Blazer's Take Note : Timbers Lose

by NOWINE on Oct 4, 2009 10:38 PM PDT

The Timbers lost tonight 5-4 ( aggregate-series ) to Vancouver. The Timbers set a record 24 game unbeaten streak during the regular season. They were out in their first play-off round giving this season a very hollow feeling.

Blazer fans don't get caught up in making significant improvement in the regular season record. The Trail Blazers over achieved last season and to expect 60 win or better season is overly optimistic. Portland needs to use their depth to finish in the top 4 of the west and then rest players like Brando Roy and LMA so they are fresh and ready to make a deep play-off push. This season Portland isn't below anybody’s radar and next to the L$kers they are going to find most teams will be looking to beat them.

Remember it is not how you start but how you finish that counts.

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Comments

Thanks alot for reminding me, jerk!

I came to BEdge to forget about the Timbers by getting excited for the Blazers. Geez, some people!

Okay, just kidding… Great game today, though, win or lose… I was completely out of my head the whole time.

by david1978pdx on Oct 4, 2009 11:09 PM PDT reply actions

Forget Timbers

David 1978 PDX
I have been trying to forget the Timber’s losing in the playoffs since San Jose CA 1975 when I drove down to see them lose to the Tampa bay Rowdies and then drove back. I could have referred to the NE Patriots 16-NYG. Hang in there I have a good feeling about this year.
Go Blazers!

"I've been here before. I know what to do. I'm going to be ready. It's a long season. I don't mind coming off the bench, whatever. Of course I want to start too. But I'm just going to be ready to play." -- Joel Przybilla

by NOWINE on Oct 5, 2009 12:31 PM PDT up reply actions

Yeah, that was painful

They dug a deep hole allowing that first home goal, but then fought back into it and everyone was feeling pretty confident at half-time; just win this half, at home, and move on to the final…

I too was trying to forget, but like a moth to the flickering flame, I saw this headline and couldn’t resist.

I think that soccer clearly shows that there is an art to elevating your game and winning in single and home-away elimination tournaments that you only master through experience or an overwhelming talent advantage.

All that glitters isn't chrome

by hoopla-pdx on Oct 6, 2009 10:15 AM PDT up reply actions

We didn't overachieve according to Hollinger ...

He just wrote an article highlighting how we should have finished with more wins than we did. And there’s nothing wrong with aiming high. I’d say aiming “just to make the playoffs” is a huge reason why we got rolled.

by Seven06Renault on Oct 4, 2009 11:21 PM PDT reply actions

I've seen this before

And I think people are using different definitions of overachieve. Yours is “doing better than season-end statistics would predict” where the OP’s definition is “better than expected at the start of the season”.

You can measure skill and talent with your eyes, but productivity is shown through statistics.

by austinpwnz on Oct 5, 2009 2:15 PM PDT up reply actions

So sad about the Timbers...

Does anybody know any good Timbers blogs?
On a side note, are they changing the logo and/or jersey when they go MLS?

by CaptainSexyJacob on Oct 4, 2009 11:59 PM PDT reply actions

Yes and Yes

and here is a link
http://soccercityusa.com/

by david1978pdx on Oct 5, 2009 12:57 AM PDT up reply actions

They're going to change the logo and probably will have new jerseys for the first MLS season.

But they will not be changing the team’s name. There would be a small scale riot at PGE Park if that ever happened.

Yes! Yes! In the face!

by LeafHawk on Oct 5, 2009 9:41 AM PDT up reply actions

It was a great lesson...

Truth is, Portland did pretty well in the playoffs last year. Houston was probably right at the top with LA in the West last year, although they finished 5th. They took LA to the limit, losing in 7 without Yao. Say all you want about Portland exiting in the first round last year, but I personally beleive it was the best lesson they could have learned at that early stage in their run. And they will be a much better team from this point forward for having gone through that.

http://myteamrivals.typepad.com/trailblazers/

by BlazerNation on Oct 5, 2009 12:11 AM PDT reply actions

Blazers didn't overachieve

if anything, they slightly underachieved. It’s a nice narrative, but it isn’t true.

Come on you gotta listen unto me,
lay off that whiskey and let that cocaine be. ~Johnny Cash

by HurraKane212 on Oct 5, 2009 6:05 AM PDT reply actions

Yep. Blazers won a few less games than their point differential projects.

Dunk

by Billy Ray Bates on Oct 5, 2009 7:13 AM PDT up reply actions

Our wretched free throw defense lost us 2 games according to Hollinger.

by dario argento on Oct 5, 2009 10:40 AM PDT up reply actions

Why try for top four?

The only reason to do that is to get homecourt in the first round, right?

Does homecourt only matter in the first round?

A higher seed is always a good idea if you can get it. No, with a deep team we shouldn’t be playing anyone 42 mpg. But the idea that the regular season doesn’t matter much isn’t sound. So much of any competition is confidence, as well, and if you have established through the season that you can win against the tough teams, and win on the road especially, that is a huge boost going into the playoffs.

Usually the team with the best record makes the conference finals. There’s a reason for that.

As author of Da BOM (Blazer Optimist Manifesto), I hereby certify that we will win 62 games in the regular season. Disagree at your peril.

by jscot on Oct 5, 2009 12:27 PM PDT reply actions