Iverson Wins on Final Shot, No Kidding

Unfortunately the Blazers gave this one away. A missed free throw at the end of regulation and a loss of dribble (turnover) with less than 15 seconds in overtime turned what could have been a sweet win into a bitter pill. And again, as in the loss to Cleveland, we have to ask: why didn't a double-team on a Hall of Fame player come at the end of the game? Jack on Iverson, any one player on Iverson, at that point, just doesn't work. Just as with Lebron, you have to make someone else beat you.

And for the record, I saw one player (Travis) try and post up in the second half. Why is it that this team can't play with its back to the basket?

Last year, this would have been a moral victory. No more.

Dogfight Goes to OT

The dogs must be barking...another overtime game. This is becoming a strange habit.

No Post Offense

A great second quarter, but it is becoming painfully obvious that the Trail Blazers have NO inside game. They didn't post up a single time the entire second quarter. LA made one phantom attempt but that's it. This is something to watch down the road. Granted, the team runs a motion offense but it can't count on outside shooting to carry them all the time...when the shots go cold, leads evaporate or deficits mount as teams go on huge runs fueled by long rebounds and fast breaks...see first quarter. LA and Travis are able and should be forced by Coach Mac to post. B-Roy can and should do more of it as well. I'm tempted to boycott my blog posts until somebody on the team acutally posts...but that could be a long time coming.

Good to know that Nate Boy is in the house...straight from the LC campus. He got a tic outside the Garden for $41, a bit of splurge but the kid is working hard.

Can someone answer my long-standing question about the Garden: How come there isn't a single rose in the place?

Ketchup with those Frye's

Channing Frye is on an early sizzle. He just might be the new Blazer Beat poster child. Just imagine if they let him bring his dogs to the Garden.

Rivalry Continues

In what has become a great divisional rivalry, the boys of winter take on the Nuggets. Has the makings of a spirited game and one of the most important mid-season match ups with potential play off implications down the road. Both teams want and need this win. I'd look for Roy to take (a) charge early.

BTW, I learned the other day that Frye and his girlfriend are big dog peeps. Where's the off leash area at the Garden?