I think right now, Nic is NBA-ready defensively. I really do," McMillan said. "I think his feet are good and his positioning is pretty good. What he has to learn is about the hand-checking and all that. But for a young guy coming into this league, he defends well. Not only is he on the perimeter guarding, but he is blocking shots, he's getting offensive and defensive boards, he's starting fast breaks. He has a lot of talent. I like him. He's smooth. Really smooth.

"I have been given strong, strong, strong indications that the player that will make the Blazer's roster is Steven hill" - Jason Quick

MIles Playing on NBAtv with boston

Excerpts from John Hollinger's chat on ESPN.com. These were the two main questions regarding our Blazers. They both refer to Hollinger's preseason prediction of the Blazers, here:

Oden (Rose Garden): You know I have enough chips on my shoulder right? But to say my presence this season is good for a one game difference from last season? Now I have a buffalo chip on my shoulder!

John Hollinger: Lots of Blazers fans complaining about the projection. Here's the disconnect: If Oden had been out fo this season too, how many games would you have Portland pegged to win? My answer would be in the low-to-mid-30s. So saying Oden adds only one win is putting words in my mouth -- it's more like he offsets what otherwise would have been a regression.

Rudy (Portland, OR): Portland would be a 30-win team without Oden??? Wow! I'm pretty sure they were a 41-win team without Oden last year!!! And they young core of talent is a year older, wiser, and better. And they are arguably the deepest team in the NBA. They would eclipse their mark from last year again this year without Oden, and with him, they'll easily win atleast 48-50.

John Hollinger: I think a lot of Blazer fans think that way, which is why I brought the point up. They're excited about the young guards, and so am I -- but rookie guards normally struggle, and they're replacing two productive players in Jack and Jones. They're excited about the other young guys, but Portland also got unusually strong years from a couple older guys (Blake, Pzybilla) that aren't likely to repeat, and whlle they had a few injuries they were more healthy than most. They also had the point differential of a 37-win team, not a 41. So that's where the disparity is between what a lot of Blazer fans project and what I'm projecting.

Source: Boston. com

Miles making gains with Celtics
Darius Miles made a breakthrough Friday, practicing for the fourth successive day for the first time since undergoing microsurgery on his right knee two years ago. If Miles continues to progress, he could play a major part in the Celtics' eight-game exhibition schedule.

"Before practice, [Miles] was thinking about shutting it down for a day, but he was encouraged to practice and I thought he had maybe his best practice so far," said coach Doc Rivers.

Miles, who turns 27 Thursday, the day after the Celtics play Philadelphia in Amherst, Mass., in their exhibition opener, has not played a regular-season game since 2006 with Portland. He will be suspended for the first 10 games of the regular season after violating the league's drug policy at the end of last season.

"I usually go two or three hard days and take a day off, just to be real cautious with the knee," Miles said. "I wanted to practice every day, if I can. I don't want to miss learning anything. This is my first time playing four days in a row and I felt good. I just kept trying to stretch it and stay loose. I felt better than I did [Thursday]."

Miles was going full speed late in Friday's 2½-hour practice, missing a dunk off the back of the rim in a half-court set, then stuffing on a spectacular fast break. Miles has mostly been used at power forward, often matching up against Glen Davis.
Boston.com

"From what I’ve seen, he allowed Steve Nash to dribble the ball for 22 seconds," Marbury said. "He allows guys to shoot coming down on the break, one-on-three. For me, I like that style of basketball." - Stephon Marbury, misinterpreting Mike D'Antoni's playing style (on purpose in order to get waived?)

Not sure if anyone knows the answer to this question, but if I have 2 tickets to a game for a significant other and myself, would I need to purchase an additional ticket for a baby?

50 Greatest Charles Barkley Quotes (not necessarily in order and some with PG-13 language)

25. After Kevin Garnett threw a ball into the crowd out of frustration and was ejected, they showed footage of the man that got hit by the ball being taken away in a stretcher and his daughter was crying. Charles commented that players take passes to the face all the time. He topped it off by saying: "You know why that little girl's crying? It's because she's thinking 'my daddy's a wussy'".

A half-dozen ladies were swimming (not really), playing volleyball (sort of), and spanking each other (literally) in the pool. "I'd jump in myself, but there's too many camera phones," explains Greg Oden, who might not be old enough to drink, but "I'm definitely old enough to talk to people wearing bunny ears with a Red Bull in my hand. Definitely."

Sam Smith Q&A on MSNBC.com:

Q: Will the acquisition of Jerryd Bayless and the signing of Rudy Fernandez, along with a healthy Greg Oden, make Portland a dominant force in the Western Conference?
— Adam Bray, Reidsville, N.C.

A: It could. Summer league means nothing. Less than nothing. Nothing that ever has happened there has mattered. But Bayless has looked very good and the way Brandon Roy pretty much plays point guard in the fourth quarter means Bayless could play with him and they wouldn't need a classic point guard. Obviously, a healthy Oden is the key and no one has seen him play yet. I'd say dominant for next season is a little premature given their youth, but perhaps in a season or two. You have to like their team.