Blazers Are Already At Work

TUALATIN T he front doors of the Trail Blazers practice facility were bolted shut Wednesday. To get inside, you needed a key, or a thumbprint that the security-system scanner outside recognized. And a catering company delivery van was parked outside, along with the automobiles of 12 NBA players.

Inside the practice facility, guard Steve Blake shot three-pointers. And center Greg Oden stretched. And guard Jarrett Jack worked with the team's new shooting coach, John Townsend. And power forward LaMarcus Aldridge and guard Brandon Roy were there, too.

Darius Miles isn't cleared to scrimmage yet, but he's showing up, too, to work out twice a day. In fact, the only Blazers who haven't yet reported are 14-year veteran Raef LaFrentz, Joel Przybilla and Sergio Rodriguez, who is playing in the European Championships, team officials said.

Also, Martell Webster, 15 pounds lighter than a year ago, dunked on Aldridge and Oden in what one longtime insider called, "The most remarkable dunk this practice facility has ever seen."
And another insider who has observed the daily full-court pick-up games this week reported that Aldridge has been the most dominant player in the gym most days.

No media allowed in the gym. No fans allowed, either. In fact, during this time period, coaches are allowed to observe only when more than three players are on the court.

Still, those bleeding out of the building kept shaking their heads and saying words like, "unprecedented" and "inspiring" and "remarkable." And even as the franchise would love to lock down the facility until the season opener, keep all this activity clandestine, the fact that the Blazers mean business needs to become the worst-kept secret in the city.

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source : oregonlive.com