Grumblings from Lakerland

by knickfan on Jul 12, 2008 1:29 PM PDT

In a thread over at Forum Blue and Gold, commenters wound up enaging in a rather, um, spirited discussion over the Blazers' prospects in the Western Conference this year.

The discussion was kicked off by one commenter (who was subsequently accused of being a closet Blazer fan) who offered his predictions for the Western Conference. In his analysis he had Portland and LA battling it out for supremacy in the West, with the Lakers ultimately edging out the Blazers for the #1 spot.

Naturally, this produced a firestorm of objection from the assorted multitude. One such poster called the Blazers a "fragile" team:

They’ve been rumored to have tried to trade away both of their SFs-and they know Batum is yrs away from being ready. Having key players on a young team oppenly regarded as trade bait worked out well for the Bulls last yr,didn’t it?
They’re not satisfied w/their PG and traded away the back-up the coach trusted. Their Euro PG,Rodriguez,whined last yr about playing time,and right now he looks like the fourth PG. Only now his unhappiness will have a sympathetic ear in Fernandez,who has said he might go back to Europe if he doesn’t get playing time! Throw in Rodriguez is a fan fav while the coach doesn’t trust his game at all.

He then goes on to characterize some of the teams' personnel dealings (i.e. the leak of Miles' suspension) as "slightly sleazy" which might potentially result in player/front office friction.

For you Blazer fans, an interesting read, to be sure. If not exactly an accurate summation of Portland's state of affairs, it's does provide a window into Lakerfan's somewhat restless turn of mind vis a vis your team.

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That guy was the only one that

really slammed the Blazers though. The rest just said that they didn’t think the Blazers would be that good. Most seem to have the B’s getting into the top half of the playoffs and losing in the 2nd round. Not bad from the enemy camp all thing considered

Mortimer: "It’ll be so nice I’ll need microfracture—ON MY WEINER."

by 92wastheyear on Jul 12, 2008 1:52 PM PDT 0 recs

The Blazers

would absolutely take top half of the playoffs this year. No question at all, that would be ahead of schedule. They’d be thrilled.

Folks, if you do go over there and you decide to comment please don’t flame.

—Dave

by Dave on Jul 12, 2008 2:02 PM PDT up 0 recs

I agree

with the sentiment that Portland seems to be at least a year or two away from making a real playoff run. Still too many untested and/or unseasoned players on the roster to merit serious consideration at this juncture in NBA history.

I merely offered up this fanpost as a window into the lakerfan’s current state of mind regarding Portland. I’ve acquired a rather unwelcome familiarity with the Laker hive mind recently. Circumstances necessitated that my family and I relocate to the LA area last month, after seven years in Portland. We rolled into town just around the time that Kobe’s Kidz were being deep-sixed by Boston. Since that time, the local columnists, sports radio talking heads etc. have endlessly repeated the mantra that “Next year with Bynum, we’ll dominate. We’re just too good to win fewer than 60 games.”

Personally, I find their self-assurance rather misguided. The ridiculous depth of the Western Conference would seem to preclude such presumptiousness from the fans of any of its teams. That said, it seems a lot of the more cerebral Laker fans would agree with me, as the discussion on that Forum Blue and Gold thread would indicate. They clearly perceive Portland as a threat to all of the predicted dominance. If not necessarily this year than definitely a season or two down the road.

by knickfan on Jul 12, 2008 2:45 PM PDT up 0 recs

glad to see you are still

posting on BE even though you are in LA. Hope to see more of your posts next season.

Life is exhausting when you are this stupid.

by jonestr on Jul 12, 2008 11:18 PM PDT up 0 recs

One guy there said we don't have any vets

What’s the deal with that?
Outlaw and Blake have been in the league for 5 years, Przy had 8 years, and Raef has 10. I don’t think having a vet is that big of a deal. The Blazers would need a vet to tell them what it is like to be in the playoffs. I expect they’ll find out what it is like soon enough.

You can stand under my umbrella
You can stand under my umbrella
(Ella ella eh eh eh)
Under my umbrella
(Ella ella eh eh eh)
Under my umbrella
(Ella ella eh eh eh)
Under my umbrella
(Ella ella eh eh eh eh eh eh)

by tominhawaii on Jul 12, 2008 2:24 PM PDT 0 recs

Besides

David Robinson who really has had any vets of any kind on their team?

I believe Kopponen had to serve in the Finnish army so he is one if not the only vet in the league.

Life is exhausting when you are this stupid.

by jonestr on Jul 12, 2008 11:19 PM PDT up 0 recs

Good Point

You know I still love you. Hugs.

by tominhawaii on Jul 14, 2008 6:04 AM PDT up 0 recs

surprising

they don’t seem to hate the Blazers as much as we hate the L*kers! good for them!

myspace.com/marktwainindians

by mark twain on Jul 12, 2008 2:43 PM PDT 0 recs

hate to say it...

... but that’s because we haven’t beaten them in the playoffs nearly as much as they’ve beaten us. Also, Forum Blue and Gold is a pretty intelligent and down to earth fan community from what I’ve seen (especially for Laker fans).

Boomshakalaka

by jksnake99 on Jul 12, 2008 3:00 PM PDT up 0 recs

i agree

laker nation is fantastic! Go lakers!!!!

by PippenAintEasy on Jul 12, 2008 3:02 PM PDT up 0 recs

haha

You’re just becoming kind of endearing at this point.

"I think it’s going to be very beautiful game next year."
-Batuuuuuuuum!

by rockingharder on Jul 12, 2008 3:07 PM PDT up 0 recs

Hmmmm.

"Besides, AnntheFan will be here any minute to #25 you." T Darkstar

by annthefan on Jul 12, 2008 5:34 PM PDT up 0 recs

aaaaaaaaaaaahahahaha

"As long as Yao is in the league, Greg Oden will probably never start in an all-star game, because he doesn’t have 1 Billion people voting for him."
silkybrown

"Just so we're totally clear(, y)ou’re saying you want me to kill Yao, right?"
nightbluefruit

by ptwnblzr on Jul 12, 2008 7:33 PM PDT up 0 recs

This does not make me happy.

For the record

I am the master of my fate, I am the Captain of my soul. - Charles Wesley

by Earl on Jul 12, 2008 9:26 PM PDT up 0 recs

for the record

i would like it if you were to never post on this site again

by PippenAintEasy on Jul 12, 2008 9:36 PM PDT up 0 recs

Considering that in all your posts

you haven´t stated a good opinion of a bedger, whoever, why can´t you keep your personal disdain in silence?. You are in the way to become the troll of BE, i´d like to hear what do you see in Aragorn to make him your favorite character in the Lord of the Rings because your behavior reminds me of Gollum. I´m sure you can contribute with better stuff than that.

And just read the site coversation rules by Dave. At least this is his site and we are his guests.

The Midnight Rambler

by amlmart1 on Jul 12, 2008 11:20 PM PDT up 7 recs

+1

Also, remember that question marks end a sentence, so you don’t need a period after one.

A complete question looks like this, doesn’t it?
It doesn’t look like this, right?.

"I think it’s going to be very beautiful game next year."
-Batuuuuuuuum!

by rockingharder on Jul 12, 2008 11:35 PM PDT up 0 recs

Right!

The Midnight Rambler

by amlmart1 on Jul 12, 2008 11:40 PM PDT up 0 recs

I just took the time to look through some of Pip's comments on other sites.

Toxic. If Blazer fans are getting a reputation as overbearing whatnots this is why. He needs a full time nanny to follow him around and apologize for his behavior.

"Besides, AnntheFan will be here any minute to #25 you." T Darkstar

by annthefan on Jul 13, 2008 12:38 AM PDT up 1 recs

I am at work right now procrastinating

so I checked out some of our friends work. And yes, this gent needs to reform quickly or be voted off the island. He obviously is taking advantage of being anonymous and trying to be a tough guy. Poor little fella. Maybe TominHawaii can offer him up one of his famous hugs. You game Tom?

I'm a little confused by your tactics

by oderiferous emanations 74 on Jul 13, 2008 1:04 AM PDT up 0 recs

I think I'm too late

We’ve lost another one.

You know I still love you. Hugs.

by tominhawaii on Jul 14, 2008 6:06 AM PDT up 0 recs

Pip's comments

funny. After perusing this post, I wanted to say I thought l*ker fan was fairly humble and respectable, and that I felt less like hating them, if there are degrees of hatred.

Not sure what Pip’s deal is, but it seems pretty obvious he either wants run, or is going to suffer a bad hangover.

"Meow" --- My cat Bonzi on whether or not Travis Outlaw should start or come off the bench.

by bow4meow on Jul 13, 2008 4:37 PM PDT up 0 recs

stop calling me Pip

by PippenAintEasy on Jul 13, 2008 6:30 PM PDT up 0 recs

I will not stir the pot. I will not stir the pot. I will not stir the pot.

I will not stir the pot. I will not stir the pot. I will not stir the pot.
I will not stir the pot. I will not stir the pot. I will not stir the pot.

Good annie.

"Besides, AnntheFan will be here any minute to #25 you." T Darkstar

by annthefan on Jul 13, 2008 6:35 PM PDT up 0 recs

WE didn't start the fire!

Du da duuu du

A Time For Heroes,
It's not right for young lungs to be coughing up blood
And it's all
It's all in my hands
And its all up the walls
Well the stale chips were up and the hopes stakes were down
Until Kp came into Town!
'Sing it Petey!

by Dheepan on Jul 13, 2008 6:53 PM PDT up 0 recs

It's better than calling you PIMP.

"You don't live by the jumpshot, you die by the jumpshot." ---Charles Barkley, 2/7/08

by timbo on Jul 14, 2008 9:21 AM PDT up 0 recs

yeah

nobody cares what you like, cuz you dont care about anybody yourself.

by RipCity on Jul 13, 2008 12:10 AM PDT up 0 recs

Ladies and Gentlemen

Set your phasers to ignore.

by Corvid on Jul 12, 2008 9:50 PM PDT up 0 recs

What's hilarious

is that he is becoming an annoyance throughout the entire SBsports community.

by Dheepan on Jul 12, 2008 11:03 PM PDT up 0 recs

L*ker game

Last winter I took my sons and grandson to a Blazer game in LA,going to do it again this year. There was one other gentleman with a Blazer mouth in the nosebleed seats and grandson wasent sure why we were on a different page but its a safe place to take your kids,lets try and keep it that way.

by southern oregon on Jul 12, 2008 4:55 PM PDT 0 recs

actually,

I have a hard time contradicting anything said in that grey box. I didn’t read the whole post but yeah we coulda traded outlaw and/or marty, Batum really isn’t ready, Nate DID trust JJ (although we had a different name for it), Sergio did whine and is 4th string right now (behind Broy, Blake, and Bayless) which will inevitably cause fan/coach dissatisfaction (continued from last year although it was refreshing to see Sergio fans ease off as of late) and as crazy as it sounds, Rudy actually said those things. Now that I think of it, that was a darn good post…for a laker fan.

Somebody wrote me during the draft that a guy on a Knicks blog had dubbed Pritchard "The Hamburgler". In this case the appellation seems accurate. Robble-robble. - Dave

by chrischa on Jul 12, 2008 5:44 PM PDT 0 recs

Team chemistry

is a fragile thing on any NBA squad. It’s true that there are any number of factors that can poison it on any team at any given time.

So, yes, the factors the Forum Blue and Gold poster cited might end up negatively impacting the Blazers. That’s entirely possible. Just as it’s possible that a spate of tough losses might cause Kobe (arguably the most difficult guy to play with in the NBA) to start pointing fingers and contaminating the chemistry in the Laker lockerroom. But, then again, that’s why Jackson is paid the big $$$. Not for his Xs and Os skill, but for his ability to manage oversized egos. I’m guessing that “Sarge” McMillan will be able to competently handle the much punier egos of Martell, Outlaw, Sergio and Rudy should the need arise. So I doubt that team chemistry will be much of an issue for Portland this year.

by knickfan on Jul 12, 2008 6:09 PM PDT up 0 recs

They are Goliath, we are David in their eyes

We are gathering quite a collection of rocks for our sling shots and there is no other giant we would rather slay.

Until we actually do it, we will not be considered their rivals.

I'm a little confused by your tactics

by oderiferous emanations 74 on Jul 12, 2008 5:48 PM PDT 0 recs

jealous

We are on the rise, and other fans are jealous. Their posts will continue to try and ridicule us. We are on the right track. In KP we trust. We are now the pretty, popular girl – no doubt.

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.

by johnv59 on Jul 12, 2008 6:42 PM PDT 0 recs

that is

we are the pretty, popular Sophomore girl that the Seniors want to date….our time is at hand

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.

by johnv59 on Jul 12, 2008 7:24 PM PDT up 0 recs

Are we the cute, new girl at school?

Reminds me of Jennifer Love Hewitt in the movie ‘Can’t hardly wait’. Boy, I loved that movie.

My favorite part is when the character William Lichter (thank you Wikipedia) is plotting his revenge on Mike Dexter and going over the various ways that Dexter has wronged him over the years.

His working Rain Forest that – rains no more.

The patch that he had to wear over his eye after Dexter hit him with a pea or a spitwad, don’t really recall. Anyhow he say’s that he had to wear the eyepatch when he went to the 3-D film festival where he sadly “saw no 3rd dimension”

Guess you had to be there.

Seth’s Greens character was hilarious too.

Wasn’t that movie great?

Hello?

Anyone?

You know you saw it and loved it. Posers!

I'm a little confused by your tactics

by oderiferous emanations 74 on Jul 12, 2008 7:25 PM PDT up 0 recs

just the name makes me puke

Why would I want to see anything with J Love Hewitt in it? I’d rather barf up some e coli from a late night Taco Bell run.

Winning is everything.

by MT Suit on Jul 12, 2008 9:06 PM PDT up 0 recs

So I am guessing that Jennifer Love Hewitt isn't returning your calls

and you are a little angry with her? I’m sorry she let you down somewehere along the path.

Seriously though, that movie is hilarious! Takes you back to high school and all of the different types and groups of people. They really do a great job with stereotypes. As you are watching certain characters you find yourself saying, ” Oh man, we had one of those at my school.”

I wouldn’t let your hatred of JLH get in the way of seeing this. She isn’t even the main character.

Thank you for the visual with the Taco Bell run. Makes me want to stop by on my way home and pick me up their ‘big box ‘meals and then go home and set my Dutch oven to “STUN”. My poor wife. If she only knew the toxins she inhales while she sleeps.

I'm a little confused by your tactics

by oderiferous emanations 74 on Jul 12, 2008 10:13 PM PDT up 0 recs

Have you seen Mean Girls?

That movie cracked me up too. Heathers has always been a favorite as well. That one is kind of old. I’ll put CHW in my queue.

By the way, I hate the word “queue.” What can’t it just be “que?”

You know I still love you. Hugs.

by tominhawaii on Jul 14, 2008 6:09 AM PDT up 0 recs

Just type "line"

It is easier to spell

Mortimer: "It’ll be so nice I’ll need microfracture—ON MY WEINER."

by 92wastheyear on Jul 14, 2008 11:48 AM PDT up 0 recs

"set my Dutch oven to STUN"....

That is the funniest thing I have read here in quite some time. Well played!

RUDY > MJ

by myemic23 on Jul 14, 2008 6:31 AM PDT up 0 recs

Good translation

I am a tall skinny old dude who grew up playing ball with my older and larger kin,my kids grew up playing with there elders but turned into football players who have now reformed and gone back to hoops,my grandson Sam is tall with big hands and seems to have light in his eyes,keep the faith.

by southern oregon on Jul 12, 2008 7:19 PM PDT 0 recs

Can I flame them from over here?

Alright I’ll be nice. This is a no spin zone.

by MGNNoah on Jul 12, 2008 8:36 PM PDT 0 recs

I don't really care

what non Blazer fans think of the Blazers right now. Deep down they are jealous of how amazing our players are on and off the court. There is no point in acknowledging them.

by BRoyInThe4th on Jul 12, 2008 9:24 PM PDT 0 recs