I Still Believe!
by david1978pdx on Dec 13, 2008 1:14 AM PST
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PrintYes, we lost to the Clippers. But, consider the circumstances.
This was, effectively, the last game of an eight game road trip. It was also the second night of a back-to-back.
At any point in the game, we had at least two rookies on the floor. Many times, three rookies on the floor.
Do you think I am going to freak out over a Double-OT loss right now? NO! We are the youngest team in the NBA and we have played, statistically, the most difficult schedule of any NBA team this season to date... and, we are at .600 !!!
I was at the game, and loved every minute of it despite the loss. Brandon was frickin amazing. Greg was all over the boards. LaMarcus hit his shots. Rudy did all the little things he does.
And, most important of all... Nate was keeping them all out there on the floor for most of the 4th and both OT's. He is putting his trust in them and letting them play together. You are witnessing the early stages of our big three (or four.) Did you see the box score?
Roy: 38 points, 9 assists... Oden: 15 points, 15 boards (6 offensive)... Aldridge: 22 points, 6 boards, 3 blocks... Rudy: 5 points, 11 boards, 4 assists
This is only the beginning! The Blazers are learning and growing. There are going to be some tough lessons along the way, but that is part of the fun.
Those guys were just plain gassed out. They've got three days off now to get some well deserved rest.
Remember... Be patient... and, enjoy the ride!
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Thank you. It’s nice to see fans like you. I’m beginning to think I am the only one. Seriously, I have never heard so many unrealistic expectations in my life. You don’t just become one of the elite teams in the NBA in an off season when adding 4 rookies to your roster. Seriously, I am stoked to watch them grow. We will have many rough patches this season, but all in all, it will be an amazing ride.
EVERYONE BE REALISTIC!! 2nd youngest team in the NBA.
+ 1
The most frustrating aspect of being a fan of a young team with talent is they will win games they shouldn’t, and then follow it up with a loss to a team that they are superior to in terms of talent. If someone told me at the beginning of this year the Blazers would make the playoffs as a 6-8 seed and the young talent would continue to develop, I would have been more than happy with that.
Bayless has been testing the fences for weaknesses
by blazeraddict on Dec 13, 2008 8:45 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs
I know that we aren't winning the whole thing this year...
but I think it’s a must that we get in the playoffs this year for growth purposes. I think that the players and staff expect to make the playoffs and missing them would be a severe disappointment. There will be 9 teams with winning records in the West. We cannot be #9 in the conference and miss the playoffs. Games like this can come back to haunt us in the end.
they'll be in the playoffs.
They’re too freakin’ good.
The power rankings will be interesting. I don’t think they’ll lose all that much. – Elgin
It's all blues and no dinner at the Ministry of Bag. The steaks are getting thinner. The office is a drag. - Pete Brown
I find your lack of faith disturbing
I hate bears
by Sexual Tyrannosaurus on Dec 14, 2008 6:01 PM PST up reply actions
Good... GOOOOOD...
Release your anger…
I know less than half of you half as well as I should like, and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve.
by haildablazer on Dec 15, 2008 11:03 AM PST up reply actions
absolutely right!
Hey thanks for this post. Like everyone else, I was a bit chagrined to see the Blazers lose to the lowly Clippers, but at the same time I enjoyed every minute of the game. Every team is going to lose games like this now and then.
I wish Outlaw would have been able to play.
"I would be in favor of trading LMA and Oden for a reliable starting PF at this point."
MT Suit, 11/25/08
I still believe
in Santa Claus.
We can try to make excuses for last night, and there are plenty, but they’re still excuses! We should have won. No way around that no matter how much sugar coating you want to do.
Nyah, nyah, nyah!
I don’t care what you say, I still like this team and am over the moon at what they’ve accomplished. And I think they are going to win a lot more than they lose the rest of the year.
So there.
It doesn’t mean I’m stupid or think it is good that they lost to the Clippers. Worst loss of the year. But even so, there were good things in it.
So there.
And being tired doesn’t explain everything that went wrong last night. But it WAS part of the problem. Everyone gets tired.
So there.
Nyah, nyah, nyah.
This message has been brought to you by the belief in Blazer Claus foundation. I’m jscot, and I approve this message.
Do you like asparagus?
Thank you Mr. Jscot-cum-political-statement-maker
And being tired doesn’t explain everything that went wrong last night. . . . Everyone gets tired.
I hope others took the time to read your very informative and engaging rant about last night. It may even enlighten some people.
by Bust a Bucket on Dec 14, 2008 2:26 AM PST up reply actions
Nyah, nyah, nyah!
So there.
Do you like asparagus?
Nah nah, nah nah nah nah,
hey, hey, hey, Goodbye.
Did you steal that off some Jock Jams CD?
by Bust a Bucket on Dec 14, 2008 6:17 PM PST up reply actions
Did you ever see that movie
Bad Santa?
by Bust a Bucket on Dec 14, 2008 9:07 PM PST up reply actions
No, I have a boring life
Do you like asparagus?
It's a good laugh
I’m sure your life is more exciting than many.
by Bust a Bucket on Dec 14, 2008 10:09 PM PST up reply actions
Well, I could be a Kings fan
Do you like asparagus?
LOL
what are your main hobbies/passions outside of the Blazers?
by Bust a Bucket on Dec 14, 2008 11:05 PM PST up reply actions
This could be fun
but it would ruin it if I answered, so I’ll just let you guys make suggestions….
Do you like asparagus?
Absolutely nothing?
Drinking?
Hunting?
Golfing?
Curling?
Bagpipe piping?
Bagpipe playing?
by Bust a Bucket on Dec 15, 2008 12:31 AM PST up reply actions
Er, the Clippers are NBA players, aren't they?
Some of them very GOOD NBA players. And they were very well-rested and well-prepared NBA players. I wasn’t in the least surprised the Blazers lost that game: they were mentally and physically exhausted before they even went to Salt Lake City.
But I have one quibble about your post. You express pleasure that Nate kept the key guys on the floor for most of the 4th quarter and both overtimes. Well, I don’t know if Nate has said it publicly or not, but I’ll bet that, at least deep down, he now views that as a mistake. He rode his horses too long and they just broke down. Frye, Przy, and even Sergio were needed but not utilized. But in Nate’s defense, I’m sure he was mentally & physically exhausted ALSO.
In any case, it’s just a bump in the road. If you’d told KP, Nate & Co that they could have a .600 record after this incredibly difficult opening 1/4 of the season, I’m sure they’d have taken it in a heartbeat. The Blazers are very well-situated to make the playoffs this season. All they need is this little break to recharge their batteries and they’ll be back on track.
"If [Roy & Aldridge] walked around in fur coats, with a bunch of glamour & glitz, we'd have a bunch of guys wearing fur coats. But they don't. They're just good guys who want to win and know how to play the right way." --Kevin Pritchard
More good excuses
I agree with your excuses except perhaps “well-prepared NBA players”. Last season when NY visited Portland, Z-Bo “prepared” by partying all night and barely getting to the game on time. I can’t say for sure what he did this time, but I wouldn’t necessarily assume that the Clips were “well-prepared”.
Regardless, those are good EXCUSES.
Two undeniable facts are that (1) we played we enough to win that game, and (2) we should have won that game.
You can put lipstick on a retarded donkey, but it’s still a retarded donkey.
by Bust a Bucket on Dec 13, 2008 11:21 AM PST up reply actions
What about
Sac town beatin LA? Or Indiana stunning Beantown? I think the only worrisome thing here is losing 3 in a row. I think they will come out breathing fire on Tuesday.
He's Coming! Oden Slayer of Giants
If LAL played well enough to beat Sactown but still lost somehow, then I would say the same
I didn’t watch the game, so I don’t know if they played well enough to win or not. Same with Indiana and Boston; didn’t watch that game either.
by Bust a Bucket on Dec 13, 2008 12:03 PM PST up reply actions
This "played well enough to win" stuff is hilarious. If we play well enough to win, we win.
You don’t “play well enough to win” and then lose – actually, that’s called “not playing well enough to win.”
by Over Analysis on Dec 13, 2008 1:22 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
But for Blake missing 4 of 5 free throws
we would have won.
by Bust a Bucket on Dec 13, 2008 1:31 PM PST up reply actions
I know it's silly to say "we should have won"
I just think excuses are crap when it came down to Blake choking
by Bust a Bucket on Dec 13, 2008 1:33 PM PST up reply actions
Shooting free throws
is part of the game, part of playing well enough to win, or not.
You could definitely argue that the rest of the team, minus Blake, played well enough to win. You could also blame Rudy for missing most of his shots. Or Travis for getting hurt. Or Martell. Or KP.
Do you like asparagus?
or Paul Allen
or PA’s parents for having him. Or his ancestors for migrating to the US. Or the Big Bang for happening. Or Adam and Eve if you believe that route to creation.
by Bust a Bucket on Dec 13, 2008 1:54 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
rec
I know less than half of you half as well as I should like, and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve.
by haildablazer on Dec 15, 2008 11:11 AM PST up reply actions
But a 92% free throw shooter
going 1 for 5 is extraordinary under the circumstances.
It’s part of the game, but also a freak of statistical nature.
by Bust a Bucket on Dec 13, 2008 1:56 PM PST up reply actions
I never said statistics were nature
I said freak of statistical nature, not freak of
regular
nature.
Basketball is basketball. Nature is nature. Statistics are statistics. And Steve Blake is a choker.
"Well, let's see. There's ― of course in the great history of America there have been rulings that there's never going to be absolute consensus by every American, and there are those issues, again, like Roe v. Wade, where I believe are best held on a state level and addressed there. So, you know, going through the history of America, there would be others but ―" --Sarah Palin, unable to name a Supreme Court decision she disagreed with other than Roe vs. Wade, interview with Katie Couric, CBS News, Oct. 1, 2008
by Bust a Bucket on Dec 15, 2008 11:04 PM PST up reply actions
Give the Clips some credit
They brought a decent game plan and executed well.
Do you like asparagus?
No and no
What you and a LOT of folks are missing is that exhaustion impacts the mental as well as the physical side of the game. From Nate on down, last night the Blazers were struggling to think as well as to execute. Under the circumstances, I was impressed that they nearly won the game.
As for the Clips not being prepared, come on. They had three days to focus on the Blazers and on integrating their returning players. That was not the Clips team that has been a doormat of the league. The Clips team the Blazers faced last night was a competitive NBA squad. By contrast, the Blazers were as tired as an NBA team can get.
The result: last night was a toss-up game, and fittingly it went to overtime. Rest and preparation are the great levelers in the NBA.
"If [Roy & Aldridge] walked around in fur coats, with a bunch of glamour & glitz, we'd have a bunch of guys wearing fur coats. But they don't. They're just good guys who want to win and know how to play the right way." --Kevin Pritchard
So exhaustion is the reason Blake missed 4 free throws?
I doubt it. It’s called a choke job. Get over it.
And as far as calling the Clippers #1 scorer, Zachary Randolph “well prepared”… that’s a blatant guess that is not supported by historical evidence. How do you know what the Clips did before the game? Do you have a link to back that up?
Keep the excuses rolling… they’re always a good time!
by Bust a Bucket on Dec 13, 2008 2:25 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
You are apparently an expert on choke jobs
Perhaps you have a lot of personal experience with those?
As a matter of fact, fatigue—physical and mental—was almost certainly a major factor in those blown free throws.
And as for Zach, I never specifically said that HE was well-prepared for last night’s game. I said that the Clippers as a team had had 3 days to rest and come up with a game plan. And it was clear—if you paid attention—that they’d done just that.
"If [Roy & Aldridge] walked around in fur coats, with a bunch of glamour & glitz, we'd have a bunch of guys wearing fur coats. But they don't. They're just good guys who want to win and know how to play the right way." --Kevin Pritchard
"a major factor"
I’m not saying they weren’t a factor at all… but I can’t be impressed by that type of hyperbole and speculation.
And from your original post:
they were mentally and physically exhausted before they even went to Salt Lake City.
You must exchange personal text messages with Coach Nate. Only him or someone close to the team would be able to make such a definitive statement without it being pure speculation.
I could speculate that Steve’s son is sick right now and that’s why he missed them. Anything to justify a career 78% shooter missing 4 out of 5. Perhaps his aunt died before the game and it was one his mind.
The possibilities are endless.
by Bust a Bucket on Dec 13, 2008 5:27 PM PST up reply actions
He's just trolling right now
The Clippers loss triggered a personal crisis in his life. A couple wins will resolve it all, and he’ll be back to being him.
Do you like asparagus?
Lol
You had to go there and point out the deficiencies in my personal life, didn’t you.
Luckily, I don’t have any booze on hand tonight so all is peaceful on the emotional front.
by Bust a Bucket on Dec 14, 2008 1:04 AM PST up reply actions
Who said anything about deficiencies?
Do you like asparagus?
Crisis?
I guess that could be seen as a good thing… hmm..
by Bust a Bucket on Dec 14, 2008 1:58 PM PST up reply actions
Er, let's see
The Blazers have just completed a first 1/4 season schedule that—according to those versed in such things—may be the most difficult in NBA history. That schedule featured one game every two days—including a majority of road games, many against over-.500 teams. And you consider it “hyperbole and speculation” to state that the Blazers were “mentally and physically exhausted?”
Yeah, I really went out on a limb there. Thanks for calling me on that “pure speculation.”
"If [Roy & Aldridge] walked around in fur coats, with a bunch of glamour & glitz, we'd have a bunch of guys wearing fur coats. But they don't. They're just good guys who want to win and know how to play the right way." --Kevin Pritchard
They are professional athletes who train their bodies during the off season
Were they tired? Perhaps. Physically tire? Maybe. Mentally fatigued? Why not.
Mentally and physically EXHAUSTED before the Utah game? If slowdown08 says so, it must be true.
The thing is, I’m not trying to say that they weren’t tired. I just don’t see how you can deal in absolutes and point to that as THE reason why something happened.
When I speak in absolutes and says Steve’s performance at the line was a Choke Job, I back it up with statistical proof (provided by Jake the Snake in the Junk Drawer). When you try to use absolutes, you’re basing it on circumstantial evidence.
I say fatigue was probably a factor. You say it was THE factor. If you say so, it must be right.
by Bust a Bucket on Dec 14, 2008 2:08 AM PST up reply actions
You're grasping at straws now, BABs
When did I ever say fatigue was the ONLY factor in the Blazers’ loss to the Clips? Never. Obviously the Blazers still have deficiencies they need to work on. Last I heard, they’re still the youngest team in the NBA (once you exclude Raef from the calculation, that is).
But on normal rest, there’s no way they lose to the Clips at home. So why bust a gasket (or bust a bucket) over it? Relax, breathe, and let our guys get a little well-earned rest. They’ll be a new team the next time we see them.
"If [Roy & Aldridge] walked around in fur coats, with a bunch of glamour & glitz, we'd have a bunch of guys wearing fur coats. But they don't. They're just good guys who want to win and know how to play the right way." --Kevin Pritchard
I felt like I had a pretty tight hold on one of the straws
The boys will be back stronger than ever in no time.
by Bust a Bucket on Dec 14, 2008 1:59 PM PST up reply actions
Ah, at last--a point of agreement
"If [Roy & Aldridge] walked around in fur coats, with a bunch of glamour & glitz, we'd have a bunch of guys wearing fur coats. But they don't. They're just good guys who want to win and know how to play the right way." --Kevin Pritchard
Final statement and then we can agree to disagree
I say Blake blew the game against the Clips.
You say they were just tired (thereby placing lipstick on a comatose donkey).
by Bust a Bucket on Dec 14, 2008 2:12 AM PST up reply actions
Perhaps you are both right?
Since Steve isn’t historically a choker, as evidenced just one week ago, yet he obviously choked, it seems evident we have more than one factor at play here.
Do you like asparagus?
Have you ever
put lipstick on livestock?
I bet Dave knows a thing or two about that living in Idaho…
by Bust a Bucket on Dec 14, 2008 2:00 PM PST up reply actions
I felt this was a trap game...
and it was. Let the boys rest up and kick butt during the upcoming homestand.
There is probably no more terrible instance of enlightenment than the one in which you discover your father is a man — with human flesh.
Paul Muad'Dib - Dune (Frank Herbert)
My Translation: My Dad is a dude just like me, and my sons are dudes like me also. I love that.
Season Tix: Section 315, with my sons
And...
as you mentioned, it was a very entertaining game, even if we lost. I came home a little depressed, but I was happy with the entertainment I received for my dollars.
There is probably no more terrible instance of enlightenment than the one in which you discover your father is a man — with human flesh.
Paul Muad'Dib - Dune (Frank Herbert)
My Translation: My Dad is a dude just like me, and my sons are dudes like me also. I love that.
Season Tix: Section 315, with my sons
We've been spoiled.
With our outstanding start up to this point. Sure we have lost a couple of heartbreakers in the two the past three games but those things happen sometimes. All these early season wins seem to make people think that we are immediately contenders out West. I firmly believe that we will make it (it being the Conference Finals or NBA Finals) in the coming years, probably just not this year. The general consensus for this team was to win around 48-50 wins due to their youth and I still think that we will finish around that area. The world isn’t going to end just because we lost to the Clippers. Let’s keep our heads screwed on tight here and remember that the ceiling for this team is enormous, but we aren’t quite there yet.
It was a letdown, yes, but ...
The fourth quarter and 2 OTs were a classic NBA gunfight between Roy and Baron Davis. You could see Roy wobbling through the Clippers’ defense, getting hacked to bits and still getting it done. It looked to me a lot like the Bird-Wilkins or Bird-Isiah showdowns in the late ‘80s where neither one wanted to let his team lose. We woulda coulda shoulda won, and we can have our complaints, but it was great basketball. I’m pretty satisfied.
Letting your disgust with the team show and following it up with a sound
bashing of everyone who made a mistake is all part of being a good fan.
In some alternate universe.
I read about half the posts on the site and I wander what these people are fans of? The logo? The won/ost record at the end of the year?
The Blazers are going to lose at least 30 games this year. Losing 30 games doesn’t mean they are a bad, deeply flawed team. It’’s means they are a very very good team, that needs to get better. Experience will do that, for the most part.
+22
There is probably no more terrible instance of enlightenment than the one in which you discover your father is a man — with human flesh.
Paul Muad'Dib - Dune (Frank Herbert)
My Translation: My Dad is a dude just like me, and my sons are dudes like me also. I love that.
Season Tix: Section 315, with my sons
nice number
Looked really good on Clyde and me both. – Elgin
It's all blues and no dinner at the Ministry of Bag. The steaks are getting thinner. The office is a drag. - Pete Brown
I knew you were Elgin Baylor
since you’re retired now from the Clips.
by Bust a Bucket on Dec 14, 2008 2:01 PM PST up reply actions
only in my mind.
In my mind I can still hang in the air and bank it off the window over the outstretched arms of Wilt.
In real life, I never did anything like that at all. – Not Elgin.
It's all blues and no dinner at the Ministry of Bag. The steaks are getting thinner. The office is a drag. - Pete Brown
I competely agree
I love the core of the franchise (ie. Roy/LMA/Oden).
I just think our role players need to be more consistent. Maybe with time they will.
by Bust a Bucket on Dec 13, 2008 7:06 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Without T-Law playing, I was wondering if many of our "fans" would just short circuit
after the game when attempting to assign blame . . . [does not compute] [does not compute] *fizz, crack, chchchchchcchchhchchchhhchhchch. . . . .
I still believe too.
I still believe too. I saw the score and thought " they lost " ? It does suck we lost to the Clippers. I think we should have wasted them. But the weak teams, have surprise on their side and the Clippers do have good players like Baron Davis for example. Going in with the attitude that we’ll beat all the weak teams badly is wrong. We have to take them seriously just like the better teams. The Clippers came to play. They are full value for their win. One loss to a lowly team doesn’t have me in panic mode, and reconsidering loyalty to the Blazers. We’ll be back. I still believe.
by CanadianBlazerfan on Dec 13, 2008 2:34 PM PST reply actions
I believe
I believe Trail Blazers are the future
Coach them well and let Brandon lead the way
Show them all the Rudy we obsess implied
Forgive them a hence they tried to make their late free throws
Let Steve Blake hereafter remember focus now and then we all get back on D
Everybedgers looking for a hero
Some people need that one that one trade but who
I never found any trade that fulfills team needs
A lonely place to be, so I learned to depend on KP
He decided long ago always to walk in Odens shadow
If he failed, if we succeed, at least I still believe in the R&B
No matter how we lose they can’t take away our teams dignity
Because the greatest team of all is happening in front of me
I found the greatest guys of all play for the PTB
Some comments may not be 100% accurate
by bow4meow on Dec 13, 2008 8:45 PM PST up reply actions 4 recs
Awesome idea
wish I had thought of it first. Weird Al is my hero which makes you my Hero jr. or 6 inch sub.
He's Coming! Oden Slayer of Giants
REC'D
Positive Vibes!!
"Rudy’s flashy passes had the place whispering to each other like we were in junior high" ~BlazermaniacAndy
by courtsideerrandboy on Dec 14, 2008 7:40 PM PST reply actions
Still a fantastic roster, needs some wrinkles ironed out. Playoffs still within reach.
I believe it can be done.
Blazer Fan
You still believe? What kind of thread is this? As if the other Blazer fans are giving up. No one
is giving up except bandwagoners.
reading all of these
I just remembered that after Blake choked and went 0-3 from the line to ice it.. he got that great steal and went back to the line. i felt great about him getting the chance to redeem himself..
then he went 1-2..
ugh.. My opinion of the Blazers is no different.. they won off of a couple of good luck/other team chokes and then they choked.. whatever.. move on.. lots of games in the NBA
Boycott Rose Garden Concessions!!!
http://www.blazersedge.com/2008/11/8/657044/boycotting-rose-garden-con
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