Comments on: Preview & Chat: The Portland Trailblazers

By: Emma

Emma — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 06:03:48 +0000

I am late to this thread and amused by all the “funny drunk uncle at Thanksgiving” comparisons Mike Rice garners. Apparently I am the only person who doesn’t have such an uncle.

By: Paul

Paul — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 03:02:49 +0000

Just saw the box score. I love Jackson’s choice for starting front court, Ariza and Powell. Worked out quite nicely.

By: Blazer fan

Blazer fan — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 02:01:54 +0000

Rice is a total homer, though he’s often amusing in a funny drunk uncle at Thanksgiving sort of way (he also once got ejected for loudly questioning a call in a game he was calling on the radio). Before Rice became the TV color commentator, we were lucky enough to have Steve “Snapper” Jones, who was way better and much more objective.

By: Joe

Joe — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 22:49:13 +0000

274

Barret makes those same observations on the Blazers. He’ll say if he sees one of our guys travelling or fouling someone. He isn’t nearly the one sided announcer that Rice is

By: Joe

Joe — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 21:17:19 +0000

Thou what kind of sad is, Blazers got no shot of beating us in the playoffs hhahaha, I think the Lakers know that.

By: Captainblaze

Captainblaze — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 20:11:43 +0000

Like a few others on here I am a blazers fan who found this through truehoop. I don’t always comment on this sort of thing, but I felt compelled to commend you guys on your thoughtful comments regarding the game. The more I think about the foul by Ariza I understand the idea of no suspension, I agree that the intent was there to get the ball. I would like the league to be more clear that they will not tolerate this sort of foul, no matter the intent it was an extremely dangerous play, especially when a team is down by 30. I would also like to say that Jordan Farmar did a magnificent job in that situation, he checked on Rudy first thing and then went to try and help dissolve the conflict, outstanding. In regards to Mike Rice, please look at his commentary and appreciate his enthusiasm and concern for his team and the game. He is not asked to be unbiased as he is employed by the Blazers, and that is very clear. I am happy you guys are able to have less supportive commentary for most of the Lakers’ games, however I do wish those guys would show a little more concern for the health of the player and less of a concern for justifying the actions of the player involved in causing the injury. I thank you for showing me how respectful and classy Laker fans can be, however I still don’t like your team. Please try to understand. Thanks from your time.

By: lampshade

lampshade — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 20:11:16 +0000

Everyone is letting Mike Barrett off the hook. Always inserting traveling calls or hacking calls into his commentary. Play-by-play does not include refereeing the game. Plus they’re half-time announcers couldn’t be more stupid. I’m just waiting for them to hire that girl that does the game summaries and top 10 for nba.com. Then they would be the worst commentating team in basketball.

By: timbo

timbo — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 19:16:46 +0000

I’m the rarest of rare birds, a Blazer fan who REALLY LIKES the Lakers (having grown up on the North Coast of Cali in the early 1970s)… So here’s the verdict on that Ariza play: Flagrant 1 act, went FOR THE BALL but wrecklessly and with unnecessary vigor. Totally fine with that being upgraded to a Flagrant 2 when Rudy didn’t get up — what, are you thinking he could be played further in that game after that without World War III erupting? OF COURSE he had to be tossed. And NO SUSPENSION is also the right call, because he was playing the ball, after all, before things went so tragically awry…

Now as for Odom, I don’t care if he didn’t touch the court, he was on the bench and he TOUCHED Brandon Roy at a heated moment, and that’s 100% Absolutely Definitely gonna cost him a game.

Well handled by the refs, almost comically so with them calling rookie top-of-the-key fouls on Kobe.

I won’t try to explain Mike Rice to you all, because you’d never really understand. Just take it for granted that we Blazer fans love him like a silly old uncle that drinks too much at Thanksgiving, and we can appreciate why you probably don’t…

NOW GO GET THOSE ROCKETS!!!!

Mbenga!!! Mbenga!!! Mbenga!!!

By: Clay Parker Jones

Clay Parker Jones — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 18:13:13 +0000

I hate to belabor the point, but it’s been a matter of great debate here in my office; our consensus (here in Chicago) is that if you have a bruise, you should get up and walk away from the fall.

cf. Jake Brown, X-Games 2007

That is all. Great game, Blazers. Tough loss for the crew.

By: Blazerfaninvancouver

Blazerfaninvancouver — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 18:04:04 +0000

Considering the fallout from this game, I can say the most disgusting part of the incident with Rudy was the apparent lack of concern by the laker players (exception Pau and Farmar). The foul by Ariza was a needless foul and I question if a flagrant 2 was warranted but since these games between the blazers and lakers are always contentious, I have less of a problem with it. Odom will be suspended for a clear cut violation of the rules.

The Lakers are still the best team in the west and will (barring an injury to Bryant) maintain the #1 seed. Every team has an opponent who just seems to have their number and the Blazers seem to be that for the Lakers (LA has lost 13 of the last 15 in Portland).

As far as Mike Rice on the TV broadcast, Im a blazer fan and I can’t stand him either. I have heard the laker broadcasters and Its a refreshing change.

Rudy appears to be fine and will likely miss the game against Dallas as a precaution but plan to see him back in the game on April 10th. I just hope that in that game none of the players do anything stupid that affects the roster for the playoffs as both teams will be prepping for the playoffs. Play smart and let the past die please, no giant fight please.