Blazers trying to keep Playoff streak alive

For the past 21 years, the Portland Trail Blazers have been part of the NBA playoffs.

Thanks to their recent surge - and general manager John Nash's remaking of the roster - the Blazers have a chance to match the league record for postseason perennials.

The mark of 22 consecutive playoff appearances was set by the Syracuse Nationals/Philadelphia 76ers franchise from 1949-40 to 1970-71.

The Utah Jazz also are closing in on that mark, but their streak of 20 straight playoff appearances is in serious jeopardy. Portland, however, has moved within striking range of the Houston Rockets and Denver Nuggets.

``We have to put pressure on these teams. It's certainly a goal,'' Nash said Thursday night in a telephone interview.

Nash has been one of the league's busiest executives this season, pulling off three major trades.

Nash's first deal _ Bonzi Wells to Memphis for Wesley Person _ was widely panned. His next two trades _ Jeff McInnis to Cleveland for Darius Miles, and Rasheed Wallace and Person to Atlanta for Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Theo Ratliff and Dan Dickau _ drew more praise.

``I wish we would have had more time to balance off the roster,'' said Nash, whose deals left the Blazers with voids in backcourt depth and outside shooting. Nonetheless, the acquisitions addressed some of the Blazers' long-standing weaknesses.

``Theo automatically makes you a good defensive team, and we were one of the worst defensive teams in the league before his arrival. He's been a major factor,'' Nash said.

Ratliff tied a franchise record with nine blocks Tuesday night against Orlando.

Abdur-Rahim had been coming off the bench behind Miles before moving into the starting lineup and playing 43 minutes against the Magic.

``He brings an attitude of doing whatever it takes to win,'' Nash said. ``Some players of his stature would have groused about not starting, but his is a classy professional attitude.''

Nash said he had been discussing separate trades with the Hawks for Abdur-Rahim and Ratliff, reaching a breakthrough two weeks ago when he and Atlanta general manager Billy Knight combined the two deals.

Since taking over as general manager last summer, Nash has vowed to change the team culture by ridding the Blazers of players with negative attitudes. His deals have gone a long way toward reaching that goal, and an unexpected benefit could be reaching the postseason.

``Most people have responded positively. They like the excitement of Darius Miles, they like the idea we have defensive presence, and they like that Shareef is a steadying influence,'' Nash said.

The Blazers have already lost the season series to the Nuggets, costing them a tiebreaker if they finish with the same record as Denver. Portland was 1-1 against Houston entering Friday night's game against the Rockets, who began the weekend in seventh place in the West _ four games ahead of Portland.

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HOME SWEET HOME:@ Forgive the San Antonio Spurs and Los Angeles Clippers if they seem a little exhausted. A month on the road, give or take a few days, will do that.

The Spurs didn't play their first home game of February until last Tuesday, getting kicked out of their arena while it played host to the rodeo.

San Antonio played seven consecutive road games and won six, mimicking its success of a year ago when a nine-game, rodeo-forced trip jump-started San Antonio's title run. (They went 8-1).

Beginning with Saturday night's game against Denver, the Spurs will play 12 of their next 17 at home as they try to make up ground on the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Midwest Division.

The Clippers, meanwhile, played just their second home game of the month Friday night when they hosted the Knicks. Los Angeles was forced out of the Staples Center by the Grammy Awards and the All-Star game.

The Clippers' 99-93 loss at New Orleans wrapped up a string of 13 games in 13 cities, and they played the role of the exhausted vagabond well. After not committing a turnover in the first half, the Clippers had 13 in the final 24 minutes.

``It's hard,'' coach Mike Dunleavy said. ``I just keep saying, `Hey, they're young and they'll learn.' We get so close, we get so many opportunities. I'm just hoping as I keep pounding it in and keep teaching that certain things stick better.''

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PRO-READY PREPSTERS?: Dwight Howard of Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy and Sebastian Telfair of Lincoln H.S. in Brooklyn, N.Y. made the Eastern squad for the McDonald's All-America game, while teammates Joe Crawford and Malik Hairston of Detroit Renaissance H.S. made the West team.

Howard and Telfair are widely expected to enter this June's NBA draft, as are McDonald's All-Americans Josh Smith (Oak Hill Academy) and Shaun Livingston (Peoria Central H.S.).

Slam Magazine senior editor Ryan Jones was spotted at All-Star weekend wearing Livingston's Peoria jersey, perhaps signaling a trend toward throw-forward gear instead of throwback stuff.

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HAITIAN HOMELAND:@ Philadelphia 76ers center Samuel Dalembert is worried about his grandmother, who was his primary caregiver in Haiti after Dalembert's parents left that country and emigrated to Canada.

Hypromene Charle, 72, lives in the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince, which could be attacked by rebels if President Jean-Bertrand Aristide does not resign.

``When I talk to her after a game, I feel better,'' Dalembert told reporters in Philadelphia. ``She tells me, `Oh, don't worry about it. Everything's fine.' But the main thing I'm thinking is, I know how crazy it is (in Haiti). When I was little, I saw things happen. I saw crazy stuff going on. I can imagine how it is right now.''

Via Associated Press

Portland Trail Blazers, San Antonio Spurs, Los Angeles Clippers, Philadelphia 76ers

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Rasheed Wallace looks for fresh start in Detroit

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP) Rasheed Wallace walked into his new locker room Friday and was greeted with hugs, handshakes and smiles by his Detroit Pistons teammates.

``There he is!'' Darvin Ham said. ``Welcome!''

Wallace was moved to Detroit in a three-team trade Thursday after playing only one game for Atlanta, which acquired the temperamental player from Portland last week.

``It's definitely a fresh start for me,'' Wallace said before he made his Detroit debut against Minnesota. ``This is where basketball has taken my journey. It's pretty much revamped my career. I'm looking forward to it.''

When Wallace stepped on the court with 4:31 left in the first quarter, he was welcomed with a rousing, standing ovation. After missing his first shot, he made two straight baskets, the second a long jumper over Kevin Garnett.

Wallace, a two-time All-Star, has averaged 16.1 points and 6.7 rebounds during nine NBA years, and 17.1 points and 6.6 rebounds this season.

Pistons coach Larry Brown said Wallace is one of the top five players in the league, but he tried to downplay expectations for Wallace.

``I don't want anybody to think he's coming in here to save us,'' Brown said.

Minnesota coach Flip Saunders said Wallace gives Detroit a chance to contend for the NBA title.

``They were already one of the top three teams in the East, but now they have to be considered a serious threat to go all the way,'' Saunders said.

Brown agreed.

``If I don't screw us up, we have a chance to make a run,'' he said.

In a deal put together shortly before the NBA trading deadline on Thursday, Detroit sent reserves Zeljko Rebraca, Bob Sura and a first-round draft pick to Atlanta. That pick will come from Milwaukee this year if the Bucks make the playoffs.

Detroit also sent reserves Lindsey Hunter, Chucky Atkins, its first round pick this year and cash to Boston, while the Celtics shipped Chris Mills to the Hawks and Mike James to the Pistons.

Besides adding Wallace for the rest of the season, the deal will put Detroit about $10 million under the salary cap this summer.

Wallace, in the final year of a contract that pays him $17 million this season, was called for a league-record 41 technical fouls in the 2000-01 season. Last season, he and former Portland teammate Damon Stoudamire were cited in Washington state on marijuana charges while returning from a game in Seattle.

Wallace was also suspended by the NBA for seven games for threatening an official on an arena loading dock after a home game. That was the league's longest suspension for something that didn't involve physical contact or substance abuse.

``I remember when I was a player and a young coach, when things went wrong, I did crazy things because I wanted to win so badly,'' Brown said. ``It's taken me over 30 years to calm down, for the most part, and I'm still fighting that every day.

``When you see him go nuts on the court, it's because he cares about winning. I want to fight his battles.''

Pistons president of basketball operations Joe Dumars said Wallace's past problems never entered into his decision-making process.

``Everywhere he has been, his teammates and coaches rave about him as a teammate and as a guy to coach,'' Dumars said. ``I don't think you've ever seen him have issues with his coaches or his teammates. It's always been officiating and getting upset about calls.

``This is a situation where he is going to be surrounded by high-character guys and it is going to be a great environment for him.''

Via Associated Press

Detroit Pistons, Atlanta Hawks, Portland Trail Blazers

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Qyntel Woods fined for conduct detrimental to team

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) Forward Qyntel Woods was fined by the Portland Trail Blazers for conduct detrimental to the team after the driver of a car he was riding in during the weekend was arrested for driving under the influence.

Woods was not charged or taken into custody, and the Blazers did not release further details.

The Blazers have pledged that they will hold players accountable for their actions, and team President Steve Patterson fined Woods an undisclosed sum Wednesday.

``We believe we've made strides in impressing on everyone what is expected of our players,'' Patterson said. ``Although Qyntel was not charges with anything, he put himself in a situation that is not acceptable to us as an organization.''

Woods, in his second year with the team, made eight starts this season, but his role has been diminished by last month's acqusition of forward Darius Miles from Cleveland.

Woods was averaging 4.1 points and 2.7 rebounds in 46 games this season.

Last month, he was fined $1,096 after pleading no contest to a marijuana charge stemming from a traffic stop last March. He did not admit guilt.

Woods was cited when he was stopped for speeding and an officer smelled marijuana coming from his vehicle.

Woods is among four current and former Portland players who have been cited on marijuana charges since the start of last season.

Via Associated Press

Portland Trail Blazers

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