So I've had some time to cool off and I'm still not cool, but I'm in a better mood.  I'll give you the break down of my night.  it wasn't just the Blazers that got me hot, in the bad "I don't really need a shower unfortunately" meaning of the word.  Naw, there were a few other things.

The Fans

Blazer fans that is.  There were a number at the game and quite a few in one section.  You could hear them cheering every once and a while, but I couldn't see them.  I'm guessing they were on the level right above me to my right.

Saw KP.  He was watching the game from the kitty corner to the Blazers.  Thought about saying hi to him again, but decided not to bug him.

There was a blazer fan with his daughter next to me, so we chatted a little.  We were 10 seats away so yelling became problematic.  when more people arrived. 

Jazz fans were quiet for most of the game until the mascot incident that I talk about below.  The seats were half full until after halftime.  this is, apparently, a strange Utah thing.   The fans aren't any louder than the blazer fans, but the building conducts that noise like crazy!  I also believe that some canned sound is used because when I look around at people clapping, i don't see enough to justify the noise.   Possibly there are microphones to enhance it?   Blazer fans were FAR noiser on opening night, but that noise isn't amplified like the jazz fans are in their building.

The Cheerleaders

First off, I know you're all waiting for reports on these horrible cheerleaders.   You'll be happy to know that they've improved.  The god awful sparkly outfit short dress thing with white coyboy boots was only used once and then they went to these sexier ref shirts and short black mini-skirts.  Their dancing was still out of sync, but they managed a few backflips and two of the girls actually managed to stay in sync together while back flipping!!!   I'll definitely take the beauty of portland cheerleaders though and their actual skill.  Also, the cheerleaders were more diversified so this leads me to believe that maybe the preseason girls were also a little bit in the tryout stage as they were ALL blonde?  Still 95% ugly though. 

The Mascot

This subject has me hot.  I'll just run down what I saw, but I seriously hope the guy sues and wins.  The wookie/teenwolf (or bear as my girlfriend finally realized last night despite the fact I'd already told her) was going down the aisle and shooting people with silly string.  All was fine and dandy until he found a blazer fan and shot it all over him and in his beer cup.   This beer is about $8-$9 a cup.  It's also weak beer 2% or so beer.  ( I don't drink, so I don't actually know the strength, but I know people complain like crazy about the beer water.)

The fan didn't take too kindly to the ruinage of his lovely weak beverage.  He was irate and acted out of helpless anger... because really the only other option is to chalk up that $8 as a loss or drinkng with all the silly string.  The blazer fan took his cup and DUMPED it over the Mascot.   This of course got the Jazz fans MAJORLY worked up.  The security guards came along and escorted him out.   I was torn between it being freaking funny, the unjustness of this out of control mascot doing something that would OBVIOUSLY tick off someone, and the realization that the fan did not act appropriatly.

The guards let the guy back in and the crowd booed.  I think the guy realized that he hadn't been cool and just waved.  Fine and dandy... except that the Mascot goes out and grabs a bucket of... I assume water.  He runs up the stairs and the security guards stop him.  I figure this is funny and this is where it should end.  Except it isn't.  He leaps around the security guard and dumps the entire bucket over him and knocks him back against the seat and then runs off.  The Jazz fans roar in approval.  The fan is then booted from the Arena by the security guards.

While the blazer fan obviously lost his cool, it's up to the representatives of the organization to maintain their cool and be professional.  I am beyond ticked at the unprofessionalism shown last night.  This is also not an abnormal thing.  Talking to a jazz fan who was appologizing to me, she said that the string has been used to incite other non-jazz fans as well, so the actions were purposeful.  Being told this just [s] made me love utah all the more [/s].

I seriously hope the guy can sue or something.  I'm sure there's assault or battery in there somewhere... of course that opens him up to a counter suit unless the Jazz handle it quietly for PR reasons.  Damn i hate the Jazz.  I haven't felt such raw emotion towards a team or organization or FANS since karl Malone took out Brian Grants teeth with his wild purposeful elbows.

The Blazers

Watching this game, the blazers NEVER felt like they were in control.   Even with a ten point lead, I was positive the blazers would lose this, and here's why.

The Blazers couldn't run the fast break.  There were a few opportunities which ended with Aldridge not being prepared and bobbling the ball, or the person with the ball running up court, but NO ONE following.  This wasn't a "we need to rebound to run".  The Blazers WERE running it, and failing miserably.  No one was sprinting or TRYING as a team to score.  People would get the ball and go "oh shoot!  what do i do???"

I saw multiple breakdowns of the players not knowing where to move or what to do when in position.   I started watching the game a lot AWAY from the ball and I started to realize something.  Nate runs basic plays because these guys don't seem to know how to even do that!  Players weren't moving without the ball, or when they did, they simply rotated sides.   I watched the Jazz move into the post and then around to the three point line.  The Blazers were being run ragged attempting to catchup and it seriously freed some guys up with that ragged player was finally hit by a screen.

I saw a team that attacked the post in the first quarter and then settled for jump shots the entire rest of the game... except for Roy.

Also... the blazers NEED TO DUNK!!!  What's with all the freaking layins?   If our players went up with more power, the ball would go in!  I saw a pass to aldridge and he did this little lady like layin... except he missed.  If he'd gone harder he could have dunked and it WOULD have gone in.  Watching these blazers, I can understand why Nate wants Bayless to work.  We need that dunking and athleticsm because the other blazers don't display it.

Now, some things I saw that I did like is that the Blazers and Jazz were both physical and the blazers did some hard fouls with intent.  they were SLOPPY about it, but they were trying.

Okur seriously looks like a lady out there.  man... watching that guy and his hand gestures away from the ball is a complete gas!  I started imitating him in the stands and cracking my girlfriend up.  when the Jazz come to town, seriously... check this guy out.  he's so danty!

The Players

I can't watch all the players all the time, so I'll report on the ones I noticed.

Batum did some nice things.  He also did some dumb things.  Mostly I thought he did a great job.  His mistakes were rookie mistakes and with a few games, I'm sure he'd shake them off.  His defence was nice and his hustle was above everyone but Rudy.

Rudy needs to be fed the ball more.  I still think he's watching and waiting, but this guy is better than how he's being used.  This is a man that can take over games, and for some reason, calls aren't being made for him.  He needs the ball in his hands more, like roy.  He can create for others as well as himself.  His experience with Spain is something this team should be harvesting and utilizing.

Aldridge reverted back to jump shots.  Chicago stated they needed a strong post presence and that Aldridge didn't have it.  They're right.  Aldridge doesn't have it.  Last year he was shown stats of how much better he does in the post, and yet he's still settling for jump shots.  Carlos Boozer isn't the greatest person for Aldridge to play against, but if he moves and warps his body, he could take the guy!  Aldridge needs to be in the post and figure out HOW to use his finesse to dominate down there.  Frankly, he should be slapped everytime he takes a jumper until he figures out the post.  I'll take losses in the short term, because that means we'll dominate in the long term.

Roy... wow... he made some nice moves to the basket, but he also had a LOT of turnovers.  I almost get the feeling that Roy felt he'd arrived and so he thought it would be easy and now he's waking up and realizing that he needs to work just as hard as he did last year.   That is the "vibe" I have.  Obviously I'm not in his head, so I don't know if it's true or not.

Blake was left open a lot, and he made the Jazz pay by hitting a ton of three pointers.  I liked what he was doing out there.

I didn't notice Sergio.  Pryz was Pryz.  Frye hit a couple of shots AND attacked the post a few times.  I liked it.  I didn't notice Outlaw other than he looks very atheltic with his JUMPERS.  (another man that needs to attack the basket.   I also like a hard foul I saw him take that the blazers actually got away with.

The Refs

I noticed, when skimming the posts, that a lot of frustration was directed towards the Refs.   While I was AMAZED a kickball wasn't called, the other calls looked good from where I was sitting and the ones that weren't seemed about equal to the miscalls against the Jazz.  While the calls may not have been good, in person they looked good, for the most part and I can't fault the Refs with them at all.  Actually, the Jazz fans were ticked that roy wasn't called for travels on his moves to the basket and they were upset at a few other non-calls.   I believe the game was pretty even. 

Overall impression

I attended the Spurs game and was pretty happy.   Looking back, I realize that the win blinded me to some flaws.   Those flaws were not as bad as tonight against the Jazz, but they were still there. 

The Blazer players need to be given playbooks and start learning how to run them.  They ALL seem to need a basic education on what the heck to do and where the heck to be out there on the floor.   i recall an article by Quick (I think) that someone commented how they'd never been on a team that spent so much time working on the basics/fundamentals.  There's a reason.  This team is beyond belief behind that learning curve.

I generally preach patience.  I generally don't become upset watching games.  I'm upset though.  I'm upset because I'm watching some ugly basketball.  It's only the raw talent that keeps us in ball games.  In the fourth when teams turn it up a notch and LOCK down on defense (like the Jazz did... they do deserve the win and even if they lost I'd be calling them the best team on the floor), the blazers fall apart.   They don't have that extra notch.  heck, they barely have a basic NBA notch.  So I'm very frustrated.  I'm frustrated that I feel like this team has stepped backwards in fundamental play more than I am at losing.  I feel like thse players should be further ahead in the basic understanding of basketball.

There's a talk about a high basketball IQ, but frankly I don't see it out there.  After watching this game, I believe James Jones leaving hurt us a LOT more than I would have imagined.  His addition to the game allowed him to direct the Blazers with the spacing and basic movement.  It allowed us to utilize our talent.  Looking at this team, I see us needing another player like Jones.  someone with play-off and/or championship experience.  someone who's been around.   Nate can only do so much.  When the players fail to do basic things on the floor, then Nate can only shake his head.  He CANT come up with a master plan and show off his coaching because the players couldn't freaking execute it!

Also, I thought this would be the year for the blazers to really break out, and I don't believe it is now.   I don't say this because they're losing.  I say this because this team is fundamentally wrong on the fundamentals.   I'm hopeful they can figure it out this year, but worried that they won't because they're SO far behind.   The definitely won't make it past the first round of the play-offs.

All that said, I'm hopeful that the blazers can learn and recover.   I recognize that we have new players.  I recognize that we're playing without two starters.  I recognize that we have a harsh schedule.   Still, that doesn't excuse the breakdown of the fundamentals that this team shows. 

I'm hopeful that these new players with YEARS of experience (Batum and Rudy) will start directing people out on the floor, because the Blazers NEED that.   I know Rudy knows what to do out there, and he REALLY needs to assert himself.  Nate needs to allow Rudy to assert himself.   Nate also needs to play Batum more.  The kid has talent, we're not going anywhere quickly, and so you develop the talent.  Batum is behind Webster, but could easily overtake him in a year (I believe).

We have a good team, but unless they suddenly figure out floor spacing, movement away from the ball, and so on, this team is going no where.  Unless they figure out how to rotate on defense instead of scrambling from guy to guy leaving THREE Jazz players open... we don't have a prayer of making the finals.

I'm disappointed in this team.  They're in good shape but they really needed to work on the matter between their ears and educate themselves better on how the game is played.  They also need to play more like a team.  Right now, i just see a bunch of individuals out there.

How can this be turned around?

The addition of Greg will plug ONE hole in the dike.

The addition of Webster will provide experience.

Nate needs to assign these guys homework.  Take the plays he wants to run and let them read it.  Give them tapes and make them watch it.  Run the practices and make them do it.   whatever they are doing obviously isn't sticking out there.

Nate needs to give Rudy more rope and more leadership.  he needs to tell Rudy to speak up and direct the team.  I believe Rudy CAN do this and SHOULD do this before he forgets how to move!

Nate needs to play Batum more.  This guy IS our future SF.  He's 19 and able to handle the pressures of starting.  If he was on seattle's team, he'd be dominating with inflated stats and people would be in amazement.  Instead, he's even better and able to fit in on a team with already VERY good players.  We need to develop that.

In closing

So there you go.   Not a positive viewing of the team, and even if we won, this wouldn't have been positive.  Watching the play away from the ball was painful.  This team has a long ways to go.