Rockets Media Row Report - Game 1
by Ben Golliver on Apr 19, 2009 12:56 AM PDT
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PrintI asked Nate yesterday whether Aaaron Brooks had what it takes to be a playoff point guard. He said, "We'll see."
We saw.
From the opening tip, Brooks dominated Steve Blake, carving through the Blazers defense and setting up easy looks for his bigs: Yao and Scola combined to shoot 16 of 18 for 43 points.
In the second half, with the Blazers mounting attempts at rallies, Brooks slammed the door shut with his outside shooting. His final line, eye-popping line was 27, 7 and 4 with 5 three pointers and just 2 turnovers in 35 minutes.
Total domination. The final count was 108 to 81, Rockets.
Brooks was impressive as a teammate at shootaround, as I wrote earlier today, and he could not have been more impressive tonight on the court. Or during the postgame session for that matter, as he sat, clad in a green cable knit sweater, and deferred the praise to Yao Ming and said all the right things about matching the intensity in game two.
He was unstoppable. And he realized that pretty early on tonight. Confidence is a dangerous thing in the hands of a young point guard.
Brandon Roy stated after the game that the Blazers "didn't accept the challenge at the guard position." And that question still hovers two hours after he said it: if Brooks repeats his performance -- what one reporter tonight called "the game of his life" -- or at least continues the solid play he's demonstrated against the Blazers all season, is there anyone ready, willing or able to accept that challenge?
We'll find out Tuesday.
To be clear, this isn't just about the matchup at one: everyone failed to show up, aside from B. Roy and some flashes from Greg Oden during the second half when the game was already decided. It was the kind of night where guys go home, look in the mirror, and admit to themselves they didn't do what needed to be done to win a game. And not 1 or 2 guys. (Just about) everybody.
Indeed, it would be difficult to imagine Brandon looking more disappointed in his team's play; at home, this season, I can't remember him as somber and defeated as he was tonight. While Yao Ming said he hoped this first game would set the tone for the series, Brandon was simply repeating: "We can't let this break us.... I told the guys, we can't let this break us."
Tonight was a wake up call for Brandon, a gut punch for Nate McMillan and a reality check for his team.
The final scene was a nearly empty locker room. A reporter slouched in Nic Batum's chair, spinning slowly, abandoned stalls in every direction. Rotating one direction, then the other, looking for an explanation in an empty room.
What happened? How to regroup? Where did last week's Blazers disappear to?
Those questions will start being answered tomorrow morning at the Practice Facility.
I'll check back with you then.
-- Ben (benjamin.golliver@gmail.com)
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interesting that you lead with Brooks
As great as he was, I think Yao was the #1 story of this game… more specifically, what an epic fail the Blazer D against him was.
I'm a Blazer fan, Tom
LMA’s performance tonight, like Outlaw’s, Rudy’s and several other Blazers’ was discouraging. Its one game though— if he comes out this soft the rest of the series, it will be time to panic a little bit.
I would be lying if I said my mind didn’t focus on the “Aldridge for Derrick Rose” hypothetical trade posts this past summer, where I caught plenty of flack.
However, LMA is on the team, and if he can get back to how he played down the stretch of the regular season, he can help the Blazers get back into the series.
I always try not to draw conclusions from one game.
Unfortunately
LMA is going to see this kind of coverage from the Rockets as long as Joel is in the game IMO.
odly
I felt like they let scola guard LMA one-on-one most of the night. and sadly… he seemed to do a decent job of it.. even getting his own on the other side too. Scola is gritty, savvy, and tough.
that spells trouble. going to be watching that matchup.
I agreed with you at the time
and I still do. Unfortunately, we don’t have that option now (and probably never did). What I find frustrating is that the one guy who played well and efficient isn’t given any props in the break down. I think Greg likes the playoff intensity and physicality and will thrive in it. He needs to get better on the boards but our PF’s also need to show up and block out their man (a season long problem I might add).
"Death is not final," Gita says. "If any man thinks that he slays, and if another thinks that he is slain, neither knows the truth. The Eternal in man cannot kill: the Eternal in man cannot die. The soul in man is neither born nor does it die. Weapons cannot cut it; fire cannot burn it. .. What makes you think that you can destroy the soul?"
The Bhagavad Gita
Yao got the ball where he wanted, when he wanted
Brooks was a big part of that. The thing is, he had his flash game going, and his subtle game going tonight. And when he provided for his teammates, they shot perfectly. We need to put someone on him that’ll stay in front and bother him and I honestly don’t think Blake has it in him (who does?). This is going to test Nate’s decision making to the limits, and I think however this series plays out is going to have a profound impact on summer personnel changes. But if we can control Brooks and dictate (to a degree) where he gives Yao the ball, the game will be much easier to manage and will be much more even.
"Ooo la la! The Blazers are le chic, no?"
by SabonisBonus on Apr 19, 2009 7:53 AM PDT up reply actions
Maybe have Bayless
stay on him, and have Brandon take over point duties?
I thought about suggesting that
but then thought it was too crazy. I mean if Brandon’s controlling the ball and Nate tells Bayless to just play intense D and take it easy offensively… why can’t it work? He’s probably the only guy we’ve got with a shot at keeping up with him.
"Ooo la la! The Blazers are le chic, no?"
by SabonisBonus on Apr 19, 2009 8:29 AM PDT up reply actions
Blake had half the team's total assists last night
If you take him out of the game and replace him with Bayless, ball movement and spacing will be even worse than they were last night. Besides, Bayless has been having a terrible rookie year, and it doesn’t seem reasonable to expect him to step in now and have much of a positive impact.
Still, Blake’s inability to defend Brooks is a significant problem. I think Blake is important enough to the offense that he need to be in the game, but I would try having him guard Battier (who is a bit of a mismatch, but generally doesn’t score very much) and having Batum guard Brooks. I would also consider increasing the offensive firepower in the starting lineup by having Rudy (who looked pretty good guarding Brooks) start instead of Batum.
Amen. If we're going to put Nic on Tony Parker
why not put him on Brooks doing his best Tony Parker/Chris Paul impression. If we can force the Rockets to run their offense through Battier posting up Blake, that means taking them out of their proscribed sets and fewer touches for Yao and Brooks.
At this point in time, putting Nicolas Batum on Aaron Brooks is certainly the best ...
idea in light of everything. I’m still frustrated that point guard defense wasn’t dealt with at mid-season, however.
Agreed, but there's a problem.
Frankly, it’s hard to imagine anyone fairing worse on Brooks than Blake did. It wasn’t for want of effort. He simply got out-quicked, again and again and again. Putting Nick on Brooks, however, means there’s nowhere else for Blake to play since he’s too small to handle Artest. Doesn’t that make Roy PG? And who do you start at SF? Putting Outlaw there subtracts scoring punch from the second unit, though it does bolster it in the starting unit in Blake’s absence. I do wonder if Frye, who reverted to his earlier season poor judgement with the ball, might work against Batier, whose not much of a scorer and on whom Batum’s defensive skills are wasted. I’m not sure the Pryzbilla, Aldridge, Frye, Batum, Roy unit would fair better but it could hardly fair worse.
And that’s the truth.
by Trutherlizer on Apr 19, 2009 9:32 PM PDT up reply actions
Jerryd Bayless' overaggressive defense would lead to immediate foul trouble for him when ...
trying to guard the quicker, more experienced Aaron Brooks. Yes, I shockingly referred to Brooks’ experience. That, in conjunction with Bayless’ inability to fight through screens and tiny wingspan being unable to create turnovers, would just lead to more problems. It’s too bad that Kirk Hinrich isn’t wearing a Portland uniform, for he’d’ve made a sizeable impact last night for the woeful Trail Blazers. Hinrich, who had a poor game offensively for the Chicago Bulls yesterday, still put up a +9 due to his outstanding play on defense.
yao was fantastic. 19/9 is what he gives night in and night out.
the story last night for me was brooks’ breakout.
(also i’ve been talking about him the last 48 hours in the practice report and shootaround report so my mind was on that track anyway…)
by Ben Golliver on Apr 19, 2009 10:58 AM PDT up reply actions
Brooks was the gravy
Single covering Yao, to the tune of 7/7 for 16 points in the first quarter and 9/9 for 24 points in the first half, was the story of the game for me. He has never been more dominant. Amazing half of basketball.
Epic failure in strategy. You have to force the perimeter guys to set the tone. Hopefully Nate and company can adjust.
Q: Is Greg favoring his knee?
Frye: He favors dunking on your head, that's what he favors.
by KP Corleone on Apr 19, 2009 12:47 PM PDT up reply actions
And Ron-Ron was the bowl of cracked nuts.
He was extra-crunchy last night. I kept expecting him to miss, but he hit shots like a drunk at a bar.
As a Rockets fan I would first like to tip my hat off to all the Trailblazers fans because you guys have been pure class from everything ive seen at the dreamshake and here...
The second thing is that although I think the Rockets are going to win the series I think you guys have a great team that is gonna be trouble for the West with in the next two or three years maximum, I wish the best of luck to the Blazers, (but not too much this year ;p)
"Tonight was a wake up call for Brandon, a gut punch for Nate McMillan and a reality check for his team."
There you go.
That’s it.
Rudyculize: The act of Rudy making others look slow, dim and generally oafish.
http://www.myspace.com/y5k
Dont feel too bad guys. just look how badly my celtics got dominated by a rookie, and how joakim noah and tyrus thomas looked liked future hall of famers and played literally the best basketball of their NBA careers. it happens. just like the rockets losing in the first round year after year happenjs regardless of winning game 1. it s not over for you guys yet
by TheAncientRivalry on Apr 19, 2009 6:14 AM PDT reply actions
Thank you
TAR. Man, you’re like the third or fourth representative from other blogs coming in and trying to pick up our mopey selves. Guys from atthehive left nice thoughts as well. hopefully the blazers rally around all this good mojo.
The Michael Ruffin of BlazersEdge, cuz Amlmart said so.
by BlazersOrBust on Apr 19, 2009 7:09 AM PDT up reply actions
thanks TAR
I think you guys will win the series, there is no way peirce and allen are going to miss that many shots in the next game, i hope our blazers bounce back too.
Right on man
I’m not a C’s fan not even close but it’s classy for you to come over here to say that. Good luck out east and if you somehow beat the Cleveland LeBronier’s I might actually like ya’ll a bit (the fans I mean I only like Allen and I LOVE Rondo but the rest of the C’s I can’t stand).
"Death is not final," Gita says. "If any man thinks that he slays, and if another thinks that he is slain, neither knows the truth. The Eternal in man cannot kill: the Eternal in man cannot die. The soul in man is neither born nor does it die. Weapons cannot cut it; fire cannot burn it. .. What makes you think that you can destroy the soul?"
The Bhagavad Gita
It seems we have to fall before we rise. It has been part of the maturing process and it will be again.
If we had to pass through this kind of punishment better soon than late. I´m curious about their reaction and I think this expirience will be very usefull next year, no matter how this ends. Hope we keep most of the team and let them grow from here.
"They didn't know it was impossible, so they did it"
The crucible
I’ve been a Blazers fan since the days of Geoff Petrie, Rick Adelman (as a player!), and Rolland “Mod” Todd. I’m as proud of this current group as I was of the Walton crew or Clyde and Co.
Did they get their collective backsides handed to them? Yep. That’s why playoff experience matters so much: the game goes to another level, and if you ain’t been there, your brain can’t process fast enough and decision-making turns to, ummm, you-know-what.
Will they learn from the experience? Of course, and the really smart ones like Brandon already have and will apply to the next game.
Will they learn quickly enough to right the ship and win this series? Maybe. Even if they don’t, that doesn’t change a thing about this amazing season and this very young bunch of talented players.
With the exception of ‘82, Portland was in the playoffs every year from 1977 – 2003. That’s a lot of years with lots of 1st round exits, and lots of ugly, ugly games. This team is much better than many of those teams and has a much higher upside. They will get better, I believe – much, much better.
The playoffs are a crucible. If there is dross in the metal, it will be brought out, but that’s how the metal becomes pure.
by dmacb on Apr 19, 2009 9:41 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Yeah
by that standard I saw 4 players that looked like they had the “metal” to play in the post season:
Roy (needs to share the ball)
Oden (Needs to GET the ball and board)
Rudy (Needs to keep working but had flashes)
Bayless (Needs to pass the ball)
Also Batum looked ok.
Outlaw, LMA, Przybilla and Blake looked flat out awful. I was calling for Frye to be put in at PF that’s when i knew we were doomed…
"Death is not final," Gita says. "If any man thinks that he slays, and if another thinks that he is slain, neither knows the truth. The Eternal in man cannot kill: the Eternal in man cannot die. The soul in man is neither born nor does it die. Weapons cannot cut it; fire cannot burn it. .. What makes you think that you can destroy the soul?"
The Bhagavad Gita
Help me out, guys.
I’m really ticked right now at John Nash for selecting Martell instead of Chris Paul. Can you think of one other player who would have solved every problem we had last night?
While Kevin Pritchard isn't the deity some folks crown him, he's at least better than the ...
failed front office duo of Steve Patterson and John Nash. Oh, and even though I give Pritchard a lot of guff, his pick of Greg Oden over Kevin Durant was the right choice then, now, and in the future.
since we really don't know what we have with Martell,
since he’s been injured all year, you have to admit that the jury is still out on this point.
Rose is fabulous as a rookie. Martell may be just as fabulous. We really don’t know. – Elgin
Tonight felt like the day you open the mail and receive an acceptance letter to your dream school: the University of Playoffs. - Ben Golliver, Apr 15 2009
This was Martell's fourth season
so I think it’s safe to say he isn’t going to have the same impact on the league that either Rose or CP3 will have.
I like Martell and think he’ll be a solid NBA starter for many years (assuming his foot fully heals, which is not a sure thing), but a solid player does not help a team as much as a star does.
Let’s say the Blazers had drafted Chris Paul instead of Martell, and then let’s say that as a result of drafting Paul we did not land Oden. The lineup would be:
PG: Chris Paul, Steve Blake, Jerryd Bayless
SG: Brandon Roy, Rudy Fernandez
SF: Nicolas Batum, Travis Outlaw
PF: LaMarcus Aldridge, Channing Frye
C: Joel Przybilla, whoever we would have drafted instead of Oden.
I would take that team against any in the league, including this one. They would have won more games this season and they would have beaten the Rockets two days ago.
Anyway, don’t pay any attention to me, [insert cliches about wishes being horses, hindisight being 20-20, etc.] I just get annoyed that we don’t have the all-time best backcourt in NBA history every time we play a team with a speedy PG who burns us for 27 points.
The rally
may not have been good for the team, us fans enjoyed the heck out of it but that might have given the players a false sense of confidance. Portland will bounce back, if the series mirrors the start of the season I’ll go with that out come.
If we were going to have a off night by a player why not have everyone play bad get it out of there system give coach somthing to really get into the players about today at practice and move on.
Portland in 6
This is an uprise not a revolt.
I try to help with everything," Fernandez said. "If the coach says go rebound, I go rebound. I work for the team.
""If I'm playing this game to get media and attention, I shouldn't be here," Aldridge said. "I'm here to play basketball, and do what I can do to help this team win."
I was thinking that, too, but not necessarily that it gave the players false confidence.
More like it put additional pressure and distraction on them. Ah well, who knows?
So you think we’re winning four of the next five games? Which would mean winning two at Houston? You’re not a half-glass-full kinda guy, you’re an Old-Faithful-erupting-from-the-glass kinda guy.
It's one game
But unfortunately LMA fulfilled what I was suspicious of him: that he’d be a type of player that (perhaps right now) isn’t mentally tough enough for the playoffs. A Cliff Robinson reincarnate, if you will. We’ll really know next game of course.
Gotta love that Brandon isn’t fazed however. And that Greg is just playing to his strengths literally. He knows he still doesn’t have the offensive polish, but that won’t stop him from trying to overpower you.
OMG
I’ve been seeing parallels with LMA and Uncle Cliffy myself. Scary.
"Death is not final," Gita says. "If any man thinks that he slays, and if another thinks that he is slain, neither knows the truth. The Eternal in man cannot kill: the Eternal in man cannot die. The soul in man is neither born nor does it die. Weapons cannot cut it; fire cannot burn it. .. What makes you think that you can destroy the soul?"
The Bhagavad Gita
that comparison definetely crossed my mind as well
Can’t draw conclusions from one game, but it was not a positive beginning.
First off,
I’m jealous off this site——some of the best stuff around.
Second, the comments posted here compared to most places are actually intelligent and logical. Very refreshing conversation even if routing for another team.
Third, I hate that we are playing each other because I really like and respect the Blzrs and their fans.
But enough love….I am a Rockets fan afterall and extremely happy to see the Rox snag homecourt back. That being said, anyone who says this series is over based on one game is foolish. We just saw the best the Rox have to offer…period…so thank goodness it resulted in a win. Not sure we will be able to duplicate that performance in every game (almost 30 from Brooks, Artest not dribbling the air out of the ball and actually getting his jumper to fall, Yao = 100%) so this is going to be a series regardless of game 1’s score.
Rox in 6, but I’ll be sweating every game.
if the rox win this series, i'll be rooting for them over LA (natch)
i won’t hold hard feeling until the two teams meet again
> Third, I hate that we are playing each other because I really like and respect the Blzrs and their fans.
It is true that the team that loses this series will see inferior teams moving ahead in the playoffs. – Elgin
Tonight felt like the day you open the mail and receive an acceptance letter to your dream school: the University of Playoffs. - Ben Golliver, Apr 15 2009
Hey guys...
I think Ben is on the right track here. I’m a rockets fan who has been watching Houston play all season, and from watching the game last night I can tell that if Portland is going to win this it’s going to have to start by containing Aaron Brooks.
Obviously the Blazers have to tighten up their frontcourt defense, you can’t have Yao shooting 100% on you every night and expect to win many games. LMA, Oden, Outlaw and Pryzbilla are all good players, some are great, but you can’t reasonably expect them to outplay Scola, Artest, Battier, and Yao in the majority of games. The rockets strength is in their frontcourt, and trust me when I say in more cases than not our backcourt has been our downfall.
Aaron Brooks posted 27 on you last night, but he is a very streaky shooter who too often takes the wrong shots if pressured. There are nights where he will hoist up 15 jumpshots only to get 6 points, that is 15 wasted possesions for Houston. Portland can only win this series if they make sure that Aaron Brooks misses his shots and then control the tempo through their very talented backcourt. If that means putting Roy or Bayless or even Outlaw on him then do it, unless you really think Blake is up to the task…which I don’t. And trust me when I say Brooks will continue to shots no matter how much defense is on him, he’s a shoot first PG which makes him the biggest liability on our team.
Currently Listening to: VAST - Touched
"I feel like I'm the best, but you're not going to get me to say that." - Hall of Fame WR Jerry Rice
by last texans fan on Apr 19, 2009 8:01 AM PDT reply actions
Rockets exposed our weaknesses, Blazers Didn't
Steve Blake is not an NBA championship caliber starting guard and the Rockets exploited that last night. He lacks the strength and quickness to provide defensive pressure and lacks the offensive abilities to be a scoring threat. This puts too much pressure on the other guys to score.
All the Rockets have to do is play tough on Roy and Aldridge, keep close to Blake on the outside and our offense pretty much stinks. If Blake can’t get past his man and cause the defense to adjust, we have very little chance to win this series.
On the defensive side, Nate doesn’t really like to force the opponent to go to their 2 or 3 options. He likes to go man up and stop the first option. This team can’t do that against the Rockets. So unless we see a change in defensive strategy, this is going to be a short series.
Yes the bench should have an advantage against the Rockets, but the bench is not as important in the Playoffs. And our bench is mostly offensive minded, which also doesn’t work as well in the playoffs. We have no big defender (other than at center) to stop anybody.
Steve Blake can't guard quick PGs - he's a backup who happens to be starting
Blazer Fan
by leeroyjenkins on Apr 19, 2009 9:35 AM PDT up reply actions
Wrong
Lets look at what the 3 best Point Guards in the league (Chris Paul, Tony Parker, and Deron Williams) did against the Blazers this year.
Chris Paul (yearly avg 23pts / 11ast): 17pts / 9ast, 16pts / 6ast, 17pts / 11ast, 12pts / 13ast
Tony Parker (yearly avg 22pts / 7ast): 24pts / 11ast, 39pts / 9ast, 15pts / 4ast, 17pts / 7ast
Deron Williams (yearly avg 19pts / 11ast): 14pts / 11ast, 35pts / 5ast , 16pts / 8ast
In only 3 out of 11 games did they reach their averages in Points.
In only 6 out of 11 games did they reach their averages in Assits.
In only 2 out of 11 games did any of them get 30 Points.
I’d say the Blazers probably did a better job defending these Point Guards than anyone in the league. Steve Blake doesn’t deserve all the credit, but being the primary defender on these guys, Steve Blake deserves more credit than he gets as a defender.
Brooks just had a great game last night, as did the entire Rockets team.
by RABID_RABBIT on Apr 19, 2009 10:09 AM PDT up reply actions
I'm still ticked that we could have had Chris Paul and don't,
but you’re right, the Blazers didn’t lose this game as much as the Rockets all looked like this last night:
It's easy to keep somone below their season average in scoring when they get injured in the middle of the game like Chris Paul did
Anyway, it would be a mistake to think that Blake was guarding those elite point guards every time that we played them. When we play those teams we often have Nicolas Batum defend the point guard (since he is a much better defender than Blake). A lot of credit also goes to Joel Przybilla for not letting opposing point guards get any easy shots around the basket.
This is a common delusion
If we are going to play this “he lost us the game because his man couldn’t miss a shot” game then lets be objective and look who else got “schooled” on the Blazers tonight.
Yao made all 9 of his shots in the 1st half on Pryzbilla (9/9). Does this mean Pryzbilla is a terrible defender becuase his man didn’t miss and Yao was the primary player that built the lead in the 1st half? No, it was just that Yao played amazing tonight just like Brooks and most of the Houston team.
Scola went 7/9. Where is LaMarcus’ criticism.
Artest went 7/12. Where is Batum or Travis’ critisism.
Brooks went 10/17, with 5/8 from the three point line which doesn’t have anything to do with keeping someone in front of you. He made shots from deep and the one coast-to-coast basket at the end of the 1st half. That leaves 4 others baskets that may be attributed to Blake or not. Brooks was amazing last night and played the game of his life. It had little to do with Blake’s defense.
by RABID_RABBIT on Apr 19, 2009 9:44 AM PDT up reply actions
yeah i'm tired of everyone blaming steve
all of the defenders stunk, at least blake had a steal or two, dude just could hit most of his shots is all.
I completely agree with you ralphzillo
Portland is learning what playoff basket ball is all about.
Houston has shut down what worked for them so well during the regular season.
I’m a little worried in that Portland things what happened Saturday was a one time thing;
and all they need to do is play for carefree like they could during the regular season.
Unless they make adjustments, its going to be a short series.
What Adjustments Are Needed?
1) Make the Rockets move their asses on defense. The Blazers can’t beat this team trying to work 1-on-1. You’ve got to get the ball going from strong to weak side and moving around. I’m not sure if we have the talent to do that all game, but that is the only way we can hang with these guys.
2) Take away the inside by double-teaming and stay home on the 3s. If they make other shots, touch luck.
3) Make the game a fitness match. Run and score quickly. Again, probably not the right talent for that because the point guard lacks open court abilities, but this is the only way to exploit the Rockets. If the Blazers continue a half-court, take your time flow – GAME OVER.
Give the Rockets credit
I agree with Jason Quick saying the Blazers were taken out of the game by the Rockets, not so much what they did on their own. Most of the time, fans blame their own team for failures instead of giving full credit to the other team. I think this is a case of the Rockets forcing the Blazers into bad or contested shots.
I didn’t think the Blazers defense was particularly poor until that last stretch in the 2nd quarter and into the 3rd quarter. Houston was just really hot from the field up until then. The Rocket ball handlers, especially Brooks, exploited the Blazers pick and roll defense once Yao was out of the game. Its been a problem all year long, so it wasn’t surprising to see it come back in this game.
The question is where do we go from here. I do not envy Nate McMillan. From my point of view, based on this game, it’ll be a tall task to make the series competitive. Blake doesn’t pose any threat as a ball handler and he’s only as good as his outside shooting. While Brooks probably played the best game of his career, I don’t see Blake being able to contain his speed. That biggest disappointment last night has to be LMA. Never got going against Scola one-on-one. The Rockets didn’t bring the double team and LMA couldn’t make them pay. Scola played strong physical defense on him.
I fear for the day Paul Allen is no longer the owner of the Blazers.
He needs to reproduce soon so we have an heir in succession.
LMA didn't show up at all, and the worst part is he never looked particularly concerned about it
Blazer Fan
by leeroyjenkins on Apr 19, 2009 9:35 AM PDT up reply actions
Yeah, he should have cried, torn his jersey,
kicked the ball into section 303, punched a cameraman, spat on a fan, etc. That would have been better.
by MiledAnimal on Apr 19, 2009 1:42 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
looking ahead?
While I am still terrified of Roy, Fernandez, Outlaw and LMA having big breakout games against my team in the next couple games…
there are also reasons to believe the Rockets can actually play better than they did last night. Really.
http://www.thedreamshake.com/2009/4/19/844582/reasons-to-believe-the-rockets-can
I felt that way when I watched the game as well..
The Rockets bench did not play particularly well offensively. There was a stretch in the game, the Rockets were stagnant offensively and a couple of stutter step jumpers from Ron Artest went in to maintain the lead. If the Blazers had exploited that stretch, the outcome would have been much closer.
The Rockets can play better both defensively as well as offensively – in particular Landry. So, I think this game was more about what the Blazers did not do, than what the Rockets did.
A good post, and I am sure that if Blazers squeeze Brooks, they stand a better chance of winning. But, as a Rockets fan, I am hoping that the Brooks/Lowry combo sticks to the game plan when pressured!
Kari
Kari
Yeah, while the Rockets played very well I never felt they were playing a perfect game
The Rockets can be better. Its hard to imagine the Blazers being much worse.
Reality check for our Blazers
growing up is hard to do and sometimes it’s going to be a downright painful experience. But this team will grow from it, I just wonder if Portland fans have enough backbone to stick with their team.
"Kobe you empty headed animal food trough wiper! I fart in your general direction! Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries!" - Nicolas Batum
by Sexual Tyrannosaurus on Apr 19, 2009 8:45 AM PDT reply actions
I have never been worried about the fans “turning on the team” as Mark Stein from ESPN and others have mentioned. That has never been the nature of fandom in this town.
Mostly, at least in Section 209, people were (annoyingly, in an almost Jazz fan-like fashion) turning on the refs.
And Ben is right. This game was about Aaron Brooks. Yao did what we thought he would do. Brooks was Tony Parker-esque and we had no answer for it. Roy hit some shots but didn’t create much for others, while Outlaw and LMA were horrid.
I’m bummed but I can’t say I’m overly surprised. This is a young team and Houston, despite not winning a playoff series in forever, is loaded with a nice blend of veterans and energetic younguns, and they are a nightmare matchup for us. Hopefully we can come back, but if not, we still had a great season, some nice playoff experience, and the future is still very bright (and hopefully B-Rex can focus like a laser on improving his defense and hitting a contested jumper over the summer).
MLB2PDX!!! (someday...)
by The Cactus Leaguer on Apr 19, 2009 9:03 AM PDT up reply actions
That's the way fans are everywhere and fans in Portland are no different
If people hadn’t been booing the Blazers at the Rose Garden last night, I’d probably be more inclined to agree with you. Unfortunately there’s a really ugly side to Blazermania, the one that goes with the ridiculous amount of expectations placed upon a team.
People are passionate about this team in both extremes and unfortunately that cause many to lose perspective.
"Kobe you empty headed animal food trough wiper! I fart in your general direction! Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries!" - Nicolas Batum
by Sexual Tyrannosaurus on Apr 19, 2009 9:31 AM PDT up reply actions
Um....
No…we have never booed this team and never will. We are different.
"The Rockets broke the heart-shaped lock on our diary and read it. They know our shirt sizes AND our shoe sizes. They know our ballboy’s girlfriend’s nickname. They own us." - nightbluefruit
by Sabonis4Ever on Apr 19, 2009 11:01 PM PDT up reply actions
Ummm...if we are all different
then it could be that someone booed the team. And considering that I saw some one on the news being interviewed who was bragging about booing the blazers…
"Kobe you empty headed animal food trough wiper! I fart in your general direction! Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries!" - Nicolas Batum
by Sexual Tyrannosaurus on Apr 21, 2009 4:38 PM PDT up reply actions
This next game could actually set the tone for the next few seasons
And I don’t see a lot to be encouraged about. The Rockets have (at least) two players we can’t guard. You’d think after Brooks’s comments that the Blazers would’ve shown some fire in the biggest game of ALL their careers so far. It is really really discouraging that they did not. I don’t know what to think right now. Several of the Blazers players should be looking in the mirror today.
Blazer Fan
Oh and hey thanks for the visits from the other team's fans, that's cool
Welcome anytime I’m sure I speak for most here
Blazer Fan
by leeroyjenkins on Apr 19, 2009 9:37 AM PDT up reply actions
Next few seasons? You're being very dramatic about things.
"Kobe you empty headed animal food trough wiper! I fart in your general direction! Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries!" - Nicolas Batum
by Sexual Tyrannosaurus on Apr 19, 2009 9:41 AM PDT up reply actions
And THAT'S why you ALWAYS NEED A REX......
— J. Walter Weatherby
Pontiff of the Pryz for Prez Posse...
Jerryd Bayless would've been in quick foul trouble trying to defend Aaron Brooks, while the offense ...
would’ve fallent into complete shambles with him at the helm. Last night, the Trail Blazers needed none other than “Captain” Kirk Hinrich — who, despite performing poorly on offense versus the Boston Celtics yesterday, posted a +9 for the game due to his awesome defense — but that’s not in the cards. However, that’ll be something to deal with this off-season — which might just come sooner rather than later — and there’s no doubt about it.
TURN IT UPSIDE DOWN, THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT THE BLAZERS NEEDED.
Did you really think we’d win the first playoff game? Did you really think we’d just waltz into the second season with the same momentum?
Heck no. Imagine if we won last night. The team would still have their head in the clouds, thinking this would be a cake walk. We’d come out in game 2, maybe win it, and then get destroyed. The Blazers needed a swift kick in the groin to wake up, focus and get real about this series.
I think a blowout is just what the doctor ordered, not for the fans obviously, but for the team. Now they know what they’re actually up against. Nothing motivates a youthful team like getting beat. Nothing motivates a team like the avalanche of national media that will now say the Blazers don’t stand a chance in the playoffs.
Everyone had a bad game except Greg and Brandon. We know that last night wasn’t the normal performance to expect from our guys. We know that last night wasn’t the normal performance to expect from their guys. I trust the players and staff. Chill out Blazers fans, we’ve got this.
Life is hilarious.
by SolGoode on Apr 19, 2009 10:43 AM PDT reply actions 1 recs
agreed
I hope after this embarrassing loss our Blazers will start playing with a nothing to lose attitude and the underdog mentality. This will be the true test of how our young players handle the pressure.
"...Lies, damned lies, and statistics."
game 1
was always one of the reasons part of me wanted NOT to get homecourt. I just was really concerned about how we would handle game 1, and worried it wouldn’t be well. If that was going to be the case, i would much rather have gotten drubbed in game 1 on the road than in game 1 at home.
Game 2 is must win now. It wouldn’t be if we started on the road.
How did you guys win that?
"We scored enough points. We scored 107, they scored 105.
-Nate McMillan Postgame, 3/4/2009
I dunno .... but I think Brooks was the main story too.
I fear he will be a thorn in our side the entire series because he’s too quick for our point guards. My vote is to have Rudy guard him but I doubt Nate would want to shuffle the lineup that drastically.
I remember Pryz doing a pretty good job on Yao last year one on one. Any NBA player shooting as hot as Yao was last nigh is a nightmare cover. Doesn’t make things any easier when the hot player stands 7’6". It’s highly unlikely he’ll have another night like that even using the same defensive coverage we employed last night.
Yeah, maybe Roy did try to do things on his own, but he went into that mode when he saw the game quickly slipping away from us. At the time I was thinking, yeah Brandon, nobody’s doing anything and we need you now to try to right the ship. And he did pretty damn well at it for awhile too. Was no one else impressed on how Broy was able to easily score on Artest?
We gotta do something to slow Brooks down. Yeah, he’s likely to have an off game or two which will greatly help us, but he is too quick for us to cover and that just breaks our defense down. If we can’t solve that, problem it’s “wait until next year” (with no lottery pick this time around).
It ain’t over yet, but we do not match up well with them as everyone has been saying all along.
Brandon Roy just destroyed everything in his path. There's your rational analysis -- Dave
Also: COMCAST SUCKS!
Good Game, Guys
I just want to thank you all for being really classy fans. I like the rational analysis here, btw. I really like your team, too—it’s a shame only one of our teams can advance. I really wanted you guys to face the Lakers in the second round before I knew we’d be playing each other. You’d have a much better chance than us, hehe.
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