Five Random Thoughts

Here is what I’m thinking about right now:

1. Ime Udoka is a class guy and deserves a spot on a roster…just not with Portland. He’s spent nearly his whole life here as a high schooler, then at Portland State and then bouncing around the various minor leagues before finally catching on with the Blazers. The most amazing thing about Udoka for me was the fact that his contract was not guaranteed until early January. Meaning that if the Blazers had cut him, they wouldn’t have had to pay him. Talk about pressure. Udoka possessed the mental toughness to earn a starting role, the unflinching support of guys like Zach Randolph, Brandon Roy and Nate McMillan, all while playing with a huge weight on his shoulders. His NBA life was in the balance but he relaxed, played and contributed. Which brings me to Martell Webster. The kid is guaranteed money, he’s set for life. But he plays as if one misdeed is going to get him cut. As if a 1-8 shooting performance means getting put out of the league. He can’t relax. In short, he doesn’t possess a shred of mental toughness. I like Udoka, God love him, but the Blazers need an upgrade at that position.
   
2. I think Thad Matta should be fired for his tank job in coaching the Buckeyes in the championship game last year. While the Ohio State guards were bombing away, hoisting 23 three pointers in the final game loss to Florida, Greg Oden was a beast inside. He fouled out Chris Richard, drew four fouls on Joaquim Noah, three on Horford and three on Maurice Speights enroute to 25 points and 12 boards. So why did Matta give the green light to guys like Jamar Butler (1-6 from three), Ron Lewis (0-4) and Ivan Harris (2-8)? Oden was 10-15 from the field and 5-8 at the line. Check out the shot charts from the game and tell me who should have attempted 23 shots. Matta deserves a ton of credit for Florida’s championship. Even if Oden was tiring, he should have touched the ball on the block every time. That was a hatchet job of coaching if I’ve ever seen one. Or perhaps he was trying to devalue his big man so he’d consider staying in school or is he that incompetent?
   
3. Everyone in Portland is saying that Sergio is the point guard and Sergio is the future etc etc. I disagree with this and would love to see Jack have a chance to develop his game. NBA point guard is a steep learning curve and some guys take several years to pick it up or really emerge. I think Jack, while already solid, will develop into a borderline all-star before he’s done. He’s a tough, hard-nosed kid, who loves to compete and wants to improve. He lost his confidence a few times last year but as I said, point guard is a tough position to come in and excel at right off the bat. Somehow in just under 13 minutes a game, Portland fall in love with Sergio. Sergio had some flashes, but Jack was Portland’s third leading scorer, leading assist-man and an emotional and physical leader down the stretch when the rest of the club was sidelined. Sergio did have a few nice games, 23 points and 10 assists vs. Denver, an 18 point game against Minnesota and a 9 point, 10 assist game vs. Phoenix. But Jack was consistent all year and is still growing. He put up some big games as well, 30 points and seven boards against the Lakers, a 22 point, 8 assist, nine board gem against Toronto etc. Jack has potential to be a very good NBA player. He’s a better finisher around the rim than Sergio, stronger and a better defender. I’m not ready to turn over the keys to Sergio just yet. Let the foursome of Jack, Roy, Aldridge and Oden grow together. That group of four could go down in Blazer history.
   
4. The sad case of Darius Miles. I still forget he’s actually technically on the roster. I’ve heard he’s more than 40 pounds over his playing weight. He had some physical gifts but must have given his mental gifts away. He never cared about basketball, never really wanted it and probably will look back on his career and think, “man, all those coaches and organizations screwed me over, wouldn’t let me play my game.” Or he’ll say, “yep, I was a baller. If not for that knee injury…” Whatever the case and whatever he says, I doubt we’ll ever see him in an NBA arena again. Wait, do any NBDL teams play in NBA arenas? What about the IBL?
   
5. Suddenly the Blazers are marketable again, with young engaging players who avoid jail and strip clubs. Brandon Roy is the golden boy/savior, he of the rookie of the year award and even the delivery of the #1 draft pick. Aldridge appears to be somewhat quiet and unassuming, but I’ve heard him in several interviews and he’s actually very engaging and thoughtful. Oden is a character. I feel like he’s got genuine opinions (newsflash - he likes the WNBA), thoughts and beliefs and he’ll fit in perfectly in this locker-room. So the question is who is going to be the face? Who’ll be on the billboards, the buses, the bobbleheads etc? In short, they all will. I think they’ll all be on the billboards on I-5 and outside the arena, they’ll all appear in commercials for GI Joes and Columbia Sportswear and they’ll all be Grand Marshall’s for the Rose Festival parades. They are fun, funny and likable or exactly the opposite of ‘Sheed, Bonzi Wells and JR Rider.