Risk of Blazers Letting Up? (with poll)

by blazer91 on Mar 30, 2009 12:08 PM PDT

I have been continually impressed with the team this year, and still think that they will continue to push, no matter what the outcome of the next couple games, but here's the question:

If they don't view winning the division as realistic, is playing for seeding enough of a motivator after they clinch a playoff spot in the next couple games?

Is it as important to them to get a higher seed? Does Nate rest the starters down the stretch?

Antonio Harvey suggested something on the radio the other day, that this team is playing for a playoff spot, and beyond that, anything else is gravy. Do the players feel that way, or is he just spouting? I think they would have realistically felt that way at the beginning of the year, but I would hope not now.

Poll

Do the Blazers "let up" after securing first playoff berth in six years?

Yes (because Nate forces guys to rest once the playoff spot is secure)

4 votes

Yes (because Players who have never been to the playoffs lose focus a bit when the playoff berth is secured, and division title seems out of reach)

9 votes

Yes (for both reasons)

8 votes

Yes (for some other reason...comment below)

1 votes

No...Travesty that you would suggest such a thing!

162 votes

184 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

I really don't think that they will.

I think this team knows what we know too: we aren’t going to win a playoff series without homecourt advantage. If they let up, how can they possibly achieve that? I think also that that last game on our schedule (at home against the Nuggets on ESPN) will help keep the guys motivated through the rest of the season.

by peseme16 on Mar 30, 2009 12:13 PM PDT reply actions

going along with that

we’re 1-11 against the other playoff contenders on the road (our sole win coming against the Hornets, when we were trailing by double digits until Paul went down with an injury late in the third quarter).

"Smile! You're on a poster!!" - Mike Rice

by lefty6283 on Mar 30, 2009 12:14 PM PDT up reply actions

The blazers have come a long way since the season started

Does anyone not think that the Blazers as of now, would post a better road record against those same teams. We more than any other team were learning to play together as the season progressed. The Blazers of Today ar ebetter then the Blazers of ten games ago; that is the beauty of teams on the rise. I think the Blazers are as poised as any team in the west. Do we have playoff experienced? No, but we still play are and with poise.

by NWfan on Mar 30, 2009 2:01 PM PDT up reply actions

i'm sure they would

but it’d still behoove them to work as hard as they can for home court, as it would create a more realistic path to a playoff series win, which is what we all want!

"Smile! You're on a poster!!" - Mike Rice

by lefty6283 on Mar 30, 2009 2:20 PM PDT up reply actions

yeah but

I’d rather them get one road win in Houston and secure the 4 seed during the regular season so that we don’t have to do it in a playoff atmosphere.

by kickbrass on Mar 30, 2009 7:26 PM PDT up reply actions

Preseme16 you word that all wrong

‘Knows’ is the improper term here. I don’t KNOW nor does the team KNOW that we aren’t going to win a playoff series without Home Court Advantage. Based on everything, history of basketball and our weak record this year against the playoff teams (1-11) it seems unlikely but that does not mean the dye is automatically cast. Did the Giants know they were not going to win three road playoff games and then know they were going to lose to New England because they were an undefeated juggernaut? Or Arizona last year? There is a reason we play the games.

What the Blazers know is that there odds greatly increase with homecourt so they’re going to work to get it. But even if they don’t, they’re going to bring the shimmy shimmy boom boom to any arena they go to.

by Blazersaurus on Mar 30, 2009 6:58 PM PDT up reply actions

please dont use

shimmy shimmy boom boom as it reminds one of Antoine Walker and that does not really equate with playoff success.

Life is exhausting when you are this stupid.

by jonestr on Mar 30, 2009 7:14 PM PDT up reply actions

Fair enough.

I see what you mean. I suppose that “knows” is not the best word to use and if I was going to use it then I should have thrown in a probably or something so it said something like “this team knows that it probably won’t win a playoff series without HC advantage.”

That being said, we both agree on the main point which is that they are not going to let up. They will do everything in their power to get that advantage and if they don’t, they will make things interesting regardless.

by peseme16 on Mar 30, 2009 9:57 PM PDT up reply actions

I don't think it's Nate's style to "let up."

He won’t rest starters to risk a win: it’s a young team and it’s more important to absorb as much playoff-intensity games as possible to finish up the season.

They can relax this summer after the season is over for us.

Plus, the race between teams 2-8 is so tight, no one can let up. The last game against Denver may still have seeding issues….

It's spelled "PRZYBILLA."
vanillathrillagorillaprzybilla

by RenoBlazerFan on Mar 30, 2009 12:16 PM PDT reply actions

even with a 20 pt lead

and the opposing starters out, Nate plays his starters until there is only 3 mins left. Nate or Brandon will not let the players get too big of themselves and being only a few games out of 4th and HC

It is looking like we will get the 5-6 seed so probably Den or Hou preferably

"Damn the Blazers. Damn them to hell. They are working the rest of the league like a speed bag." - Bill Simmons 6/26/08

by SpyderRyder on Mar 30, 2009 12:17 PM PDT reply actions

or the Indiana game when he let LMA and Batum get hurt ...

by kickbrass on Mar 30, 2009 7:27 PM PDT up reply actions

This makes no sense to me

These are hard working, motivated people. Even if they could only get the 8th seed their pride wouldn’t let them relax to rest for the playoffs. I can’t possibly see this team after working so hard in the summer and all during the season suddenly relax. If anything, I think the youth and inexperience of the team will make them more optimistic than they should be about winning the division and for that matter in the first round of the playoffs.

"It’s a good ol’ fashioned Rip City beat down!"

by Magnum on Mar 30, 2009 12:20 PM PDT reply actions

I don't think even Popovich would consider sitting starters on this young team..

It's spelled "PRZYBILLA."
vanillathrillagorillaprzybilla

by RenoBlazerFan on Mar 30, 2009 12:22 PM PDT up reply actions

Last game of the season

What if we play Denver with nothing on the line but pride, as my current projections suggest? Still no let up?

Kermit on the inbounds play, inbounds....BATES at the horn, HE SCORES!! HE SCORES!!!! And they are all over Billy Ray Bates! My, oh my!!!

by blazer91 on Mar 30, 2009 12:23 PM PDT reply actions

every minute of playoff-level experience is way too important to give away

It's spelled "PRZYBILLA."
vanillathrillagorillaprzybilla

by RenoBlazerFan on Mar 30, 2009 12:25 PM PDT up reply actions

but will it be playoff level experience?

Denver might well rest their guys for that game, too

Kermit on the inbounds play, inbounds....BATES at the horn, HE SCORES!! HE SCORES!!!! And they are all over Billy Ray Bates! My, oh my!!!

by blazer91 on Mar 30, 2009 12:28 PM PDT up reply actions

and if the blazers play hard

they can help assure that Denver can’t.

The goal is not to be better, the goal is to be the best.

by ratbastird on Mar 30, 2009 2:14 PM PDT up reply actions

aren't all the games with western conference #2-8 spots playoff-level?

nobody has locked up a seed position yet….

It's spelled "PRZYBILLA."
vanillathrillagorillaprzybilla

by RenoBlazerFan on Mar 30, 2009 2:36 PM PDT up reply actions

good question

I have a hard time seeing right now that nothing will be on the line for either team though. Even though the division will likely be out of reach, Denver could be playing for a 2 or 3 seed with a win instead of a 3 or 4 seed with a loss. Conversely, we could be playing for the difference between a 4, 5, or even 6 seed.

Now, if both teams come into that game with their seeding completey locked in, I would:
A) be completely shocked. I think the chances of that happening are very very low
B) play the main guys about 25 minutes or so, then turn it over to the scrubs for mopup duty

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 Mar 30, 2009 12:35 PM PDT up reply actions

First off

From listening to many radio games it is abundantly clear to me that Antonio Harvey has no idea what he is talking about. He fits the typical ex player mold where he thinks his name is enough to carry him through. Which is especially weird when you were a journeymen like Harvey.

Second, has there been anything about the Blazers play of late that says they are not giving it their all? I am pretty sure LMA would punch someone if he thought they were loafing in the least. That guy is scary these days and I am loving every minute of it. I just dont see anything that indicates a let up from this team.

Life is exhausting when you are this stupid.

by jonestr on Mar 30, 2009 1:55 PM PDT reply actions