Low competition factor

by Batumshakalaka on Nov 15, 2009 12:13 AM PST

The Blazers currently hold the league best 6 win streak, the last four in five days on the road. This is an accomplishment no matter which way you spin it. The concern is that every one of these teams were either just plain bad, old, tired, broken, or a combination of the four. Not only that, but most of these games were much closer then they should have been, especially in the first quarter. So the win streak must be a fluke right?

I've had much of the same worries until I read prof.mike's comment in Rope-a-dope: "They have only been doing enough to win. Monday let's see how much better they play with better competition." I remembered then that this team has an unfortunate tendency to play to the level of their competion.

I can hear the gears turning from here... "But a veteran team would have put these teams in their place!" The thing is... they did. Maybe not emphatically, they may have stumbled but they finished. Last year they had difficulties finishing against teams that that they should have been able to beat, the Bobcats for example. The fact that they beat them this year on the wrong end of a very long road trip while struggling to find their roles and their stroke is impressive.

This may not be the leap out of the gate that everyone expected, but it is a sign of evolving into an elite team.

Poll

Does this streak show a young, talented team finding the maturity to finish against sub-par teams, or what should be an elite team struggling against truly bad teams?

They're winning consistently on the road? PRAISE (insert diety of your choice here)

20 votes

They showed maturity succeeding when needed in bad conditions.

42 votes

Yes it was a long road trip... but come on, how could you lose?

12 votes

Even technically winning, we are on the brink of disaster!

1 votes

Wait! We're not 11-0??? FIRE NATE!!1!1!

6 votes

81 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

The games against Minn and Memphis weren't a struggle.

And aside from a slow start, the New Orleans game wasn’t a struggle either.

Tonights game was a battle, but it was the 4th straight road game in 5 nights. All teams lose to lesser opponents on the road. Hell, Orlando lost to OKC on the road, Denver lost in Milwaukie, Boston lost in Indiana. It happens.

So really, they haven’t struggled too much, and when they did, they still won. I think its too soon to look into why they aren’t blowing out every single team, on the road, by 30.

"Ain't nothin' in this world for free."

by Arby on Nov 15, 2009 12:23 AM PST reply actions 1 recs

Plus the Bobcats do really well against good teams.

A good defensive team who can muck up the flow of the game. That’s dangerous for anyone.

by Nick Van Excellent on Nov 15, 2009 12:53 AM PST up reply actions

Yep.

Blazers margin of victory in this recent trip has been good. 25+ point blowouts on the road are rare, even against trashy teams. During this stretch the Blazers have been beating the point spread and rising in computer rankings—two indications that they are exceeding expectations.

by PoliSam on Nov 15, 2009 6:31 AM PST up reply actions

I voted "how could you lose?"

Because they should have won those last 4 road games. But if Portland can beat ATL on Monday, my choice will change to #1

When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!

by two4larue on Nov 15, 2009 12:54 AM PST reply actions

This doesn't show they're an elite team

But if they want to be, they had to win these games.

Good Blazer teams in the past would have dropped at least one, we have had a hisotrilcaly bad tendency to play down to an opponent’s level.

"Good evening Blazer fans, wherever you may be!"-Bill Schonely

by skywaker9 on Nov 15, 2009 3:01 AM PST reply actions

Last year we were 36-5 against losing teams

"Woulda, Coulda, Mighta and Shoulda – the Four Horsemen of the Procrastocalypse" - Red-5

by jscot on Nov 16, 2009 12:23 AM PST up reply actions

Outside of the Charlotte games, none of these games were close by the time the fourth quarter rolled around. And I can chalk that up to Charlotte always playing Portland tough in NC, and Portland playing their fourth game in five nights on the road. Even the Hornets game, which was a 6pt win, was never in doubt of being lost as the team was up double digits with 2 minutes left.

Devise Method

Founder of the "Crash Batumcoot" Movement.

by damir on Nov 15, 2009 9:19 AM PST reply actions