Recent Stories with tag brandon roy

We mourned Dave Niehaus last week because we'll miss the joy his considerable professional talents granted to a generation of Seattleites. But what if Niehaus had suffered some injury early in his career, rendering him unable to announce. Wouldn't that have been just as tragic?

Seattle native and NBA star Brandon Roy, who starred at Garfield High and then at the University of Washington, is facing just such a tragedy. Roy's knees, balky at the best of times, are plotting a complete work stoppage.

Roy has complained of pain all season. Blazer trainers thought Roy's meniscus, the knee cartilage that absorbs friction between the upper and lower leg bones, might be the problem. They asked a specialist whether surgery might be a good idea. Not necessary, doc said. Roy doesn't have any meniscus left to operate on.

"(It's) bone-on-bone there," Roy told The Oregonian. "It's something I'm going to have to deal with for the rest of my career."

Roy's menisci have been a chronic issue. He had surgery to repair the meniscus in his left knee 2001, as a junior at Garfield High. He tore the meniscus in his right knee in 2004, surgery to repair it cost Roy most of his junior season with Washington. Roy's left knee meniscus got another repair in 2008, just before his third season with Portland. Then, during last season's playoffs, it was his right knee's turn for a second surgery.

All season, Roy's had swelling in the knee. If you've watched Roy since his UW days, you can tell something's wrong. He doesn't have the same explosive first step that's always helped him get by defenders. He isn't elevating on his jump shot, in fact hardly elevating at all. He's mostly sitting back and attempting jumpers. He calls it "his ground game."... (more)

You may have missed it, but last night was the first of NBA season. And though Seattle doesn't have a team, the 206 was represented. Three Seattle high-school grads--of the 12 on NBA rosters--showed their stuff on opening night.

Nate Robinson (Rainier Beach, Boston Celtics) played just 10 minutes in the Celtics' win over the Threet, but he did have a suh-weet play where he pumped-faked a three, drove left around his defender to the baseline, elevated, switched hands in mid-air, twisted, and scooped a shot behind his head off the glass and in. Nate Robinson is an absolute marvel.

Brandon Roy (Garfield, Portland Trail Blazers) led the Blazers with 24 points in their win over Phoenix. The Suns didn't ever find a player who could guard Roy, who made Josh Childress look especially silly. Roy's layup with 5:05 left began a 16-1 Blazers' run to close the game. The Blazers have gotten younger and faster with the additions of guards Wes Matthews and Armon Johnson. Look out.

Aaron Brooks (Franklin, Houston Rockets) had an 18-point first-half from his starting point guard spot, but it's the shot he didn't make in the second-half that's haunting him this morning. Rockets down two, Brooks drove baseline and got to the basket, but Lamar Odom blocked his last-second shot. Rockets lost.

So what's up with the nine other Seattle-area guys? Here's a quick rundown.... (more)

Mark it down: October 14, 2010, was the beginning of the post-Sonics era of pro basketball in Seattle. Tonight the Portland Trail Blazers held an informal scrimmage at Garfield High, alma mater of their star guard Brandon Roy. Had the Blazers held such an event two years ago, it would've been a flashpoint for aggrieved Sonics fans. But last night, Sonics fans were sparse--or at least not identifying themselves. I saw plenty of Portland and UW jerseys. I even saw a Shaun Alexander replica. But not a single Sonics jersey.

Instead, the Blazers, in partnership with their fellow Vulcan-owned sister squad, the Seahawks, took baby steps toward becoming what they inevitably will become: Seattle's de facto NBA team.

It started tonight with a scrimmage attended by a few hundred in an inner-city high school gym. Next time it will be an exhibition game at KeyArena. Maybe someday a regular-season game or two. And as young Seattleites with no memory of the Sonics grow up, they'll naturally adopt the team that's barely a three-hour drive away--just as Portlanders long ago adopted the Mariners and Seahawks.... (more)

Thought it would be fun to mark the high and low points for our local sports teams this decade. Today: Husky basketball! I have a low point, but am not going to do "worst" for college players, that's weak.

Unadulterated High Point: March 13, 2005. The Huskies are awarded a #1-seed in the NCAA Tournament. Hard to understate the amazement that this caused, to see the Dawgs get a designation usually reserved for the Dukes and UConns of the world. Watch the reaction of the fans who gathered at HecEd to view the selection show that day.

Low Point Which Turned into a High Point: January 17, 2004 (second half). In the second year of Lorenzo Romar's tenure, his clearly talented Huskies started the conference season 0-5, and were down 16 points to Oregon State with 6:40 left. It appeared that UW had the wrong coach, that another season was lost, that the program was in ruins. Watching the game on DVR, I began fast-forwarding to the inevitable end. Then, Nate Robinson led an incredible comeback, the team gelled, and the Dawgs reached the NCAA tourney.

High Point Which Turned into a Low Point: March 24, 2006 (second half). Jamaal Williams hits the first three-pointer of his Washington career to give the Huskies a late six-point lead over Connecticut in an NCAA regional semifinal. Sadly, a bad foul by Mike Jensen and a clutch three-pointer by Rashad Anderson tied the game, and UConn beat the Huskies in overtime. The Dawgs were denied their first Elite Eight appearance since the 1950s.

Best Player: Brandon Roy. Something of a secret during his first three years at Washington, Roy broke out his senior season by scoring 20.2 ppg, winning Pac-10 player of the year and making first-team All-American. The school retired Roy's #3 last season, he's only the second Washington hoopster to receive that honor.... (more)

Someday, you will do it. You won't have a co-worker's birthday party, a seasonal gutter cleaning, or brunch with an ex. Someday, you will watch sports all weekend. If, perchance, this is the weekend, here's how it should go:

FRIDAY
5 p.m.: Find a nearby bar with a good happy hour and some decent TVs to watch the Trail Blazers visit Cleveland on ESPN. Can Roy outshine Lebron?

7 p.m.: Start drinking water, you've got to get in your car soon.

7:45 p.m.: The Blazers game ends just in time for you to make your way to a local high school hoops game. Maybe you go see your alma mater, maybe you just go somewhere nearby. Most games start at 8 p.m. on Friday, here's the full schedule of games.

SATURDAY
9 a.m.: Oh boy is this an exciting day of college hoops. Chomp some cereal while watching Kentucky point guard John Wall, sure to be the first-overall pick in the 2010 NBA draft. Haven't seen Wall yet? Here's a taste. The Wildcats play Indiana, the game's on CBS.

 

11 a.m.: Your Washington Huskies face their toughest test of the year, facing undefeated Georgetown in the John Wooden Classic in Anaheim. Georgetown big men Greg Monroe (6'11") and Julian Vaughn (6'9") comprise the best front line the Huskies have seen this year. On the other hand, Isaiah Thomas and Quincy Pondexter are the most talented scorers Georgetown have yet seen. Game's on FSN.

Garcia

1 p.m.: Roll down towards KeyArena, where Gonzaga will play Davidson at 4. (Buy tickets here.) While you drive, flip on ESPN 710 to hear Dave Grosby's call of the Seattle U/Eastern Washington game, live from Cheney. Can Seattle U's Charles Garcia take over the national scoring lead? He's second at 26 ppg right now, one point first-place Aubrey Coleman of Houston.

1:30 p.m.: You've got a few hours before the Gonzaga game, so head over to Winterfest at Seattle Center to see an exhibition by the Hot Dog USA Jump Rope Team. Afterwards you can take a spin on the ice rink for just $5 (plus a $2 skate rental).

4 p.m.: Two seasons ago, Davidson bounced Gonzaga out of the NCAA Tournament behind 40 points from Stephen Curry. Curry's in the NBA now, so the Zags have a good chance of exacting revenge against 2-6 Davidson (one of their wins came against "Fredonia State," which I think is from a Marx Brothers film).

5:30 p.m.: Check your web-enabled phone to see who won the Heisman.

6:30 p.m.: The Zags game is over. I give you two choices:

a) Drive down to Kentridge High to see one of the best high school hoops games of the year. Kentridge and guard Gary Bell, Jr., host defending state champs Federal Way at 7:30 p.m., or,

b) Back to WinterFest to check out the trains and get some dinner. (And maybe an Orange Julius). Kill time until the 9:30 p.m. showing of SonicsGate, the documentary about the Sonics' departure from Seattle. Everyone who comes to the one-week run of the show will get a free DVD of the movie. You want to get there early because Sonics legend Slick Watts will be at tonight's showing.

10:30 p.m.: That was a nice day. Drive home and rest for FOOTBALL SUNDAY.... (more)