BLAZERS: Free-throws and Elbows

I was at the game against the Kings Friday night. My father-in-law went with me. Glad he was able to come. It was great to see Portland win, but I was disappointed in a number of glaring problems with the team. Most importantly, it looked as though they never practice their free-throws. C’mon, professionals shooting 50% as a team? That’s grounds for a loss alone. Practice your free-throws, fellas. At least 100 a day. At least. It’s painful to watch so many missed opportunities. UPDATE: Vindication - They shot 54% from the line again tonight against the Orlando Magic. The missed free throws along with poor outside shooting killed the W.

NOTE: I was glad LaMarcus Aldridge threw that elbow at Brad Miller. Miller’s a punk and it was a silly lapse in judgement by Aldridge, also revealing that Miller was getting in his head. But the fact that he’s not just going to roll over when someone chumps him is encouraging.

DUCKS: Deflation and Closure

The past two weeks have been painful as a Duck fan. Dixon’s injury and the subsequent monumental fall-apart has been difficult to be a part of. The team has been running an offense built for specific skilled players. When enough of those skilled players (and particularly the most crucial one) get injured, the offense becomes impotent and even detrimental to the remaining team members. They were held scoreless this week against a UCLA team that is really not very good. When UCLA finally scored a touchdown during the last few minutes of the game, I regrettably cheered that I was able to see an actual touchdown that day. The UO goose egg, in some strange way, allows me to have some closure. They simply are not the same team without Dennis. Unfortunately, Brady Leaf, who I really believe could have led the team to the Rose Bowl anyway, gets both ankles injured in as many games. Ouch, in so many more ways than one.

So, now we’re left to predict the Civil War game. With both teams as banged up as they are, we’ll be lucky to see a touchdown from either offense. I still have to believe there’s some heart left in the Oregon tank. All things considered and knowing it’s going to be a defensive battle, I say Oregon 14, OSU 10.

It's a girl!

Baby was born last night! Clara Evelyn was born Monday, November 19th at 5:41 p.m. after a long day of labor. She is 7 lbs, 1 oz and 19 inches long. It is hilarious - she has a full head of hair. Unfortunatley, it's just like daddy's, complete with receding hairline and bald spot. But she has way more hair than any of our babies. Mom is doing well and the big sisters are REALLY excited for their new baby sister.

BLAZERS: Rasheed Wallace + Weights = Maturity

Wow. I'm amazed. Rasheed Wallace, professional basketball player, is actually willing to lift weights. Who knew? A few years ago, when he was a member of the Trail Blazers, he had a reputation that refused to lift, citing that it would throw his shot off. From the Oregonian (regarding his summer):

He said he cut back on fried foods and fattening beverages, and spent more time in the weight room. For Wallace, who has blown off weight training in the past, lifting during the summer represents a major shift.
"Now that I'm getting older -- during the summertime -- I have to work out a little bit more. When I was younger, I would go the whole summer without working out and not watching what I eat," Wallace said. "I'm just getting older . . . and you never know how long you have left in this game."

Now he's lifting? What gives? Yeah, he's getting older and feeling the end drawing nigh. Age will definitely do that to a guy. But is that really it? Well, I did a little research and it turns out (I'm educated-guessing here) that it was likely former teammate Ben Wallace that did the trick. Ben Wallace was the Detroit Piston's team captain when Rasheed joined the crew in 2004 and actually required his teammates to lift. Said Ben Wallace:
"Well, my teammates--they don't have a choice," he says. "Once I got the role as team captain in Detroit, that was my biggest thing. I made sure everybody hit the weight room. Even if it's 15, 20 minutes before practice, we had a routine where everybody would come in and hit the weights." So, wait ... you make your teammates lift weights? "Yeah," Wallace says, as though you're asking him if he can dunk. "Twice a week. Mandatory."

Way to be, Big Ben. Apparently peaople CAN change. Possibly even a defiant guy named 'Sheed.

BLAZERS: Home Boys

I attended the first two home games of the season this last week at the Rose Garden. Apparently there is truly no place like home for this team right now.

The Trail Blazers were off to a disappointing start with 3 straight road losses, but have followed that up with an impressive 3-win streak this week. The team beat New Orleans, Memphis and Dallas. They seem to really play well with the home crowd behind them. That could mean a number of things. Man, I have to say – seeing games in person is an absolute blast. I’ve been very impressed with the upgraded fan experience this year. The wins certainly make a huge difference as well. Overall, there is energy in that building I haven’t felt recently. Another big thing for me is watching my daughters become Blazer fans. Emery was with me for the Memphis game Friday night and she really watched the game closely. She is watching who is ahead and jumping up and down at appropriate times. I’m really excited for her development as a fan. Her little sisters are coming right along as well. I’m impressed with how much they are absorbing about the game.

Key to the game lately: Steve Blake’s insertion into the starting line-up. 27 assists and only 2 turnovers in the last three games. The guy is just cool. He knows how to distribute the ball and when.

Props to the Blazers/Rose Garden brainstorming marketers: The Lexus Club Level wristbands are pure genius. Let me stuff my face during the game with anything I want with no financial punishment whatsoever. Genius. Friday night was the one time in my life I’ll likely experience that, so I had to throw that in there. I presume it’s the handy work of Global Spectrum, as the Club Level and other new promotions have surfaced since the 2004 bankruptcy of Oregon Arena Corp. GS has really done a great job running the show at the Garden.

BLAZERS: A tough start

After three tough road games to start the season, Portland begins with a 0-3 record. It’s a little discouraging for the team, I’m sure. The San Antonio game was close enough to give us hope, but the New Orleans and Houston games both felt out of reach throughout the duration of the contests. Our boys were just getting outworked more often than not. Today’s Oregonian piece suggests making changes in the point guard and center positions. Personally, I think Steve Blake is a better choice for the starting unit. But I’m not 100% sold on the idea that Joel will be more valuable with the second unit. However, we really only have one true center. If Channing Frye is our other option at the 5, we’re in for some tough times if Joel somehow does not stay healthy. Yikes. Amd the way games have started lately, I’m glad to hear they are thinking of ways that will help the team come out of the gate firing – and firing hard and well. Digging ourselves a hole in the first quarter is not working right now.

BRANDON ROY: "I know from every game from here on out, I'm going to come out with a chip on my shoulder, from the opening tip,"

UPDATE: Furthermore, I like what Roy said after today’s practice:
"It was one of those practices where, we weren't getting ready to fight, but everybody was on the edge," Roy said. "You like to see that after losing three games in a row. You don't want to come in after losing three games in a row and see everyone smiling and having fun with each other.
"We were getting after it. I was mad. Jarrett was mad. Guys were getting after it. And we need that type of practice because we need to play that way. We think we started playing that way in the second half of the Houston game, but what this team hasn't had in the past, in the year's since I've been here, is carry over. We practiced this way, now we need to practice this way tomorrow and we have to play that way on Wednesday."

DUCKS: A-S-who?

Oregon 35, ASU 23. My pregame prediction was Oregon 34, ASU 24. Luck or excellent perception? I’ll leave that up to you. I was lucky enough to attend the Ducks-Sun Devils game this week. Autzen was rockin’ - what a great atmosphere for a college football game. And the Ducks put on a show. Particularly in the first quarter. Even when Dennis Dixon was injured, Brady Leaf came in and the team seemed to flow just fine. It’s worth noting that even though ASU made some runs, it never really felt that the victory was being threatened. More importantly, it was another indication to me that Oregon’s defense really is firing on all cylinders and deserves a little more respect than it’s been getting. With regard to Dixon’s injury, fortunately it is considered minor and he is expected to practice this week. He is now viewed nationally to be in the driver’s seat for the Heisman trophy. I am also confident this team is not going to lose sights on the task at hand: beating the next opponent convincingly. Everything else will work itself out.

BCS Implications: UO is now 3rd in the BCS and fans are left to hope that LSU’s remaining opponents (Lousinana Tech, Mississippi State, Arkansas) or Ohio State’s remaining opponents (Illinois & Michigan) can find a way to upset them. Oregon must take care of business with upcoming games at Arizona, at UCLA and home against Oregon State, but without a loss for Ohio State or LSU, Duck fans are left as close as close can be to the national title game, but without hope of actually entering. More than ever, I say: Go Michigan Wolverines!