My Therapeutic Conciliatory Message

I am so fuming angry...  Right or wrong, I felt cheated by the refs.  The final call on LMA; Oden hammered while dunking; the correct call on Outlaw that you never see made; the call on Rudy; the technical on Rudy... I try telling myself it's just a basketball game, the Blazers played one of their worst games of the season, but it just doesn't seem to help.

In an effort to recover, I need to give credit where credit is due... and above all else remind myself: it is just one game...

-Anthony Morrow: While I am not convinced he is the real deal given that all players go through hot streaks, but whew... even as a Blazer fan you had to be secretly cheering for the undrafted rookie who was putting on a show.

-Greg Oden: Played very well, albeit against a weak front line.  Some highlight dunks, and he will have a couple more if he can be stronger with the ball off the catch.

- 33/35 from the free throw line.  Something like 19-19 in the 4th quarter.  Anybody who is a fan of basketball fundamentals has to appreciate that.

-We lost the turnover battle (one area we ALWAYS need to win given our propensity to shoot outside), the free throw battle, and tied the rebounding battle.  I am surprised this team stayed so close.  This team continues to rely on their ability to recover from deficits... I hope this changes soon.

-I have felt that a lot of opponents haven't played all that well against the Blazers this year (wins and losses).  I really thought the Warriors played tremendous basketball tonight.  I don't think I will call the Warriors a better team because, at least without Monta, I don't think they are, but they played a fantastic game tonight.

Congrats to the Warriors!  A victory well-earned.  Portland just didn't have it tonight... and after all it is only basketball, and one game at that.

I feel a little better already.