Michael Jordan Says, Nic Batum = Scottie Pippen

Outlaw Dishes on Defeating the Lakers!

LaMarcus Corner: Blazers beat Spurs!

Outlaw & Co Beat Hawks!

Never Underestimate the Power of Attitude

When Chris Paul went down with 1:13 remaining in the third quarter, the Hornets were still pretty comfortable with their 72-55 lead. The Blazers had another ending in mind. After the game, Brandon Roy said, “As soon as Paul went down, I said we’re gonna come back.” There were no “ifs” or “maybes” about it. Over the next seven minutes, the Blazers went on a 26-7 run, ignited by Jerryd Bayless, who is no stranger to taking advantage of opportunities with aggressive play. Ultimately outscoring the Hornets 38-15 in the fourth quarter, Portland evened the season series with a 97 to 89 win.

A lot can be learned from the game tonight. The Blazers win puts the team back at 500 on the road (12-12), which is one of Nate McMillan’s goals for the road trip. It also puts Portland in sole possession of that highly coveted fourth place spot in the Western Conference (think home court advantage). Beyond standings and records, the Blazers can also chalk this one up to experience which they can draw on down the stretch of the season as pressure steadily intensifies. So as I made my way to the locker room, I had one question in mind. What did the Blazers learn from this game that will ultimately make them a better team?

As always, first up is Nate McMillan. “We’re trying to become a better road team and we didn’t have our fans. Our fans have been great at home at helping us make runs like this. This is about growing up and maturing and learning how to do it amongst yourselves – the 12 players and the coaches on the road. Tonight the bench was involved in the game and we had guys we needed to get a lift from, and we got that lift.” The Blazers bench chipped in for 52 points, more than half the overall total, led by Bayless with 19, Travis Outlaw with 16 and Rudy Fernandez with 15.

In the locker room, I checked in with LaMarcus Aldridge who was equally excited about the win and notion of jumping on the plane and heading home to Dallas. According to LaMarcus, who finished the night with 22 points and 11 rebounds, “I think we waited too long to start playing and I think when we actually started playing it was kinda late, but then Jerryd came in and got a couple steals and things changed for us.” Recognizing that he’d like his team to get off to better starts, he also learned that a rally against a top team in the West “gives us motivation because it tells us we can beat these good teams even when we get down. It was good to get this win.”

From one captain to the next, Roy who learned once again that his teammates can capitalize offensively when he commands that much of an opposing defense, said, “I think we just got to take from this that you can never quit. Anything can happen in a 48-minute game. Unfortunately they had to lose Chris Paul, but sometimes that’s what you need. Everybody’s getting breaks, everyone’s kinda banged up right now. We just gotta keep playing, and keep scrapping. This is a huge win for us. It puts us at 30 wins before the all-star break.”

My take? New Orleans struggles to maintain an offensive flow without Chris Paul. Conversely, Portland's depth absorbed an off night for Roy (6 points on 2-10 shooting), while still fighting from 20 down in the 3rd to beat a top team on the road. But, I like Outlaw’s take away the best. As he respectfully closed up shop in the locker room, he said with an attitude that was both confident and humble, “It means a lot. We’re definitely shaping up to look like a playoff team.” Attitude won this game.

Bayless Reveals Character

“Sports do not build character. They reveal it.” - John Wooden

In the Trail Blazers 105-99 come back win against the Nets last night, Jerryd Bayless revealed so much more than his 23 points on 67% shooting and 11 for 11 effort at the line. In his post-game interview, on a night that Jerryd proved to the world that he’s got game, he modestly told me, “I got it going a little bit tonight, so it’s alright.” Talk about an understatement. Talk about an athlete who’s character drives him to practice up to three times a day. And talk about a teammate who, rather than taking credit for his game, said, “We’re missing Steve right now and he’s one of the leaders of this team, so we needed to come in here and get this win.”

So as I worked my way through post-game coverage, I decided that I would let Jerryd’s coach and teammates do the bragging for him. First up, it’s X’s & O’s with Nate McMillan. When asked how he would describe the rookie’s game, he said, “Aggressive. We needed aggressive play, we wanted guys attacking the basket. I thought Jerryd did a nice job going to the basket, getting to the free throw line. Late in the game, he did a nice job defending Harris, who is one of the fastest guys in the league, staying in front of him and making him shoot over the top.” It was Jerryd’s ‘aggressive’ play in the third quarter was the catalyst that dug the Blazers out of 21-point deficit to win the game.

After the press conference, it was into the tiny locker room, full of light-hearted Blazers. In typical fashion, there was an army of media around Greg Oden, who was happy to transfer the attention to his fellow rookie. As Jerryd walked back to his locker, Oden raised his voice and said to him with a huge grin, “It was a nice little dunky, dunk…you know you can smile,” ribbing Jerryd for his serious demeanor.

But then Oden went on talking about Jerryd’s game. “It was good, especially in a game like this where we really needed him to come in a produce like he did. For that to happen and for us to get the victory, knowing that we were behind, it’s that much better.”

On the other side of the locker room, Brandon Roy, who finished the game with another all-star performance and 29 points, also reveled in Jerryd’s game and it’s effect on the team. He smiled, “That was a huge game for him. I’ve been waiting for that, for him. He’s the first guy in the gym and the last guy out and it paid off tonight. He was aggressive and once he gets comfortable, man we’re going to be dangerous. He’s tough going to the basket and he really opens up the floor, so as he gets more and more confidence we’re going to be really tough,”

And, according to Brandon, the Roy-Bayless combo can be deadly. “We put so much pressure on the defense. Most of the time my man’s not going to leave, so he gets more space when he goes to the basket. When I have the ball, it’s dangerous, because you don’t want to leave him either. As you saw tonight, if he’s that guy who I kick it to, he’s that guy who can get to basket and dunk…we’re a tough team to defend.”

After Jerryd’s enormous career night, he left the game as modestly as he arrived. On the bus towards the airport, you could tell Jerryd – headphones in tact – was already focused on the next game. According to him, “Now we’ve got to start looking forward to Charlotte.” Talk about an athlete who revealed so much character, by saying so little.

A Genius Moment with Dr. Jack Ramsay

As I stood with executive producer Scott Zachry conducting a rare interview before the Utah game, I had to stop and catch my breath for a moment as I realized how fortunate I was to be in the presence of a Trail Blazers coaching legend and Hall of Famer, Jack Ramsay. The man who once defined basketball as “a graceful sweep and flow of patterned movement, counterpointed by daring and imaginative flights of solitary brilliance” is just as eloquent, dynamic and commanding today as he was when he led the 1977 World Champion Trail Blazers to the only title in team history.

After Ramsay fondly described Bobby Gross as a player who “never asked for a big shot but always delivered” and Terry Porter as an “unselfish, team dedicated guy” who was “meant to be a coach”, the conversation turned to his thoughts on the current Trail Blazers. Clearly still an avid fan, Ramsay said, “It’s a young team, a highly skilled team and they’re still developing…I like the direction, I like the leadership that Nate and his staff has given this team. I like everything about it really. They are clutch, tenacious, and they are a team. The skies the limit.”

Without missing a beat, Ramsay grew much more specific describing Portland’s All-Star. “Brandon Roy is a special player. I noticed in his game this year, he’s taking the ball to the basket and finishing better this season. He said that’s what he worked on over the summer and it makes him so difficult to play. So now he finishes with his left hand as well as his right.” Three points Ramsay for being able to point out a detail that has won a number of games for the Blazers this season. He is just as sharp and insightful today as he was when he coached the team 32 years ago, and he certainly commands the same presence. So much so that Shavlik Randolph, who was working out nearby stopped to listen to his wisdom and later called the moment “moving.” I would definitely agree.

Before he left to assume his radio position for ESPN, I had to ask the original Confucius (with all due respect to my partner Mike Rice) one more question. What’s the Blazers’ X-factor?

He pondered and slowly smiled as he said, “Their team awareness. They have bought into coach Nate McMillan’s team game 100%. The fact that there are a lot of capable players on this team is only an asset if those players accept their roles. So when I watch the Trail Blazers play, the starters come out of the game without looking at the clock or without looking at the coach. They know they are going to come out. The reserves know they are going to get in the game and when, and for generally for how long and they all accept that.”

As I thanked him, one word came to mind. Genius. I have no doubt why this man led his team to a championship.