Game 33 Preview--Something I Forgot
by Dave on Jan 2, 2009 10:31 AM PST
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PrintSomething I had in my notes to mention in the Hornets preview but somehow forgot:
That Boston game was plenty emotional and had been circled on our calendars for a while. When you ride on emotion in the NBA you often win but the next game after turns out to be a completely limp blowout. This isn't guaranteed to happen, of course. It's perfectly possible the Blazers come out with even more energy and play a great game. But beware of this phenomenon and be prepared. We want, even envision, our coaches and teams to be "rah-rah" guys getting pumped up to play important games, but most coaches prefer the clinical, professional approach for just this reason.
Let's hope the Blazers can overcome the letdown.
--Dave (blazersub@yahoo.com)
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Hopefully, the team will 'get it'
Yeah, it’s natural to let up a bit in terms of effort after a hard-fought and emotional win. But I hope that Nate and the rest of the staff can help the guys realize that they were successful on Tuesday because of their effort, and that they can/should play with that same grit and determination every game. The Boston game should serve as a stepping stone for the rest of the season, not an abberation.
Hopefully...
Now that the team knows they can beat anyone….they will try to completely destroy teams. I’m thinking… 122-71 ;)
Yup
this was my thought too. Blazers will have to come out tough to win, and I honestly don’t have high hopes. Still, this is my last game and I’m inviting the biggest blazer fan I know (other than me) to get out there and cheer with me in my third seat. Here’s hoping.
Unfortunately I don’t hate New Orleans like I hate Boston and the lakers and so I won’t be mocking as much. I generally consider it poor form, but Lakers, Boston, and Utah are all teams that deserve it. In my opinion anyway. (Karl malone will never leave utah, in my head.)
Greg Oden, where posters happen.
Amen, Dave
Also: beware the syndrome of winning once or twice without your star, then going into a deep funk. You need a LOT of focus, adrenaline, or whatever to beat good teams without your go-to guy. Let’s hope BR is back full-strength very soon.
In the meanwhile, though, it would be huge for the team to learn to be less dependant on him. How would opponents cope if they couldn’t count on a heavy dose of BR at the end of each game?
"We don't back down to nobody." --Joel Przybilla
Does it really matter to be less dependent on him when he is ready to play?
I mean, is there a more reliable option late in games? This season, Brandon has started to look more and more “unstoppable” with his go-to moves. You can’t really cope with that. You know Brandon will get the ball and after dribbling a bit drive hard to the left for a lay-up (or maybe maybe pull up for the jumper), the opposing coach knows it, his defender knows it, and still there is very little he can do. You know LeBron will drive inside for the dunk or go for the fadeaway jumper. You know Nash will go up for the three when he has the chance. You know Nowitzki will turn around for the jumper from the elbow. You know Kobe will get the ball and do a pump fake pivot move – scratch that, he has at least three go-to moves. What have all these players in common? You know what is coming when you play their team, you can’t stop it, and you can only hope they miss the shot.
I don't entirely agree
Actually, the predictability of those teams’ going to their star’s bread & butter moves in crunch time is a weakness to me. Well, maybe not in Kobe’s case, because, as you say, he has so many variations. But in general, going to the predicable go-to guy dribbling the ball at the top of the key and driving, pulling up, or dishing isn’t reliable against great defensive teams geared to stop this (e.g., the Celtics). Also, when you go to this ALL the time, as the Blazers do, you can count on your star getting worn down and/or injured.
It’s a huge asset to have a great player like Brandon Roy who is so difficult to stop—even with guys grabbing and banging him. But all the more so if the opposing team isn’t sure that’s the option you’re going to exploit.
"We don't back down to nobody." --Joel Przybilla
You are right, having an alternative is a good thing
I really like Rudy and Jerryd getting some more playing time at SG as well as Blake and LMA asserting themselves as viable options to close out games. Still, a healthy Brandon will remain the go-to guy in crunch-time situations and Nate will call plays for him if anyhow possible. I think that is a good thing since he even hits those shots at a very high rate. If Brandon feels the opposition has figured him out, he (and LeBron for that matter) are usually unselfish enough to pass up the ball to the open guy.
Agreed--more or less
In LeBron’s case, though, he really had problems in the playoffs last season. The Cavs’ offense in the closing minutes of games seemed to consist ENTIRELY of clearing out and giving LeBron the ball. As talented as LeBron is, I thought it cost them games. That’s particularly true because LeBron is inordinately fond of jacking up threes, and he’s streaky at best out there.
Even given LeBron’s and Brandons’ willingness to give the ball up, having those crunch time possessions invariably begin with the star handling the ball out top allows the defense to zero in. And you can see the star visably tiring as the fourth quarter wears on. I like the idea of unpredictability: of throwing the defense off by occasionally having Roy unexpectedly go to the corner and let the other guys operate. They can always hit Roy for a three pointer if the D collapses. More likely, though, Roy will serve as an effective decoy.
These Roy-less games will make those alternate late-game options much more viable. Blake, Trout, Rudy, GO, and LMA will all gain in confidence, and Nate will gain in his confidence in them.
"We don't back down to nobody." --Joel Przybilla
I just briefly included LeBron since I vividly remember him passing up an opportunity to drive in crunch time in the last playoffs (against Boston I think, but might have been another series) for a huge but risky attempt, and instead dishing the ball to an open Delonte West for the three and the win. For a superstar who obviously is the most dangerous offensive player on his team, I think he is pretty unselfish. I could see BRoy doing the same for an open Blake at the three.
Game is in the Garden right?
21,000 fans and Paul/Kevin/Nate won’t let any laps in preparedness happen. If the team comes out flat its on them…and not the coaching staff.
just saying….
I don’t wanna read 15 FIRE nate posts in the event we lose…cuz nate looked brilliant in our last game.
The Faith don't panic, the faith freaks out burns out farms and torchs small villages in the name of The Faith.
We've grown up!
We’re finally beating up on the ref’s instead of the coach! KUDOS!!!
Greg Oden, where posters happen.
It's cyclical
"...we have so many experts who think that you have to play defense, you have to rebound, you have to be a possession coach, you have to execute. I just laugh. Explosive offense is not as intimidating as dominant defense. But it is scary when you don't know how to stop someone." - George Karl, Nuggets coach
Yeah, no one wanted to fire Adelman
but Jake O’Donnell and the other zebras were “the enemy” back in the day. When the refs start making bad calls (or non-calls) that affect the TB’s W-L record in the playoffs, they will be back in the fan’s cross-hairs, once again
(this is not to say that the zebras won’t deserve to be critiqued…)
I agree. The extra man play, might be the most brilliant basketball play ever.
Not only did we score. We took the opponent out of the game mentally. Maybe Nate learned that one from coach K.
smarter postior ended persons :).....
my sarcasim detector is saying DEFCON 1 DEFCON 1!!!!! :)
REALLY THOUGH!!! without roy…..against A defending champion…… Against a team we had no reason other than faith to believe we could win?
nate did a gooooooood great job if it wasn’t brilliant. :)
The Faith don't panic, the faith freaks out burns out farms and torchs small villages in the name of The Faith.
Joel is probable to play.
Jaws were hitting the floor as Greg repeatedly attempted to tear the rim off the backboard...
Two (fairly obvious) counterpoints to that:
1) This is where our light schedule from December 13 to January 11 is coming in handy.
We have a full two days off after the Boston game, with no travel, to prepare for this game.
In the first month and a half, it would’ve been a back-to-back.
2) The team may be riding the high of the Celtics win, but you know Brandon isn’t.
He can’t wait to get back on the court and be part of a Blazers performance.
Considering there’s just one game in four days following this one,
I guarantee he WILL play, and leave it all out there, and worry about recovery later.
(Might end up missing the L[xxx]rs game as a result, though. That’s more likely than missing this one.)
"Always do sober what you said you'd do drunk. That will teach you to keep your mouth shut." - Ernest Hemingway
Opportunity for upside too
The Blazers beat the Celtics without some magical performance (eg Martell’s explosion against Utah last year, or Channing’s against Denver). On offense: Rudy had a bad-game, LMA had a bad-game for 3 quarters, Batum was a non-factor, and Joel didn’t contribute as usual. Despite that we fought back from being 13 points down.
Blake, Travis and Greg had decent games. Even if these three have bad games, there’s plenty of opportunity for the others to step up their performances. Think that the real concern for let-down is defense, LMAs fourth-quarter offense, and Joel’s injury. Think that it’ll be a great game, if they can show the same grit. Here’s to starting the new year off with a bang. Maybe someone shoots lights out, and that someone isn’t on the Hornets.
I'd disagree with this tendency
I had this game marked down as a loss before the celtics game, but now think the team has exorcised the demons of the Orlando loss and are back to believing they can beat anyone at any time.
We could see a monster game from LMA who know doesn’t need to prove he can win a game without Brandon. Key to tonight’s game is Oden fouls. With Joel’s injury and Oden’s recent increased contributions, we really need him to play 30+ minutes tonight.
Big game for Portland.
It’s these games against the top 8 in the West that tell us the most about our Blazers. Let’s get this one!
Western Conference standings, 2 through 9:
In the format of “Team Names (games out of 2nd place)”.
New Orleans ( – )
San Antonio, Denver, Houston ( 1/2 )
Portland ( 1 )
Dallas ( 1 1/2 )
Phoenix ( 2 )
Utah ( 2 1/2 )
"Always do sober what you said you'd do drunk. That will teach you to keep your mouth shut." - Ernest Hemingway
Todays Games.
Head to Head:
New Orleans at Portland
Utah at Los Angeles
Not:
San Antonio at Memphis
Denver at OKC
Houston at Toronto
Philly at Dallas
LA Clippers at Phoenix
First game of '09... let's kill it.
I think they’re far enough removed from the emotions of the Boston game to not show any ill effects from it.
when i get sad, i stop being sad & become awesome again. true story.
Section 324 row h seat 1 is where I be, where you at?
Last game I won a free pair of Jordan’s, all i’m saying is if you see a guy with the brand new Blazermaniac shirt, and you tell him you want one, he will say “you have just won a pair of Jordans”.
So, I’m taking this girl Paige to the game tonight, her first Blazer game ever, I told her to look snazzy, cause we win when we look good. It’s all about how you feel. I feel good. Is Brandon going to play? If so, I feel better.
I still haven’t had time to sit down and give ya’ll my full report from the Boston game, let us just say I am still riding that high. And in the ever poetic words of Bush
“I don’t want to come back down, from this cloud”.
Mt. Saint Helens from Mt. Adams
by BlazermaniacAndy on Jan 2, 2009 1:39 PM PST reply actions
People on drugs
are often artistically inspired.
His problem is that he’s off the drugs and that was the only thing make his remaining brain cells fire.
drum du dut dum
And now back to your normally scheduled sarcasm.
Greg Oden, where posters happen.
wow, ok, so, my date bailed on me, so I took my mom
and at first I thought it was a good idea, i mean, i took her to the boston game for her first game ever and we won, but tonight, not so much….
i’m getting mixed signals about if she is a good luck charm or not now…
I still love her though, she had a fantastic time, except for that dang Christopher paul….
Mt. Saint Helens from Mt. Adams
by BlazermaniacAndy on Jan 2, 2009 11:21 PM PST up reply actions
Whatever happens in a game.
I always hope Oden has a monster game. Gives me atleast soemthing to cheer about
"shaq and zach randolph have the same trainer... "
best one liner i ever heard.
Agreed
Oden has found his shot and I’d love to see him continue with his current excellent play. Particularly because this is about the time period I said we’d start to see the real Oden minus the rust and could really start evaluating him and his play.
Greg Oden, where posters happen.
Us fans have the Blazers back
We will be loud enough to avoid a letdown.
"When I have the ball, I experiment." #5
I believe in you. :)
The Faith don't panic, the faith freaks out burns out farms and torchs small villages in the name of The Faith.
What the H.E.
double hockey sticks. If the Blazers lose tonight it’s because Dave wrote this. At least that’s what I’ll tell myself. GO BLAZERS!!!
LOL
I came here to post this exact response. I think this was especially true for Oden. He is a rookie and is more susceptible to the mental lapses. And yes Dave was a prophet in this case for sure.
He's Coming! Oden Slayer of Giants
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