Rest Aldridge
by JasonT on Apr 7, 2011 2:58 PM PDT
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PrintI know this will be unpopular, but the Blazers should rest Aldridge the final 4 games.
The Blazers have no control over whether they get the Mavs. Right now the Mavs are couple of games from the #2 spot, and one game away from falling to #4 spot. So the Blazers could win the next 4 games and end up playing the Thunder or Lakers - the two worst match ups for us. However, the Blazers do have control over Aldridge's rest. And getting the January/February version of Aldridge gives us the best chance of advancing. Aldridge has already said he is worn out. Why not give him maybe 10-12 minutes a game until the playoffs start and see if we can get him refreshed to play whoever we get in the first round?
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LA can help earn the "rest" carrot
by helping blow out each of our opponents to close the season.
That goes for everyone.
This will make us razor sharp pouncing on opponents going into the playoffs (vs potential rust if he/they just sat out).
Tie down the furniture kids, it's time for another ride down Ulcer Gulch!
by DMKPDX on Apr 7, 2011 3:03 PM PDT via mobile reply actions
Did you stop making YouTube videos?
I liked the instrumentals
by Oden Mad, Oden Smash! on Apr 7, 2011 3:22 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
There won't be any rest for anyone if we make a push for the 6 seed
In that scenario we would likely need to win every game, including our final game, at all costs to avoid the Lakers (who I do think will end up in the #2 slot). If Nate wanted to pull a Popovich and rest all of our vets for the final four games, and a side effect of that was that we slid down to the #8 spot and a matchup with the Spurs, I would have no problem with that.
The OP correctly points out that even if we win out, we still need NO to lose to get the #6 seed. So there’s a chance we could ride our guys hard, go 4-0 down the stretch, be burned out going into the playoffs, and still be rewarded for our efforts with a first round matchup against the Lakers. Of course there’s a chance that we can go hard, finish 3-1 or 4-0 (probably would require us to go 4-0 since I don’t think NO is itchin for the Lakers either and they have the inside track), leapfrog NO, and end up with the #6 seed and the Mavs. I’m not sure it’s worth the risk to be honest…not if the alternative is a completely well-rested Blazer team and a matchup with the Spurs, who do not overwhelm me and who I think we can be very competitive with.
"If I had a dime for every basket I made today, you'd still suck!" - from the book 'John Dies @ the End'
NO has a tough remaining 4 games
Chances are very high that they will lose at least one of them.
Resting all our starters the last four games would pretty much ensure the Blazers get the Spurs, though, you’re right, and I think they match up better there than any of the other options.
I'm not on the tank train quite yet
but I think if we lose tonight and NO wins then we almost have to. Hornets have the Suns at home, @ Memphis, vs. Utah, and @ Dallas…so you’re right that they probably won’t run the table, which gives us the opportunity to grab the 6 seed if we handle our business
"If I had a dime for every basket I made today, you'd still suck!" - from the book 'John Dies @ the End'
We need Aldridge in these last few games to avoid playing LA in the first round.
A well-rested Lamarcus vs LA will delay the inevitable by maayybe a game
Might as well get the L*kers first
Look, what’s the goal here?
Is it the second round? In that case, by all means, the Spurs or Mavericks are our best draw.
Is it a championship? If so, I want the L*kers as soon as possible. Why wait until they get their playoff act together, might as well jump on them right away. If we can climb that mountain, I’d rather the Blazers draw a Memphis/OKC/Dallas in the second round and the Spurs/NO/Denver/OKC in the WCF.
by baduk on Apr 7, 2011 4:21 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs
Now you'r talkin'!
Enough of theis namby pamby BS about who we get in the first round.
BRING ON THE CHAMPS!
So we can make ’em look like chumps!
or BUST
\\oo///
<
\__/
Getting to the second round matters
"If I had a dime for every basket I made today, you'd still suck!" - from the book 'John Dies @ the End'
Good arguments either way.
Spurs would be a welcomed matchup if we were to rest everyone but what might be the mental side-effects of taking that much time off coupled with the losing? Maybe just that first game back?
I like to look at cake while I’m eating it so I’d still rather see us come out each game and overwhelm teams, rest starters, let Roy get his flow on (w/o Too many mins), and still control the wheel of our destiny with the goal of 6th and the Mavs.
Yeah, stopped doing those vids but if the Blazers try and execute my plan (gotta make shots) then I’ll immortalize those efforts along with our 1st round advancement!
Tie down the furniture kids, it's time for another ride down Ulcer Gulch!
by DMKPDX on Apr 7, 2011 4:24 PM PDT via mobile reply actions
I agree
regardless of matchup, rest Aldridge. Just play him 25 instead of 40.
But it will never happen. Its against Nate’s philosophy. Plus we run the risk of getting blown out with Aldridge resting… not sure if that’s good for team confidence.
I don't think that LMA should be rested for the next 3/4 games just
the last one vs. Golden State. His minutes should be limited as much as possible which really isn’t much since Camby is out again. Man how hard is it to keep our Centers fit when we need him anyways?
unless you think we're making a deep playoff run.
there will be plenty of time to rest aldridge once the playoffs are over.
i think at this point, nate just needs to put the pedal to the metal only resting his guys in the event of a blowout.
we’ll just have to hope that aldridge can find another gear once the playoffs start. there is plenty of time to rest between games, so nobody should wear down until after the first round.
if aldridge starts breaking down in the western conference finals due to fatigue, folks on bedge can start a “fire nate” campaign. :)
riding our horses hard is the only option
Granted, our team’s fate is not in its hands, and we need help with a loss by the Hornets to stay in the 6th spot
However, it is not likely the Hornets will win all their remaining games
LMA will get more rest once the playoffs begin. There will be no back-to-backs, and the rest between games is more than it is in the regular season.
As Nate has said, there will be plenty of rest once the playoffs are over. If we get a bad matchup (anyone other than the MAVS) it is likely that summer vacation for our team will begin the first part of May.
Our team has put itself in a hole by losing very winnable games throughout the season. From here on out, every game is a playoff game. Gotta go all out!
Win the day!
Coffee is for Closers!
Always Be Closing!
LMA and Miller both
looked completely gassed in the last 5 minutes of the Utah game. Wesley still seems to be limping on that injured ankle. We are not going to beat anyone (included GoldenState) playing like we played those last 5 minutes.
Although I can’t imagine Nate doing it, I think the smart thing to do is to rest LMA, Andre, and Wesley and Camby as much as possible. If it comes down to us or Memphis in the #8 spot we might find ourselves in a battle with Memphis to stay out of the #7 spot.
I'd agree with you, but then we'd both be wrong.
42 minutes against a crappy Utah team was way too much
LA’s play goes WAY down when he gets tired. 32-35 minutes these last few games – or less. I would rather do the playoffs with a rested LA then a gassed, weak LA.
by LicketyBrindleDowntheMiddle on Apr 8, 2011 11:58 AM PDT reply actions
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