Today's Poll

by Ben Golliver on Nov 25, 2008 11:10 AM PST

Heading over to practice in a minute. Honestly don't know what to expect today. I guess we'll see. In the meatime, vote away and discuss the state of the team in the comments.

-- Ben (benjamin.golliver@gmail.com)

Poll

What do you expect tomorrow night against the Heat?

A nice bounce back W against a depleted team.

754 votes

A Nailbiter -- we've got too many unresolved issues right now to know one way or the other..

295 votes

Our first home loss -- DWade > BRoy and no one else is showing up.

38 votes

Ask me tomorrow after I read how practice went.

57 votes

I am other.

31 votes

1175 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 28 comments | 0 recs |

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Comments

I said ask me after practice

but I am optimistic. We have a team of hard-working ballers and I guarantee they are as upset over last night’s game as we are, probably more. They will bounce back.

"I like blocks," Fernandez said.

by joelor on Nov 25, 2008 11:15 AM PST reply actions

ditto

Rudyculize: The act of Rudy making others look slow, dim and generally oafish.

http://www.myspace.com/y5k

by Y5k on Nov 25, 2008 12:02 PM PST up reply actions

The Practice Report was unrevealing to me

Now I has started to bite my nails.

"You're really making me feel good about myself, little man," says Oden as he starts dancing after scoring a goal. "You better come harder than that."

by BlueBooYay on Nov 25, 2008 4:54 PM PST up reply actions

We'll win tomorrow.

"When I die, I want to go peacefully like my Grandfather did, in his sleep -- not screaming, like the passengers in his car"

by you'vegottomakeyourfreethrows on Nov 25, 2008 11:24 AM PST reply actions

I said a bounce back win

which is more optimistic than I usually am (especially after thinking last night would be a gimme), but I am hoping they are embarrassed by the Kings’ game and will make sure it doesn’t happen again.

Question : can you bounce back after a win? :D

by jorga on Nov 25, 2008 11:24 AM PST reply actions

We must have HUGE expectations of The Blazers, huh?

To bounce back from a win

-Shad

"If a doctor ever gives me six months to live, I want it in basketball time." - Marc Acito

by NBAstard on Nov 25, 2008 11:40 AM PST up reply actions

Good one

"I believe in [Joel]. I just love the way he plays." - Nate McMillan

by jamon51 on Nov 25, 2008 3:06 PM PST up reply actions

The Heat are depleted?

Who’s down for the Heat?
====

Rudy won’t have 3 bad games in a row, will he?

LA will break out of his slump eventually, won’t he?

Oden will make an impact on D in the near future, right?

I have to believe the answer to those questions is yes. If so, the Blazers will be fine.

Boomshakalaka

by jksnake99 on Nov 25, 2008 11:30 AM PST reply actions

Shawn Marion

He will attend the funeral of an uncle. And his replacement Dorrell Wright has knee problems.

Then there are long-time injured James Jones (Ruptured Extensor Tendon in Right Wrist), and Jamaal Magloire (Fracture of the Third Metacarpal in Left Hand).

"For such a dumb kid, you've got a pretty smart mouth."

by Norsktroll on Nov 25, 2008 11:50 AM PST up reply actions

I want to see Rudy take over a game.

At this point, I’d like to see Rudy with the confidence and the go-ahead to jumpstart this team if they are struggling. Yes, Rudy is great without the ball and I think that, for the most part, that is how he should be used in the offense. However, if nothing is clicking, I’d like to see him work to find his own shot.

It can’t be any worse than everyone standing around watching Travis try to create his own shot, right?

"I like blocks," Fernandez said.

by joelor on Nov 25, 2008 11:39 AM PST reply actions

Nothing is worse than that

-Shad

"If a doctor ever gives me six months to live, I want it in basketball time." - Marc Acito

by NBAstard on Nov 25, 2008 11:41 AM PST up reply actions

Rudy...

I think he came in and blew everyone away.

Then teams scouted him and figured out how to minimize his effectiveness.

It’s after this next series of adjusments (that he’ll hopefully make to become an uber-producer again) that a more solid evaluation will be in order.

I know that everyone is still really high on Rudy, and the dude is a straight hustler on defense and in the passing lanes… but his offense needs improvement. All he does is hoist 3’s. I wonder if the size and speed of the NBA is catching up to him, or if he’ll find a way to start slashing more.

No matter what, that kid needs to find himself getting to the free throw line more often… and hoisting 3’s ain’t the way to make that happen.

"When I die, I want to go peacefully like my Grandfather did, in his sleep -- not screaming, like the passengers in his car"

by you'vegottomakeyourfreethrows on Nov 25, 2008 11:59 AM PST up reply actions

Agreed.. I think they figured him out too.

He will adapt though. This reminds me of Stojackovic a few years back. He was having a great season with the Kings. Half-way through the season, the opposing teams Defense figured him out and he was shut down the second half of the season.

Since then, Peja has adapted, and I believe that Rudy will as well..

by TheWorkz on Nov 25, 2008 12:03 PM PST up reply actions

I see what you're saying.

But also, Rudy has just been missing. Happens to everyone. I remember one specific play last night where we had great ball movement and the ball came out to a wide open Rudy. I swear, it sounded like the whole Rose Garden was cheering before it even went in because he’s been so automatic, yet it didn’t fall.

But it usually will.

"I like blocks," Fernandez said.

by joelor on Nov 25, 2008 12:08 PM PST up reply actions

he was already heading up the lane a bit more yesterday...

by LetsBlaze on Nov 25, 2008 12:38 PM PST up reply actions

Noone seems happy on The Blazers about the last W

So I am really expecting them to play well, play hard, and get a better looking win tomorrow. I think that they will come out a little more motivated against Miami than they were against Sac-town.
I’m sure it’ll be Oden’s first triple-double, too 40/20/10 blocks. I can sense these things…Take that Hollinger!
But if B-Roy is the only guy that seems to be playing again tomorrow, I’ll take back everything I just said and pretend that I never said it, and still say I told you so

-Shad

"If a doctor ever gives me six months to live, I want it in basketball time." - Marc Acito

by NBAstard on Nov 25, 2008 11:55 AM PST reply actions