Suns notebook: Porter proud of Blazers' new direction

Suns coach Terry Porter said he’s very pleased to see the Portland franchise he helped to two NBA Finals as a player turning around after more than a decade of poor finishes and making most of their headlines off the court as the “Jail Blazers.”

Suns’ starters blaze the trail

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“(Ex-Blazers) know how special a place it can be. So when you see it go down the way it did, it was disappointing,” he said. “Those crowds and the support we had, it was like you were an adopted son. We were the only thing in town, and you couldn’t go anywhere without someone talking to you about the team.

“I came from a small college and it kind of had that college feel for me. I went to booster club meetings and (fans) used to bring cookies after practice. I think when my daughter was born; they knitted blankets. Who does that in the NBA?”

DEVIL IN THE DETAILS

Ike Diogu has picked the right time to be on a team with two ex-Wildcats. While Arizona begins the post-Lute Olson Era, the Sun Devils are ranked 15th in the preseason and has the former Sun Devil smiling and ready to talk trash with Portland teammates Channing Frye and Jerryd Bayless.

“I sent James Harden a text message telling him to keep it up,” said Diogu, who keeps in contact with the ASU star sophomore and hangs out with him in the summer. “It’s our day to be good. I haven’t heard too much jawing right now because there is a Sun Devil leading the helm.”

Diogu is with his third NBA team in four years after being traded to Portland on draft day. He was playing well early last season with the Pacers before suffering a torn calf muscle cost him 20 games. He never got back in the groove.

“That set me back or things would be different now,” he said. “But that showed me that I do have the skills to play in this league. Now I’m hoping for an opportunity here to show I can.”

WE MEET AGAIN

Porter and Blazers coach Nate McMillan went head-to-head many times on the floor during the Seattle-Portland “I-5 Rivalry” in the 1990s – when one team or the other won the Western Conference three times.

“Terry was tough. He was a no-nonsense guy on the floor all about business,” McMillan said. “They were all tough, Porter, (Clyde) Drexler, (Jerome) Kersey, Buck (Williams). It was a tough, physical team and he was the guy running it. He brings that attitude to the sidelines.”

Porter called McMillan a “rock-solid” defender. “He’s 6-foot-4, with the physicality you like in a guard,” he said. “You could put your hands on a guy a little bit more back then, and we had some good battles.”

BONUS SHOTS

Saturday was the beginning of a six-game stretch against teams that the Suns were a combined 16-0 against last season. Phoenix swept the season series from Portland (3-0), New Jersey (2-0), Indiana (2-0), Milwaukee (2-0) and Memphis (3-0) last season.

The Blazers had a big surprise waiting for them at Saturday’s afternoon meeting – a visit from boxing legend and Valley resident Muhammad Ali. The players and coaches couldn’t wait for a chance to shake hands and pose for pictures.

“I’m trying to look serious and get a good (boxing) shot and I’m smiling,” McMillan said. “I’m looking at this guy’s fist and thinking 'This is what knocked out so many people.’ It was great to be in the same room with him.”

After sporting both and puffy afro and cornrows in the preseason, Boris Diaw has now gone to the “fro-hawk” hairstyle, which he unveiled Saturday. It was good for his shooting eye (4-for-5) but he had three turnovers and the team was a minus-14 when he was on the floor.

The Suns have now won 10 straight against the Blazers, their longest winning streak against any NBA team. Phoenix’s last loss came Mar. 12, 2006 in Portland (111-100) behind 32 points from Zach Randolph. The Suns are now 13-1 against the Blazers since Steve Nash returned to Phoenix in 2004. There are now Blazers left from their last win here, and Amare Stoudemire and Leandro Barbosa are the only Suns.