I hope I don't have to turn in my Blazer fan card for finding this to be a very interesting interview, even though it is the hated Woj interviewing the even more hated Kobe, but if you're a true fan of the game, you'll appreciate it.
Maybe the talk of the Blazers getting the injury exception has forced Pat Riley's hand.
Very interesting and humorous look at how NBA players' stats rate as depicted by cartoons.
Interesting commentary on microfracture and Oden's chances for a return to the court.
During a challenging week, which included news of Greg Oden's microfracture knee surgery and the continued absence of all star guard Brandon Roy, the Portland Trail Blazers managed to go 2-1, including a nice division win over the Denver Nuggets, and nudged up slightly in most of the assorted NBA power rankings.Marc Stein:Blazers remain at No. 11John Schuhmann:Blazers return to spot No. 11 from No. 14John Hollinger:开拓者改善从14号到11号David Aldridge:Blazers return to No. 9 from No. 10According to霍林格的团队统计数据: Portland dropped from 8th to 11th in offensive efficiency, held steady at 14th in defensive efficiency, improved from 20th to 12th in rebound rate and moved from 29th to 28th in pace. -- Ben Golliver | benjamin.golliver@gmail.com |Twitter
Over onNBA.com,David Aldridgehas a few lengthy, must-read Portland Trail Blazers related essays today, includinga discussion of what center Greg Oden is worth... -------------------------------- Even though Blazers president Larry Miller said in a conference call with Portland reporters Thursday that the Blazers plan to give Oden a qualifying offer next summer at $8.8 million to keep him from becoming an unrestricted free agent, there is almost no one around the league who believes that. Most expect the Blazers will ultimately let Oden test the waters, figuring nobody will offer him anything near that $8.8 million. That was the consensus from a bunch of executives over the weekend, who saw Portland decline to give Oden an extension by the Nov. 1 deadline. I heard one year for $4-5 million. I heard the bi-annual exception, which was $2.08 million this season. I heard "three years, $15 million, with an exclusion (for) the knee," as one GM texted Thursday. I heard an incentive-laden contract that could, potentially, approach the mid-level exception. A couple of teams said it was too early to make a judgment on Oden; a couple others said there was no way they'd make him an offer, given his physical state. No one came close to $8.8 million. Among the many unresolved issues, of course, is what the new Collective Bargaining Agreement will look like, and what teams will be able to offer players in Oden's category, whether it's restricted or unrestricted. If there's a lockout, no one would be able to negotiate with him or his agent about a new contract -- including Portland. Nor could Oden practice at the Blazers' facility. (Less certain is whether he'd be allowed to rehab there; that's a murkier area that might have to be worked out between the league and the Players' Association with specific language.) -------------------------------- -- Ben Golliver | benjamin.golliver@gmail.com |Twitter
