Reebok Las Vegas Review Game One

Thursday, July 7, 2005
Final Score: Blazers 93, Knicks 89

A Great Start in Vegas


The first day of the Reebok Vegas Summer League was an exciting one for the Portland Trail Blazers, and with what was to follow later in the day, a great day for Trail Blazer fans back home in Portland as well. More on the new head coach later.

The team flew into Las Vegas Tuesday evening, and checked into New York New York. I got a chance to talk to Seung Jin Ha Wednesday afternoon about what he had seen in Sin City so far, and he laughed.

He had asked me on Saturday during a practice in Portland about Las Vegas, and I knew he'd be shocked. I asked him if he knew what to expect, and he said, "is it a big city, like L.A.?"

I knew the young man from South Korea would be floored upon seeing the strip in Vegas, and indeed he was. The team's attention on Wednesday afternoon turned to the New York Knicks. Ha started at center for the Trail Blazers, along with Sebastian Telfair, Travis Outlaw, Martell Webster, and Kris Lang.

It was exciting right off the bat with the point-guard matchup. It was Telfair, the New York City legend, going up against the Knicks' Nate Robinson, who they acquired on draft day in a trade with the Phoenix Suns. Telfair struck very early, and stripped the ball away from the former University of Washington star. Both had good games, but Telfair looked like the player with a year of NBA experience under his belt.

Sebastian just missed a triple-double, with 18 points, 10 assists, and 9 rebounds. The Trail Blazers defeated the Knicks 93-89. Trail Blazers owner Paul Allen, who attended most of the pre-draft workouts, and was in the draft room last Tuesday, flew in for the day to watch the game against New York.

It amazes me with all the things Allen has going on, he has found the time this summer to stay so close to the team and franchise. He has literally been involved in every move, and surprised some with how well versed he was on virtually every potential draft pick Portland was looking at.

He and player personnel director Kevin Pritchard sat courtside during the game with the Knicks. The play of Telfair wasn't a surprise, but Martell Webster's first day was. Webster, selected just over a week earlier in the draft in the 6th position by Portland, knocked down his first outside shot, and showed poise beyond his years.

Webster on the day ended with 21 points on 9 of 15 shooting, and surprised even Trail Blazer coaches. Ha was solid inside for Portland with 10 points and 6 rebounds, and Travis Outlaw showed that perhaps he's ready for a breakout year.

Outlaw was aggressive, knocking down just about everything he looked at, and ended up with a game-high 32 points on 12 of 17 shooting.

The Trail Blazers, being coached by former UNLV coach Bill Bayno in the summer league, shot 55 percent for the game, and held off the Knicks down the stretch. It wasn't until after the game that the biggest news of the day came down. The Trail Blazers announced they had hired Nate McMillan to be their new head coach

Summer League Central

Day 1 Photo Gallery