PTB PTB PTB

Every one talks about the Blazers and by everyone I mean everyone. Blazer themed bingo is being played at the local VFW's. Yo La Tengo is producing an album of prosaic albums with a song dedicated to each and every player. LaMarcus's track is titled "Down Jumper" and goes a little like this:

Waft it up unknown young man
Arc along the gravitational pull
While we wait most patiently
To slip away, slip away
Through silken shreds of net.
Hook 'em horns.
Hook 'em horns.

Earlier this evening, Bryan pointed to a decisive Blazer victory over the awfully incumbent Spurs as a road sign towards coronation. First and foremost, let me state that this is a fantastic team that piques the imagination with intrigue, but therein lies the problem. Desire to like the Blazers is so strong confuses potential with production.

Potential is the foremost reason behind my ardent sports fanhood. Seeing a glimmer of ability or flash of greatness, I am coaxed to extrapolate the potential in its greatest form. One great play can make me think, no, BELIEVE a certain player is destined to be something special. This temptation caused me to worship certain players and teams- most notably former Lions WR Roy Williams and Clipper teams from the early part of this decade.

Imagining them fulfilling every iota of potential allows me to do the same within myself, thus casting Joel Walkowski in a heroic mold.

However enjoyable, hinging belief on potential is a barrellfull of belly aches. Andrew Bogut and Marvin Williams are two stellar players but each was picked over the far superior Chris Paul and Deron Williams (I'd love to snub here but can't). Marvin and Bogut play with magic in their soles, but only once in a blue moon. But that doesn't matter. Visions of an offensive revolution centering on a center averaging 6 assists and 12 rebounds and T-Mac redux, stirred the rationales that begat rueful clouds over Mil and Atl. Though it works out for the best as two NBA-meager cities don't deserve such talents.

I know Roy is good but he isn't great. He scores, makes his teammates better, and is a likable guy. Aldridge is a steel-solid big who plays more like Mehmet Okur than anyone cares to realize. Speckle in the spectre of Oden, and the mashup bunch of Martell, Rudy, Bayless, Outlaw, And Joely P under the helm of McMillan and you've got a title contender right? Well maybe... I could certainly see this team erupting into the stratosphere of champions but there exists the chance that the team will stay mired in mediocrity.

It is hard to argue against the potential but the same was true in the case of Clippers. The Clip Show was an underground phenomenon before the onset of the blogosphere. Those in the basketball know treated the Clippers like a secret handshake. IIn the heyday of AI and Shaq the league was in a bit of a doldrums. No intrigue existed in the marquee and the Clips potential was positively salvitable. Darius Miles could fly and drive with the best of them, no one had ever seen a creature like Odom before, and Corey Maggette had all the makings of the greatest 6th man of all time. The prospect of Q-Rich hoisting jumpers and an unburdened Olowakandi becoming a legit big made the Clippers one of the most exciting young teams in NBA history. Though they had yet to prove successful, they were surely ascending. I spent allowance on Darius Miles autographs and my friends and I deemed the Clippers "off-limits" in driveway reenactments of future playoffs because no one could properly capture their essence.

Then they traded the second overall pick for Elton Brand, the quintessential low post scorer and leader that would pull the team together. A core of talented under 23 youngs made both dreamers and believers. A red and white banner would surely hang in the raftered sea of purple and gold before I graduated college.

What happened? Nothing much. Aside from the tragically immature Miles none of the players turned into busts (to this day I will argue that if properly harnessed Miles would have been Garald Wallace + 2). Brand was a consistent 20/10 guy, Odom filled the stat sheet, but it never translated to wins. The wealth of raw potential turned into a dystopic mush of cellar dwelling.

The current incarnation of the Blazers tantalizes in a similar manner. Yes, they are young and talented but that is never enough. If the Blazers stay at their current level they'll contend for the playoffs for the years. If either Oden or Roy turn into superstars they'll transmogrify into contenders. Hell, if anyone outside the big three turns into a near All-Start caliber player they'll fight for supremacy. This is all possible and predictable but ordained by no means.

The team, sifted from Jail Blazer wreckage, is ingeniously built by GM Kevin Pritchard but constucted on a gamble nonetheless. The orthodox argument is that GOAD the Monolith and Roy the IPOD idol are predisposed to injury and accompanying "What Ifs?" This is cause for concern and with nothing to be done about fate, leaves the search for an identity as the biggest threat facing thaze Blazez. Throwing together a slasher, Spaniard, oversized jumpshooter, and the next Russell could mesh like Widow's web or clash like Widow's mating.

Disshevelment can be abided and even strategically implemented by a veteran team like the Rockets but could undo a young team. The struggle to get mine undermines the non-smoker in every profession and basketball is no exception. Highly touted and semi-proven, they carry the expectation of superstar. What happens when winning and personal success come to head as they inevitably will. They seem like cool cats and are welcome to a house party anytime they chance to visit the greater Los Angeles area. I don't know how persuasive McMillan is but as a mid-20's wanna be ascender in a competetive field I forsee the worries within myself. "How does this help me?" "How does this fuck me?" "What the hell is this supposed to do?" Outlaw signals further ego-derived foibles that could potentially derail this team.

I like this team and wish them great thing but what happens when LaMarcus gets snubbed from his third All-Star game. Further more, what happens if the team ends up as not-quite good enough. If history is any indication, expect a trade for Andre Miller or coalescian along Dumarsian contours. The Great Narrative has plans for the Blazers, let's sit back and enjoy the ride without marring it with our mantles.

Basketball induces unbridled optimism in me. I can't help but play pretend. As a Pistons fan I do a lot of pretending so it works out well that way. (Back to back championships in 04 AND 05 BITCHES!) Used to the core of Rashedd, Chauncey, Rip, and Tay, young players possess irresistable allure. Weeks have been spent in quiet contemplation of Amir Johnson and Rodney Stuckey. Amir is so often discussed he, like the Blazers, becomes great via Q rating. He runs the floor, blocks shots, and has a lot of life ahead of him. Could he be Josh Smith? Stuckey has the gumption of Wade and the will to bend an ancient team to his whims. As the spark plug of last year's playoff run he prompted me to proclaim him as a surefire future all-star.

Over the summer I heard reports of increased minutes and dominance of the Olympic B squad. The ballon should have been swelling.

Last week, Bryan asked about Stuckey. "He's a perfect sixth man, maybe a fring all-star."
This was decried by my compatriot. Though he could (AND WILL!) carry the franchise like an oxen, it isn't etched in stars. He'll score, he'll run rampant, but only a fool would expect marriage the moment lips touch. I'll just watch it play out, thanks.