Blazers primed for beginning of their 2009-10 season
TUALATIN, Ore. — Portland Trail Blazers centers Greg Oden and Joel Przybilla banged up against an assistant coach who was wearing thick protective padding, practicing jump shots and slamming home dunks in the lane.
Blazers point guards Steve Blake and Andre Miller traded long-range jumpers with 3-point bombs.
And Portland coach Nate McMillan watched it all, surveying the field and taking stock Monday as his team ran through its final preseason practice.
The Blazers officially open their 2009-10 campaign tonight, when they host the Houston Rockets at 7 at the Rose Garden.
“It counts,” McMillan said.
And while Oden and Przybilla banged away in the paint, and Blake and Miller bombed away from deep, a message was sent: The show must go on.
Yes, the loss of starting forward Nicolas Batum to shoulder surgery was a sudden, unexpected blow. But the Blazers assembled a deep roster for a reason. And the team feels strongly it can overcome Batum’s departure and still reach its lofty goals, which include winning the Northwest Division title and making a return trip to the playoffs.
“We know what we’ve got to do as a team,” Przybilla said Monday, following a workout at the team’s practice facility. “We’ve got guys who’ve been working hard all offseason and in training camp, and they’re going to be ready to step in and take control. … We’re comfortable with everyone on this team that they can do the job.”
McMillan and Blazers guard Brandon Roy said the same, as they made final preparations before facing a Rockets squad that knocked them out of the first round of the 2009 playoffs.
“It’s going to be a great challenge,” Roy said. “Because they’re going to bring it, and that’s the only way that they know how to play. So, I’m interested to see how we respond. I know guys are looking forward to it.”
This year’s Rockets begin the season without center Yao Ming and guard Tracy McGrady in the starting lineup. However, a small, fiery Houston team is expected to counter the subtractions by pushing the tempo and running whenever possible. Thus, a Blazers squad that placed a renewed emphasis on defense throughout the preseason should face its first major defensive test tonight.
“That’s got to be one of the areas that we do a good job, in controlling transition against them,” McMillan said. “That’s where they’ve got to go to now, is to get out and run and spread the floor. That’s part of the game plan.”
