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Sports
Blazers hope new additions will propel them to playoffs
u A shley S herqn ____________
Staff Reporter
Walking into the crowded
Portland Trail Blazers media
room, there were people from
Nike setting up for interviews
and photo shoots with the
team. I could hear yelling,
sneakers squeaking and
whistles blowing. I noticed
small forward Martell Webster
sitting on the court opposite
from me with a cast on his foot.
After watching the rest of the
team scrimmage for about 15
minutes, I asked point guard
Steve Blake for an interview.
After Blake answered my
questions, I interviewed head
coach Nate McMillan. Next up
was towering 7' center Greg
Oden who was sitting on an
exercise ball. He asked me
whether he should stand up
or stay sitting down. I thought
that was pretty nice. Our
interview was short, though,
because he needed to get back
to practice.
As I left I saw the
championship trophy the
Blazers won in 1977. It made
me feel hopeful that this team
will be able to put another
trophy in that case
The fans have been waiting
just as long, if not longer for
the same thing. People are
starting to talk about this
team again. We've got the
right coach and the right mix
of players. Now we just need
to prove it to all the non
believers.
"I'm really excited about the
team this year. It's great that
they have the players, coaches,
and all around confidence
that will lead them to a great
season, and hopefully a playoff
berth," Bryant Bushnell,
freshman, said.
It was a long year for
Blazers fans after the shocking
announcement that number
blocker. "He'll make it tough
for guards to make shots in the
paint," he said.
"Greg will be able to anchor
the defense. He can also
defend the basket so we can
become a better rebounding
team. Offensively, he will
be able to establish a low
post game and be a low post
presence," McMillan said.
Oden started at center
against the Sacramento
Kings on Oct. 7. He played
20 minutes in his first
action as a professional
basketball player. He
played well hitting five
of eight field goals,
knocking down three
of five free throws,
grabbing five rebounds,
and making two blocks,
scoring 13 points.
While Oden may
Ashley Sheron, sophomore, interviews not be a leading scorer,
Blazers' Head Coach Nate McMillan, he definitely makes his
about his expectations for the team. presence felt.
The Blazers have been playing well in
"I will be a big body
preseason and hope to reach the playoffs for this team which
for the first time since 2002.
lets Brandon Roy and
Photo by Patricia Sheron
LaMarcus Aldridge do
their thing," Oden said
one draft pick, Oden, would be
out for his rookie season due to of his role at center.
a knee injury.
In their first road game
of the preseason against
"I hope there aren't any
further knee problems. Right
Sacramento. Blake and
now the knee is feeling great,"
Channing Frye returned from
Oden said.
their injuries. Over the last
three games, Blake and Frye
His teammate, Blake,
both averaged 9.7 points per
expects him to be a big
game in 26.7 and 23.3 minutes
presence and a great shot
per game respectively.
Roy and Aldridge did
not play in the last game
against the Utah Jazz, but
both finished the preseason
with very good numbers.
Roy averaged 16.5 points and
28 minutes per game and
Aldridge averaged 14.8 points,
while playing 27 minutes per
game.
"So far the preseason
games have been pretty
good. There has been a lot of
communication. There are
some things to clean up as far
as execution on the offense,"
Blake said.
Since Oden didn't play any
games last season he is still
eligible for Rookie of the Year.
"I'm working on getting
Rookie of the Year. I would
love to be on the Rookie Team
for the All-Star game," Oden
said.
Oden hasn't been the only
rookie that has put on a show
during preseason. Jerryd
Bayless has averaged 9.4 points
and 21.3 minutes per game.
Also playing well has been
rookie Nicolas Batum who is
in contention for the starting
small forward position due to
the injury to Webster. Batum
has been averaging 6.6 points
and playing 18.7 minutes per
game.
One of the flashiest
Blazers, Rudy Fernandez, a
rookie from Spain, started
in place of Roy against the
Golden State Warriors and
finished the game with a
team high 15 points and
six steals. Fernandez also
managed seven assists and
five rebounds. He has been
averaging 12 points while
playing 29.4 minutes per
game.
New player Shavlik
Randolph didn't get much
playing time until the Atlanta
game when he scored a
team high 19 points and ten
rebounds. Randolph has been
averaging 9.8 points while
playing 23 minutes per game.
Blazers' General Manager
Kevin Pritchard announced
Oct. 23 Randolph would get
the final spot on the roster.
The only injuries on the
team have been to Webster
who is out for eight to ten
weeks with a stress fracture
in his left foot. Raef LaFrentz
had shoulder surgery during
the offseason and will be out
the rest of the year.
"This team is hard. They
have a passion for this game.
Those are keys to a team
for success," McMillan said.
"They all have good qualities.
The team's goal is to win
enough games to make the
playoffs."
Blake agreed, "We just
want to improve from last
season and make the playoffs.
I believe this team has talent."
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