Battle-tested & Blazer-bound

I just want to preface this blog entry by saying what a beautiful sight it was to drive by my local high school ballpark and see the team taking BP at 9 in the morning. I might go down and watch them play later because the weather is supposed to be stellar again. It’s the only live baseball I will likely see this year.

The Portland Trailblazers and Houston Rockets blast off in the first round of the NBA Western conference playoffs. Even as a devoted Rockets fan relishing in my team, I admirably enjoy the proceedings in Portland. The high flying Trailblazers are a fine-tuned and fun team to follow. The sharp-shooters from Portland are coached by Nate McMillan. They are a talented and prepared team of exuberant energy. Portland plowed proudly through the West, picking up prime wins on punctual points. The Blazers, however, are the most inexperienced of all playoff contenders. They face a respected, more battle-tested Rockets team. Portland has a propensity for winning big games during the regular season, but hasn’t tasted the post-season as a unit yet. The playoffs are a new challenge a fourth seeded Portland team pitted against the fifth seed, Rockets.
Yao Ming is one of the league’s top ten players but Houston has yet to reach the second round of the playoffs with the big man. Unpretentious Ming makes a living on rebounds and clogging the middle on defense. If Ming is able to control the paint, Portland won’t be able to put up much of a fight. Greg Oden and Joel Przybilla are big enough to put up a fight against Ming by double-teaming the Chinese superstar. Przybilla is a pillar in the post and Oden overwhelms offensives with no obliqueness whatsoever. Both bulky bodies will be responsible for roughing up Yao and forcing Ming to turn the ball over. Oden especially is acknowledged for grilling the opposition. He is a well-established low-post player and shot blocker. Ming should thrive against their conventional post defense and slowness though. A silent Yao means the Blazers have their finest chance to flog the Rockets. The referees will determine how often Ming sees the foul line. Przybilla is good at acting out but if the refs do not buy into it, it won’t amount to a hill of beans. Portland will have to put a second defender on Yao.
It is initially imperative for Houston’s defense to be an albatross against Oden, Brandon Roy and forward, LaMarcus Aldridge. Oden has excellent range for his size but is not a consummate scorer. There are flaws in Oden’s game many defenders have exposed throughout the year. Roy gets to the basket in a hurry, and has a well-rounded attacking game. The third year pro already an elite shooter in the league and has my all-star vote. Brandon glides as smoothly on the hardwood as a mallard through a stream. Roy is effective from three point range and makes defenses pay at the foul line. He is enlightening and elegant with knees bent, in shooting position. Roy and Aldridge, have had success butchering defenses and can outlast the Rockets’ on offense. Luis Scola has his hands full against the incredible speed of Aldridge, but Luis is a gritty defender who is a proven winner in big spots. Scola is a good scorer and when he shoots at will, is capable of 30 points.
The Rockets’ weapons on offense outside Yao include Ron Artest, Carl Landry and Shane Battier. Artest and Battier are a dynamic duo as a one-two punch on defense as well. They will need to bring their A games against a tough player to defend in Roy. Battier is a jolt of adrenaline as a stop blocker. Any scoring contributions from Battier make the Rockets more dangerous. Artest can be a difference maker when he is a consistent shooter. The ten year veteran is the Rocket go-to man, but if his recent freelancing lapses continue to plague Houston, they will unravel. Ron plays both ends of the court well and has to maintain his control. Hopefully Artest will have more than enough aha moments where he realizes he is part of a team.
Carl is a cognitive and cautious player for the rampant Rockets. Landry hits key shots off the bench for Houston but the Rockets second unit is not as good as the Trailblazers. Portland has Rudy Fernandez and Travis Outlaw as substitutes capable of high-step scoring. Outlaw is a clutch shooter Fernandez warrants plenty of attention on defense. Steve Blake is offensively solid, shooting 42.7 percent from the three point line. His steady ball handling and court vision give Portland an added advantage against Aaron Brooks and Kyle Lowry. Von Wafer is still developing as a pro but his disruptive demeanor and durability should not be downplayed. His importance off the bench is one of the more surprising Rockets storylines this year.
Houston’s young point guards need to be focused, especially without the home court advantage. Brooks is too inconsistent on the dribble and lacks confidence in himself. Brooks and Lowry are quicker than Portland’s guards and that should be accentuated. Houston sometimes settles for bad shots instead of passing the ball for chances on open jumpers. Aggression in the lane is key against the Trailblazers today. What they cannot do is come out looking flat with the basketball.
The Rockets can protect the ball as well as any team in the NBA. Portland’s style of basketball will keep them in the game against a good blocking and rebounding Rockets team. Rick Adelman could use Chuck Hayes if Aldridge proves too much for the other defenders. Hayes has exceptional success in the past against LaMarcus. Lowry should be able to match feet with point guard, Jerryd Bayless. Still, the efficient Portland offense should fashion a super showdown.
The relevant Rockets are far from a dark horse team and could advance in seven games. They have a history of choking in the playoffs but this first round match up favors Houston. Portland has only a single win in 11 tries at the Toyota Center during the regular season. Since Roy’s rookie season, Houston is 8-3 against the Trailblazers. The Blazers are the best offensive rebounding team in the NBA, but young teams do not often win championships. This will be Portland’s first trip back to the playoffs in six years. They are coming off nine wins in their last ten games. Portland is also 34-7 at the Rose Garden this year. They will put together a solid, inspired effort and interrupt Houston’s offensive flow. But the Rockets have the upper-hand in a series that will go the distance. Even without all-time great, Tracy McGrady, Houston’s poise throughout the season put them in the post-season. That in itself was an achievement. Ming has a quality team around him. The Rockets have to hold Roy and Aldrige at bay all day. That is tonight’s criteria for success. They are not the best to beat in the 2009 NBA, but the team has the talent to be a round-two contestant. Saturday night’s meeting between Houston and Portland should be one of the more intriguing of the afternoon.

Parting points:
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/big_league_stew/post/MLB-restrictions-prevent-sale-of-Nick-Adenhart-j?urn=mlb,157245
What do you think about restricting the sale of Nick Adenhart jerseys?

Love this song- “Better In Time” by Leona Lewis


My study is the heart of the people- from “All The Kings Men” by Robert Penn Warren