<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Meehan: Blazers need better job of sharing ball B efore the first game in the second half of a long NBA season, I asked Trail Blazers coach Nate McMillan what his priorities were for the rest of the way. To win more games than the six Portland won during the last half of last season, he said. I don't think we'll see this edition of the Blazers collapse into the giant sinkhole that was last year. Portland has too much fight in it, plus the Blazers count Brandon Roy on their side. Roy may be a rookie but he is a calm, potent force, the kind of impact player Portland has lacked. Sunday night, Roy's season-high 28 points rescued the Blazers from blowing a game against the injury-ravaged Milwaukee Bucks. In terms of a developmental wish list for the second half of the season, here's a start: No more loafing on the lead. Portland runs like a racehorse determined to come from off the pace. The Blazers were up 20 on the Bucks -- who are missing four starters -- but allowed Milwaukee to claw to within three points. The Blazers must stop playing down to teams having awful nights. Play up if you must to the good teams, but bury the ones you should bury. Oregon football coach Mike Bellotti has his sledgehammer; maybe McMillan should bring a shovel to team meetings. Z-bo, some D-bo, please. Zach Randolph is putting up All-Star numbers, but he needs to learn to guard somebody, anybody. The Blazers can't sit in a zone for the next three months. Maybe the best defensive option is for Portland to go small and play Randolph on the opposing center -- not many of them are scorers in this league. Relax, play hard. Center Joel Przybilla has struggled since returning from a groin injury. He needs to start having some fun on the court, stop putting pressure on himself and start putting pressure on the opposing front line. Dunk on them, Joel; smash a backboard or two. Send the same memo to Webster. Martell Webster had his best game in months against the Bucks (15 points on 5 of 8 shooting). The second-year pro also subscribes to Przybilla's self-loathing society. Webster is not going to conquer the league in a season but he can push forward if he quits fretting. The game is hard enough without self-inflicted burdens. Season of sharing. The Blazers are next to last in the NBA in team assists, a statistic that makes winning a difficult challenge. Portland won't improve unless this number does, too. Make Magloire happy. It's no secret that Jamaal Magloire would like to be traded. Perhaps Portland should consider sending him back to Toronto -- where he is widely admired -- for shooting guard Mo Peterson. Peterson is an underrated shooter who could help the Blazers. Udoka zone. Ime Udoka is a valuable asset with his defense and aggressive play. The key for him to move to the next level will be improving his three-point shooting. Drive time for Aldridge. Rookie LaMarcus Aldridge has displayed a good jump shot from about 20 feet. But when he is wide open, Aldridge should attack the basket, especially since the lanky Aldridge could reach the hoop from the foul line in one bounce. </div> Source
