Today's Poll

I’m not even going to go into the whole Greg Oden thing.

Fact # 1 is we are indeed stacked with talent. We can field a strong team even without Greg.

Fact # 2 is we are very young and raw. We are going to be outsmarted and outplayed by experienced teams. Tonight may well turn out to be an example of this.

But we are also going to exceed expectations (just like last year) for a young team. Young teams are not supposed to have the poise or horse sense to make it to the playoffs. If we win 44 or more I will say we had a great year.

And I will be quite satisfied if only the Blazers play competitive for most of the game. The Spurs are capable of going on those runs that put teams away in the third or early fourth quarters. The Blazers might not survive that. But as long as they play competitive and take the lead periodically, then hey, I’m happy.

Interesting side note: Would you rather have the team put together a solid performance looking like last year’s squad in the middle of the 13-game win streak but lose to the Spurs,

or play sloppy basketball and shoot a poor percentage but win an ugly game?

I’m simply looking for a better performance tonight. the Laker game was an embarrassment. If they don’t win, that’s ok. We knew the start of the season was crazy.

that they put together a strong, complete performance every night.

I can’t help but believe if they make a habit out of strong, complete performcances, these performances will eventually add up to wins, even if by overacheiving.

As we’ve known for a while, our schedule is brutal for a bit. I don’t know which games we’ll steal and which ones we’ll lose… but I’m not expecting a W tonight.

I don’t care if they lose by 20…I’m sick of not seeing hustling,inspired play. I want to see 5 Ruben Patterson’s out there……Since he left, the Blazers have no luster in their play….Now you got Rudy and Batum….get them in there…they are fun to watch…..
    I would sooner see Outlaw dive for a loose ball or LA get an impossible rebound or Roy get a steal and drive all alone to the hoop…..you get my drift…….I can’t hardly bear watching that poorly executed one dimensional offense again…..Don’t live and die by your jump shot falling, because it won’t all the time…..Just show me whats on the inside and forget the hype, expectations, etc….get out there and play some ball and show me your youth….You play like a bunch of uninspired, washed, up veterans that get beat to every ball…….

I would be decently satisfied if we played competitive for 4 quarters….solid D, and non-static offense. But….I still want a WIN..This is our home court! We draw a line in the sand! I want the win more….if sloppy fine,..but hard-nosed effort, to the floor for loose balls…but IF, we lose we better play hard or I am gonna be a little burnt. ok thats all! Happy Halloween…and represent the RED tonight!

Blazers want to be a playoff team. The Spurs are a playoff team. Then you must beat playoff teams at home.

but I want to see evidence that this team still has the heart and character to win games.. actually winning tonight would be great.. but after opening night, i just want to see a team that looks like they can compete.. like opening night last year.. when we lost.. but played well..

The sticking point for me was the word “satisfied.” A strong, competitive effort against a perennial powerhouse like the Spurs would of course be acceptable and reassuring. But “satisfaction” denotes satiation—that warm & fuzzy feeling you get when all your needs & desires are met and all’s right with the world. That feeling only comes to me when the Blazers BEAT somebody.

I’m looking forward to some “satisfaction” when the Blazers play the Wolves and/or Magic.

Playing ‘our’ game is more important. Getting good looks is vital. Whether they fall or not is another matter, but taking good shots should be the focus. We can’t rush our shots and get out of our offense like we did on Tuesday.

Sure, I’d rather we won ugly, pretty, or any old way, but we all knew the early season had the potential to be tough, and if we lose a few games at the beginning all the better, I say. You don’t usually learn a lot from winning. And we have plenty to learn.

So let’s take our lumps and learn from them. You don’t get tougher when everything comes easy. You’ve got to struggle and get beat up a few times before you really learn to fight.

I want a W. I want it NOW! (and some candy too)

We’re either good, or we’re not. lf we’d put together a solid performance but lost against the lakers, I’d say sure. We didn’t. If this team is actually good, they’ll step up. If they’re not, they won’t.

I usually preach patience, but I’m still disgusted by that Laker game. It was one game, but it was like playing basketball against your little brother who’s ten years old and you’re 20 and saying that was only one game. Blazers need to seriously redeem themselves to me to show me they’re on the level of ANY NBA basketball team right now.

I’m still irked/disgruntled/ticked.

If Roy + Outlaw come out on fire.

We get a good defense on Duncan.

Rudy/Sergio off the bench…

LMA working the post for at least 20

We can win.

bwahhahahahahahah. that ninny.

Actually, your friend (and mine), Tyrus Thomas, is now very comfortable with his jumper….and he rebounds. The day shall be Paxsons! You’ll see!

(sorry I’m a bit halloween-giddy, I just wanted to annoy a bit)

The Spurs are already in Portland’s head. If they cannot win at home against a Ginobli-less Spurs team that got done at home by Phoenix but still beat Portland…that 0-fer goes from 12 to what, 16? 17? they play the Spurs 4 times this year or 5? So playing well but losing just doesn’t cut it. They need to get that monkey off NOW before it becomes an Alamo-sized Gorilla that they can never shake.

A loss here puts the Blazers at 0-5 because no way do they lose this but somehow beat Phoenix in Phoenix or Utah in Utah…and if they are 0-5 when Houston comes to town on a back to back…well…good luck with that. This game is not a “must-win” but it is as close to being one as you can get without it being must-win.

… if this team is going to make any serious run at the playoffs, you must beat some playoff teams… We’re facing 3 this weekend, and we already got stoned by LA… we need this win more than tomorrow.. but both would be nice… anyone think we can beat SA and PHX??

i want to see rudy go off and batum play some decent minutes and bayless more than 5.

but now I feel dirty…

by voting yes, does that mean I expect them to lose?

I don’t like feeling this way……I DEMAND A RE-COUNT.

We can win. It won’t be easy, but I believe. The Spurs are a veteran, proven playoff team. But they’ll have to take us seriously. We aren’t a pushover. I’m like a lot, I am not going to waste my breath on the GO stuff. I’ll use it in a more productive manner, as in the Spurs will have their hands full with us. I voted no. After last season, we have lots to prove. Expectations are higher. Being happy to be there won’t cut it.

but if we are gonna lose atleast it be awell played game