| 12 November 2009
For the past few months we’ve all heard about the Portland Trail Blazers depth, a second unit ready to give any starting five in the league a run for their money.
Nate McMillan’s talked about it.
Kevin Pritchard’s talked about it.
Brandon Roy’s talked about it.
On Wednesday night in Minnesota, we finally saw it.
Martell Webster had 16 points, going 4-4 from the line. Rudy Fernandez was right behind him shooting 5-9 from the field on his way to a 15 point outing. A homecoming of sorts for Joel Przybilla left him defensive with 11 rebounds, 4 blocked shots and 3 points. Travis Outlaw nearly broke double-digits. He finished with 9 points, while Jerryd Bayless (7 points) made the most of his 12 minutes.
If only Dante Cunningham had scored or Juwan Howard touched the floor with a bucket, it would have been a clean sweep for the second unit.
Even if this was a single win against a team with only a single season win in Minnesota (perhaps the worst team in basketball next to the New Jersey Nets?), Portland really is building a case for boasting one of the best benches in the league. Dare we even say the best?
Boston, Miami, Phoenix and the Los Angeles Lakers may argue otherwise.
Obviously this is not a lone game debate. Over the course of the season, timely scoring and an aggressive approach on the other end from Fernandez, Webster and Outlaw, defensive stops and glass cleaning from Przybilla, and Bayless showcasing why he’s the “Human Can of Red Bull” could sway the argument in Portland’s favor.
And winning helps. That always helps.
Call them the “white unit” if you will. But they just may start to go by another name if they keep this up.
Looking Ahead To New Orleans
All Byron Scott did as a head coach was win. He turned around the New Jersey Nets and did the same with the New Orleans Hornets, being named NBA Coach of the Year in 2007-08.
But this is a professional - at least for head coaches - often based upon an old school Janet Jackson mantra: what have you done for me lately.
At 3-6, all New Orleans has done lately is lose.
The Hornets fired Scott today, leaving General Manager Jeff Bower's to take over as interim head coach. The team also brought back former Chicago Bulls and one-time Hornets head coach Tim Floyd as an assistant.
P.J. Brown is said to be also joining the team as an assistant coach.
But now you have to wonder if the Hornets will indeed heavily search for Scott's replacement during Bower's lameduck sideline status. Is Floyd eventually taking over - again?
Or will ownership and Bower's come looking Monty Williams' way.
The Blazers prized assistant coach was said to have had a solid interview with Minnesota over the summer, and it wouldn't be a shock if Williams was once again on a teams head coaching radar.
Nothing has been said. Nothing has been reported. It's a simple question. Is Williams ready to lead his own team?
Portland takes on the Scott-less Hornets tomorrow night in New Orelans.
photo: oregonlive/ the one and only bruce ely
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