The Trailblazers have lost Rudy Fernandez for the next 4-6 weeks due to surgery he needed to relieve pressure on a nerve root in his lower back. Fernandez has played in 20 games (0 starts) for the Blazers so far this season and he is averaging 23.3 minutes, 8.6 points, 2.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.6 steals per game. This will really hurt the Trailblazers as Fernandez brings a lot of offensive punch off the bench.

The Blazers were behind 78-55 after three quarters and it doomed them in Madison Square Garden last night. Brandon Roy led the way for the Trailblazers last night with 27 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals. LaMarcus Aldridge also had a very solid game with 19 points, 13 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 blocked shots. Jerryd Bayless pitched in with 14 points, 1 rebound and 2 assists in 17 minutes off the bench. The Trailblazers are now 13-9 on the year.

30-year old Joel Przybilla will be the new starting center for the Trailblazers the rest of the year due to Greg Oden’s season ending injury. Przybilla has played in 21 games (0 starts) this season for the Blazers and he is averaging 19.8 minutes, 3.6 points, 7.4 rebounds, 0.2 assists and 1.3 blocked shots per game. He has now played in 508 games (359 starts) in his NBA career and he is averaging 20.5 minutes, 4.2 points, 6.5 rebounds, 0.5 assists and 1.5 blocked shots per game. Przybilla doesn’t have much of an offensive game but he is a good rebounder and defender so he should be able to do a decent job for the Blazers in his new expanded role.

The Trailblazers have lost starting center Greg Oden for the rest of the season after he fractured his kneecap last night. He only played 4 minutes last night before injuring himself and he grabbed 3 rebounds while not scoring any points. This is a shame as Oden was really starting to show signs of being a impact player for the Blazers. Oden played in 21 games (all starts) for the Blazers this season and he averaged 23.9 minutes, 11.1 points, 8.4 rebounds, 0.9 assists and 2.3 blocked shots per game. In his three years with the Blazers has now played in 82 games (60 starts) in which he has averaged 22.1 minutes, 9.4 points, 7.3 rebounds, 0.6 assists and 1.4 blocked shots per game. The Trailblazers really hold that they don’t have another Sam Bowie on their hands.

The Trailblazers barely nipped the Rockets last night at home. Brandon Roy led the way for the Blazers last night with 28 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals. Andre Miller was very effective off the bench last night with 24 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists. Jerryd Bayless pitched in with 13 points and 2 rebounds in 21 minutes off the bench. The Trailblazers are now 13-8 on the year.