By Joe Becker

The Blazers have dropped two out of their last three games. Boston has dropped two out of their last two. That's right, the Celtics lost again, this time at Golden State. 99-89. That makes two in a row because they lost to the Lakers on Christmas Day.

By the way, I worked Christmas Eve, but had Christmas Day off. I was busy...moving from the big chair at home to the couch. I watched the better part of four of the five NBA games on Christmas day.

I watched the end of the Suns and Spurs upstairs and what a great finish that was with the Spurs winning on the last second shot. Then, I watched the Celtics-Lakers game, followed by the Cavs and Wizards and finishing up with the Blazers and Dallas. I was downstairs in the big chair and on the couch for the final three.

I couldn't believe how bad Dallas beat the Blazers on the boards. Mavs Guard Jose Barea was the smallest guy on the floor and had twice as many offensive rebounds as the Blazers starting front line. Thats right, he had four offensive rebounds to just two for Greg Oden, LaMarcus Aldridge and Nicolas Batum. Dallas had 10 more rebounds than the Blazers and 7 more on the offensive glass. It doesn help that the Blazers missed 11 free throws to just three for the Mavs.

However, the season is long and the Blazers aren't going to be sharp every night. It takes time and experience and the Blazers are still developing as a unit. They are the second youngest team in the league. It would be nice if the Blazers could beat Toronto and the Celtics at the Rose Garden and finish 2008 with a bang. Boston plays in Sacramento on Sunday before finishing their road trip at the Rose Garden Tuesday night.

I hope everyone is having a nice Holiday Season. I'm off Tuesday...but you can bet I won't be on the couch or the big chair for that one, just a chair at the Rose Garden and you might see me on the 300 level again! I love it up there!