A Tipping Point

by FeelTheLove on Dec 22, 2009 9:21 PM PST

I have been irritated by what I have seen as the excuses made by this team this season. Everyone has been talking about the injuries this season as a rationale for the up and down play. I knew that played a large part but I still thought this team was selling themselves short. But I don't know what to say after the injury to Pryzbilla.

He will probably be out until midway through NEXT SEASON. At some point you have to say that this has been something that is beyond comprehension. I was angry because of what I had heard from the leaders of the franchise. Seeming to pack it up. Talking about the injuries and how difficult it was to gameplan. I understood all of that but it still made me angry because of what I saw as a team giving up. Making excuses for why things hadn't gone well.

I had this image during tonight's game. Of someone whose legs had been cut off at the knees and people were still asking them to run. The Blazers tried with all their might to run and they got it done tonight. I am very proud of this team. After all of the drama and problems they came together and won as a team tonight.

I understood tonight for the first time what the players and coaches had been talking about. They weren't making excuses. They were just expressing how difficult it is to win when half your team goes down for the season. Are there still issues without the injuries? Yes. But this team has a lot of heart. I have never seen a season like this for any basketball team injury wise and I think this is still a playoff team. Amazing.

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I agree

They showed a lot of fight tonight.

by Blaze of Glory on Dec 22, 2009 9:25 PM PST reply actions

who said

he would be out until mid way next season?

3rd down... chainsaw noise please.

by GoBlaze22 on Dec 22, 2009 9:27 PM PST reply actions

estimated 12 month recovery time

and a may be optimistic. We might not see Joel on the court again until the fall of 2011

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

by two4larue on Dec 22, 2009 11:14 PM PST up reply actions

*that

not “a”

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

by two4larue on Dec 22, 2009 11:14 PM PST up reply actions

the sad thing is

this team has showed a LOT of heart since the rash of injuries has decimated it. But where was that heart back in early November when we were at (almost) full strength?

I’ll cheer this team the rest of the year so long as they continue to play gritty ball like they have been of late, regardless of wins and losses. But so help me if they come back in November 2010 with the same kind of energy and effort they started this year with, heads are gonna roll…

How did you guys win that?
"We scored enough points. We scored 107, they scored 105.
-Nate McMillan Postgame, 3/4/2009

by douglast on Dec 22, 2009 10:43 PM PST reply actions

"Decimated" originally meant an army had 1 guy out of 10 killed in a battle...

We need a new word, because the Blazers are 7/15 down…. (Although they are getting back the two least important injured players, neither of whom has demonstrated an ability to play in the NBA.)

Holding my breath on Brandon’s shoulder…

"A bizarre and extremely rare hybrid Blazer/Laker fan, Timbo has always struggled to contain the Beast Within, like Dr. Jekyll, Bruce Banner, or Ted Kennedy." — Miled Animal

by timbo on Dec 22, 2009 11:22 PM PST up reply actions

it's a war of attrition

and the “Attrites” are kicking Portland’s backside all over the battlefield

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

by two4larue on Dec 22, 2009 11:43 PM PST up reply actions

This injury is the killer.

At least up until last night, we had a legit player at every position and at small forward, where we were the weakest, we had players coming back soon. But now without Oden or Pryz, our team changes dramatically and has a huge hole for the opposition to attack. Nate’s going to need to be more flexible than he’s ever been with his style. That’s not good.

by Coastie07 on Dec 23, 2009 8:25 AM PST reply actions