Media Day Kicks Off Week
posted: 9/27/2009 at 10:15 PM
To me, this is always an odd way to kick off the first official week of the NBA season. Every team does it, and it's very necessary, but it's still a bit of a strange day. But, then again, I always thought it was weird that we had picture day during the first week of school. My son has picture day tomorrow in pre-school, by the way, and the odds are very good that he'll shine the whole thing and run for the art room (this happened last year- you could practically see two hands in the photo holding him to the table).
There are some NBA players who would love to take a page from my son's playbook and run like hell when the cameras come out on Monday. But, they're usually pretty good about it. They change into full game uniform, and then go station to station through the event level at the Rose Garden, stopping to take photos, record radio liners, meet with the media, and take part in several different videos that will be used on the big screen during games. This is the day all of that is gathered.
Some of the guys kind of go through the motions on some of this stuff, and others really get into it. Several times in the past (distant past) we'd be wondering if all the guys would show, and if they did, how we'd ever get them to read the radio stuff with enthusiasm, or have fun in the video shoots.
The MVPs of Media Day last season (at least in the stuff that didn't involve the regular media) were Travis Outlaw, Martell Webster, Rudy Fernandez, and Greg Oden. Outlaw is a ham, and has absolutely no ego. He always acts somewhat embarrassed. Martell loves this day perhaps a little too much, and is born for reality TV. Rudy is funny, but it's mostly unintentional humor, as he always gasps when he's handed two paragraphs in English that he has to try and read naturally. Oden last year, while in the radio sound booth, loving that he could hear his own voice in headphones, started to rap, almost like he couldn't help it.
I keep wondering if we'll once again see this happy-go-lucky squad bounce through this day, or if maturity and total professionalism will have set in. It sounds strange, but that's really what I'm curious to see. Is it possible to see the first sign of the pressure of expectations start to take hold, even on Media Day? Probably not. But, I'm anxious to see all the guys in their game uniforms.
I'll be grabbing a few interviews, and will be running them on Trail Blazers Courtside Monday night. The show is from 6-8pm, and can be seen on Comcast SportsNet, and trailblazers.com, and can be heard on the Blazers Radio Network, including, yes, 95.5 The Game. This show has been off that station for about a month, but returns Monday night. I've taken so many complaints for us being off local radio I've lost track (okay, about 10).
Even though I will be behind the scenes at Media Day, and will be behind the desk for Courtside, I'd really love to be a fly on the wall at the first team dinner, Monday night. That's when Nate McMillan addresses the team for the first time, and gives a speech that he doesn't take lightly. He looks at this as setting the tone for camp, the pre-season, and the regular season.
Tuesday morning McMillan will strap on the whistle, and we'll be officially underway- on the court.
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Something woke me up and I thought it must be MB giving us the news about media day. So here I am a little past midnight dancing with delight.
It’s great to hear from you. It gets slow without your news.
I was hoping you would cover media day on courtside. It would sure be fun to set in on the show. I also hope that the team is still able to laugh and joke. There will be time enough for serious thoughts later.
I too am waiting to see everybody in uniform. I haven't seen Martell for a long time. Our new players in uniform and ready to go will be great.
It is no secret that everybody in Oregon has been waiting for this week. Let's land running and let the doubters and Hypocrites finally know the truth.
We are here.
hg
I'm very happy media day is here because that means the season is here!! I can't believe the first preseason game is a week from tomorrow!! I'll be receiving my season tickets tomorrow by fedex!! It's time to rock and roll!!
GO BLAZERS!!!
500dogs,
I do like a back court of Rudy and Roy. They can switch at being the PG. My only concern, and what worried me when I heard Roy lost weight, is the wear and tear on Roy. But I'm sure we'll see this combo if for no reason other than getting both on the floor at the same time. Of course either one could also move to SF for short stretches of time.
While Bayless can play SG, and probably his mentality is best suited for SG, he is a bit undersize. He could be posted up easily, though his speed would counter that on offense. The main problem I see though is the same at PG, mins. Rudy and Roy's main position is SG and Webster will even play that position at times. HG ask about a 9 rotation and I answered posting a 10 player rotation and Bayless wasn't included in that rotation so I think it's going to be hard to find him mins. No one, hg or anyone else, replied to my post, but it was at the end of a blog right before another blog entry by MB so it might have been missed by most posters.
I read a question at a forum I like to post at asking which player would probably see the most playing time, Bayless or Cunningham? That's a interesting question. Most answered Bayless, but I'm hoping Cunningham because that would mean he's play well at PF where we need help more than any position right now.
Thanks as always MB for providing us with this blog...I am soooooo jacked up about the up coming season I can hardly wait. I haven't been this excited since, well last season!!! It's really cool to be a part of this group and watch them maturing on their way to a long competitive streak that will hopefully end up in bunches of rings (one would be nice). But just the fact that they are who they are and that they represent so well the Blazers is why I'm so excited. You mentioned the bums that used to be here and how difficult it was for everyone around them. Thank God they are gone!!! Lets get this going already though. And is it too early to start the 'beat LA' chants? Congrats to Lamar on his foolish move to get married after a month...nice job lamar have some gummies and celibrate! I hope the marriage last longer them the cortship
Thanx MB:
Go Blazers!
Thanx.MB, .It'll be good to see the players after the long summer.It would be intersting to hear what Sarge has to say to the troops.I just want to be a fly on the wall at training camp.Please keep us updated about camp.We're jazzed.Sorry, I didn't mean to use the word Jazz!
Can't wait for things to get going. This season is going to be a blast. Thanks, MB. I really enjoy your efforts. It makes following the Blazers even more of a pleasure.
Cheers,
Jeff
NE Alberta & 22nd
Had a tough year here in Bend. Among other things we lost our house. But to make matters worse...I mean wwwwaaaayyyy worse, we're moving to a rural area where Comcast is not available. Maybe the biggest season of Blazer basketball in recent history is on the horizon and I can't get games on satellite TV. That's kicking a man when he's down.
Any progress on negotiations between Comcast and Satellite providers?
MGB:
I didn't see your comment. But, since then Nate has said he would probably start with 10 or even 11 player rotation.
I still don't know who I would bench. I think that depends on whether Martell can carry a heavy load.
BRoy, losing wt is by design. If he is just losing body fat or cellulite, he will not be hindered, in fact IMO, he would be stronger. If he is losing body mass then I would be concerned.
hg
stripe57:
I am from Prineville and in the same boat. It is an awful feeling to be boxed out just because you live in a location with no comcast.
I think I have given up hope.
hg
So Oden discovered that he could hear himself speak thru his headset, and he liked it. What took him so long? I think my wife fell in love with the sound of her own voice before she could soil her diapers. Acting like kids in this situation is probably the most 'mature' thing these players could do, and it will be the knowledgeable player that will recognize this. They are all highly paid entertainers, and as such, the fans want to connect with them. There is nothing worse than seeing someone go through the motions of being interested about their job. I've had people on my crew who had all the talent in the world, but their attitude sucked. Give me someone with no talent, but heart and a strong work ethic and I'll take the latter every time.
I have moved to Boise and see no hope either of seeing a Blazer broadcasting game. Thankfully there are a few on national tv and I will record them so I can watch them over and over and over and over...
hg, here it is again:
*********
hg,
You said someone mention there was going to be a 9 man rotation and you ask which 9. First off, who knows if that will be true. But if so I would say here's the top 10 players in no particular order.
Roy, Aldridge, Oden, Joel, Rudy, Miller, Blake, Webster, Batum, Outlaw.
Most likely it'll be one of the SF that has reduce mins. And that might change depending on the opponent. I think Outlaw might be the one that drops out of the rotation, but then again he can also get mins at the four.
I also hear that DC might get a lot more mins than many thinks. I forget who it was on Courtside that said he has bulked up and will be able to play the PF which is our main weakness or at least the less depth compared to our other positions.
I don't know, but it certainly is a great problem to have and as long as we are winning I doubt any player will complain to much about their mins.
i pretty much agree with you mgb but this line up with roy rudy who going to guard the other point guard. their both tall and don't have the quicks of a small guard. I could see it for a few teams that have bigger guards but arron brooks is to quick, chris paul the little guard for the mavs. yes we could post them up but then roy would be playing hard defence then would have to score on the other end. so thats to much work for roy for a season. thats why we got miller thats why batum is price less for the blazers he plays d so roy can just do his thing.
comcast blows
This is it? Is it it? The end? The end of a really long summer with no Basketball!?!?
FINALLY!!! I got sick of those dumb Laker fans bragging over the internet on how much better Kobe is than LeBron even though they didn't face off. I'll just sadly say that the Lakers were lucky Yao got injured.
Sadly I have a class at PCC that's 4 hellish hours long, from 6 to 10pm, so I'll be missing courtside *again* sadly. But at least the Blazers are getting in gear - the season is underway - and in 2010 we'll be bragging to the Laker fans who will be the ones making excuses for losing to us in the Western Confrence finals.
Have fun Mike and of course, GO BLAZERS!
MGB,
Who gets more minutes? Dante.
At this point, Outlaw is our backup PF and Dante looks like a harder working version of Travis. I can't wait to see what he looks like with the added weight(Mike! Please show us some pictures of BRoy and Dante tonight!). So his competition for playing time is LMA, Travis, Howard and Pendergraph. Of those guys, I think Dante could be the 2nd best. I really do think he's this season's Nico Batum.
Jerryd's competition is little more intimidating: Blake, Miller, Roy and Rudy will all be jockeying for minutes at the 1. Of them, Jerryd is probably the worst at that position. The only way I can see Rex getting any real minutes is if the Rudy/Roy starting lineup happens, and he comes in as 2nd SG, but as you pointed out, there are plenty of flaws in that plan.
Ideally, I would love to see a 2nd unit of Miller, Bayless, Batum, Cunningham, and Oden, following the Roy, Rudy, Webster, LMA, Joel starting unit. If that ever happens, they should get about equal minutes.
Go Blazers.
What about Ime Udoka? If I remember right, he played a BIG role on this team when he was here before...
But maybe im wrong..... lol
Make it 11, officially! (wanted to hear Courtside Monday Night on the radio)
Stripe and HG...As soon as I started reading Mikes Blog, I began to think of the whole Comcrap/Sat. TV fiasco. I shot an email to the Blazers the first year of this issue and got an email from some Blazer Muckity-muck that assured me that it would be taken care of soon. I have to say, at year three, that it aint going to happen. No way, no how. The Blazers arent going to step up to the plate and ask for it to get done, and neither side of the issue cares a whit about it either. We, on the other hand, are stuck in the middle. It used to really tick me off, but now, after two full years, I have resigned myself to only seeing a handful of games a year.
MGB:
KP said Nate liked to use Outlaw with the small unit and at the end of the game because he can crate his own shot. Maybe that is why Nate changed his mind for now, to early to say which one will be benched.
hg
fivehundreddogs:
So you are leaving Steve clear out of both units. I not only disagree with you, but I don't think that will happen any time soon. But then what do I know?
hg
hey mike, all the media day stuff sounds great... its to bad i dont get to enjoy any of it because of the comcast deal. i was wondering if you had any info about the negotiations with comcast and directv. since comcast is not available in my area me and my friends and family only get to see a small fraction of the games we used to get bfore comcast. any info you could get me on the subject would be greatly apriciated. you and M rice rock keep up the good work GO BLAZERS!!!
hg
can you guys not get direct tv and the nba league pass? prineville and bend are still to close to portland to not get blocked out?
I live in Central Washington and just got direct tv for one reason and one reason only blazer games on nba league pass. I will be pi___d if i get the shaft but im like 300 miles away should be safe.
Go blazers
Russell379
hg
can you guys not get direct tv and the nba league pass? prineville and bend are still to close to portland to not get blocked out?
I live in Central Washington and just got direct tv for one reason and one reason only blazer games on nba league pass. I will be pi___d if i get the shaft but im like 300 miles away should be safe.
Go blazers
Russell379
It is as if the weight of promise and anticipation for this season severely slowed down the sands of time this summer. It has been an eternity since I have been able to revel in the excitement that this squad offers me. I have never looked forward to cool weather and rain so much.
The addition of 'Dre, the subtraction of Sergio, and the inking of BRoy all served to bouy my spirits and provide me my fix this off-season. I hope LMA's deal is coming soon, prior to game one would be nice, so that the team can focus on the task at hand with minimal distractions. Not that I think LaMarcus is one of those "hold my team ransom til I get my deal" kind of guys. KP has done wonders with this team since he took over, but he must get this done to give the Blazers their best opportunity to reach the promised land.
RIPCITY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Nice to see new posts from new peops,some old peops.Hope they don't get bothered by the dog and pony show again.I'll try and be sensitive,I said TRY,OK.Glad to hear somebody mention DC,I think he's gonna be a contributor.He's too smart to not see some minutes.He can pick and pop very well which is king in the NBA.And I think he will play More than poor JBAY.If DC is as physical as they say he might see more minutes at PF than we might think. Courtside time..............BLAZERSROCK
Russell379: I have NBA package and last year they blacked out all the blazers games on dish. I couldn't even watch the way games if the Blazers was playing. I cancelled Tne NBA package for this year because of that.
hg
After watching Courtside last night and all the player interviews,I concluded that we are so ready.Greg just sounded like a different person completely.He said he wants that starting job and I got a feeling he might just get it.Rice said he's been even shooting the 15 footer .LMA seems to have a great attitude,and I believe him when he says the negotiations will not affect his performance. One of the threads that connected these interviews was team players.More than a few times did I hear "I'll do whatever it takes for the team". I like that. There is a great blurb on BlazersEdge about Broy and DC.Its cool .Love dat Broy. I liked the preview of Sarges speech at opening dinner that has him telling the team"Complaining about minutes will be unnacceptable". Settin the tone early. Gotta love it. BLAZERSROCK
fivehundreddogs:
Doggone it. There you go again messing with the guard rotations and as hg notes leaving Steve out completely. He is one of our most talented, unselfish, team oriented players. This summer he has worked hard to keep in shape and get energized for the new season. We need him to help us win games as he has done in the past. Don't forget that he played with a damaged shoulder, despite the pain, just so he would help the team.
Luckily it is up to the coach to work with the rotations and combinations. And, as I have advocated before, the coach is also interested in a team effort. This means that individual needs, statistics, and egos are set aside in order for the team to operate effectively and to win games.
It is good to read that Oden has been getting ready this summer. Good for him. Good for us.
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