First it was injuries, now it's illness.

The once-deep and talented Portland Trail Blazers lost another player Friday when guard Steve Blake was hospitalized with pneumonia and will be out indefinitely.

Blake was admitted to an Oregon hospital Friday morning. He is expected to remain there for a few days and will miss Saturday night’s game against the Golden State Warriors at the Rose Garden.

The Trail Blazer injury list has reached ridiculous proportions and the team already has received two NBA exemptions to sign free agents in order to fill the roster.

The injury list include both centers (Greg Oden and Joel Pryzbilla) being lost for the season with knee injuries and subsequent surgeries and two other key players (Travis Outlaw, foot, and Nicolas Batum, shoulder) sitting out long term.
Top reserve Rudy Fernandez (back surgery) also has been out for months.

On Wednesday, top power forward LaMarcus Aldridge sprained his ankle and was in a boot after the game.

Even coach Nate McMillan underwent surgery after rupturing his Achillies tendon while running drills because his team was short-handed.