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Chris Dudley running for Oregon governor

Former NBA big-man Chris Dudley, who was a decent rebounder and defender, and one of the worst free throw shooters in the history of this universe, is pushing ahead in the world of politics.

The AP reports:

The 6-foot-11 Yale graduate told supporters Wednesday he wants to slow the growth of the state budget and considers his lack of political experience a plus.

He will compete for the Republican nomination against Allen Alley, John Lim and Bill Sizemore.

Should he win, Dudley’s first act as governor should be to make it state law that all little children learn to shoot free throws.

Aside from learning that he’s in the Republican party, I don’t know what his political views are. I will say that individual people tend to be more diverse than the overall general views of their party. But in general politics makes people angry so I stay away from talking  too much about it on this-here fun basketball website. For now, though, until there’s a reason to feel differently, I say Vote Dudley!

Trail Blazers granted hardship exception, can sign 16th player

Joe Freeman of The Oregonian reports:

The Trail Blazers have finally received a dose of good news surrounding their injury-depleted roster.

The NBA has awarded the Blazers a hardship exception, giving them the option of signing  a 16th player to the roster for a short-term basis. Teams are eligible for the exception after four players on a roster miss at least three games and are expected to miss two additional weeks.

The Blazers became eligible after their game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday, when Greg Oden missed his third consecutive game because of a fractured patella in his left knee, and were awarded the exception by the NBA on Sunday.

Rudy Fernandez out 4-6 weeks

Portland Trail Blazers guard/forward Rudy Fernandez underwent a successful microdiscectomy Tuesday to alleviate pain in his right leg, General Manager Kevin Pritchard announced today.

Fernandez, 24, will miss 4-6 weeks as a result of the procedure, which relieved pressure from a nerve root in his lower back that caused pain in his right leg.

“The procedure was successful and we can now turn our attention to getting Rudy healthy and back on the court,” said Pritchard. “He’s been under a lot of pain and we look forward to Rudy returning healthier than ever.”

Dr. George Shanno performed the procedure at Southwest Washington Regional Surgery Center in Vancouver, Wash.

Fernandez appeared in Portland’s first 20 games this season, averaging 8.6 points, 2.7 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 23.3 minutes. He leads the Trail Blazers and ranks among NBA leaders with 1.55 steals per game.

The Palma de Mallorca, Spain, native leads team qualifiers with a 38.8 percent (31-for-80) mark from three-point range. Fernandez’s 159 three-pointers last season set an NBA rookie record.

Nate McMillan has surgery

Portland Trail Blazers Head Coach Nate McMillan underwent successful surgery Monday to repair a ruptured right Achilles tendon.

He is expected to make a full recovery and return to the bench for the Trail Blazers’ Dec. 15 game vs. Sacramento. The injury occurred during a Dec. 4 practice.

Dr. Jay Crary performed the surgery at Southwest Washington Regional Surgery Center in Vancouver, Wash.

Lead Assistant Coach Dean Demopoulos will serve as the team’s head coach in McMillan’s absence, starting tonight at New York.

Greg Oden injures left knee, needs surgery, likely out for season

Greg Oden injures left knee

Portland Trail Blazers center Greg Oden injured his left knee early in the first quarter Saturday night as his team hosted the visiting Houston Rockets.

Rockets point guard Aaron Brooks, dribbling from the left side of the court, drove at the basket and Oden jumped to contest the shot. The Blazers big-man came down clutching his left knee.

Oden stayed down on the court for quite a while and was eventually wheeled away on a stretcher.

Joe Freeman of the Oregonian reports (via blog):

Trail Blazers center Greg Oden fractured the patella in his left knee Saturday night against the Houston Rockets and will likely miss the rest of the season.

Oden collapsed to the floor and clutched his left knee, grimacing, with 7:45 remaining in the first quarter after he slid over to provide help defense on a drive by Rockets point guard Aaron Brooks. It did not appear that Brooks made contact with Oden’s left knee on the drive, but that Oden’s knee simply gave out as he planted to elevate.

Blazers trainers and doctors sprinted to Oden from the far side of the court and, after he lay for several minutes, brought out a stretcher and carted him away. Several teammates helped Oden onto the stretcher and offered words of encouragement just before Oden exited from a corridor near the Houston bench.

UPDATE: The AP reports:

Portland Trail Blazers center Greg Oden will likely miss the season after fracturing his left patella during a game against Houston on Saturday night.

Oden will undergo surgery, the Trail Blazers said.

UPDATE: The AP reports:

He was almost immediately surrounded by trainers and physicians. The crowd at the Rose Garden stood and chanted “Oden! Oden!”

The game was stopped for some 7 minutes. Finally, Oden was gently moved to a stretcher and wheeled from the court. He underwent an MRI shortly thereafter.

Read fan reaction and share your own opinion in this forum topic.

Nate McMillan injured in practice

Guard Nate McMillan suffered an injury in practice yesterday.

That would be a normal thing to read if McMillan was still playing in the NBA, but he’s the head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers.

Jason Quick of the Oregonian reports:

Nate McMillan injured in practice

Add coach Nate McMillan to the Trail Blazers’ injury list.

In another twist to an already strange season, McMillan on Friday ruptured his right Achilles tendon while he and assistant coach Monty Williams were filling in as practice players because the team didn’t have enough healthy bodies to play five-on-five.

McMillan will coach tonight’s home game against Houston, but will undergo surgery Monday and miss the Blazers’ four-game trip next week to New York, Indiana, Cleveland and Milwaukee. Lead assistant Dean Demopoulos will coach the team.

McMillan’s injury comes at an especially unsettled time for the Blazers (12-8), who have lost three in a row, all of them decisive defeats. His injury also continues a trend of injuries and sickness that has plagued the Blazers since last summer.

Kidding here: No word if the Blazers will now look to sign guard Clyde Drexler to fill in.

Have Blazers opinions? Share them on the InsideHoops Portland Trail Blazers forum.

Jerryd Bayless sprains ankle

Jason Quick of the Oregonian reports (via blog):

Trail Blazers guard Jerryd Bayless sprained his left ankle about an hour before tip off of Saturday’s game in Charlotte as he was returning to the locker room.

Bayless rolled his ankle on a disguised step that is hidden by carpet. The six-inch drop off is in a dimly lit area just outside the tunnel that leads from the court to the Blazers locker room.

Bayless was carried by Rudy Fernandez and Dante Cunningham the remaining 20 yards to the Blazers’ training room, where he was despondent on the training table.

Channing Frye now a three-point shooting threat

Channing Frye now a three-point shooting threat

New Phoenix Suns center Channing Frye began his NBA career in 2005-06 with the New York Knicks.

His rookie year was solid. Playing 24.2 minutes per game, Frye averaged 12.3 points and 5.8 rebounds on good shooting, looking versatiel and talented.

Frye stayed with the Knicks for his second season, then spent two years with the Portland Trail Blazers. But of his first four seasons, his rookie year stood out the most.

Now with the Suns, something crazy has happened. The 6-11, 245-pound big-man has become a huge threat from three-point range.

In his first four seasons, Frye’s three-point shooting totals were: 3-of-9, 3-of-18, 3-of-10, and 11-of-33.

This season, in the six games Phoenix has played, Frye has fired 33 three-pointers and hit 16 of them; a 48.5% clip.

The team, meanwhile, is off to a great 6-1 start.

Playing a faster style of basketball now that Shaquille O’Neal is gone, the Suns are playing fun, winning basketball and are worth watching. Steve Nash is playing great. The fans are entertained. And Frye has been a great surprise.

Have an opinion? Share it in this forum topic.

Chris Dudley to run for governor

The AP reports:

Chris Dudley’s free throw shots were always iffy propositions. Now the former Phoenix Sun and Portland Trail Blazer is in a new arena taking aim at a governor’s chair – and Oregon’s Republicans think he can score.

Dudley hasn’t formally announced a bid for the post, but he filed paperwork last week to create a campaign committee.

“I’ll make a decision soon and report back. One way or another, I intend to help change Oregon for the better,” he said in a statement.

Dudley, 44, wouldn’t be the first professional athlete to make the transition into politics. The late Congressman Jack Kemp of New York was an NFL quarterback, and former Sen. Bill Bradley of New Jersey was an NBA standout for years.