The Moonball Blog

Monday, February 12, 2007

50 Denied


As most all of us on this board, I love Gil. His game has been spectacular, and his personality is hilarious. And frankly, I was looking forward to his promise to drop 50 on the Blazers. The Olympic Snub Revenge Tour has been one of the season's treats.
I was so geeked, I tuned in for the 10:00 am pacific time game on me radio!

Gil did not get 50. 41 short.

Part of the story is that even Gilbert the Great can't be Babe Ruth'n 50 point games in succession. The 54 vs Phoenix was stuff of legends, and legends are hard to recreate.

But the other part of the story is the emerging Blazers. Nate McMillian has these cats playin ball.


The much maligned Zach Randolph is having an outstanding season. He has a body like a bull, and the deft moves of a deer. . . and that sweet touch. He is showing he can lead a team. . . and all the sudden he has a team to lead.

Brandon Roy and Jarret Jack are also proving themselves as a backcourt to be reckoned with. Roy deservedly gets a lot of attention, but Jack is quietly establishing himself as on the League's most promising point men. I had my doubts about Jack coming outtta. G-Tech, but he clearly beat out Telfair and Blake in last season's try out, and now he is following Paul, Williams, and Felton as the new pg's on the block. Believe it.


Blazer rookies LaMarcus Aldridge and Sergio Rodriguez look great, and with the combo of Outlaw, Webster, Dixon and MacGloire the Blaze Crew has an awful mean bench. But my favorite guy is Ime. Hustle. Smarts. Jefferson High. Portland State University. Undrafted. Blazer Starter.
If you get a chnace to watch a Blazer game, notice how by the second half, whoever Ime is guarding usually starts shoving him. . . guess big time scorers don't like when walk-ons get up in ther grill.

Ime's attitude has become the Blazer's attitude. When asked how the Blazers felt about Gil's prediction of 50, Jack responded "Thats like a dude saying he's going to punch you in your face."

Blazers finally got some juice agin.