Pick and Scroll

Your daily (Mon-Fri) roundup of links from around the blogosphere, typically Trail Blazers related.

• Kerry Eggers of the Portland Tribune reports that Marcus Camby decided to extend his stay in Portland because of the fans:

“Ever since I got to Portland, everywhere I’ve gone, the people have embraced me like I’ve been a Blazer my whole career – or actually, like I’m originally from Portland,” he said. “Everybody has been really gracious. Everybody has been thanking me – the fans have been tremendous.”

• While I’m sure feeling wanted by the fans helps, a $21 million dollar extension with $5 million in performance bonuses (according to Marc Stein’s twitter) shows he’s wanted by the front office as well. Marc Stein also reports that the first contract that both parties agreed to was vetoed by the league. Man, if only the Portland Trail Blazers had hired a salary cap guru, maybe someone with legal experience, to help navigate the treacherous CBA…

• Dwight Jaynes likes the Camby extension, doesn’t foresee a minutes crunch:

If you’re worried about what will happen if all three are healthy at the same time, well, congratulations — I think you may be the most optimistic person I’ve met this month! It may not ever happen.

• Kevin Pelton at Basketball Prospectus is also in favor of the Camby deal.

• Joe Freeman of The Oregonian reports that Amare Stoudemire is shocked to learn about the concept of “help defense.”

“I got shots but the thing is every time I caught the ball in the post, you had five guys inside the lane,” Stoudemire said. “I’ve never seen that before in my career. That’s just a sign of respect that the whole team is trying to guard me out there.” 

Come on Amare, you’ve got a 0.38 Assist to turnover ratio, we all know you’re not going to pass. For reference sake, notorious black-hole Zach Randolph has a 0.86 A/TO ratio, roughly 125% better.

• The Oregonian’s Jason Quick reports that of all people, Andre Miller knows that a game one win on the road does not a series make.

• This is the playoffs, and being the playoffs, one thing you are certain to hear discussed is “adjustments” both in-game and on a game to game basis. Coaches legacies are born and often crucified based upon the choices they make in a seven game series. SJ from Rip City Project, Geoffrey C. Arnold of The Oregonian,  and Dave Deckard from BlazersEdge each take a stab at what those adjustments will be for game two.

• Speaking of coaching, Sebastian Pruiti of TrueHoop Network sister site NBA Playbook takes a look at the ingenious inbounds play Coach McMillan drew up  though I’m sure you remember the play for other reasons…

• Casey Holdahl reports that in the absence of Brandon Roy, the Blazers are playing “together”:

Portland’s willingness to play together, rather than use injuries solely as an opportunity to further individual goals, has been one of the keys to the Trail Blazers’ ability to remain competitive while enduring more than 300 missed games to injury. That spirit of camaraderie is impressive, and especially noteworthy on a team with a bevy of young, hungry players who are desperate to make a name for themselves.

• Over at NBA.com, Fran Blinebury says Andre Miller is one cool dude:

Miller could teach diamond cutters not to fidget, tightrope walkers not to look down, penguins not to sweat.

• Don’t forget to check out TrueHoop Network sister site Valley of the Suns as they try not to panic. Don’t troll though, remember that Portland fans were in an identical situation last year. Let’s just hope that the underdog achieves the same result. 

• The NBA Draft is only two months away, gear up for discussions of “upside” and “length” by listening to the  NBA Draft Podcast with Jonathan Givony from Draft Express.

Comments

[carnshark]

I like how the photo in the Portland Tribune of Camby dunking is, if my senses don't decieve me, the wide open dunk he missed during the last few minutes of game one. sort of an odd choice of photo if you ask me but I am very excited to have Camby for the next two years. Nice work Blazers!!