The blazers-What inspired them?

from the Oregonian:

Creepy crawlers jab
leaves Blazers bugged, inspired
Sunday, November 05, 2006

See, late in the second quarter with Minnesota leading by 11 points, guard Ricky Davis skated by the Blazers bench, and explained that Portland was nothing but a pack of bottom feeders that belonged in some dark corner underneath the league's kitchen sink.

The insult became the subject of conversation at halftime in the home locker room, including coach Nate McMillan who said he was personally insulted. So if you were among those wondering, "What got into them?!" while the Blazers, who won only 21 games last season, were rallying in the second half, it was this -- pride.

Portland beat Minnesota 88-86.

Also, Blazers forward Travis Outlaw (18 points, 15 rebounds) outplayed All-Star Kevin Garnett. And Martell Webster ran around fist pumping, scoring 16 points. And Brandon Roy continued his crusade for rookie of the year.

Then, in the locker room, Webster said: "That win goes against that entire team (in the other locker room). If you have any dignity, if you have any pride, hearing something like that puts a chip on your shoulder."

Then, the second-year guard muttered, " . . . roaches. . . . "

You should know, after the game, the security guard outside the Minnesota locker room said, "You looking for Davis? He was the first one out of the locker room."

So I tried the loading dock behind the Rose Garden, you know, where you might actually find a real, live roach, and in what goes down as coincidental development of the evening, Davis was standing around out there in the dark.

...about the roaches comment?

"I'm a guy who likes to talk. I'm glad that motivated them." It goes beyond motivation. McMillan said he was personally offended. Webster vowed that he'd never forget it. And when you looked around the locker room, with players talking about break-out performances, and, maybe, too, a brighter season, it was roaches you saw in their eyes.

John Canzano: 503-294-5065; JohnCanzano@aol.com To read his Web log, go to www.oregonlive.com/canzano Catch him on the radio on "The Bald-Faced Truth,"

KFXX (1080), weekdays at 5:25 p.m.

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