Blazers Vs Kings Game thread, with radio link

I'm waiting for troll boy MIXUM to start a thread about how bad we suck because we didnt block a single shot last night.

 

First chance to post impressions of the game (last night got home too late, took today off work and took Orlando to the vet for his shots in the AM, then discovered he got back at me by peeing on the desk, soaking the mouse & keyboard, had to go to Office Max and buy new!)

Anyway: The GOOD, starting with #1. The #1 pick in the draft. Others have said Oden's physique has changed. I really could not tell, but he is clearly far more mobile and the body language is 180deg from last year. The frustration and discouragement we saw too much of is gone. He got 2 quick fouls and looked annoyed, that is all. NO ONE on the Kings could guard him. He was a monster at both ends. Let no one say the Blazers blew that pick.

Roy was Roy. He did not try to dominate the game as he did not need to, but when things got out of hand he came in and got them back into order. He looked fluid and easy in his shots and ready for the season.

Juwon Howard, I know, won't get as much PT in the season as he did last night, but if he keeps playing like last night he will get some. I was impressed as I really did not expect much from him.

Jerryd Bayless, also made the case for PT. Fouled on a 3 and with the Kings fans trying to rattle him coolly made his free throws. Had the steal at the end of the quarter. I could see him checking the clock, checking the 3-point line, then lining up and hitting. Totally in control. Then the parting of the Red Sea dunk late.

Sorta good, Andre Miller. First half did not impres but hardly his fault when he had Udoka, Cunningham, and Collins on the floor - to whom could he pass? None of them can make a shot. Looked better in the second half with actual shooters. I think Blake ran the offense better but it's not really a fair comparison as Blake was on the floor with the starters, with whom he's played, while Miller was with the 2nd and 3rd units.

Bad: Cunningham showed nothing. Had to say whether Udoka or Collins is better, although it does not matter a lot since they are auditioning for high price cheerleader. Collins made free throws but stood there flat footed while smaller Kings got rebounds all around him. Udoka at least looked alive.

BTW, is Shavlik Randolph still a Blazer? he was on the stat sheet.

Also bad, turnovers. Understandable since scrubs got a lot of PT, but they let the Kings right back into it when it looked, at the 2 1/2 minute mark, like the game was over. I'm not too worried since I'm sure that unit will never, in games that count, be on the floor in crunch time.

Bad, the scab refs. Everyone was booing them. They were not simply shafting one team, they were just bad. Called total tickytacks and ignored shoves, knock-downs, and obvious calls. I hope the players and coaches can put pressure on the league to negotiate in good faith with the refs, who, much as we abuse them, do get a majority of calls right.

Ugly: the totally asshole moron Blazer rooter sitting nearby. Be loud, be enthusiastic, but it is not necessary to show the whole arena you are drunk & obnoxious. I can best describe it by saying he sounded like he was at a Raiders game. Anyone ever seen Raiders fans in action will understand. Early on, when we were asked to stand for the national anthem, and it got quiet, and a young woman began to sing, this moron interrupted screaming loudly "Rip City Baby!". The term Rip City was coined by Schonz who never in a million years would be so classless as to shout when someone is performing and would never interrupt any country's national anthem.

I got Sergio's autograph pre-game, asking politely in Spanish.
HCP, was that you pregame schmoozing with players courtside (backwards turned cap)?