Now...Go Get Them

by Dave on Dec 22, 2008 2:31 PM PST

As Ben has mentioned below and as we've heard from several sources, Carmelo Anthony is out tonight with an elbow issue.

This is no guarantee of a win. As we found out in Utah a team missing a big star can still play well. In the NBA it seems like somebody always steps up in the short term in the absence of the main guy. Some teams actually play better for a game or two. The Nuggets have plenty of firepower and are not to be dismissed.

However this changes the complexion of the game tonight. The Blazers now need to make it their business to make sure Denver never gets off the ground tonight. We need to pound them, run them, and shoot them into submission, building a big early lead and making them fight to try and get back into it without their biggest scorer. The mindset shouldn't be staying even or giving ourselves a chance to win on the road. It should be destroying them. Whether the victory actually ends up huge or narrow won't matter, that's still the right approach. If we go in to stay close (or worse, go in thinking we can cruise now) we're more likely to end up on the losing end.

So...you want to be a playoff team? One of the qualities of such teams is that they have no mercy--zero--for whatever is going wrong for the guys in the other uniform. Let them make all the excuses they want. The win is the important thing.

This kind of chance won't come around too often.

--Dave (blazersub@yahoo.com)

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No mercy

I like that

"It’s a good ol’ fashioned Rip City beat down!"

by Magnum on Dec 22, 2008 2:35 PM PST reply actions

Energy

We need to sustain our energy throughout the game. Bring it early and often, but be ready for a long battle.

by Michael D on Dec 22, 2008 2:40 PM PST reply actions

To underline your point...

…a comfortable win tonight would greatly increase the chances of winning again tomorrow (assuming both teams make it to the Rose Garden for that one). Roy, LMA, et al could get some 4th quarter rest tonight while the Nuggets—already a tired team—are knocking themselves out trying to come back.

I’d looked at these two games as a very possible 0-2 stretch. But I hadn’t realized the Blazers would be catching the Nuggets tired. Now, with Carmelo out, 2-0 seems like a definite possiblity…knock on wood.

"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

by hurryup09 on Dec 22, 2008 2:40 PM PST reply actions

A weird problem may arise at this game

Greg Oden, Rudy Fernandez and Nic Batum all will be playing their first game in Denver. It will be interesting to see how they handle the higher elevation.

Especially someone like Greg, who’s just getting back into shape now. He may be winded really early.

Joel, LMA and Brandon will be (as always!) vital to our success tonight.

by Timmay! on Dec 22, 2008 2:40 PM PST reply actions

dang.

This concerns me. I think I would rather have him be healthy. Our guys have been gameplanning to go against him… they don’t always look like they know what they’re doing when an opponent comes out different looking.

This just muddles up my jersey contest picks even more.

"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 Dec 22, 2008 2:50 PM PST reply actions

First?

by Norsktroll on Dec 22, 2008 2:52 PM PST reply actions

Pound them

I like it,,,,,,Portland needs to get about 65-70 points in the paint and get to the free throw line about 30 times,,,,,,maybe just maybe,,(talk a little smack)

I try to help with everything," Fernandez said. "If the coach says go rebound, I go rebound. I work for the team."

by Dragonage on Dec 22, 2008 2:53 PM PST reply actions

A blow out would be nice,

but I’d take a close win w/o injury too

by hotstuffdb22 on Dec 22, 2008 2:55 PM PST reply actions

We still have 27 healthy pinkies, I could risk one more for a victory.

Sergio + Rudy = 16
Sergio + Bayless = 16
Batum 8+8=16

by amlmart1 on Dec 22, 2008 4:24 PM PST up reply actions

lol, agreed

December 18, 2008.

"Roy is Roy, and if I were to bet my life on a game of 5-on-5, I’d bet on whichever team Roy was playing on." by HurraKane212

by maid tu rek on Dec 22, 2008 5:06 PM PST up reply actions

Seek and destroy

Kill em Blazers. Drop a double nickle on em tonight B-ROY!!!! GO BLAZERS!!!!

by bigrandy on Dec 22, 2008 2:56 PM PST reply actions

I like this post

Killer instinct is important.. hope someone on the coaching staff reads this and takes it to heart. We know we can win this game a lot more easily now.

by amitp06 on Dec 22, 2008 2:58 PM PST reply actions

We should take them.

Denver are good. They can score. But missing Carmelo Anthony will hurt them. Plus they are like G State very one dimensional. All offense, and no defense. We are the better balanced team. I think we take them. We take them badly. Brandon dropping another 52 is something we all would like. GO BLAZERS!

by CanadianBlazerfan on Dec 22, 2008 2:59 PM PST reply actions

BRoy will not let the team have a letdown..

I am going on record that Roy has started a new chapter in his career after last game. We are seeing a MVP-caliber player blossom in front of our eyes, and a big part of that evolution will be to see him refuse to let his teammates have a letdown. I am confident that he will display that assassin’s mentality that made players like Jordan, Bird, Magic the players that they were…

"When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace." Jimi Hendrix

by philly420pdxhilo on Dec 22, 2008 3:12 PM PST reply actions 1 recs

rek

December 18, 2008.

"Roy is Roy, and if I were to bet my life on a game of 5-on-5, I’d bet on whichever team Roy was playing on." by HurraKane212

by maid tu rek on Dec 22, 2008 5:07 PM PST up reply actions

I think he was too worried about his teammates having a letdown so he had one

"There is a difference between having two guys banging down low and having two guys who can bang down low." - Blazin'

by tominhawaii on Dec 23, 2008 3:05 AM PST up reply actions

I'm ready for a gameday thread

these long off periods make me ancy

"It’s a good ol’ fashioned Rip City beat down!"

by Magnum on Dec 22, 2008 3:27 PM PST reply actions

throw in being snowed in...

and I’m going downright insane.

"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 Dec 22, 2008 3:32 PM PST up reply actions

I thought maybe this was the gameday thread

If it's true that we are here to help others, then what exactly are the others here for?

by bow4meow on Dec 22, 2008 3:54 PM PST up reply actions

Lots of us use the top thread as the pre-game thread anyway. :)

by Timmay! on Dec 22, 2008 4:10 PM PST up reply actions

Pick Axe and Roll

already has their game thread up…. Im confident the Bedge wont need over-time to beat PA&R

If it's true that we are here to help others, then what exactly are the others here for?

by bow4meow on Dec 22, 2008 4:12 PM PST up reply actions

right on Dave

Good mouth-frothing, and all that. Let’s go out there and roast ’em in the first quarter. – 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

by 22baylor on Dec 22, 2008 3:31 PM PST reply actions

Is this Troutlaws

game to shine in? They will probably start either Keliza or Balkman at the 3, my guess in Keliza as he packs more scoring punch and spreads the offense (although starting Balkman on Roy would seem wise.). So if Travis comes off the bench at the 4 I imagine he could do a lot of damage.

Could be a big night for Roy/Rudy as well since neither JR Smith or Jones are great defensive stoppers

Life is exhausting when you are this stupid.

by jonestr on Dec 22, 2008 3:36 PM PST reply actions