Okay, so 5-3. Not a bad start to such a rough schedule. Quality wins over several playoff teams has kept the fervor that is Portland going. We are however, adjusting from the world beater mentality that existed before Kobe and his third quarter schooling brought Blazer-Mania down from orbit to somewhere around cruising altitude.
The other "incident" that happened against the Laker's in that "awakening call" of a game was when one Greg Oden, savior of Blazer Nation, injured himself in the first quarter for the third or fourth time as a Blazer causing collective panic to Oregonians everywhere, and a general backlash against the young man who has played in one full regular season game.
ESPN's Colin Cowherd came out this week and said that Oden "just didn't have it". Referring to an NBA ready game that is visible from the moment a player steps out on the court. IN DEFENSE, unless said player is stepping out onto the court on a recovering foot, and knee, and heavier than he has ever been in his life. ON THE OTHER HAND, Oden has taken some offensive possessions to dark bad places where shots look like bad passes to the bottom of the backboard. Stop arguing. Let's give the guy... some time.
Here's what I have learned about the Blazer's in the first eight games this year.
1- Greg Oden does not need to be Bill Russell for the Trailblazers to be a championship contender.
2- The Portland Trailblazers are not a championship contender, but they can be.
3- Even though I love him, we had to draft Oden with the first pick in '07, but the pick that makes Pritchard a genius is Rudy Fernandez because he is the third option that everyone hop(ed)ing Travis Outlaw would be.
4- Brandon Roy is the guy on this team whose back the team will ride to any championships they do win, and as long as he and LaMarcus Aldridge are on the Blazers, we have a chance to win.
5- Bottom line is that these guys need to get punched in the face (L.A.) just as much as they need to win with miracles (Houston), the point is that they have to play. Together. Win, lose, ugly, pretty, keep getting better with every game.
I am excited. You should be if you're not.
