The Good and The Bad of How The Blazers Reacted To The Rudy Injury
by hawkblogger on Mar 9, 2009 9:47 PM PDT
Email
PrintI was proud and frustrated at how the Blazers reacted to Rudy's injury.
Let's get the first part out of the way: that was really hard to watch. Rudy is one of my favorite players on this team, and to see him get nailed like that and have to be carted off was horrible. I actually don't think Ariza intended to hit Rudy like that, but when you swipe that hard for the ball and hit head instead, you gotta pay the price.There is no justice in a system that allows one team to cart someone off the cart that was going in a for sure two points, and come out of the play with a point of their own. Unless a retaliatory punch is thrown, no technicals should be assessed when a Cat 2 flagrant is called.
Now, I loved....LOVED the way Roy and his teammates reacted immediately following the incident. We need that leadership, fire and "got your back" mentality. Maturity and poise do not need to be mutually exclusive from pride and brotherhood. When someone in your family is hurt by someone else, the only honorable reaction is to stand up and make damn sure the guy who did it knows it won't be tolerated. I'm not talking about going all Artest on someone. I'm talking about exactly what Roy and Alrdridge did: get right in his face and get a little physical. So, that's the part I loved.
What I didn't love is how the Blazers dealt with the aftermath. They got tight. They didn't play angry or aggresive on either end of the court. The Lakers channeled the adrenalin from the situation productively into a run. The Blazers looked dazed. If it had been a 12 pt lead instead of a 28 pt lead, the lead would have been down to four points, and this game could have ended very differently. I love that they found their legs and eventually regained the emotional edge, but I worry that guys like Roy, Aldridge, Batum, Outlaw, Blake and Sergio don't have a little more flight than fight in these situations. I hope that is about youth, but I know at least some of it is just personality type. This matters come playoff time. Teams will push you, and you must push back. Better yet, I'd love to see us initiate the pushing from time to time.
All that stuff aside, was that amazing or what?!
59 comments
|
4 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
It's a sensation better experienced for the first time during the regular season
and not during the playoffs.
"Bayless is awesome." -Clyde Drexler
Great post
I’m proud of the guys for getting up into it and yet not throwing a punch
That said, I wouldn’t mind if someone had thrown a punch, but I am sure I will be happy they didn’t tomorrow
There won't be clean officiating in the NBA until David Stern is forcibly removed by the US Congress in 2013 for fixing games.
by 123_G.O._RipCity on Mar 9, 2009 9:51 PM PDT reply actions
I'm pretty glad nobody threw a punch and got suspended, unless it was like Ruffin
I have to admit it would have been pretty satisfying to see a Laker get coldcocked
Bring back the Uncle Cliffy!
I was advocating putting Ruffin in to be an enforcer against Ariza
He can take the suspension. However this team doesn’t do that. One of the things I like so much about the blazers is they are a team that is a good influence. They were clearly concerned about Rudy, but in those situations you would usually want to go to your big man on the block, and oden was out injured. Since they will call fouls much quicker, Oden would’ve likely been very able to draw fouls—similiar to the way brandon was drawing the call up top repeatedly.
Ruffin doing some fiat a cuffs would have been nice on Odom.
Ruffin looks like he could mess someone up!
My favorite teams are the Blazers and any team that is playing the Lakers.
by OCBlazerFan1 on Mar 10, 2009 9:09 AM PDT up reply actions
I really don't fault the team for loosing their game focus for a while
when a teammate is stretchered off the court. I mean, ultimately, this is a game, recreation, not really warfare. It did’nt look good. I would have hated them to loose the game, but I can’t imagine them not being distracted at that time. Stretchers are not something I’m counting on regularly handling, playoff time or no.
no fault at all
Those 3’s the Fakers hit were pretty darn Kobeistic. not much you can do…..but man up. Extend the lead right back to 20 and deliver the biggest loss of the season on a silver platter with a side of take that Mbenga.
by keepfryealive on Mar 9, 2009 10:56 PM PDT up reply actions
I was hoping
Nate would put Ruffin in right after that to give a could hard fouls (not injurious fouls, but hard).
Why is there a nyquil bottle rolling around my screen!
Frye-lock and I'm on top rock you like a cop
Ruffin wouldn't even have to punch someone
he’s like medusa…just looking at his face turns you to stone
Bring back the Uncle Cliffy!
Nice post
Agree with all of your main points, positive and negative. The thing that stuck out for me was, when it started slipping, Roy and TO got it together and got it back to 19-20. Roy, I expect it from – he is a superstar, in the mix with Wade, Kobe, LeBron, Paul, etc. He has jumped out of the Joe Johnson/Prince all-star caliber player into the elite. Travis on the other hand continues to win me over. At the start of the season I saw him as trade bait, now I think he’s invaluable as our 6th man/swing forward. Any night the Blazers win and the L*ckers lose is a good one, and the guys grew up a bit tonight. Get well Rudy!
I believe in Greg Oden. To all the haters - get down with the program or stay off the wagon for all time. #52
I loved seeing Outlaw in the mix with the others in the scuffle
Outlaw for the first time EEEVVVVEEERRR looked tough. He had Roy’s and LaMarcus’s back. I hope to see that type of attitude from him more often…like maybe when he plays defense or is going for rebounds.
C*mcast sucks!
by Blazermaniac77 on Mar 9, 2009 10:13 PM PDT up reply actions
No kidding
before tonight, I had never seen TO even mildly annoyed, but he got hot after that went down. The Blazers remind me of a really tight CYO/middle school team – no cliques, they’re all boys, and messing with one means you mess with the entire lot of them
I believe in Greg Oden. To all the haters - get down with the program or stay off the wagon for all time. #52
by blazeraddict on Mar 9, 2009 10:46 PM PDT up reply actions
+25 for Outlaw
Powell, get your outta here.
by keepfryealive on Mar 9, 2009 10:58 PM PDT up reply actions
Blazers win,
L*ckers lose, Travis and LMA get deservedly showered with praise after months of taking heat on BEdge for “low BBIQ” and “softness”, what a day :)
I believe in Greg Oden. To all the haters - get down with the program or stay off the wagon for all time. #52
by blazeraddict on Mar 10, 2009 12:02 AM PDT up reply actions
LMA has been like that
for a good stretch now, even when his shot was off against Minny he hit the boards hard. Travis seems to be in a comfortable place with his game, when his jumper is falling that two dribble-elevate move is money, and he’s been going to the hole with abandon. It’s nights like this when it hits me how young this team is and how fun of a ride it has been/will be as we get to watch them develop.
I believe in Greg Oden. To all the haters - get down with the program or stay off the wagon for all time. #52
by blazeraddict on Mar 10, 2009 12:10 AM PDT up reply actions
LMA
feels screwed he didn’t get talked about for all-star weekend. And we get to benefit as he takes it out on the league for the next year. Oh what a great time to be a Blazer Fan.
I’m so glad I picked up an Aldridge jersey last year.
by keepfryealive on Mar 10, 2009 12:31 AM PDT up reply actions
I know what you're saying but there have to be rules like the
technicals otherwise the situations would get out of hand very quickly.
I agree that it was great that they reacted as they did… even if Ariza wasn’t trying to injure Rudy you’ve got to stick up for him! The best thing of all is that they took control again after giving up the 8-0 run to start the 4th Q. That is the best way to stand up for your team mate.
You are correct.
Though I think Roy covered for him nicely
It's a darn good thing too
or else Ariza’s and Odom’s heads would have rolled back to the Blazers bench
Blazers win!
Props to Jordan Farmar
He immediately checked on Rudy after the foul, held back Ariza instead of getting involved in the fight, and chose not to contest Roy on his breakaway dunk late in the game. Classy guy.
by Krivicide on Mar 9, 2009 10:06 PM PDT reply actions 5 recs
+1
even though I hate give credit to any Lala guy.
C*mcast sucks!
by Blazermaniac77 on Mar 9, 2009 10:14 PM PDT up reply actions
Rec
I noticed that too. Ariza, on the other hand, reacted pretty aggressively for a guy who just T’d off on a defenseless player.
If you can't laugh at yourself, everyone else probably is already.
farmar just simply has bad memories from his collegiate days.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1Bqbi0Y9TE
"There are a few teams you have to watch out for in the fourth quarter."
"Yeah, but Portland definitely is not one of them."
-New Orleans Hornets broadcasters at the end of the third quarter with the Hornets leading 74-59. Portland later ends up winning 97-89.
"They don't mind him shooting that shot at all. Rudy Fernandez is not that great of a 3pt shooter."
-New Orleans Hornets broadcasters right after a Rudy Fernandez missed 3pter. Rudy Fernandez finished the game with three 3pters on six attempts.
by Tofu Anonymous on Mar 9, 2009 10:21 PM PDT up reply actions
roy ended up making a 3pter after that block.
"There are a few teams you have to watch out for in the fourth quarter."
"Yeah, but Portland definitely is not one of them."
-New Orleans Hornets broadcasters at the end of the third quarter with the Hornets leading 74-59. Portland later ends up winning 97-89.
"They don't mind him shooting that shot at all. Rudy Fernandez is not that great of a 3pt shooter."
-New Orleans Hornets broadcasters right after a Rudy Fernandez missed 3pter. Rudy Fernandez finished the game with three 3pters on six attempts.
by Tofu Anonymous on Mar 9, 2009 10:22 PM PDT up reply actions
There would have been a riot
If Farmar pulled something cheap and/or stupid when Roy went to dunk on the break. He showed himself to be pretty classy for a l*ker though.
Roy Looked
At him before taking off, I think he would have splattered him on the court if he’d tried to block him
+1 to farmar for checking on Rudy, the only l@ker with any class
nah, but...
the Blazers hit first when the Lakers come back to town because the Lakers surely will be looking to make a point
Bring back the Uncle Cliffy!
Hell yeah he does!! And
if you hear a bad report about Rudy, you’ll probably agree with me.
I don’t blame the Blazers at all for the lack of aggression they played with after Rudy got whacked. It took the spirit right out of me. I just kind of sat here in a daze for the first several minutes after the game restarted. Our guys have human feelings too and I’m sure at least some of them must have been similarly affected. The crown sure seemed subdued for awhile.
Brandon Roy just destroyed everything in his path. There's your rational analysis -- Dave
Also: COMCAST SUCKS!
I agree
I also bet we woulda’ came out angrier if it was a close game.
The worry about Rudy, the ten minutes it took to end the quarter, the hugemungous lead, all led to a subdued team and crowd for the rest of the game while the Lakers jacked 3’s to make the score look not TOO bad.
I hope that if this happened in a 4 point game, we’d use it as motivation to destroy and conquer. They send one of ours to the hospital, we send one of theirs to the morgue and/or send them all home with a loss (whichever is more needed at the time).
Roy leading the charge defending Rudy makes this something that helps our team in the long run, provided Rudy IS okay (okay meaning long term okay, not next-few-days-okay). We’ve seen plenty of teams try to get tough with us when we’re beating ‘em good, so it’s a great message to send that we won’t take any stupid crap from a bunch of fat jerks, from our Fearless Leader Roy and LMA on down.
Mortimer
What happened to Pau?
Watching the feed here in LA, the cameramen spent a lot of time focusing on Gasol while Rudy was laid out. Predictably, he looked extremely upset as he and Rudy are reportedly pretty tight. I don’t think he returned to the game after that.
I've
got no problem with the way the team reacted. To see your teammate get carted off is a huge deal. How often do players get carted off in the NBA? Hardly ever. Whenever we see someone get carted off, we immediately think neck injury and paralyzed, etc. I actually liked the way the team got emotional, and how it effected them a little bit. It shows how tight these guys are with one another.
lakers have hacked someone hard or disrespected us
at least a few times in recent history, I kno lamar Odom thinks he can punk us for some reason. Pryzbilla, LA, or hopefully Oden will defend the paint with authority and set the tone like the boston win earlier this year.
Odom is starting to realize
that his antics won’t be tolerated anymore.
by keepfryealive on Mar 9, 2009 11:01 PM PDT up reply actions
i just give them endless credit for keeping it together
i was just sitting it the seats and i was lost for a minute
"Slum dunk? You just go to the rim, and crush.. crush the ball in the rim."
- Nic Batum
I loved how the TV broadcast showed
the team holding a group prayer while they were still looking him over. You know the national radio shows are going to get calls complaining about the show of religion in sports, a la Kurt Warner
Anyone who wasn’t honestly concerned for Rudy needs to be branded a L*ker fan for life
Blazers win!
Anyone who complains
about that is a tool, whether or not you’re religious, appreciate and respect the fact that the guys on the team sincerely care about each other. How they express their concern for a teammate isn’t something to critique, I actually thought it was a nice gesture, and it wasn’t like they made the whole arena say a compulsory prayer before the game, which I know some yahoo will compare it too. Political correctness will be the death of me…
I believe in Greg Oden. To all the haters - get down with the program or stay off the wagon for all time. #52
by blazeraddict on Mar 10, 2009 12:15 AM PDT up reply actions
I said it before...
I am very anti-religion and that moment just about brought a tear to my eye. That is pure compassion from his team mates. That is what it’s all about.
I really don't think the flagrant two was warranted
Ariza was making a play for the ball and his elbow caught his head. Not malicious in any way but Rudy is so lanky that his fall looked awful and he landed awkwardly. The violence being directed towards Ariza is not justified.
by Se Hace La Vista Gorda on Mar 10, 2009 6:18 AM PDT reply actions
I disagree
Rudy ducked at the last second, or it would have been more than his elbow that caught his head. The swing was well below the ball, and directly at his head. It was definitely a flagrant.
And Ariza’s posturing immediately afterwards shows he intended to foul, which takes you to flagrant two.
And his posturing, running his mouth, pushing people, and even trying to aim a blow afterwards is what is bringing the hatred. If he’d been down there beside Farmar to see if Rudy was ok, it would have been different.
And he ought to be suspended for at least two games because of that. If he’d just put up his hands and said, “Sorry, man, I wasn’t trying to do that,” it would have all stopped right there.
When I rule the world, everyone will know how to use Excel.
Leave it to a guy with a nick in Spanish
to defend the actions and play of a thug-wannabe L*ker…
If K*be would have been the one that got nailed by Batum or any other Blazer like that, you’d be spitting all over your “custom” shirt and calling for blood, all possible suspensions, and probably trying to rush the court to defend your overinflated fallen hero.
We’d let you have your cake and eat it, so indulge us while we eat ours
Blazers win!
whats that suposed to mean???
Leave it to a guy with a nick in Spanish
watch Brandons reaction – http://trailblazerscentercourt.blogspot.com/
the end result sucked, but it wasn’t that bad
Considering many call him a bust and injury prone and never amount to anything. If he plays one more game this regular season, he will have played one more game than any time in bynums career, the one non-playing year excepted. Yet NO ONE in LA complains about Bynum being injury prone, all they ever do is talk about how they can’t wait until he comes back.
I think some of it is that Portland remembers Bowie, and secondly that donkeys always REMIND us of that when they talk trash and it angers us that Oden cant prove them wrong until he is healthy. - GreatOden'sRaven
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
FanShots
Quick hits of video, photos, quotes, chats, links and lists that you find around the web.
Recommended FanShots
Recent FanShots
In Association With
Ball Don't Lie - NBA - Yahoo! Sport
- Days of NBA Lives: Wherein Roy Hibbert tap-dances to Maine
- Grizzlies Valentine’s Day cards are the key to love
- Kevin Love would like the NBA to take the MLB’s approach on All-Star games
- Kobe Bryant fires a few hilarious salvos at Jeremy Lin
- Brandon Jennings states the obvious regarding his 2014 free agency, everyone goes nuts
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
