A New Day
by Dave on Apr 6, 2009 10:39 AM PDT
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PrintWith the Blazers having clinched the playoffs last night I have a whole mix of feelings today.
The first, and probably most important, is simply a sense of appreciation. This is the goal the team set itself to. They worked hard to accomplish that goal and achieved what they set out to do. It wasn't a fluke. It wasn't a streak. It wasn't luck or the schedule or a gimmicky style of play. This was Roy-Aldridge-McMillan Era Blazers, pure and simple.
That's pretty important, I'd say, because you don't progress far in this league by getting hot. Streaks look nice in the standings and record books, but the teams who put together consistent seasons (often quietly or in a way that's taken for granted) succeed. The gruelling 7-game playoff treadmill ensures that if nothing else. You might get hot and take one series from a good team. It's not going to happen twice.
The Blazers had one losing streak of three games so far this season. Besides that they lost twice in a row only four times. No longer losing streaks. No huge dips. That's solid. That's repeatable. Though the learning curve isn't complete yet, that's pretty much going to be Blazer basketball for the next decade.
That brings up another reaction...that this really is the tangible beginning of the new era we've been talking about for the better part of two years now. You're unlikely to see a long playoff run this year. The full flower comes later. But the green shoot has just peeked above the soil for the first time. That's a moment worth remembering.
This day also brings up recollections of years past, hearkening to a time when the playoffs were practically our birthright as Blazer fans. Two decades is a long time to get used to something and then do without it. I'm ready to reclaim that birthright and that history. I'm ready for people to just assume that this is a winning team again. We're still in the appreciation stage rather than the assumption stage, of course, but there's more to come.
And that's the final impression I'm left with. According to Jason Quick the team has some of this impression too. This is wonderful, but it is only the beginning. There's more to be done this regular season, this post-season, and most importantly of all in years to come. Four years from now this brilliant accomplishment will be sneered at if it's simply repeated each season. The same fans jumping up and down in glee right now (me among them) will be saying, "Why can't we get out of the stinkin' first round?!? Is mediocrity all we're good for???" unless more follows. It's guaranteed we're in the top half of the league right now. Compared to where we've been that's heady territory. Compared to where we're headed it's a rest stop...perhaps a convenience station. Grab some twinkies, Slim Jims, and a 44-ouncer and back in the bus.
Part of me is joyful, part of me is proud, part of me is anticipatory, and part of me is pretty business-like this morning. I think they all have their place.
The Blazers' place? Well, that's in the playoffs now, isn't it?
--Dave (blazersub@yahoo.com)
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I'm pretty stoked that Portland is going to make the playoffs
and because they played well, not because other teams played poorly. Maybe that doesn’t quite make sense, but I think you know what I mean. If Portland ends up with a good seed, it won’t be a fluke.
I wish they could’ve beaten Houston yesterday because they’re a likely first-round matchup so it would be good to have the psychological edge.
I would also be pretty stoked if the stars aligned so that Oden can play without worrying about fouling out during the opening tip.
the Playoffs...
where the Portland Trail Blazers happen.
Here’s to another 2 decades long streak of playoff contention just beginning!
Give the man his "M"!!!
by you'vegottomakeyourfreethrows on Apr 6, 2009 10:45 AM PDT reply actions
If only we had made the playoffs in 83'
We would have had a 26 year streak instead of a 5 and 21 year streaks.
http://saboner.mybrute.com
We were over .500 that year too
as I recall
"You're welcome friend
I love you."
- Tom "Dragline" inHawaii
Probably true
Who carried Blazer games back then?
"You're welcome friend
I love you."
- Tom "Dragline" inHawaii
The best part of this playoff team
is it was put together old school. The mercenary years of the Blazers are behind us. Portland has its guys, they drafted these guys. Portland did not go out and spend tons of money on fa’s and make goofy trades because they could, they just flat out went old school and put a quality team together. I think as a Blazer fan I more proud of the team putting a plan into motion letting the fans know exactly what the plan was/is and letting us enjoy watching that plan come together.
There will be a fa pick up or trade but nothing like we were doing under the Whitless era.
Heck of a season for the Blazers fans and the team.
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."
by Dragonage on Apr 6, 2009 10:46 AM PDT reply actions 2 recs
definitely--love the old school build-from-the-ground-up mentality KP brought
LMA: 35 points, 18 rebounds against "OKC." Beaste!
Those Whitsett teams were held together
with string and packing tape and you knew they wouldn’t last. Of course, if Portland hadn’t imploded in the WCF against LA, who knows how we would view that era? I’m pretty sure Portland would’ve stomped Indiana.
Absolutely!
There were times when I had my doubts about building a team through the draft, but watching these kids grow has been one of the most exciting things about this whole journey.
by Corvid on Apr 6, 2009 11:18 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
I hear what your saying
But actually I believe most of our guys were acquired through draft day deals. Still they were acquired during the draft so I am nitpicking a bit.
by eclecticspider on Apr 6, 2009 8:31 PM PDT up reply actions
That really points
to the character issues we keep hearing the team talk about. Character is important.
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."
Feels GREEEAT
I’ve been reading BE since the heyday of the Randolph era and this is a sweet sweet vindication of my (and our) commitment as fans. Playoffs are our birthright, and it is great to be back!
Thanks (as always) for the perspective Dave.
So if we put these two quotes together....
The full flower comes later. But the green shoot has just peeked above the soil for the first time. That’s a moment worth remembering.
and
Four years from now this brilliant accomplishment will be sneered at if it’s simply repeated each season. The same fans jumping up and down in glee right now (me among them) will be saying, “Why can’t we get out of the stinkin’ first round?!? Is mediocrity all we’re good for???” unless more follows.
I’m led to ask myself (and you) this question: Are the Blazers in danger of “sprouting” too quickly? Is that even possible?
LMA: 35 points, 18 rebounds against "OKC." Beaste!
Really interesting idea
which has gotten me thinking. Is it possible for a team to sprout too soon? I think it’s conceivable, but not really for players. Players are almost always going to get better until they physically decline, which is not a concern for young rising teams. Playoff experience at a young age can only be helpful. The real danger, I think, is that management will get caught in a no-man’s land. This is the kind of danger I see in Philly – they’ve got an intriguing young team, fun to watch, and one that will likely make the Eastern playoffs for the next few years. That said, what kind of shot do they have?
In order to keep that team together (and selling tickets, particularly the lucrative playoff tickets), they have to hand out huge contracts (Brand, Iggy, Dalembert), and this crushes their financial flexibility. They can’t shed the contracts without killing fan support. But as constituted, they’re unlikely to ever actually win a title.
With their fragmented ownership structure, Atlanta may be an even better example – Bottom line is that young success can hamstring a franchise’s ability to make the moves to get over the top.
Do I think this will happen to the Blazers? We have several positive things in our favor.
1. Smart and rich management/ownership (KP/PA)
2. Players who might be willing to sacrifice financially for the team (the fact that we’re resigning Roy and Aldridge in what is likely to be a deflationary salary market is a blessing in disguise).
3. ODEN. Teams like Philly and Atlanta do not have the possibility of waking up next season or the one after that to find a monstrous, one-in-a-decade big man already sitting on their sideline. This is contingent on a lot of developmental factors, including health, but we knew that already.
For this year, I’m excited to be back in the second season, and am ready to make noise now. ’There’s always next year’ is for Cubs and Clipper fans – that’s no way to live.
by samuelleejackson on Apr 6, 2009 12:03 PM PDT up reply actions
It's a valid concern, although it mainly has to do with salary structure
in the NBA. For a long time, it’s been conventional wisdom that your best player, or your “star” deserves to get a max salary, regardless of how he compares to stars around the league. It’s ridiculous that Iggy and CP would make the same amount of money, but since they both occupy that “star” slot on their team, they get the same contract, and GMs were willing to do this since the alternative would basically be like giving a big middle finger to their fans, and alienating to said star. Realistically, though, GMs were never looking at a guy and saying “What if Iguodala got on the open market, what would someone pay him?”, because if they had, it would be blatantly obvious that he wouldn’t command max money.
Ironically, one of our favorite GM whipping boys, Paxson, was really one of the first GMs (at least with a high profile case) to challenge this conventional wisdom and look at Luol Deng and Ben Gordon, and say that it’s ridiculous that those guys want to be paid like Wade and LBJ. While they were the Bulls best players, no team with any kind of limited budget (every team outside of us, NY, or Dallas, basically) is going to be able to win a title with one of those guys getting paid max money.
GMs just really need to bite the bullet with these guys, and realize that unless they’re one of the 8-12 guys in the league that could realistically carry their team to a title some day (yes, I think there are that few, and yes, I think Roy is one of them), they’re better off risking letting these guys go and hoping to hit it big in the draft than giving these guys a max contract and mortgaging their future for 7 years of mediocrity. Chances are, the guys won’t find better deals elsewhere (ask Ben Gordon how that’s going for him), and you can keep them anyways.
I agree completely
Under point #2, I think it might ironically be helpful to us that this financial crisis is hitting the NBA salary system at the same time we have to re-up our young stars. Even a few years ago, the ‘worth on the open market’ had the possibility (not the guarantee) to be that lucrative contract that kept players from resigning for reasonable sums [see Exhibit A: Rashard Lewis].
In this market, players cannot reasonably expect to get paid huge on the open market. If we can lock people down at reasonable levels (I’m thinking specifically of LA – I do expect that Roy deserves and will get a max contract), it’ll let us be financially flexible enough to retool as necessary to get over the top.
by samuelleejackson on Apr 6, 2009 1:19 PM PDT up reply actions
This would be a team rolling the dice
The nba set up the salery structure so teams could offer 20% more money to players and keep there own, if a team like Portland or actually any other club has a borderline star player and does not feel he is worth the initial max offer I would argue you could lose a player that you could not replace. A prime example is Brrand from the clippers and a lesser extent B. Davis from the warriors. There are alot of teams setting themseves up for the summer of 2010 there will be money to pay players max deals, The knicks would offer LA a max deal in a heartbeat if LBJ re-signs with the cavs.
I agree with the hard line approach but,,,,,,,,,
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."
It's a completely different situation
Guys coming off their rookie deals have almost no leverage, whatsoever. Very few teams will sign an RFA to an offer sheet because it ties up their cap for two weeks while his team can choose to match and completely takes them out of the running for other FAs. Guys like Brand and Baron are UFAs, so the rule’s are a little different, and besides, given their production this season, you could argue that the Warriors and Clips dodged a huge bullet by not having to have those guys on the books for the rest of their ridiculous deals.
What should have been going through Mullin and Dunleavy’s heads was. “Are we going to win a title with our team and Baron/Elton?”, and any rational person would have to answer no to that, so what’s the point of them shelling out $140 million between them to re-sign them? Isn’t it better to just let them go, maintain cap flexibility, and bite the bullet for a little bit and hope for a draft miracle?
Rashard Lewis is by far the exception, and not the rule
The sooner players get this in their heads, the sooner salaries will become realistic. That was basically the result of Otis Smith getting played by his Lewis’s agent. The only possible reason to max him out in that S&T was if Presti would realistically have paid Rashard anything near what he would have gotten just to stay in Seattle, because he had nowhere else to go. Given that Presti was in the middle of slashing salary like made, there’s no way this was the case, and so instead of just signing Rashard to a $100 million deal, Smith gave him and extra $20 million AND gave Seattle a #1, as I recall.
One of the all-time NBA swindles.
Regarding Rahard Lewis...
I think we can all recognize that the Sonics new ownership group (read: thieves) didn’t offer him a reasonable contract because they were trying to sabotage the team so they could move after that next season, which they ultimately did.
If Seattle had had a banner year with Rashard Lewis in 07-08, there would have been absolutely no way that they could have uprooted the team to OKC without a HUGE windfall.
Just sayin, that’s my opinion, take it or leave it :-)
Blazers win!
Check out my post
He ranks as th 94th most overpaid player (of players in the top 100 for PER)
Rank Player EWA Salary Cost Per Win Added
94 Rashard Lewis, ORL 7.4 $17,238,000.00 $2,329,459.46
http://www.blazersedge.com/2009/4/6/825030/salary-vs-per
I hope I can get a bunch of championships, like 15. " - Greg Oden
PER doesn't accurately account for on-ball defense, while your list doesn't ...
factor in the long-term ramifications of some contracts — which is why Lewis’ deal could hamstring the Magic a few years down the line — still, you deserve kudos for the massive amount of effort you must’ve put into creating that measurement.
Well the hardest part was looking up all the salaries, the rest is just excel calculations.
And yes I would like to factor in more factors, defense is hard to measure though, I thought about a +/- statistic but then what do you do with people who have a negative plus minus. Please post any ideas in that thread. I would love to build it out more.
I think It is interesting to see how much players are paid for PER and Wins added and would love to build it out more. As I said in the post it will be a useful metric to hang onto during the summer when contracts are up and stuff.
I hope I can get a bunch of championships, like 15. " - Greg Oden
See, Rashard's situation was exactly the type of situation I'm talking about
Yes, he was the best player on the Sonics, but there’s no way that he was ever going to contribute on Dirk/Duncan/Lebron level, but that’s the kind of money he was asking for, simply because he happened to be the best player on a bad team.
Lewis wasn’t going to win the Sonics a title, so why should they pay him $17 million a year? Aren’t their long term prospects as a franchise a lot better now than if they had committed a third of their cap for the next 6 years to Rashard? Now they have a bunch of great draft picks, all kinds of cap room, and a couple young stars, far better than a couple mediocre picks, no cap room, but with Rashard instead.
I have to ask
If Im reading this right you dont think LA or Oden are max guys and we should let them explore fa.
We would lose them if for no other reason they would sign elsewhere outta spite.
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."
Whether Oden is a max player
remains to be seen, IMO. Without passing judgment on whether LA is or is not a max player, it would really, really help the organization if he signed for less than the max. My argument is that in this economy, he can sign for less than the max without feeling ‘slighted’ into going somewhere else – it’s likely that lots of very good players will be taking pay cuts.
by samuelleejackson on Apr 6, 2009 1:22 PM PDT up reply actions
To respond to myself, LA will be a restricted free agent – we’d have the chance to match any offer by another team. In this market, I doubt we’d have to match a max contract offer – I don’t think other teams will be looking to give LA one.
by samuelleejackson on Apr 6, 2009 1:24 PM PDT up reply actions
I completely agree that we should re-sign LA/Oden for pretty much whatever we have to
my point is that, unless you have one of “those” guys in the Lebron/Wade/Roy/K*be/Howard/Duncan level, there’s no real point in paying max dollars to keep your team together, which is what a lot of teams get caught up in. For example, Gasol’s contract in Memphis is a pointless drain on dollars since he’s not leading a team to a title, but his contract in LA is a fair allocation of resources since they already have they know they can compete for a title because they’re pairing him with K*be. I put LA and Oden in the same category.
The point that I was trying to make is, Memphis should know that they’re not going to win anything with Gasol as their only star, so what’s the point of paying top dollar to retain him. Unless you catch lightning in a bottle in the draft (which will be apparent by the time rookie contracts are up), there’s simply no point to hamstringing your future around one or two borderline all star type guys.
And still Paxson arguably overpaid for Hinrich and Deng when they threatened to hold out (without really having adequate offers)
Thus now all his problems re-signing Ben Gordon for what Gordon thinks he is worth.
I think Hinrich is less overpaid
than most people here, especially given his front loaded deal, but he had the right idea to begin with, just didn’t have quite the cojones to stick to his guns a little more on Deng.
Plus, I don’t really mind Deng’s deal too much now that they have Rose (I can’t remember whether he signed before or after the draft), who looks like he could be one of those guys you can win a title around while Deng could be a good complementary piece in the Gasol mold. Personally, I think Iggy’s contract is significantly more heinous than Deng’s, at least as far as both teams are constructed now.
And Hinrich held out until hours before the season started in the year they extended him
He looks harmless, but he isn’t :)
I don't mean to say that he isn't overpaid at all
just that it’s not the affront to the salary gods that some people see to think it is. Hinrich is about 95% of the offensive player that Blake is (if not more), while being three times the defensive player. Maybe a realistic salary for him would be in the $7 million range, so it’s not exactly a huge stretch for him to get paid what he is now. I’d certainly rate every Tim Thomas contract as much worse, and it’s nowhere near Dunleavy/Murphy territory.
I have no problems with guys trying tactics to negotiate higher salaries, just as long as they’re realistic about their worth.
Over the final three years of his contract, I'd contend that Kirk Hinrich will ...
earn a fair amount for his contributions on the court — particularly with regards to defense — even though I’m sure most people will disagree with me. Hinrich and Steve Blake are, for all intents and purposes, equals on offense — as you mentioned in your post, Royster — while it’s Hinrich’s immense superiority on defense over Blake that makes all the difference in the world.
Anyone every looked at a salary vs PER sort of stat???
That would be pretty cool, and you know B-Roy would top the list.
I hope I can get a bunch of championships, like 15. " - Greg Oden
Third year players would dominate the list
It’s enough time to get good, but you haven’t gotten your new contract yet.
Yup
That is what it looks like, still is interesting to see though.
I made it a fanpost.
http://www.blazersedge.com/2009/4/6/825030/salary-vs-per
I hope I can get a bunch of championships, like 15. " - Greg Oden
I wouldn't
Worry about LMA and ODEN going anywhere,
You have to remember Paul Allen loves his blazers. I don’t think LMA will be a max contract player and I think he likes playing in portland, him becoming better friends with Roy is a big factor here too.
I also can’t imagine Oden wanting to go to a bigger media market.
But in the end I see us ponying up if we think that is what it will take to keep those two.
B-Roy on the other hand will no doubt get a huge deal.
I hope I can get a bunch of championships, like 15. " - Greg Oden
Roy and LA will most likely not demand max money
I think they realize that their best advantage is to remain a core with Oden as the C, and that means that the money they don’t take can be pooled to get that one missing piece to create the PDX Dynasty that will rule the 2010 decade.
If LA truly looks up to Duncan like he says, he’ll follow suit. Duncan turned down a max contract he rightly deserved, in order to get quality talent around him to continue their run at championships, which turned out to be a great move for S.A.
Blazers win!
Right, there's also this roundabout solution.
If you don’t take max contract for the purposes of getting a good team, you have a better shot at winning titles.
Titles = endorsements, even if you do live in a “small market.”
Endorsements are worth way more than salary for a lot of athletes out there.
Noway
I think if Portland gets bounced early they come out extremely motivated next season. We are just to loaded with quality players that havent scratched the surface of there potential.
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."
It's definitely reasonable to think this team will make "the leap" next year
Especially if Oden is molded into the player we expect.
Though I don’t think it’ll matter what happens in the playoffs. If they’re out early, they’ll be hungry next year. If they get to the second or third round, they’ll have a taste of success and want more.
I think they’ll be energized no matter what in the fall. And they’ll probably not start their preseason so early either, since they don’t need the bonding time anymore. Combined with no more rookie walls, hopefully they will be less worn-out by the end of next season.
Oden
Still has so much time to develop, I think it is crazy how quick people are to write him off. He needs some time away from the media and the summer off i think will be huge for him. I expect him to have a huge year next year. He is in a position that almost no rookies are put in (taking a rookie season off because of a huge injury)
I hope I can get a bunch of championships, like 15. " - Greg Oden
A summer off will probably do wonders for Greg, you're right.
He’ll get some peace and quiet. He’ll get time to heal up the nagging injuries. The microfracture knee will continue to improve. And he’ll get some time to reflect on the season, look at footage, and get on the court to practice… well, everything.
I’m very curious about how he’ll play in the fall. He could look like a different player, and he already looks good (but inconsistent) now.
not to mention
his atheleticism will come back.. man oh man
Other than death and taxes, only 4 things in this world are indisputable:
Brandon Roy is the BEST player in the NBA in the clutch.
Montana to Rice were the greatest to ever play the game.
The Four Horsemen of Maddux, Smoltz, Glavine and Avery were unstoppable.
No one protects the pipes like Luongo.
by GreatOden'sRaven on Apr 6, 2009 11:52 AM PDT up reply actions
Yup
You have to really put things in perspective sometimes. The things that he is sturggling with now are the same things we expected him to struggle with. Maybe a little more than we wanted but still nothing is unexpected so far.
People need to remember how hard it is to come back from that kind of injury and adjust to an NBA season (80+ games compared to 30+ in college) Plus the players are a lot better and bigger in the NBA.
I still feel he gets a raw deal with a lot of calls (like the touch fouls, not sure why he is being penalized for things that every other player would get away with, not saying they arent fouls but just saying they never call the game that way)
I hope I can get a bunch of championships, like 15. " - Greg Oden
A lot of the stuff he needs to work on are mental.
1. Touch fouls and when to give up on a play
2. Positioning on offense and defense
3. Go to move (for him a jump hook that falls consistently)
4. Competition (he needs to watch A LOT of film of his competitors)
...things go well I might be showing my O face...O...O...O...you know what I'm talking about.
Quite frankly
I feel disappointed about last night. I know I should be grateful, and celebratory, but I’m not. maybe thats wrong, but along the way i sorta felt SURE we were gonna make it, and it just became a reality to me. I am annoyed with the way the game went last night and I want home court. Blame me for not being appreciative, I am ok with that, but my standards have continued to rise as the season went along..
it could also be that it hasnt really dawned on me until the playoffs start and I can watch the Blazers on national TV and have no urge to play with Chad Fords Playoff Lottery Machine on ESPN.
Other than death and taxes, only 4 things in this world are indisputable:
Brandon Roy is the BEST player in the NBA in the clutch.
Montana to Rice were the greatest to ever play the game.
The Four Horsemen of Maddux, Smoltz, Glavine and Avery were unstoppable.
No one protects the pipes like Luongo.
by GreatOden'sRaven on Apr 6, 2009 11:01 AM PDT reply actions
The Blazers are what they are
If you read some of Quick’s stuff on KP’s and Coach McMillan’s reactions today those “fantastic” and “amazing” descriptors come not because making the playoffs in itself is a huge thing but because this team isn’t supposed to be doing even this yet. For this team making the playoffs in the West this year is a big deal. Anything that happens after this, including a higher seed, is gravy. Last night’s loss wasn’t meat and potatoes. It was gravy seepage.
Up to and including the point when we win a championship our desire for this team will always be “x+1”. If we won a first round series but lost in the second round we’d be wondering why we couldn’t make the Conference Finals. If we made it to the Conference Finals we’d be wondering about the NBA Finals. If we made that we’d be asking what Cleveland has that we don’t. If we won it all we’d want one next year too. That’s the nature of the beast. Right now, though, for this time and place “x” is plenty good even without the “+1”.
—Dave
I agree with you
and I know thats HOW I should be feeling, but my hopes have just risen so high that I EXPECT the playoffs from them. Roy and LMA are THAT good. Batum has been a breath of fresh air from a dreaded position, Joel has really stepped up this year, and I see glipses of WOW all around Oden. I feel like they are a top 10 team in the league.. so i know that I should feel appreciative, I almost feel like the season isnt done until we get homecourt advantage.
call it getting ahead of myself, but there is nothing wrong with wanting to achieve.
also when KP and McMillan say that the team ISNT supposed to be doing this yet, I dont think either of them really expected Roy and LMA to progress as quickly as they have this year.
Other than death and taxes, only 4 things in this world are indisputable:
Brandon Roy is the BEST player in the NBA in the clutch.
Montana to Rice were the greatest to ever play the game.
The Four Horsemen of Maddux, Smoltz, Glavine and Avery were unstoppable.
No one protects the pipes like Luongo.
by GreatOden'sRaven on Apr 6, 2009 11:19 AM PDT up reply actions
I was disappointed after last night's loss, like I am after every loss, but today's a new day
and we are in the playoffs, baby! None of the stat-geeks here (and I mean that with respect) thought we would win either of the Texas games. We didn’t get embarrassed in Houston, but we certainly were out-worked. It doesn’t matter—like Dave and others have said, its all gravy, and its all good.
Remember, despite the recent 4-game, 20-point blowout-fest, we may not get out of the first round. We will learn tons from all the playoff games: it seems to me like all the great teams have to work their way deeper into the playoffs over successive seasons before achieving the big prize.
Go Blazers!
It's spelled "PRZYBILLA."
vanillathrillagorillaprzybilla
by RenoBlazerFan on Apr 6, 2009 11:25 AM PDT up reply actions
I know, but I think we can win a series
I REALLY do. Depending if we get at least that 4 seed
Other than death and taxes, only 4 things in this world are indisputable:
Brandon Roy is the BEST player in the NBA in the clutch.
Montana to Rice were the greatest to ever play the game.
The Four Horsemen of Maddux, Smoltz, Glavine and Avery were unstoppable.
No one protects the pipes like Luongo.
by GreatOden'sRaven on Apr 6, 2009 11:31 AM PDT up reply actions
Portland can absolutely win a series
If the stars align just right, they could even win two.
I’m not getting my hopes up, but the possibility definitely exists. The season (for both for the Blazers and the Western Conference) is unfolding in a similar way to 1990 and 1999. Portland is playing well and starting to gel, a number of high-profile teams in the West are struggling unexpectedly, seeding may still work to our advantage…
How true. Actually, it could be said we are x+1 just for not squeaking in as the bottom seed.
This is really nice to be contending for home court. I just really want, and expect, our guys to fight hard, never give up, and make a real battle for each playoff series. Keep our home court dominance, and maybe get one one the road. It is good to feel that even if the odds are against us, we do have the capability to beat the odds. Have to tune in, you just don’t know. That is good.
It feels great to be in the playoffs!
I woke up with this overall good feeling and ya never know what can happen in the playoffs! That’s what’s so exciting about it.
So proud of this team and coach, and KP, thanks again for putting this team together the right way.
Rip City baby!
Back in the playoffs.
What a great time to be a blazer fan. It’s spring, the sun is out and the blazers are in the thick of things!! Looking ahead, I think the blazers can again surpass expectations in the playoffs. They can beat anyone and if they are taken lightly they will win. I think they are so close to opening the “championship window”. In fact, when Greg Oden can play 30+ minutes per game, Portland will be nasty. All he needs is time on the floor. You can see his impact in is limited minutes. It’s huge. He will provide offensive rebounding and eat up space on D. When he’s able to get those minutes and Joel steps in to combine his skills with Greg’s, the blazers will wear teams out. Lamarcus Aldridge has exploded and has ascended to a new level. He’s taking pressure off of Roy in a big way now. This tandem could be a force in THIS year’s playoffs. Fun times!
of course there won't be champagne in the locker room Quick
half our team can’t legally drink! Haha
I don't think the cops are going to be there to bust them
What, the fuzz gonna be lyin’ in wait in the shower stalls waiting for Nic and Jerryd to pop a cork? Not likely
Blazers win!
And hard on the heals of the Blazers' latest accomplishment...
comes news of Zach being arrested for suspicion of DUI. I’m not taking pleasure at his expense, but aren’t you happy that this type of story is no longer in the Oregon news?
"You are never (fanatically) dedicated to something you have complete confidence in." Robert Pirsig
Part of me is joyful, part of me is proud, part of me is anticipatory, and part of me is pretty business-like this morning. I think they all have their place.
I’m not ecstatic. I thought all season long that they should be somewhere in the playoffs, and the way I arrived at that was to look at their roster and the rosters of their competitors.
This is a solid group and it will go far even if it stays intact. But with KP and Mac at the controls, it’s probably not going to stay intact. – Elgin
Blazers win BDL 2 on 2 tournament!
Skeets: i’ll close it down now … congrats. you bastards
yep
right there with ya
Other than death and taxes, only 4 things in this world are indisputable:
Brandon Roy is the BEST player in the NBA in the clutch.
Montana to Rice were the greatest to ever play the game.
The Four Horsemen of Maddux, Smoltz, Glavine and Avery were unstoppable.
No one protects the pipes like Luongo.
by GreatOden'sRaven on Apr 6, 2009 11:52 AM PDT up reply actions
Someone should post a picture of Roy without the beard so I can rec it.
Everclear is the worse band of all time.
BTW he isn't shaving it until he gets back to Portland
At least, that’s what he told Quick yesterday.
I understand why. Sensitive skin, ouch.
nothing about B-Roy is sensitive
other than his floater in the lane
MAN UP ROY! :)
Other than death and taxes, only 4 things in this world are indisputable:
Brandon Roy is the BEST player in the NBA in the clutch.
Montana to Rice were the greatest to ever play the game.
The Four Horsemen of Maddux, Smoltz, Glavine and Avery were unstoppable.
No one protects the pipes like Luongo.
by GreatOden'sRaven on Apr 6, 2009 2:33 PM PDT up reply actions
Borrow Blake's clippers?
Or go out and buy a pair… we lost to Houston because Roy/Blake/Sergio didn’t shave their beards the moment we clinched!
and plenty of horseradish
Blazers win BDL 2 on 2 tournament!
Skeets: i’ll close it down now … congrats. you bastards
and bleu cheese dressing on the salad.
Blazers win BDL 2 on 2 tournament!
Skeets: i’ll close it down now … congrats. you bastards
I'm pretty stoked
I think we all can agree that the Blazers have to fight for home court advantage. If they realize a few game out that they can’t gain home court, does Nate rest the starters?
How about SCENARIO, Bill?
Not with our young team
They need to get used to 82 games anyways (even though our starters (the ones who play heavy minutes (read: not Batum)) are already used to it).
http://saboner.mybrute.com
no sir..
Other than death and taxes, only 4 things in this world are indisputable:
Brandon Roy is the BEST player in the NBA in the clutch.
Montana to Rice were the greatest to ever play the game.
The Four Horsemen of Maddux, Smoltz, Glavine and Avery were unstoppable.
No one protects the pipes like Luongo.
by GreatOden'sRaven on Apr 6, 2009 5:35 PM PDT up reply actions
Blazers + Playoffs = Goodness!
As a fan who’s entire memory was of the Blazers in the playoffs until the last few seasons, it’s nice to know we’re getting back to business.
For a team to start rebuilding from scratch and achieving success by making the post-season after 3 years (going by the time of acquisition of Roy and LA as a starting point) is almost unheard of, with last year’s Celtics being one of the few exceptions.
Let’s have a great time ruling the decade of 2010-2019!
Blazers win!
Beat the damned Spurs on Wednesday.
Then kick their ass in the playoffs.
Then get lucky.
It’s not that hard.
Pontiff of the Pryz for Prez Posse...
That'd be pretty risky
I think Pop knows that a win there all but clinches home court. It’d make more sense to rest them against any team other than Portland.
Blazers could actually win the West.
There is no real dominant team right now. Lakers have the best record but they don’t overpower us. It all depends on who gets hot. Blazers have a lot of upside potential, since they haven’t really played up to what they could be yet. Imagine if Rudy got hot and Oden stepped up. It’s possible with refs letting guys play that Oden could stick around a lot longer. If Rudy could just average 15 points a game it would make the Blazers very, very tough to beat. And if Oden became the solid starter we know he can be, this team can beat the Lakers…and even give Boston or Cleveland a tough time in the finals. It’s a big advantage to sneak up on people, especially when you’re so young. If I was Nate I’d tell Rudy to quit thinking so much and just shoot. When there is no obvious dominant team, it’s a good time to make your own luck and go for the brass ring. This is already a great year – what have we got to lose? Play loose and go for it and things just might fall into place earlier than any of us ever dared imagine.
Keep your eye on Rudy. If he catches fire, this could be our year.
"Civilization is the arteriosclerosis of culture."
by Cheese23 on Apr 6, 2009 9:30 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs
Well put Dave
and Cheese just now.
Gotta agree that it’s high-time we got back to where we belong – vying in the playoff tussle. Being a Blazer fan for most of those winning seasons could of spoiled us (cough*L@ker fanboi*cough) but most of us truly appreciated what we had. That appreciation for a team is what fosters the fandom we’ve cultivated here.
And if we were a little spoiled, or at least got used to it, a 6 year hiatus from the post-season party is enough to make you really appreciate a hunger for when you feasted.
Tis that time once again.
We won our first championship in our playoff debut, why not go and get our second in our return?
UPRISE!
Rudy
is really frustrating to watch at times. He has great games and then he has 2-3 games where he bricks every shot, if his back is still messed up I would like to see the team rest him up for the playoffs.
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."
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