wednesday morning roll call: happy on the farm

• "This start is definitely good for us, but we can't stop counting our eggs before they hatch or start feeling happy on the farm" - LaMarcus Aldridge. Is this a win the Blazers should be fired up about? Sure. Is Aldridge correct that it's too early to be blithe while milking the cows? Yeah. I didn't expect this team to go all Rex Ryan on the league, but it is nice to see they are keeping this young season in perspective.
•  “But I still find a way. I got some good looks, actually, shots that I've been working on. Some didn't fall. But they do a great job on defense. I can't take nothing away from them” - Kevin Durant. The combination of Gerald Wallace's physicality and Nicolas Batum's seemingly unending length were key in keeping Durant off-balance and uncomfortable, but Durant was still able to make me hold my breath after every release. He's not going to shoot 8 for 26 very often. When he does, his opponent has to take advantage, leave with a win, and feel proud of their effort in shutting him down. After looking at Durant's line, a loss would have been particularly dispiriting.
• The Lakers (Portland's opponent tomorrow night) beat the Rockets 108-99 last night at Staple's, improved their record to 4-3. Even with the 'excruciating pain' of his wrist injury, Kobe is still averaging 25.9 points per game.
• Snoop Dogg rocking a Brandon Roy jersey in Australia.
• Just for fun: Highlights from the 1987 NBA Slam Dunk Contest featuring Jordan, Drexler, and Kersey.
• Great article from Kevin Arnovitz on LaMarcus Aldridge's progression as an on-court problem solver and his experience playing with Andre Miller. "But the big knows it!"