When the Portland Trailblazers President Larry Miller resigned to head back to Jordan Brand in the Late Summer/ Early Fall of 2012 the Portland Blazers were in the Middle of a Key Transition with One of its Star Players getting an Offer Sheet and the Drafting of a Rookie Point to run the Outfit known as the Rip City Blazers.
Fast Forward to January 2013 under the Direction of Lead Man Terry Stotts and behind a an 11-2 Record since December 10th 2012...the Rip City Blazers have been ripping up the Logo. With Wins at MSG and the Grind House in Two of the Last three Games the Blazers Opponents have taken Note of the Play and the Players in which the Blazers have assembled and put on Full Display for All Logo Head to see.
First Part of Business was the 2012 NBA Draft where they went with Weber State Point Guard and East Bay Native Damian Lillard. Lillard was not a Stretch as many in the Know had him as the Best Point in the Draft as well as a Top 3-5 Player in the 2012 NBA Draft. He has not disappointed as he was 2nd in the 2012 Sin City NBA Summer League in Scoring behind Josh Selby of the Grind House. After that he has Started for the Blazers in all 32 Games and is 2nd in Scoring (18.2 ppg) and 1st in Helpers (6.4 Assists). Lillard has stabilized the Court for Players like Small Forward Nicolas Batum (pictured Right) the Frenchman who is averaging 16 ppg, 6 rebs, and 4 assts per outing. Not to be out done is 2011-12 All-Star PF LaMarcus Aldridge aka L-Train of Seagoville, Texas (Near Big D) who is leading the Blazers in Scoring (20.6 ppg) and 2nd in Rebounding (8.6 rebs./g) and is back to his Old Self.The One Find for the Blazers and he made sort of name playing with King James for a Short Time in Cleveland is PF/C JJ Hickson. Hickson is #1 on the Blazers in Rebounding at 10.8 rebs/g and 5th in Scoring adding 12.5 ppg. Round out the Rip City Blazers Starters is Wes Matthews Jr. who is #4 on the Blazers in Scoring averaging 14.8 and dialing it p from the Land of Plenty.
The Blazers have been doing it with a Limited Bench as Rookie 2012 Lottery Pick Center Meyers Leonard and Small Forward Luke Babbitt have found themselves in the 7-Man Rotation.
Right now as we go to Press the Blazers are tied with the Denver Nuggets for 2nd in the Northwest and the way things look Rip City might have something going on after the Season ends in Mid-April 2K13...like the NBA Western Conference Playoffs. The Blazers Three Biggest 2012 Off Season Moves are paying off in matching the Batum Offer Sheet, drafting Lillard of Weber State, and signing JJ Hickson.
Note: Numbers from NBA.com
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