Hippo The Great has provided us with the latest on Petteri Koponen. The news is good this time, The Finnagler is tearing paska up and the Blazers haven't forgotten about him after all. The latest Koponen highlights can be found here and here. Voi kyrpä!

2010 has been a very good year for Petteri Koponen so far.

Today's game was a perfect example of why not attacking the basket can lead to a let down. Without Brandon Roy for balance, and ultimately his closing abilities, the Blazers went to Washington and lost to an underrated Wizards team, 97 to 92.

This game had trouble written all over it. Washington had been playing much better since the departure of Gilbert Arenas, the team really is much better than their record indicates. Presumably they'd like nothing more than to knock Portland down a peg or two.

Even with Arenas out, Washington has two bona fide stars in Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison, they also have decent pieces with Mike Miller, Randy Foye, Andray Blatche and Brendan Haywood. Jamison was good in this game, but the Blazers really just killed themselves. Portland only made 3 of their 17 three point attempts and never really committed to getting into the paint. Despite recent successes without Brandon Roy, this was a game that Roy was much needed. Brandon would have been able to change up the offensive game plan and get easy buckets. Andre Miller tried, but the Wizards always had answers.

On the other side, Washington was aggressive and a little lucky, getting to the line 28 times (12 more than the Blazers) and converting 25 of them. That was really the key.

Despite poor 3-point shooting and lack of penetration, Portland was still in the game. Up until the last few minutes at least. A glaring weakness was shown as the team more or less stood on the perimeter, simply passing the ball around the 3-point line. No one seemed to be able to get an open look or find anyone cutting. The offense was stagnant and seriously lacking in the closer department. We will need Roy on Wednesday.

Another red flag in this game was the role reversal in how each team was perceived. In most cases, a Roy-less Blazer squad is given no chance to win. They usually come out aggressive and hungry. Take the Spurs and Magic games for example- The Blazers pushed it throughout, led most of the game, and finished things up well before time expired. They never really needed Brandon because guys shot the ball well and there was no need for a finisher. Games like this make everyone appreciate Brandon that much more.

The Blazers have a few more interesting games on this road trip. Philly has a bad record and just lost to Minnesota today, but they always play the Blazers tough, including a fairly impressive win in the Rose Garden in December. Boston has lost 3 of their last 4, but are still obviously the upper echelon in the East. Then of course Detroit on Saturday, they are as inconsistent as they come and the Blazers must be locked in for these road games.

Today was by no means devastating, but it showed how important Brandon Roy is, how bad falling in love with the three can be, and that games during work hours are simply not acceptable. I'll be having a talk with the man in charge about getting it off next year.

Box Score

3 for 17 from deep is just devastating to a game plan. LaMarcus unable to clutch up despite good numbers. Making 10 less free throws than Washington and attempting 12 less. Not good. Allowing Antawn Jamison all kinds of freedom to shred our defense.

Andre Miller was spectacular in the 2nd half, too bad about foul trouble in the first. Bayless did have 8 assists, that's good even if most were just kick outs to jump shooters. LA had a career high 15 rebounds(9 offensive) without even trying. Imagine if he was committed. Steve Blake continues being aggressive and contributing off the bench. Getting Roy for Foye on draft day 2006. Still feels good.

I’m not sure where the old sports saying “players win games, coaches lose games” originally came from. It has long been a tired cliché used to illustrate the thankless nature of the coaching profession. It’s appeared in basketball movies from Hoosiers to Eddie. (Shout out to the Eddie Franklin aficionados over at Rip City Project.) Wherever it came from I think most of us generally accept the belief that coaches take the blame for losses and players take the praise for wins. If you’ve been following the Trailblazer for the last few years it would be hard not to.

There is a persistent “Fire Nate” contingency out there. You can’t get too far on many blog posts before finding them in the comments. After McMillan and Andre Miller had their shouting match this poll appeared and let some people articulate just how horrible of a coach McMillan is.

It's hard to know if those in support of firing McMillan are any larger in numbers than exist for most coaches in the League. Everyone complains about everything on the internet, plus people who say things the loudest can look bigger than they really are. I can say that when I've found myself in random Blazers conversations with strangers the idea that Nate is a problem seems to come up fairly often. It all seems a little strange for a team that is mostly winning.

Of course, the Fire Nate people are somewhat quieter during the wins. My Dad is among them, and I've listened to him make several convincing arguments that Nate is not ultimately the best fit for the talent on Portland's roster. Yeah, he is too inflexible sometimes. I agree, he should have been letting Andre Miller be the starting point guard from the beginning. Seriously, what is up with always pulling players that pick up a few fouls in the first half? Let them learn how to deal with that! Yes, this offense is bland and limited; this team needs a new system to get the most out of their talent. Why not run more? Why not MOVE more? Show Nate the door!

As convincing as these arguments are to me, their influence is undone when I notice other perspectives. The Blazers are usually around the top of the list in scoring rate after timeouts; which says something for Nate’s X’s and O’s ability. McMillan is a coach for Team USA; that says something about the respect he has amongst his peers. Most importantly though is that this team seems to overachieve quite regularly. The coach absolutely has to have something to do with that. Maybe, just maybe, the guy knows what he’s doing after all.

Last season the Blazers won more than their experience should have allowed. This season they keep racking up victories after catching the bubonic plague of injury bugs. Most of the credit, from what I’ve seen, seems to get attributed to the players. Over and over again we talk about their “tremendous heart” that creates such success. I’m not saying that is wrong, I’m just saying that the coach has something to do with this too. This team succeeds in part because of Nate, not in spite of him.

Are the Nate criticisms just the old cliché be proven? I think so. Having a roster loaded with very impressive and likeable talent probably makes the old saying even more pronounced. These players are so good and so hardworking that the losses can’t be their fault. I love this roster and I totally understand the attractiveness of that sentiment. In reality, Nate continues to have success with this team.

With all of that off my chest I can add that Nate’s real test is still hanging on the horizon. When the whole of Portland’s talent is healthy can he figure out how to make it work on the court? The answer to that question will also be the answer to whether McMillan is ultimately the right coach for this team or not. Until then, sit back and enjoy the overachieving.

UPDATE: Brandon Roy will not play today. Probably a good thing.

Washington Wizards coverage at Agent Dagger, Fight for Old DC and Truth About It.

With Friday's victory over the Orlando Magic, the Portland Trail Blazers are now an improbable 25-16. With the deluge of injuries within the first two months of the season, this record is nothing short of amazing.

How has this happened and who gets the credit?

Surely one could argue that Nate McMillan and his coaching staff get much of the credit. They have maintained a system and style of play that enables them to plug in any player off the bench when someone else has gone down. One could also suggest that Brandon Roy has been playing elite basketball and has literally carried this team through crisis with numerous Super Star performances. Equally as important have been the great contributions from unlikely role players such as Juwan Howard, Jeff Pendergraph and Dante Cunningham, who night in and night out come in to add much needed hustle, scrap and heart when the team needs it.

No doubt there are a number of players who could be pinned as the Reason the Blazers have been winning, however one who is impossible to dismiss in the conversation is Martell Webster, who in the last 15 games, has been playing arguably the best basketball of his young career.

I went back through all of the game logs this season and looked at Webster's individual contributions each game. Overall, Webster is averaging 21.8 minutes and is shooting roughly 40%. Not surprisingly, he was not making many meaningful contributions to start the season. This could be attributed to a number of factors, not the least of which being his return from a year off due to injury. Some said he was rusty, and I think that is a fair assumption. Nevertheless, through the first ten games, Webster averaged just 7.5 points and roughly 2 rebounds per game and seemed out of sync with the rest of the team. One trend I feel is important to note- his minutes increased when he was rebounding more (majority defensive rebounds), even when not scoring more than his average. This leads me to believe he was rewarded with increased minutes for energetic play on the defensive end. The problem was that he did not consistently deliver on offense or defense. Webster appeared to have trouble stringing together consecutive productive games to begin the season.

Now, consider the most recent sixteen games. The Blazers are 11-5 and Webster has seemingly found his stroke, averaging 14 points per game, scoring more than 10 points in 11 of these games. From the three point line Webster has been remarkable as well, making a total of 35 threes and shooting roughly 39% overall from the arc. He is also dishing out more assists, suggesting he is playing an active role in the offense. Equally as impressive, his rebounding numbers are up, averaging 5.6 rebounds a game- something the team sorely needs.

Webster is earning increased minutes, and noticeably more minutes in the fourth quarter, where previously to begin the season he would have seen those fourth quarter minutes given to someone else. This may have to do with his hustle on the boards and increased defensive efficiency. Not normally recognized as a defensive stopper, he has played outstanding defense on many top tier players in the last 15-20 games, using energy and sound execution to force the opposing player to take more shot attempts. His minutes have increased no doubt because they have to, considering the limited number of healthy and active players available. But McMillan has shown he will not play one who is undeserving, even with the current dilapidated squad. Plain and simple, Webster is playing well and his increased playing time is a show of confidence from his coach.

Outside the numbers, Martell is bursting with confidence and he just seems to get it. Perhaps his great play has boosted his self-assurance; maybe he is becoming more mature. Whatever the cause may be, he is now carrying himself as if he has always been an important contributor. On the court he seems less spastic; he is maintaining his characteristic high energy level and channeling that energy in a controlled way, rather than running around jacking up shots like a kid who ran out of Ritalin. Webster has been playing focused, diligent, in-tune and patient, something the Blazers regularly need from him.

Going forward, the question is whether Webster can continue his recent level of play, or if he will return to the sporadic shooter and confused defender that we are accustomed to. Will Webster's energy on the defensive end begin to ebb once his jumper stops falling? Can he continue to rebound aggressively even if he is playing fewer minutes? Only time will tell. One thing is for certain, the Blazers will need Webster to remain consistent, as the next few months will bring added players into the rotation which will most likely change his role.

Sophia Brugato | Twitter: @sophiabiabia | s.brugato(at)gmail(dot)com

I don't know how they keep doing it. For the second time this season, in a game without Brandon Roy against a formidable foe, the Blazers "other" guys got it done. The Magic looked flat and addicted to the three, causing serious droughts in their offense. Almost every Blazer player seemed to contribute, and the Blazers never let Orlando into this game.

Orlando's demise hinged on a few correlating issues. They relied so heavily on the three point shot and never committed to Dwight Howard in the post against Portland's undersized front court. The Magic were a dismal 7 of 30 from the three point line and Dwight Howard only took 7 shots. Orlando has been bad lately, but this was one of their worst outings. The Blazers effort blew Orlando away, they never had a chance against this Roy-less squad.

The Blazers did a fair amount of their damage from the 3-point line, shooting 52% on 11 of 21 shooting. Every Blazer player besides Bayless, was outstanding in this one. Andre Miller and Steve Blake combined to run and shoot Portland to victory. Martell Webster was once again spectacular with 5 threes, LaMarcus Aldridge was committed and focused, grabbing 11 rebounds in the first half. Then of course Juwan Howard helped keep Dwight Howard in check, and Jeff Pendergraph continues to shine in limited minutes. Great win for the Blazers.

Box Score

Bayless not stepping up (under 30% shooting since Xmas) Roy still questionable for next game Magic signing Brandon Bass but not playing him (we'll take him!) Chalupa chant is getting out of hand	Martell averaging 18.9 ppg and 6.7 rpg in 2010 Dre averaging 18.6 ppg and 8apg in 2010 Blazers 2-0 this year without Roy Blake 7-12 from 3 since coming back LA first half double double Fans donating 65k to Haiti

At tonight's Blazer game, you can help contribute to the Haiti relief efforts by donating to Mercy Corps. Here's the Blazers release on the donation process:

TRAIL BLAZERS, MERCY CORPS TO HOST COLLECTION FOR HAITI EARTHQUAKE RESPONSE TONIGHT

Fans can donate cash or checks during ingress of Trail Blazers vs. Magic

WHO: Portland Trail Blazers and Mercy Corps

WHAT: The Trail Blazers are partnering with Mercy Corps to respond to the urgent need for disaster relief following the devastating 7.0 earthquake that struck Haiti near Port-au-Prince this week, leveling much of the city including at least one hospital. Mercy Corps is deploying an emergency response team to help survivors.

Fans can donate cash or make checks payable to the Mercy Corps to help with this effort. The Trail Blazers will match all donations made, up to $10,000. Volunteers will collect donations during ingress. For more information, please visit www.trailblazers.com or mercycorps.org/haiti.

WHEN: Tonight, Friday, January 15
During ingress of Portland's matchup with Orlando (doors open at 6 p.m.)

WHERE: All Rose Garden main entries

Also, if you're unable to go to the game and need an easy way to donate, the Red Cross has set-up a text-to-donate option. Just text HAITI to 90999 and it will automatically deduct an authorized $10 from your cell phone account. More information can be found at the Red Cross Blog.

What?!? Don't worry, Sheed will be back. In the meantime he has asked me to soil the shakedown with my Deceptively Quick fingers. That photo is me going to see Avatar for the second time. That handsome gentleman next to me is the Turk to my J.D. (Scrubs reference, I never left 2002) and prominent Cove Orchard resident Anjel Benavides. He enjoys Chevrolets, knives, and other hick stuff. I include him here with the hope that he will be humiliated, because that is how heterosexual males express their love for each other in our culture. When I finally invent the time machine I will travel back to Lincoln’s era where I will be free to express my love for another man in romantic poetry. Until then insults and humiliation will have to do. Also, nice to have a little diversity at Bust a Bucket, am I right? I mean sheesh, Sheed, it’s 2010, you know? On we go!

The Magic have struggled on the road lately and are coming off a loss in Denver. Some of their big pieces have been under performing. At the same time, we never know exactly what to expect from this Blazers team. I'm hoping that the Rose Garden will be the difference and Portland picks up the win tonight.

This entry comes more from my heart than my head. Patty Mills could be a mostly inconsequential piece of Portland’s future. Team success probably doesn’t hinge on whether Mills is developed and integrated into an important role. I want to talk about him anyways, because it’s sad to see history repeat itself when the outcome is wasted talent. If delving into the Gamma Quadrant of the Blazers’ Universe isn’t your thing, keep it moving. Relevance bias is not welcome here.

It’s still too early to tell for sure if Portland is marching Patty Mills towards basketball obscurity. They signed him as an injured second round pick that had yet to play an NBA game, a huge vote of confidence. Still, after hearing that Mills was being sent back to the D-League I couldn’t help but connect him to a former Blazer that I’ve never been able to entirely let go of: Taurean Green.

These are two totally different types of players that manage to share many qualities. Both point-guards. Both knocked in the draft for their size. Both with panache creating pre-NBA accomplishments: Green with two national championships at the University of Florida, Mills with his dissecting of Team USA in the Olympics. And of course, both drafted in the second round by your Portland Trailblazers.

The similarities don’t end there. Portland sent Green to the D-League too. He played four games with the Idaho Stampede and averaged 19.3 points, 9.8 assists, 5.3 rebounds, and 2 steals. So far Mills has dominated the D-League much like Green did, to the point where many are thinking that he is clearly cut out for more. We thought the same with Green. Taurean wasn’t the mythical point guard of the future either, but maybe he was the backup of the future. Remember this little quote?

"I think Taurean Green is going to win us three or four games for us this year," McMillan said. "I do."

How did it all turn out for Green? Most of you probably don’t recall, which is a better answer than I can provide. Five months after that endorsement from Nate McMillan Green was traded to Denver for Von Wafer. After the season the Nuggets traded him to the Knicks, who waived him.

Green’s next stop was Spain’s ACB League. He then popped up on Chicago’s summer league team in 2009, where he did nothing to distinguish himself in limited minutes. Player development guru David Thorpe tweeted this:

“Taurean Green is an NBA player, in my mind. But I'm not sure he thinks so. He's lost some swagger.”

A loss of confidence can reduce any player to dust. For one fighting the “too small” knock that is already on the outside looking in, well, the NBA just isn’t going to happen. The last I heard of Green he was in Greece playing for a team that could fold at any moment.

This doesn’t mean that there is no escape for Mills. His destiny doesn’t necessary include diminished confidence and shaky-Euro clubs. He does have some things going for him that Green never did. He has notable speed and offensive skills that are especially valuable in today’s NBA. He also gets to be the man on his national team, and killing on a national team, especially against Team USA, is enough to get you additional NBA chances. (Shout out to my man Pepe Sanchez.)

Still, I can’t shake the similarities. Will Portland make room for Mills and give him a chance to grow? Or will they simply trade him away to satisfy some minor short-term need? So far the sad pattern is repeating itself. But the thing about the Gamma Quadrant is that there’s always a wormhole waiting to take you back to where you want to be. You just have to find it.

Photo from Krizzikinz on Twitter, who happened to win courtside seats from the Tweet-up.

Despite giving away much of a 33-point second half lead to the Bucks last night, Portland righted the ship in the fourth quarter, beating Milwaukee 120 to 108.

On a night where Rudy Fernandez returned to a monstrous ovation, the Blazers led by as many as 33 points, and shot a ridiculous 60% from the field, this game was out of hand early in the first half. Both teams spent the first few minutes shaking a little rust, but before we knew it, Portland had built a 31-16 first quarter lead and never looked back. Milwaukee's defense could not handle Brandon Roy and company. They allowed every Blazer player open looks without much resistance.

By the time the end of the third quarter came around, it was almost as though the Blazers were up by too much. In the NBA, no lead is really safe. But many of the bench players were in to finish off the game and I blame a lot of a 4-5 minute stretch of no field goals on the "Chalupa chant." I mean seriously, when your team is up by at least 20, and the home team has 97 points, they are not going to come down and fire threes just to get Chalupas. The Chalupa cheers should come after 100, not before. Don't jinx them! I'd also like to see Blazer stats at home when the score is within 1, 2, or 3 of 100 points. I bet Portland is shooting 19%?

Overall it was a solid victory and the rout that Portland needed. The Blazers haven't had an easy win in a while and this is just a warm-up for Orlando at home tomorrow and an East Coast road trip next week. Solid work all around for the Blazers.

Box Score

The Good

Anytime a team shoots 60% from the floor that's a good thing. When you look at the box score, every starter literally shot 60% from the floor as well. It bodes well for Portland if every player is finding a rhythm offensively, because there will be games where other guys must step up and score with Brandon doubled or LaMarcus having an off night.

Rudy Fernandez came back last night, and when he checked in, the crowd went ballistic. I'm pretty sure Portland loves Rudy. It's almost unsafe, I watched more than a few people completely lose their minds when they saw him. If I didn't know any better, I'd think he's more popular than Brandon Roy.

Jeff Pendergraph continues to impress me. It's really amazing how he flawlessly transitioned into his rookie year, following hip surgery, and now just seems to fit in. From the pregame huddle dance to the toughness on the floor, Jeff is finding a nice niche on this team. Last night especially, we saw him get even more comfortable on this team. Defensively he flew around and had 2 blocked shots, while on offense he had a baseline fade-away jumper and even hit a deep, top of the key jumper. The guy looks good, his shot feels good, I like his chances. Tremendous effort.

The Bad

The only bad came for Portland in the fourth quarter. With the game nearly out of reach, Milwaukee began to press Jerryd Bayless and Steve Blake with much success. Bayless seemed confused and disoriented by this tactic and it led to the minor meltdown in that final period. Fortunately, Nate had enough and put Andre Miller back in. Miller broke the double team every time, found the open man, and eventually put the game back out of reach. Miller proved once again his worth to the team last night, he is fitting in nicely. Naysayers need to pay attention to Andre, he's quietly doing everything right.

The Ugly

Woah, look at this gem. a 2 for 1 in this department! Really though, from my vantage point last night, Andrew Bogut is HUGE. He looks like the giant from Princess Bride compared to the rest of the players on both teams. Fortunately Portland held him in check tonight.