the big fella definitely put it down last night. nice to see him havin a laugh out there, but would like to see him step up and have a break through game against a decent center. i really wish we had martell this year, but i dont want him to try and come back after the allstar break if it is just gonna slow us down trying to get him back in the rotation. i think he will be a part of this team, and make us better even, but i dont want to put him out there if this squad is about to make the playoffs without him. Joel pryzbilla is really the glue of this team, any way you look at it. he is vocal, not like brandon, but in his own fired up way, and i think the players really benefit from a guy like him, no nonsense, just out to do the job kinda guy, (playin with a broken bone in his wrist). I am a bias Bayless fan, so all im gonna say is that he is puttin in work! Sergio is doing a pretty good job, dont like the guy, but he is filling in alright for blake right now. i think bayless will be good, but has work to do, that he will when blake gets back, i say stick with bayless in the second unit. LA is playing damn good in current memory, would still like to see a little more low post, but if greg plays like that, then LA can stay in his comfort zone, as long as he helps out on the glass. Travis is playin pretty well, i see a little more rebounding, and he did erupt for 33, but other than that he pretty much is...travis. teams arent letting rudy get good looks anymore, so he definitely needs to work on his jumper, along with bayless, which i think both will get done, with a little bit of work. but it was good to hear that bayless and greg stayed after everyone else went home and worked out more. good to see the rookies puttin in the extra effort. in any case im pretty satisfied with the first half of the season.
"2. Can the young Blazers continue to excel as the playoffs get closer and experienced teams ramp up their play?
Under coach Nate McMillan, the Blazers have won just 30.9percent of their second-half games, going 38-85 in the past three seasons. After starting 25-16 in the first half of last season, or the same record this season's team would have with a win tonight, the Blazers faded in the loaded Western Conference. They must change this trend to make the playoffs." - joe freeman at oregonlive.
http://blog.oregonlive.com/behindblazersbeat/2009/01/blazers_at_the_halfway_point.html
well we better pick that shit up and keep it going this year. GO BLAZERS!!!