Ahhhh Classic Z-Bo!

So Zach Randolph returned to the Rose Garden, and in a hail of boos from the crowd, puts together one of his better performances of the season. But seriously, did anyone think he wouldn't? But unfortunately for Zach, it is the same scenario he has had his entire career, sure he had a great game, but who won? It was the stellar second half performance from Brandon Roy that woke up the Trail Blazers and led them on a mission in the second half to win this game. How often last year would we put the ball in Zach's hands and give him the shot at this, to let him lead our team. Well, I hate to say it as a former Zach supporter, but the guy is not a leader, he is selfish, and while he may say things about wishing it had been a victory for his team, does he really? I don't think so, I think he is selfish and just wants stats for himself. He was on a mission last night as well, a mission to have a great game, he wanted to come back and say, "Fuck you for trading me." Well I don't think one Blazer fan missed him at all last night, and in the shining performance of our resident All Star and the TEAM we pulled out another gritty, gutsy, come from behind win.

I am not going to link to the Oregonians article, it says basically what I just have. But I do want to share Martell Webster's quote from last night:

"This is something amazing, something special," Martell Webster said. "It is history in the making, a sign of a new era. A team that has totally changed, that has gone 180 (degrees) from where it used to be. Everything is looking up now, the future is bright. We have two great players on our team who are representing us in All-Star weekend, and that is something the fans have been wanting. Something positive, something to go home and talk to their friends about. That's what we want to bring, and that's what we have been doing."

I think that is one of the most profound and clearest ways to describe this franchise I have ever read. Martell summed up everything surrounding Portland this basketball season. Ladies and gentlemen I feel he has finally 'gotten' it. We can talk about the play of Roy, we can talk about the late game heroics of Outlaw, we can talk about Aldridge, Blake, James Jones, Joel Przybilla, and they are all very key pieces in all of this and worthy of praise (or boos depending on who you talk to..... Nat!). But I think one of the most underrated players on this team and in the league is Webster. He doesn't necessarily have flashy stats, he is not always an offensive juggernaut, but as I discussed in my earlier piece about Roy, Martell brings a lot of intangibles to this team. He is a solid rebounder, great shooter, mucks up the passing lanes, plays good team D, but most of all I have seen so much growth in his defense over the past couple of months.

I am becoming more and more impressed with this kid, and think he will blossom into a wonderful all around player. He is kind of looking to me like Udoka did last season, with one major difference, Martell has all the tools to become an absolute stud in this league, and it looks like maybe the biggest question mark about him is finally coming out, his mind.

And last but not least, congrats to Roy for his first NBA triple double, mark my words, it will not be his last.