Game 31 Recap: Blazers 102, Raptors 89
by Dave on Dec 27, 2008 10:40 PM PST
77 comments
This was a fine win. It wasn't one of the more spectacular games we've played but Toronto really, really wanted this victory and we didn't let them have it. In fact we didn't let them even sniff it come the fourth quarter. That's a job well done.
The Raptors started the game on fire. It's not like Portland was super diligent in closing out or playing great defense. That's not a Blazer trademark right now. But at the same time the Raptors were taking those extra inches of shooting space and turning them into miles and miles of points. Bosh and O'Neal were punishing our slower big defenders and the guards got paralyzed by Toronto's hot shooting and weren't able to help. We ended up not being able to stop anybody. Worse still, we played that same kind of sloppy rebounding game we did against the Mavericks on Christmas Day. I will tell you right now, no joke, rebounding has been an enormous part of the Blazers' success this season. If we start succumbing to the opposition on the boards we will not win games, period. The first half of this game had me worried. Toronto should have claimed maybe 2 offensive boards and been well behind in overall rebounding. Instead they were even with the Blazers on both counts. Had it not been for Travis' buzzer-beating halfcourt heave at the end of the second quarter halftime would have been a somber affair.
The second half saw an immediate increase in defensive energy. Coincidentally or not, the Raptors also started missing shots they were making in the first half. The Blazers used the guards to double down on the Raptor big men, preventing them from putting the ball on the floor and getting around our centers. Toronto's perimeter players couldn't make them pay the price and that ground Toronto's scoring to a halt. Meanwhile the Blazers capitalized by working the ball through the middle and dishing either to big men for close-range shots or wings for threes. The game turned in the 20-10 third quarter.
Then it was Roy time.
While all of the other Blazers held the Raptors down, Roy came in and pummeled them black and blue. He drove a couple times which set up his jumper...a jumper which started looking magical again the way we all love. After Roy had given them all they could stomach it was an easy matter to draw defenders to him and then work the ball around for open jumpers and dunks. The Raptors never had a chance after that. This was pure Blazers basketball...the good stuff.
The Blazers ended up ahead on the boards, though not as much as anticipated. They outshot the Raptors handily thanks to the late game assault. They shot 7 more free throws though they only converted three more points from them since the Raptors were a perfect 12 of 12 from the stripe. The two teams ended up even in three-pointers made though the Blazers shot a lower percentage. It was not one of Portland's finer nights from the arc. That's OK, though. There were better shots to be had. Statistically speaking it was a solid win. As we said, though, the most impressive part was that we took the Bosh-O'Neal 1-2 punch and came out swinging even harder ourselves. Also it was really nice to see the guards helping the bigs on defense for a change instead of the big men always having to bail out the guards.
Individual Notes
Brandon Roy ended up shooting 14-19 for this game. That's silly stupid sick. He had 32 points and 9 assists. He so dominated the fourth quarter that you barely noticed anyone else out there. Typical Brandon game...just win it.
Lamarcus was having defensive struggles early but he helped contain Chris Bosh in the critical second half and also did more than enough damage to keep himself credible. That single-handed steal and dunk was pretty awesome. I love to see him use his length and speed. 21 points, 9 rebounds (8 defensive!), 2 steals, and 2 assists.
Greg Oden played 28 minutes and while he had consistent trouble watching Jermaine O'Neal he also did the right thing by getting down low on offense and making the Raptors pay for not being as big as he is. As Mike Rice pointed out a couple of times during the broadcast, it isn't rocket science. If a guy is quicker than you on one end of the court make your superior size work for you on the other end. 16 points, 10 rebounds (7 offensive), 1 block that should have been 2, plus only 3 personal fouls. Good game from the big guy.
Steve Blake's shot was off tonight (2-7 overall, 1-4 on three-pointers) but he helped out with 7 assists and 2 steals. He and Sergio managed to keep Calderon from taking over the game on offense.
Nicolas Batum hit a 3 and got a couple of rebounds in 17 minutes. He was also active on defense...more so than we've seen him in a while. He also chipped in on containing Calderon.
Travis Outlaw had a better game tonight. He only shot 5-13 but he got 4 rebounds, a steal, and a block. He stayed active, which is what you want from Travis. The 12 points didn't hurt. He could have dominated more against the relatively weak Toronto defense but you'll take it.
Sergio Rodriguez was obviously concentrating more on defense, moving his feet and keeping busy. One of the things I like about Sergio is that when something is pointed out to him he will usually go out and address it. He's not always successful in the attempt, but he puts in the effort. He also looked for his shot tonight, which again I appreciate even when it doesn't go in. He has to be perceived as a threat out there. 4 points, 2 steals, an assist, and a lot of running around.
Joel Przybilla did his usual plumbing job: come in when you get the call because something is leaking. He helped slow down the Toronto big man attack and managed 8 rebounds of his own in 19 minutes.
Rudy Fernandez continues to struggle with his shot, going 1-5 for 3 points in 19 minutes. It's a long season and I think we're going to see at least one more streak of early-season Rudy before all is said and done. We may also see more of this Rudy. No matter who you are, getting used to the rhythm of this league is an adjustment.
Channing Frye got 4 shots up in 6 minutes and hit 2 of them for 4 points. He spoiled the parade of even numbers by shooting only 1 three-pointer though, which of course he missed. He couldn't take or make another three without messing up more of the even numbers, though, so instead he just sat down before he got into his 7th minute. I knew this math fixation would get him in trouble eventually.
Final Thoughts
This was an important win in a couple of ways. First it ensures that no matter what happens in the next four games versus the Celtics, Hornets, L*kers, and Pistons we still will end the early-season marathon with a decent record. Chances are it'll be more than decent. Second, while you can't stop the ebbs and flows of the season (unless you're a truly elite team) you at least want to make the ebbs the least damaging they can be until the next flow hits you. The Blazers haven't been playing their best ball the last few weeks but they've still won 4 of 6. That's controlling the ebb.
Check out the Jersey Contest results from this game and enter the final game of the month here.
--Dave (blazersub@yahoo.com)
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It was good to see us weather the storm and come back tonight.
No Bayless sighting though.
by OneTrickPony on Dec 27, 2008 10:48 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
It was nice to see Greg starting to get some spring back in his legs
and looking like he is having some fun
by southern oregon on Dec 27, 2008 10:53 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Good comeback
The effort was there tonight, and Roy was unstoppable in the fourth. The pick and roll defense is still a real problem, and against a team like Boston, the Blazers will need to be sharper. I loved GOs aggressiveness on offense tonight, he really took it to the undersized Raptors, and I’m hoping to see similar efforts going forward
Bayless has been testing the fences for weaknesses
by blazeraddict on Dec 27, 2008 10:53 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
I was at the game and had a great time.
It seemed like Roy did a lot of standing around in the third quarter. Was he waiting for the fourth before turning it on?
Bosh is a heckuva player and I couldn’t help but root for him because I thought he was a key player on our Olympic team.
I’m usually pretty down on Oden, but this was a great game from him. He was aggressive on offense and played smart defense. He kept his hands up when jumping and seemed to be in the right position most of the time. I think he’s on the right track and should be rounding into form around March.
The Blazers play terrible team defense. They’re often late rotating to the open man.
Sergio dribbles a bit too much and the second unit lacks cohesiveness. It’s not clear who should get the majority of shots. I would say Fernandez, but he’s a pretty streaky shooter.
It would be great if the Blazers had someone who could slash to the rim.
by torsoheap on Dec 27, 2008 11:04 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Oops meant to say, "We do...
….JBay can slash to the rim."
by upper left corner on Dec 27, 2008 11:16 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Unfortunately
I’ve yet to see it happen.
It would be great if they could work Bayless into the rotation to get some non-garbage time minutes.
by torsoheap on Dec 28, 2008 8:15 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
this should be someone's new sig
The Blazers play terrible team defense. They’re often late rotating to the open man
:)
Sophia
Though patience be a tired mare, yet she will plod. - William Shakespeare
by BlazerFan1 on Dec 27, 2008 11:20 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Agreed
Bosh really impresses me, and he is very fun to watch.
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
by johnv59 on Dec 27, 2008 11:43 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
He and Brandon are similar
Superstars who get it done within the flow of the game, you know they’re doing well, but you do a double take when you see the obscene numbers on the stat board
Bayless has been testing the fences for weaknesses
by blazeraddict on Dec 27, 2008 11:53 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
He's a good dude
He has a fluid shot and it’s great to see him shoot free throws. Thousands of people screaming and he swishes every one.
by torsoheap on Dec 28, 2008 8:16 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Noticed that you've been citing Mike Rice the last few reviews.
Go Mike Rice!
The Kings have the best bench I’ve seen. There are easily 14 guys on this team good enough for every bench in the league. Now if we could only get some starters, I’d totally jizz in my pants.
Kings fan
by dyshooter182 on Dec 27, 2008 11:04 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
I agree Dave, the first half was causing me to worry
but not too much b/c my meds make me really relaxed .. The defense was HORRID. I was eating a salad, and at one point the switch on D was so terrible I chucked my fork at the t.v. (Travis) , but missed and it hit my left foot. Which elicited a blood curdling scream and every curse word I know.. Lesson: no throwing eating utensils at the tv. especially if you have an injury.
Turning point was at the beginning of the 3rd when the Raptors had 2 or 3 missed shots and subsequent offensive rebounds, right.in.front.of.Nate. After the Raptors inevitably make a shot (pretty sure it was a 3) I could hear Nate scream “TIMEOUT” … the defense tightened up, a whole lot after that . I wonder if Nate threatened castration b/c the difference between that possession and the remaining defensive play was like night and day.
Glad we won this one, I totally expected it to go the other way. Still some certain issues that need to be addressed but Oden played well and seemed energetic which is more important than a win in my opinion.
Sophia
Though patience be a tired mare, yet she will plod. - William Shakespeare
by BlazerFan1 on Dec 27, 2008 11:19 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
I agree with you about oden but i still really wanted this win
because it was so, uh, “winnable” — and some of the next few games look awfully hard
ignacio
by ignacio on Dec 27, 2008 11:22 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Oh dont get me wrong... I never thought this game to be anything other than a must win
but after the first half I started saying to myself “this is looking like another one of ‘those games’ , at least Oden is playing so well”. But im happy we have this W the next 2 weeks is going to be tough.
Sophia
Though patience be a tired mare, yet she will plod. - William Shakespeare
by BlazerFan1 on Dec 27, 2008 11:28 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
I agree that we needed this game.
I don’t mind the Blazers losing if O’Neal and Bosh can’t miss, but they certainly shouldn’t lose because they can’t box out something called Joey Graham.
I also noticed that the Blazers would leave either just Oden or Przybilla to rebound after the Raptors shot. Since the Raptors were shooting a lot of outside shots, they were easily able to corral the long rebounds.
by torsoheap on Dec 28, 2008 8:20 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Narcotic pain killers for the win!
I’m guessing that with your injury that you’re, uh, taking Percocet.
Of course, that’s just a random, uneducated guess on my part, so I could be totally wrong here.
Yet, if I’m correct in this case, then I’m the most awesome, outstanding person in the entire world.
by AK1984 on Dec 28, 2008 6:04 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
it's so cool watching brandon develop into a superstar
that confidence hes getting, when he just knows he cannot miss — it’s great to see. and great to see lamarcus step up and hit those shots when brandon was doubleteamed.
i dont take brandon roy for granted one tiny little bit. hes playing extraordinary ball.
ignacio
by ignacio on Dec 27, 2008 11:45 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Oden is a bust
I think he almost missed one of his free throws.
His ceiling is 10/10, max.
—-
This was a “taking care of business” win. The Raptors have a lot of dangerous talent, but we’re still a better team, and the guys went out and took care of it.
The next four are tough. Boston is going to come in cocky (because they thumped us in Boston) and mad (because they’ve dropped two on this trip already). Look for them to come out firing, but if we can withstand the initial blast, we can give them a good game, and I wouldn’t put that one in the loss column yet. N.O. is winnable but very tough. At L.A. will be very, very tough — winnable if a lot of things go right. Detroit will come in looking to even the series, and they’ll be very dangerous.
If we get 1 of the 4, we’ll get tons of comments about how we’re mediocre, we can’t beat good teams, Nate should be fired, trade Travis, Greg’s worthless, bench Sergio, our defense is hopeless, our offense reeks, etc. But if we get 1 of the 4, we’ll still be in playoff position after 35 games, with more than half of our tough games out of the way.
And I’m pretty sure we’ll get at least one, and there’s a decent chance we get 2, of the 4.
If you can't convince them, confuse them -- Harry Truman, U.S. President
by jscot on Dec 27, 2008 11:49 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
So funny, you must have hit "Post" one second before I did.
You went for the sarcasm font in your heading, and I went for earnest in mine. O well, my wife has been telling me that my sense of humor needed a little tune-up. Nice comment.
by upper left corner on Dec 27, 2008 11:57 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
I think Oden is close to breaking out
It isn’t just that he had a good game. Before his recent run of foul trouble, he was showing a lot more fluidity and touch on the offensive end. He is moving better.
It seems to me that his difficulties have been both physical and psychological. Physically he has been struggling to regain his speed, spring, and stamina. Psychologically he has been struggling to live-up to expectations, most importantly his own. What he needs is a little success. Success will breed confidence. Confidence will create relaxation. Relaxation will create more success.
This positive feed-back loop also involves Nate and his teammates. The team has not been running many plays for him. As he starts to have some success, they will run more plays for him. It will probably be wildly inconsistent at first: he will struggle with certain match-ups and certain defensive schemes; he will continue to struggle with foul trouble; but, he is starting to figure it out.
I expect him to be averaging a double-double by February, and I expect at least a handful of 20-10 games by the end of the year.
If he does, just think what that means for the team. Other teams are going to have to start doubling him, that is going to open up all sorts of opportunities, especially with Martell returning to the starting line-up. It will take longer for him to have the ability to get other centers in foul trouble, but you can see it coming.
I think many people’s expectations were too high to begin the season, and I think many are too low now. Many seem to underestimate the transition process he is undergoing both physically and psychologically. I can’t wait to see the Colin Cowherd’s of the world eat a large steaming pile of um, er, ah…..crow.
by upper left corner on Dec 27, 2008 11:50 PM PST reply actions 1 recs
yes, you see what i see
even if we’re both gazing into a crystal ball.
one huge thing oden has going for him is that he seems to be able to pass the ball.
ignacio
by ignacio on Dec 27, 2008 11:53 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
That passing ability
is what is going to make him a devastating force on offense, even if he never becomes a polished scorer. If you double him, his passes will make you pay pretty frequently. If you don’t, he’ll dunk on your head.
If you can't convince them, confuse them -- Harry Truman, U.S. President
by jscot on Dec 28, 2008 5:23 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
I wonder if Canzano can put out another column Tuesday
because if this is what happens when he calls for Oden to be benched, keep it coming :) Jokes aside, GO is starting to put things together, with his physical tools the left/right baby hook he’s been working could be a money move. I really think the game is starting to slow down for him, he reacts much better to doubles than earlier in the season, and he’s more assertive on the glass. Big things coming…
Bayless has been testing the fences for weaknesses
by blazeraddict on Dec 27, 2008 11:59 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Up until last night,
I agreed with Canzano. Przy had been outplaying him and deserved to start.
It really depends on whether the Blazers want to focus on player development or maximizing wins this season.
by torsoheap on Dec 28, 2008 8:27 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
I don't think Oden starting has cost the team any wins
Joel benefits by going against back-up centers when Oden isn’t in foul trouble. Oden learns to play against real centers instead of going against a Channing Fryesque center and he is playing with and against starters.
"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 28, 2008 2:10 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Yes I agree
If you are closely watching Oden instead of his stat line, you can see the substantial improvements in his post game. Oden is looking more comfortable and making NBA moves in the post. He’s starting to understand how to use his size to his advantage. Oden still needs work on the defensive end, but it’ll be a matter of time.
I haven’t been concerned at all about Oden this season.
BINGO, BANGO, BONGO
by blzrfan on Dec 28, 2008 12:04 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
What's wrong with his stat line ?
For a 20 year old rookie who’s played 25
games in the last two years.
25 Gms – 22.4 min – .530 FG -.651 FT – 2.7 OR – 7.3 TR
.6 AS – 1.3 Blk – 1.48 TO – 3.8 PF – 7.9 PPG
I compare for you later.
It's GO time !
by walkoff41 on Dec 28, 2008 1:01 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
don't need
the stat line…we are looking for a future dominant big man…..Many of us can tell by watching him play
It's all about defense......
by 67 on Dec 28, 2008 8:33 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
I hope you're right about Oden
He had a whole different attitude in this game — like, I AM getting to that basket. I AM making this 5-foot hook shot. And he had the usual rebounding and defensive presence.
I hope he can build on that against the lower-level opponents in the coming months. It could be a psychological corner.
by Kaboomm on Dec 28, 2008 7:09 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Good points
Oden certainly has the physical tools to dominate, but he needs to work on his confidence. I think the Blazers did him a disservice by throwing him to the wolves early. Hey, why don’t you play your first real game against our hate rivals? Oh yeah, it’s on national TV. Don’t mess up or thousands of internet folk will rip you a new one. No pressure eh?
His baby hook was working pretty well and he has a nice free throw stroke. He did get blocked a couple of times by O’Neal, but he’ll learn to add in some pump fakes. His offense is still a work in progress, but he seemed to be in rhythm when he was out there. He got deep position most of the time too, which really helps.
His defense is still not quite there, but he was able to contest a lot of shots without fouling. As I mentioned above, the Blazers were often late rotating which left someone out to dry. Most of the time that someone was Oden, but I counted three or four altered shots from the Raptors’ guards.
I think a good portion of playing defense is desire and the Blazers seemed more interested in hurrying up to get back on offense. I thought maybe Moe or Westphal was haunting our bench.
by torsoheap on Dec 28, 2008 8:26 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Plenty of Defensive Blame to go around.....
Lets start with the PGs: Neither Blake or Sergio are able to sustain much on-ball pressure. If they try, the opposing PG starts blowing by them. Neither has the strength to fight through the top of picks, nor the lateral quickness to recover after going below.
SGs: Brandon is a force of nature on offense, but he seems to float a lot on D. He can play good man-to-man when he really wants to, but he doesn’t always seem focused. He doesn’t box out and he is often late getting back. Rudy lacks upper body strength he too has trouble with screens and has trouble knowing when to gamble and when to stay home on his man.
Batum is going to be a very good defender, but he is a rookie and also needs more strength.
Travis is hot and cold. He makes occasional great plays, but for everyone he makes, he falls asleep and looses his man on two others.
Blah, blah, blah. It is a collective problem. Nate knows it and works on defense all the time. The players say the right things; they all talk about defense as the key to getting to the next level.
In terms of solutions, I can think of a few things that will help:
1) GO continuing to regain his speed, spring, and stamina;
2) JBay getting into the rotation and learning how to use his speed and strength;
3) Martell coming back and continuing to show defensive improvement (which will limit TO’s time for brain farts);
4) Our young guys continuing to hit the weight room and getting stronger;
5) Repetition of fundamentals: transition defense, boxing out, dealing with picks.
Anyone else want to respond to my list of problems or my list of solutions?
by upper left corner on Dec 28, 2008 9:12 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
I think number 5
is the key. The Blazers seem to lack the fundamentals of defense – stay in front of your dude, and if you double make sure someone knows so they can guard your dude.
The Blazers are integrating a number of new players on the team and good defense requires chemistry and communication. The guards can’t rely on Oden or Przybilla to clean up their messes on every possession.
by torsoheap on Dec 28, 2008 11:25 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
The biggest problem is Roy
He is the identity of the team and he is not known for his defense. Heck, he’s known for slacking on defense until he has no choice. Boston plays great defense because they have a great defensive coach and their leader has made defense a priority and a team identity. I’d write a fanpost about it, but I’m stick of reading scapegoat fanposts.
"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 28, 2008 2:18 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Canzano should be benched.
He is such an attention whore.
Let’s see, he said Riley should be fired. Bellotti should be fired. Kent should be fired. Need I go on?
He is a low-budget controversy monger. I can’t wait for the day he reaps what he sows.
by upper left corner on Dec 28, 2008 12:03 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
Meant to post this in response to "blazeraddict"
Maybe Canzano and Cowherd can be locked in a room together somewhere.
by upper left corner on Dec 28, 2008 12:05 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Only if the room has padded walls
and locks from the outside. A man can dream…
Bayless has been testing the fences for weaknesses
by blazeraddict on Dec 28, 2008 10:14 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
I stopped reading his stuff about two years ago
And I have no regrets.
"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 28, 2008 2:19 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Good game, but I wouldn't be trumpeting this win as any indication of change
The Blazers played a good half. The offense continues to be stagnant and the Blazers continue to have defensive breakdowns from the pick and roll. If Roy doesn’t put in his cheat code in the 4th, the Blazers would be in a dog fight at the end. The Raptors aren’t exactly a good team and I’m still leaning towards a bad team. This home victory appears to be more of a stop the bleeding rather than a change in condition.
The team did a great job of increasing their energy and doubling down in the post. I just don’t understand why Nate refuses to double more often. This will help the bigs stay out of foul trouble and force turnovers. The best defensive teams in the NBA know to double and rotate. I hope this is a change in philosophy.
The offense is still heavily reliant on perimeter isolations from Roy in the 4th quarter. It works great when Roy is playing like he was tonight. You just can’t expect him to play like that every game, especially against better teams. Roy is basically bailing out the Blazers’ offense. Short term gain, long term disability.
BINGO, BANGO, BONGO
by blzrfan on Dec 28, 2008 12:25 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
Geez, don't hurt yourself by heaping too much praise.....
I agree this wasn’t an earth shattering breakthrough, but this was a nice win against a team that came in shooting the lights out. This is the type of game that could have easily gotten away. Be glad it didn’t.
Yes, the team struggles against the pick and roll. Yes, the offense occasionally stagnates. However, there were some things to be very happy about. LMA seemed to figure out that it was a good thing to go get the round object when the other team tried to put it in the orange hoop but missed. GO probably had his best game as a Blazer. Sergio made an effort to play solid defense. All three are positive developments.
Our guys are not the Celtics, L@kers, or Cavs, but nobody expected them to be on the elite level this year.
by upper left corner on Dec 28, 2008 12:40 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
It's all about finding a balance.
As a fan i mean, not the team.
This was a win, against a team we should beat. They came out strong, we came out slow, we kept our heads and the game went our way. I’m happy, but one game doesn’t change everything.
It seems like all our guys blow hot and cold, even Roy has his off days ( they’re very rare but they happen )
I try not to get carried away anymore, either way. Just say to my self, huh. GO had a great game,
Lets see what happens over the next month. Then I’ll make my assessments on whether he’s learnt to not get into stupid foul trouble or not.
The same goes for Sergio and his D, and so on.
I don’t think players get a lightbulb moment in a particular quarter of a particular game that changes the way they play for the rest of the season. They tend to forget lessons and need to re-learn them over and over again.
This is all sounding very Zen isn’t it ?
by BatumRaider on Dec 28, 2008 1:39 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Ah, you have learned your lessons well, Grasshopper.
I agree with the need for balance and a long term perspective, both are good for fan mental health.
Perhaps I misunderstood the tone of your original post. I took it as “glass is half empty.” In general, I lean towards “glass is half full” while trying to avoid total homer myopia.
by upper left corner on Dec 28, 2008 8:27 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
You must not read Bill Simmons
Half the stuff he writes is about “turning point” moments.
"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 28, 2008 2:24 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
The Blazers heavily rely on Roy isolation plays...
…because they’re pretty darned reliable.
I think Nate doesn’t bring the double team more often because our guys are pretty awful at getting back to close out the shooters.
by Agenda42 on Dec 28, 2008 1:51 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Anyone notice
that the Spurs had a big win at home last night? Against the Griz, in 2OT.
This was a solid win against a team that is struggling but has the talent to be dangerous. We lost a game like that against the Clippers. We didn’t blow these guys out, but we put them away in the second half, we didn’t let them hang around and take us into double overtime.
I’ll take double digit wins any time, against any team in the NBA on any court.
If you double down every time, teams will make you pay. Nate is installing different defensive looks, not mixing them up much. My guess is he won’t mix them up much until the playoffs. Young teams need lots of repetitions.
If you can't convince them, confuse them -- Harry Truman, U.S. President
by jscot on Dec 28, 2008 5:30 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Any win against
Chris Bosh is a good one. He can play. O’Neal seemed to channel some of his non-jail time Indiana days or maybe it was the challenge of Oden.
It’ll be interesting to see how Aldridge handles Garnett and Wallace in upcoming games. I think he’ll do alright against West, but he seems to have trouble with the rangy guys.
by torsoheap on Dec 28, 2008 8:31 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Aldridge killed Wallace in the first game.
I suspect he will have trouble against Garnett unless he can raise his intensity level on defense. Aldridge has all the tools to be an elite scoring and defensive power forward in the league, sometimes all that is missing is that passion that makes Garnett so special (yuck, I’m actually complimenting Garnett). Wallace is nothing like Garnett. With Garnett you know you’re getting 100% effort every time. With Wallace, it’s often hit or miss.
by premthegrem on Dec 28, 2008 10:38 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Over-Roy-liance
It’s not a bad thing to rely on Roy. He’s the game-changer — he is the guy you rely on.
You may have lost a little confidence in him over the past few games, but remember he got his hand kicked and that’s when his jump shots and layups stopped falling. That’s temporary, as we saw last night.
by Kaboomm on Dec 28, 2008 7:20 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
agree with your perspective
did not see the game, but you describe some of the more common trends…The team surely needs to protect their home court and therefore more consistent play in some of the more fundamental parts will always weigh in……
they are noticeably better talent wise, but still have yet to mold into a strong team that could make waves in the payoffs….(please spare the patience comments, folks, lets move on a little from that)
The bottom line……they still have a ways to go and I’m with you on Nate’s offensive plan……too stagnate and predictable and not much to look at( unless you simply enjoy Roy’s greatness and the outside shots going in )….not much motion and Roy, and sometimes LA’s, Iso’s and everyone else go to a spot is not flexible enough to keep defenses honest….Even the pick and rolls or pick and pops are not too effective because of lack of motion in the rest of the offense……A good trend I’d like to see develop would be the tough fundamental "D that creates turnovers, fast transition to offense and easy hoops……We seem to be not touching on that at all….
It's all about defense......
by 67 on Dec 28, 2008 12:00 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Most of us "patience" people
agree with you that we aren’t yet ready to make waves in the playoffs. You don’t have to call us out on that comment.
We are what we are — a good but not yet great team. A team that is likely to make the playoffs and get beat by someone better. And the problems people are seeing we can all pretty much see.
The “patience” people think they will be fixed by time and teaching, and are willing to wait.
Some of us, though, would also like to see what you would like to see on offense. I also remember 76-78, and would love to see that again. I think the guys we have could make that happen, and in fact, be better at it than that team was. All of our guys can pass the ball.
If you can't convince them, confuse them -- Harry Truman, U.S. President
by jscot on Dec 28, 2008 2:05 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
it's a recognition
of what we have at this point and I realize it would not be fair to try and compare this team to the Walton era team….A very special team that just happened to win a Championship( they were actually a better team the next year and no one could touch them)….The team that started Blazermania , Red Hot and Rollin, and Rip City (The Shonz)…it was a team for that generation, and more than likely, a one of a kind team…….
They were considered a blue collar team that had one of the best coaches ever in Jack Ramsey….He was a relentless driving coach that pushed the basic fundamentals in all parts of the game (and the team believed in him)….it showed up on the court, night in and night out…..even when Walton was hurt the fundamentals were never left out….
They were also very good x’s and o’s coaches(McKinney) when the game dictated making some adjustments ………and the backstage stuff always showed them drilling out a well defined game day plan for each team…defensive plan,offensive plan, individual assignments, etc…….
However in all honesty, the team rode the back of Walton……Because no matter how skilled the coaching is, you have to have good players to win consistently…. the team quickly recognized Walten’s court awareness and his uncanny knack of the outlet pass…they had 3 quick, fast guards and small forward(Gross) that could beat teams back down the court…..Bingo Bango Bongo was the phrase by Shonz….he was referring to pass, pass, pass…. or rebound, pass, score,…however you looked at it, that’s how fast the ball got down the court…..no dribbling…
it was also a team that played few offensive sets, Mostly because they played such good defense, they usually scored before the other team got set defensively……the most dominate fast break team ever (IMO) Ramsey would always say, “we don’t worry about our offense, because if we play good defense the offense will take care of itself…..and it did……(home games were a sure win and often over by halftime….when they did lose a home game, a hush fell over the city…it was simply unheard of)
So even though I will say; "once you believe you’ve seen the best, it’s hard to except anything less” I still don’t expect this team to be that team (now or in the future)…….
It’s a different era and the game has changed….players are coming in early and need to be taught the fundamentals (normally received in college)…there also was not a 3 point shot (which has dramatically changed the offenses and defenses of teams) so to expect this team to be like days of old is not too realistic….however, a person like me, can not resist the temptation to compare, even though it may be unfair to this young team……I realize this team belongs to you younger folks and my opinions on a different style of play may be hard to accept…..the coaches and players are the one’s in the drivers seat…they are the one’s that will make it happen…..not I….I’m just another second guesser with an opinion (not an expert)……, but I do have a fairly extensive background in organized basketball…..
ps; as for the “calling out on having patience”….usually I get “called out” for not having enough patience, so I thought I’d try to put that aside this time and hoped to get a little more “moving on” type of debate from people…which I did from you……So… thank you for that
It's all about defense......
by 67 on Dec 28, 2008 6:25 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Nice post
Those were good times.
What I loved the most about that team, though, was the half-court offense. There have been other great fast-break teams. But the off the ball movement and picks, the back-door cuts to the basket, the fact that the ball always seemed to arrive at the end of those cuts, all that stuff, was so fantastic.
I actually think this team could do it better, because the 3 pointer threat will open the middle even more for those cutters. And I don’t think the personnel we have will ever be as good on the break as that team was (though our second unit could be pretty phenomenal at it), but in the half-court, with a lot of motion and passing, our starters could be fantastic.
If you can't convince them, confuse them -- Harry Truman, U.S. President
by jscot on Dec 28, 2008 10:59 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
It's about flexibility
and getting the actions onto the court as more instinctive….at present, the style of this team does not lend itself to a more open court and lacks a lot of motion in it’s offense…..because of the youth, it will always be a learning process…..I guess Nate feels he doesn’t want to get too complicated with this young team.
Like I said I’m just on the sidelines, second guessing….the coaches will do what they feel is right…….I don’t look for Nate to change his style, even though I see tons of benefit in biting the bullet and adding something to our arsenal….they are young, we are not winning a championship this year, so lets get started in building our future….Could cost us some wins now, but if we open up the book and rethink the plan a little it may pay off down the road.
The team needs to develop defense as the avenue to the future…it is ridiculous thinking that you can out score teams night after night….Especially when you have a predictable offense that lacks motion.
Although I have seen a little more movement of late, I still see an offense that is designed to some pick and rolls/pops and then everyone else go to a spot…..a jump shot as the second and sometimes first option….. they do spread the court, but when the shots don’t fall, they have no other plan…except the Roy and LA iso’s……
The idea behind a good offense, is keeping the defense honest or on their heels…..once that ball goes on the floor (dribbling) the defense will always have a chance to recover…..because you have slowed the game down and have immediately laid out some boundaries as to what you can do….
With an open court game, there are no boundaries and your good defense becomes your best offense…..(IMO)the half court game should be your last option on offense…it will always be your least effective opportunity to gain the advantage and take control of the game….good defense puts you in control and your offense will be the beneficiary of it…
It’s not like we can’t do it…..because we can….but we just haven’t made a mindset change for a commitment……it is very possible, that it is not in the plans….we shall see……you have to adjust your style to fit your players and this is what the coaches will have to figure out…..running the fast break looks to be on the back burner, at best…..
It's all about defense......
by 67 on Dec 29, 2008 9:43 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
You are right about dribbling vs. passing
I still think Nate is teaching a lot of basics. We’ve got key players who had one season or less of college ball. Dr. Jack didn’t have to teach the kinds of things we’re teaching our guys this year. So maybe some things we want to see will happen more in the future.
I actually think it is a good and positive thing to have Brandon established as a dominant 1 on 1 iso scorer, even if we rarely use that in the future. It forces people to respect it, game plan for it, and stop it on the occasions we use it. I hope our offense doesn’t look like that so much in future, but I’m really happy about his 52 point game for that reason.
If you can't convince them, confuse them -- Harry Truman, U.S. President
by jscot on Dec 29, 2008 2:33 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Dave- You are entirely
too easy on the players. How can you say that losing any home game would be fine. It might in the long run but I just can’t stand any loss, espiecally a home loss! Detroit are not playing well so we HAVE to win that one. We played quite well against the Hornets earlier this season so it would be real nice to win the second time round. The Celtics and Lakers are the MUST win because of the emotional factor. When playing the Celtics, we need to come out swinging(literally). We got bullied in Boston and we have to set the tone of the game by giving a hard foul BEFORE the Celtics. Do I need to say why we need a victory over the L*kers? I know we probably won’t beat all of them but to say that it would all right if we didn’t BEFORE the game is rather ‘bleak’.’
by VinnyB on Dec 28, 2008 3:55 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
The Celtics and L*kers are not the MUST win
They are the PROBABLY lose. But they would be huge wins, for sure.
by Kaboomm on Dec 28, 2008 7:04 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
The team doesn't "have to" do anything.
If you hate loosing as much as you say, it must suck to be you. It is a long season, losses happen. Teams, even good teams get in a funk. Opponents get hot. Some nights your shots don’t fall. It is all about percentages and learning how to play the percentages so that your team improves.
The Blazers are an exceptionally young team. They are going to be somewhat inconsistent. They will learn something and then need to relearn it again: repetition, trial and error, etc. No one, no one with a realistic bone in their body that is, expects the Blazers to go from 31-51, two years ago to the elite of the NBA, this season. The Blazers are on track to exceed 50 wins and make the playoffs. Rejoice! That still means they are going to loose THIRTY TIMES during the regular season.
Maybe the team is ready to compete on its home floor against the elite teams, maybe not. But winning or loosing should not spoil our enjoyment of the journey.
Personally, I find the whole “macho, bully-boy, toughness stuff” to be largely a giant distraction; it is a sop to young fans trying to prove their manliness and to middle aged guys, with bellies, sitting in their Barcoloungers.
by upper left corner on Dec 28, 2008 8:44 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
I don't think
you are putting the toughness thing in the right perspective….it’s not the “bully” toughness most are referring to…it’s the mental toughness that gets you prepared to take on anything delivered to you……..Believe me, if you don’t have it at this level of sport , you will not get far, and more likely to fail as a player…..professional sports are not for the meek…..but you can still be that person after you’ve taken off the tennis shoes and hit the shower……example: Maurice Lucas
It's all about defense......
by 67 on Dec 28, 2008 12:35 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Good distinction.....
You don’t have to be KG on all fours to be a Champion. You do have to have fire in the belly, and you do need to avoid being physically intimidated. I get that.
There is, however, a lot of idle chatter about “toughness” from fans that is mostly projection and posturing. I don’t care for either.
I’m not talking about anyone in particular, just making a general observation.
by upper left corner on Dec 29, 2008 9:34 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
OK
We HAVE to win Detroit? Will the world end if we lose? Will we be out of the playoffs?
We MUST win at LA? Really? You do know that some very good teams have lost big there, right? Like, well, Boston?
We NEED to come out swinging against Boston? Really? Would it be ok with you, instead, if our big guys stayed out of foul trouble and got theirs in foul trouble by pounding it inside and dunking on their heads? And if we ran them up and down the court on their tired legs, rather than let them stand around and rest while one of their guys shoots free throws? How about if any standing around comes while our guys shoot free throws, instead?
—-
It will be all right if we only win one of the next four. It will be very good if we win two, and phenomemal if we win three. To do it, we would be much better off getting the first one against a tired Boston team. If we don’t get that, it will be very hard to get two of the others. I suggest we go win that first one. Agreed? But if we don’t, it’s not a disaster, it’s not the end of the world. It’s another learning experience for a young team. I’d rather learn while winning than losing, but as long as we learn and improve, it’s all good.
If you can't convince them, confuse them -- Harry Truman, U.S. President
by jscot on Dec 28, 2008 2:14 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
lol
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 28, 2008 6:55 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Hey Dave, you made up a good nickname for Joel!
Joel the Plumber!
by Spider99 on Dec 28, 2008 9:50 AM PST reply actions 1 recs
I think it's still too soon to joke about that
"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 28, 2008 2:33 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
I was going to say
that watching the Raptors is like watching the Blazers and suddenly had a feeling I’d said that last season. Sometime well into the game I checked the scoreboard and there was a grand total of two points in the paint (which belonged to the Blazers.) I think that is one reason we won – no one was blowing down the lane so our defense looked better. I don’t think we were denying them the paint, I don’t think they play offense in the paint any more than we do. Jermaine and Bosh got a few dunks but it seemed like most attempts were mid-range jumpers with an occasional three from the corner. No one got into foul trouble because there weren’t many moves that lead to fouls (referring to both teams here.)
Finally the Blazers turned it up a notch and were able to separate themselves. I just don’t understand why they don’t play that way from the opening tip. So often they seem to play as if the 4th quarter is the only one that matters.
by jorga on Dec 28, 2008 11:48 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
good observations
Your questions are justified and why many get frustrated with watching their play…..But it’s nice to have a great neutral approach like you do….I wish I could be a little more positive, but I see things out there that are more trendy (to me)….. (but some will attribute to youth or just having a bad game or two…..).
You have marked a glaring weakness that continues to stay with this team and has history to support it…You could consider this an alarming trend……….the difference this year is better players overall and Roy’s ability to take control when needed…..But the essential fundamentals and consistency will continue to give doubts on the outcome of the game…..In other words, you can always fall back on the fundamentals to get you what you need to take control of the game….In that respect the team has a long way to go….
It's all about defense......
by 67 on Dec 28, 2008 12:20 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Good game time blog from Raptor reporter
Read Raptor game time blogger Doug Smith’s “The Goods On The Game, Vol. 30, a night in Portland”.
He’s funny, if not good:
The Aldridge free throws with about 40 seconds left win free chalupas for the folks in the stands and you’d think they’d won pizza or something.
when i get sad, i stop being sad & become awesome again. true story.
by Net Ranger on Dec 28, 2008 12:52 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
From Toronto Sun
Best quotes: “…they couldn’t play a complete game against the Portland Trail Blazers, who are poised for something special.” (italics mine)
" Fans in Toronto, at least those who truly care about the game, and the suits at the Air Canada Centre should do themselves a favour by paying a visit to the Rose Garden.
This place was buzzing and the in-house entertainment was stirring.
With the young and energetic Blazers taking over the game, the night was electrifying. "
by jorga on Dec 28, 2008 10:14 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
If anyone still reading this
I didn’t mean to say we HAVE to win all these games but we can’t be making excuses BEFORE we even play them. Just because they are better teams than us does not mean we should be making ready made excuses for when we might lose. When I said ‘we need to come out swinging(literally)’ against Boston, what I meant to say is we need to play hard by pounding the ball inside on offense and and IF we have to foul then I hope its hard fouls only. By the way I hate that ‘macho, bully-boy, toughness stuff’ as well but that scene of garnett getting on all fours is still in my mind.We are not known to be a very tough team to begin with anyway and I would hate to see this team get bullied everytime. We should send out a strong message to the league that we won’t accept this kind of treatment from arrogant bullies like KG. We have to stand up to the bullies is all I’m saying!
by VinnyB on Dec 29, 2008 5:46 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
Question:
Which player manifestly stood up to KG? Bayless. What did he do? Immediately knocked down a shot. When KG got in his face, he just pushed past him without even looking up at him.
I do think we may need to dish a hard foul or two, but it’s rare, actually. Usually all you need to do is make some plays and show them it isn’t working. But if we do foul those guys, I hope there aren’t any “and ones”, if you get my drift. Do it hard enough that they miss, and maybe even hard enough to help someone to a seat on the floor.
I don’t think you make excuses before hand, either, and obviously you have to go out and try to win every one. On our last Eastern trip, though, no one would have said we had to win 3 or 4 of them. There were some tough games out there, and it would have been no shame to come back 2-3. But the guys went out, and one game at a time, did enough to win four of them.
We’re in the same situation. It will be no disgrace or embarrassment if we only get one of the next four. Disappointing, yes. Two of them would be good. We’ve got a decent chance against Boston if we bring our game, and that will give us a legit shot at three out of the four. But 82 games is a marathon, not a sprint. You can’t get too down if things don’t go well one game. If you have the attitude that you MUST have every game (in fact, that you MUST have any single game out of the 82), then you have a hard time bouncing back when the inevitable happens.
If you can't convince them, confuse them -- Harry Truman, U.S. President
by jscot on Dec 29, 2008 7:30 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Bayless hype?
I like the attitude that Bayless brings to the game. I don’t like the game. A lot of people here seem to think that Bayless is what will turn Portland into a title team, but I’ve yet to see any good logic behind this outside of his good attitude.
1. Who is the better player? Billups or Iverson? This can be debated, but in terms of raw ability, Iverson is the better player. Who makes their team win? Billups. This isn’t really up for debate. Bayless plays a lot more like Iverson than he does Billups. This is his nature. He is a scoring PG. As a shooting guard Bayless can be great… the problem is, we have a guy named Brandon Roy.
2. 1.5 assists and 2.5 turnovers per game. I don’t care if it’s summer league, these are not point guard numbers. Scoring 29 a game against second level players is nice, but not even being able to find 2 assists a game while you’re taking 20 shots? Scary. Bayless needs to become a point guard, then he could possibly help this team.
3. His defense is getting a lot of hype, but again, outside of his attitude, I’ve yet to see anything solid backing this up. He has looked fine on the court, but with one exception he’s been against the scrubs of the opposing team. (The one exception was when Nate started Bayless in the fourth of a close game. We made 0 shots in 3.5 minutes and could never get it back.)
4. Maybe I’m missing something here, but Blake is having an outstanding year. Sergio would be having an outstanding year if he was allowed to have more than 1 bad play without being benched. (Can you imagine what would happen if Roy or Oden got benched every time they goofed on defense.) Also, for a point guard crew that is supposed to be pretty awful, they’ve managed to make Chris Paul look like a normal human on 2 occasions now. This is 2 more times than most other teams in the NBA have managed.
Yeah… Bayless might be good in the future, but as of now he doesn’t play the style of game that Portland needs. Playing him significant minutes this season will simply mean getting the number 9 spot in the West.
by ChapinRA on Dec 29, 2008 1:01 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
1. Is Bayless Billups, or Iverson?
1. Who is the better player? Billups or Iverson? This can be debated, but in terms of raw ability, Iverson is the better player. Who makes their team win? Billups. This isn’t really up for debate. Bayless plays a lot more like Iverson than he does Billups. This is his nature. He is a scoring PG. As a shooting guard Bayless can be great… the problem is, we have a guy named Brandon Roy.
Is Bayless 20 years old? Is it a sure thing that he will be more Iverson than Billups? Clearly, the Blazers need a Billups more than an Iverson. Which way is he being trained by his coaches?
Blake is having a great season, and the patience-is-the-way-to-the-title road dictates that all three of these point guards should get at least some minutes in most of the games this season.
It’s going to be tough for Bayless to get the OJT he needs to be successful, but I hope he does. And the Blazers have been willing to lose games in favor of putting the young players into learning scenarios.
I hope they can get into the playoffs, and coach up the kids, both at once this season. – Elgin
It doesn't mean you should just because you can. Like Abraham and Ishmael, fighting over sand - it doesn't mean you should just because you can. That is a fact of life. - Adrian Belew
by 22baylor on Dec 30, 2008 11:43 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
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