Lou Amundson is fresh

I have been digging Louis for a while now. He is pure bench guy, but he has hops, plays with reckless abandon and has damn good hands. Check him when the Suns come to your town

6-0

Good game in Minny. Boston is rolling, but the Twolves gave them a run. Minnesota shot lights out for 3 quarters. But Boston tightened the vice on D as the game progressed, and Boston squeaked one out.

I love Ryan Gomes. Jefferson looks almost 100%. Corey Brewer may have found his grove. I hope Love gets back soon.

As for Boston, these guys are playing great ball. Marquis Daniels, Rasheed Wallace and Eddie House are a super combo off the bench.

I am loving Sheed is Boston. His D. His 3. And his aura rubs off on the team. I heard Kendrick Perkins bellowing ‘ball don’t lie’ after a missed free throw. After Sheed got T’d up from the bench, commentator Tommy Heinsohn gave an eloquent apology, citing his own penchant for getting techs as a playwer and a coach. Frankly, listening to Heinsohn getting fired up when he gets frustrated with calls as an announcer comfirms their similarity. Love it.

Another gem from the telecast: The Celtics’ sideline reporter was in the Wilves locker room prior to the game, and wanted to talk to Bill Laimbeer. When Bad Boy Bill was informed that a reporter from the Celtics broadcast team wanted to talk to him, he said “‘bleep’ Boston”. Love it.

(a sorta) League Preview: The Contenders

What is the point of a preview once the action starts? So instead of running through the Contenders with in depth profiles, it comes down to this:

5. Cavaliers-LeBron makes them a contender. But can they guard the high pick and roll with Shaq Daddy and Big Z?

4. Spurs-Tim is older, as is Manu. But with Parker and a stacked supporting cast, San Antonio is capable of a Finals run.

3. Magic-Have that look of destiny. With additions of Carter, Anderson, Barnes, Williams and Bass, Orlando is swinging for the fences. Howard, Nelson and Van Gundy have the team clickin on all clinders.

2. Lakers-Defending Champs are potentially stronger with a healthy Bynum and defensive minded Artest. They need Gasol to to have a chance at repeating. Kobe and Odom are deadly efficient in the back end of their prime.

1. Boston Celtics-Gonna win it all. The additions of Wallace and Daniels augment a defensive attack that will make em all fall. KG, Sheed, Ray and Paul are all older. But the very brilliant Rajon Rondo and delightfully brutish Kendrick Perkins are young and ready. The Celtics have the depth to win without big minutes from the vets. Title 18 for the League's most storied franchise.


Links to the rest of the preview:

upsetters
playoff solids
might be somethings
lottery likelies
sorriest

(a sorta) League Preview: The Upsetters

Portland

Dallas

Neat Seat - Huge Feet

Watch me watch the game!

Bid on a Blazer Basketball and Support Street Roots

After my wife, friends and family, I have three passions in life: Music, basketball and housing opportunity. This post combines two of my passions, and opens the door for you to own a basketball signed by the entire Blazer team.


That's right: Get a copy of Brandon Roy's autograph now, sell it 10 years (in time to finance your kids' college tuition), AND help an amazing organization continue its crucial work in P-Town.

Street Roots is a Portland newspaper that focus on issues relating to housing, homelessness and poverty. Beginning today and ending Nov 8, Street Roots is having an on-line auction. Great for holiday gifts, a gift for me in case you forgot my birthday, or even a little something for yourself.

3 reasons I love Street Roots:

• They cover stories often ignored or under-reported in most print and web media
  
• Their standards of journalism far exceed the local mainstream print media here in Oregon, and likely the standards where ever you live
  
• They run a vendor program that allows people who are homeless or very poor the opportunity to earn income.

If that ain't enough to make YOU love Street Roots, check this interview with B-Roy.

So check it out, and help Street Roots make Portland a better place.

Well he is officially a Clipper

Out with a broken knee cap. Bummer.

(a sorta) League Preview: Portland Trailblazers

With the sorriest teams, the lottery likelies, the might be somethings and the playoff solids in the rear view mirror, we are now focused on a grouping of two known as the upsetters. Joining the Mavericks is the second best in the Northwest.


Portland Trailblazers

PG Steve Blake Andre Miller Jerryd Bayless
SG Brandon Roy Rudy Fernandez
SF Nic Batum Martell Webster
PF LaMarcus Aldridge Travis Outlaw Dante Cunningham
C Greg Oden Joel Przybilla

Portland enters the season as everybody’s darling. Like any up and coming young team, they are basking in the glow of can’t miss potential. Brandon Roy has emerged as one of the League’s pure powers. Long man LaMarcus Aldridge is not that far behind. Greg Oden looks ready to start showing something. The parade of talent continues: Nic Batum, Martell Webster, Rudy Fernandez, Travis Outlaw. Vets Blake, Miller and Przybilla are rock solid. The Trailblazers are arguably the deepest squad in the NBA.

But as a close observer, the wonderland atmosphere that characterized the Roy-lead ascension from crapsville to relevance may be changing. Since Roy’s arrival, Portland has benefited from outstanding team chemistry. Nate McMillan has had the team’s ear. Guys having getting together and ballin much of the off-season. Everybody’s early to training camp. Everybody’s pulling each other to get better. Dreamy. Really.

The arrival of Andre Miller and the intensity of expectation has brought a new energy to the locker room. Even if Miller had not been added to the roster, Portland was flirting with having too many players deserving minutes. With Miller, there are going to be at least two very good NBA players clocking under 15 minutes a game. Miller himself could be a 20 minute-a-night back up. Not dreamy. Especially for a team that is supposed to exceed last season’s 54 wins and first round playoff exit.

Of course, winning can cure all sorts of ills, and this team certainly is capable of racking W’s. Roy is a fabulous leader. Even if a few guys get disgruntled, Roy has a personality and character to hold the Blazers together. Aldridge is going to score 20-plus this season. For whatever Oden is not, the dude is so big and strong. He has skills that with confidence and experience will grow. He alone could elevate the Trailblazers into instant contenders if he could play 30 effective minutes a night. Nic Batum is another guy: Act like you know.

As for Andre Miller: He has fallen short just like Sebastian Telfair, Jarret Jack, Sergio Rodriguez before him. Steve Blake has once again earned the starting nod. An excellent defender, Blake blends perfectly with the skills of Roy, Aldridge. He cans the three, and is steady with the ball. Miller could be a great backup if he would accept the role. This remains to be seen. Maestro Nate McMillan has some tough decisions to make.

The road from good to great is very steep and fraught with pitfalls. Many a group of talented and successful young teams have crumbled along the way. McMillan has so adeptly brought this team along from the dismal depths of lotteryville to their present position. He will steer them true. If players get to testy, Pritchard should make a move swiftly. Whether Portland can best the Lakers in a 7 game series is hard question, because so much depends on whether Portland gets the chance. The West has many serious veteran teams with playoff dreams of their own. Ultimately, the question for Portland seems more when than if. If when is now, the Trailblazers are capable of beating everybody.

(a sorta) League Preview: Dallas Mavericks

The fate of the sorriest teams and the lottery likelies is fairly clear: 82 and done. The prospects for the might be somethings are more promising, and the playoff solids are just that. The fifth grouping of teams is perhaps the most exciting. These two squads are not among the contenders, and may not perform as well as the playoff solids. But watch out, because if the gel as a unit, they have the potential to beat everyone. First up, the second best in the Southwest.

Dallas Mavericks

PG Jason Kidd Jose Juan Barea Rodrigue Beaubois

SG Josh Howard Jason Terry

SF Shawn Marion Quinton Ross

PF Dirk Nowitski Kris Humphries Tim Thomas

C Erick Dampier Drew Gooden

Since being embarrassed by the Miami Heat in the 2006 NBA Finals, Dallas has mostly been an after thought in the race for Western Conference supremacy. The book on stopping Dirk was open to all. The inglorious dismissal of coach Avery Johnson after the 2008 season indicated a deep level of organizational disarray. The Jason Kidd for Devin Harris trade seemed a lateral move at best. After finishing the 2008-09 season with 50 wins and a 2nd round playoff exit, the Mavs appeared mired among the good but not great.

So what has changed for Dallas? The addition of Shawn Marion for a song and bowl of soup is one huge factor. Though not the Matrix of old, Marion remains a singular talent in terms of his ability to score and scrap without demanding touches. Paired with Kidd, Marion will likely find new life and effectiveness. He is an ideal running mate for Dirk and the key ingredient for the mix and match lineups Dallas wants to run.

Another big plus for the Mavericks is a well-rested Nowitski. Between the NBA and the German national team, Dirk has been playing year round for most of his 11 year career. Now 31, Nowitski took the summer off to rest his body. He enters the season in excellent shape and with full health. He remains a dominant scorer from the perimeter and his 7’0 frame allows Dallas to go ‘small’ while remaining long.

While the additions of Drew Gooden, Quinton Ross, Kris Humphries, Tim Thomas and Rodrigue Beaubois are not on par with Marion’s arrival, the quintet helps restore the depth that has characterized the best Mavs teams of the Cuban era. Along with Erick Dampier, Jason Terry and Jose Juan Barea, Dallas now has twelve guys ready to contribute.

The age of Jason Kidd and the health of Josh Howard remain serious questions for the Mavs. Kidd can clearly still run a team, but his defense at the point of attack is weak and will likely get weaker. Howard, arguably the team’s most versatile defender, has been repeatedly sidelined by all sorts of nicks and strains. For the Mavericks to make some post season noise, both Kidd and Howard must contribute at a high level. For Howard, who played zero in the pre-season, getting back on the court soon is crucial because Dallas wants him to play out of position at the two guard.

Dallas is going to put up major points this season. The remaining vets from the run to the Finals—Nowitski, Terry, Howard and Damp—have not forgotten the bitter taste of finishing second. Kidd is looking for one more run at glory. And I have a funny feeling that Beaubois might be awesome. Though clearly not in the class of the contenders, the Mavericks are very dangerous.

Considering the age of the Spurs, imagining Dallas capturing the Southwest Division is not that hard. If they can find a rhythm entering the post season, they will be an extremely difficult out for either LA or San Antonio. Returning to the Finals is improbable, but not impossible. Beating the best of the East? Cannot imagine it. Just like I could not imagine the Heat winning in 2006.

(a sorta) League Preview: Playoff Solids

Denver

Atlanta

New Orleans

Utah