Hey, nice win, Blazers.

The Portland Trail Blazers won their tenth consecutive home opener by dismissing the Phoenix Suns 106-92 last night at the Rose Garden. Trailing by a half-dozen points as the fourth quarter started, the Blazers rolled the Suns in the final 12 minutes, outscoring them 18-1 in the final 5:44, with Nicolas Batum scoring 11 of those points himself. With the exception of LaMarcus Aldridge being buried under a double team for most of the night, the Blazers showcased great team balance with nearly every player on the court contributing. Brandon Roy chipped in 24 points, Andre Miller had nine dimes, Marcus Camby add a double-double (13/10), Rudy Fernandez had a pair of three-pointers and didn't once demand a trade during the game, and even rookie Armon Johnson proved that backup point-guards don't have to end up on their backs, three rows deep in the stands after every single play (sorry, Bayless).

The team travels to Los Angeles to face the much-improved Clippers in their home opener tonight. Tip is at 7:30 and on ESPN.

NEW FEATURE! The most boneheaded comment in today's Canzano column:
It's actually a tie.

The game tipped off. The season is officially on. But before we can get to any of the action on the court, can someone please tell me who's bright idea it was to make the Trail Blazers walk down stairs for their player introductions?
Stairs? Really?
For these guys?

Yes, really, for these guys. It happens every year. The team always has the same introduction. Always. Expressing mock outrage for the players having to step on dozens of—gasp—stairs is akin to being shocked for their safety when the large cat-like mascot creature starts pumping one-size-fits-all shirts into the crowd via a gun.

Like me mount my delusional high horse and give it a try:
Really? A gun? Isn't "Blaze" a gangster name? He is wearing red, just like the Bloods. I thought the Blazers were supposed to be family friendly... Anyway, here is the second travesty in today's column:

Consider that when we last saw Steve Nash, he was dribbling circles around the Blazers. And Amare Stoudemire, since departed to New York as a free agent, was a force inside. And Suns coach Alvin Gentry was appointed the playoff-series mastermind.

Nope. The game he is referencing, the Suns 99-90 victory on April 29, was a huge game for any player not named Nash or Stoudemire. First off, Stoudemire's 22 points were impressive but still under his season average, plus he only grabbed three (!) total rebounds that game, hardly a "force inside." And as far as Nash "dribbling circles around the Blazers," that couldn't be farther from the truth. Nash struggled that game, shooting just 2-7 from the field and finishing with ten points, six assists (both well below his season average), and seven turnovers.

It took me about three seconds to look that up.