| 12 April 2009
The Portland Trail Blazers.
A young team going places, that's for sure.
They've shown remarkable insight in assembling a roster that's the envy of 90% of the Association, and possess a front office and ownership that's eager to improve the team in any way possible. But every now and then, some of the decisions made by the people steering the franchise leave much to be desired. The entire Darius Miles affair blew itself out of proportions largely due to an attempt by Portland into scaring the rest of the league into inaction (something that didn't work). Quite simply, a classless move by an organisation that since the dire "Jail Blazer" era has generally prided itself (rightly so) on doing things "the right way".
On a much smaller scale, the decision they made to play a clip of Trevor Ariza's flagrant foul on Rudy Fernandez was deplorable. League rules prohibit the replaying of flagrant fouls, altercations or hard physical contact from previous games... yet someone somewhere along the chain of command at Portland chose to ignore this ruling.
Phil Jackson's displeased, and I know that Phil has more than a penchance for mindgames - but in this case I think all-in-all, he's right. I just hope it doesn't get an over-reaction... tho' to be honest I'm not really sure what action - if any - the league should take.
Look, I think that Ariza deserved boos from the Rose Garden crowd... but the Blazers chose to play the clip in an effort to incite the crowd. The NBA clearly states that playing clips such as the foul on Fernandez are off limits.
There is definitely a place for showing good, hard play in a pre-game amping up of the crowd... but clips should be focusing on tough play by the Blazers (in this case). Not highlighting a foul that very nearly ended up in a serious injury. Playing this clip served no other purpose than to vilify Ariza and the Lakers (not that that needs a lot of work in Portland!), and incite the crowd.
And on that, Portland should know better.
For a take on it from the other side (Portland's), take a walk over to Bust-a-Bucket, who are reacting to the same complaint from Phil.
