Sorry about that... We're having a little bit of technical difficulties here at the Rose Garden, but let me get everyone caught up quick, fast and in a hurry.

At the start of the game I was shocked to hear a large number of Shaq supporters in the Rose Garden. Had this been three years ago, Shaq would've been booed at, cursed at, and basically miserable for 48 minutes. Unfortunately, things have changed...

But then, they changed back. Shaq sent Joel Przybilla to the bench on a brutal offensive charge that left Przy with a bloody nose and a sour demeanor.

From that moment on, Shaq became Public Enemy #1... again.

In Przybilla's absence, Coach Nate McMillan went deep into his bench, grabbing former "Shaq Stopper" Raef LaFrentz. In some ways, the match-up between Raef and Shaq has me feeling like it's 1999.

Despite the fact that Joel went down with his bloody nose, the Trail Blazers have ran away from the Heat, utilizing a smothering zone defense to protect the paint and, on the offensive side, they've pushed the ball for quick and efficient baskets. Roy has 7 points on 2 lay-ups and a jumper, Aldridge has 4 on two mid-range jumpers, and the surprise of the night has been Mr. LaFrentz himself.

Raef has 2 rebounds and 4 points in just 5 minutes of play.

Early on, however, the Trail Blazers already have 8 fouls (most of which on Shaq, although D-Wade also has a pair of free-throws) which is cause for concern if you're Nate McMillan. Between LaFrentz, Frye (who is now on the floor), Przybilla and Aldridge, there's only 24 fouls to go around and we're nearly 1/3 of the way there...

With 1:54 left in the first, it's the TRAIL BLAZERS LEAD 24 - 18!

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