel on a nightly basis. He ripped down rebounds in traffic, threw down alley-oops, and generally made his presence known. Aldridge needs to rebound like that more often and he needs to play angry more often. Like, try “always often.” When Aldridge plays as if the entire arena is questioning his manhood, there’s no end to his potential. So go ahead basketball fans. Call up LA and question his manhood. Call him a sissy. Say he is soft. It may be the only way to bring out the fire.
2. Jerryd Bayless needs more minutes like Tiger needs a vacation – We all know BE chronicled this issue extensively. His jumper IS looking better, and it’s clear the Blazers need a burst of energy. Bayless still struggles with decision-making, but those issues can only be addressed with more playing time. Steve Blake is to energy what molasses is to viscosity. Look at it this way, Travis Outlaw hasn’t played a game in almost a month. Yet he’s still logged more minutes on the year than Bayless. Give the guy his time.
3. Steve Blake is broken. Blake provides two essential traits as a point guard. He doesn’t turn the ball over, and he makes three pointers. Blake is not doing one of those things consistently right now.
3a. Dean Demopolous is a handsome man. Just saying.
4. Andre Miller started ahead of Steve Blake in Denver. He is unquestionably playing better than his point guard counterpart. Also, Miller and Roy are playing well off of each other. Miller made some turnovers in the Bucks game, but those issues pale in comparison to the way Blake is playing. The time is nigh. Make that time Tuesday night
What did you learn from the road trip?
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Any thoughts on whether we need to make a trade now, to make it through the rest of the season?
Seems like we could unload a guard and get a big man. I agree with Andrew that Blake is playing terrible right now, so lets try to unload him. He’s not the hottest piece of trade-bait in the world, but he ought to be good enough to get us a decent big man. I don’t know if the salaries would work out, but maybe one of the following dudes:
Nazr Mohammed
Andray Blatche
Matt Bonner
DeJuan Blair
Nenad Kristic
Zaza Pachulia
Josh Boone