Game 80 Preview: Lakers vs. Trail Blazers
by Dave on Apr 8, 2011 12:58 AM PDT
in News
Email
PrintGame Time 7:00 p.m. TV: KGW
This ought to be an interesting game.
On the one hand the Lakers are 55-23, second in the conference, one of the elite teams in the league. On the other hand they've just lost three straight: Denver, Golden State, Utah. Or maybe those are both the same hand, providing reason for L.A. to want to win tonight. Playoff positioning could be another reason, though frankly I suspect that with the #1 seed now out of reach L.A. doesn't particularly care about their first-round opponent. Home court in the second round is still up for grabs, though. Besides, nobody wants to head to the playoffs with the specter of a four-game losing streak in recent memory. Most importantly of all, the Lakers know that there's a chance these same Trail Blazers could be their first-round opponents. They won't want to leave a doubt in anybody's mind as to how that matchup would resolve. That alone would make this game worth winning for L.A.
The Blazers, of course, are fighting to hold onto the 6th seed and not get dumped into 7th, likely against these same Lakers should L.A. tally the win tonight. No matter what Portland fans would like to claim about their team's successful history against the Lakers two truths stand out starkly: that success extends neither to road games nor the playoffs. There are reasons for wistful hope in a playoff series versus the Thunder, Mavericks, or even the Spurs. Little exists against L.A. for the guys in red and black. The Blazers need this game.
The Lakers are one of the few teams in the league that remains unafraid of Portland's length. They've got some of their own with Bryant, Odom, Gasol, Artest, and Bynum. Plus there's plenty of size in that group. Physically this is a touch matchup for the Blazers. Portland's main advantage is agility among the wings. But Portland's most agile and quick smalls are also among Portland's most inconsistent smalls. Nicolas Batum has been on a great run lately and could be a potent weapon. But depending on Wesley Matthews and Rudy Fernandez is not a recipe for happiness...or at least not happiness of the stable variety. Neither Andre Miller nor Brandon Roy are speed demons. At times Roy isn't even functional. That narrows the advantage. Pau Gasol and LaMarcus Aldridge is a good matchup, one which either player could take advantage of. Lamar Odom, Ron Artest and Andrew Bynum may actually be the scariest Lakers to face, Odom because of his tenacity, Artest because of his size and defense, Bynum because of his height and strong rebounding ability. Any one of them could punch a hole in Portland's dam that the Blazers will have a hard time recovering from. In other words, Portland has plenty of reasons to worry even without invoking Kobe Bryant's name.
Oh, and Derek Fisher has been a Blazer Killer too.
And you have to watch Matt Barnes on the break.
And watch out for the Revenge of Steve Blake!
Why, then, do the Blazers tend to win in Portland and play close even when they do lose? Hustle, energy, and a refusal to be intimidated. Somehow, some way, when the Blazers play this team everybody turns into Gerald Wallace. The rebounds, alley-oops, jump shots, threes, steals and break-outs...all of them magically appear. Portland can't do much about Bryant when he gets on a roll but the Blazers tend to break in waves around him, letting him shoot up whatever he wants and then scoring 4 for every 3 he puts on the board. If the Blazers could bottle those home efforts and unleash them on every team we'd be talking about a high seed in the playoffs instead of fighting to stay off the basement stairs. There's just something magical about going toe to toe with the guys in purple and gold that brings out something special in this team. The Blazers need every bit of their "A" game to succeed against these guys and they often get it.
Portland will have to conjure up that magic tonight. They're coming off of a road game while L.A. is rested. The Lakers should be loaded for bear. Portland will need a strong Aldridge attack backed up by good shooting from the perimeter guys when L.A. doubles. They'll need to poke away steals and run. They'll have to fight like demons on the boards. Assuming Marcus Camby plays the high-low game could be key, bringing Bynum out of the lane and making Gasol chase on defense. Brandon Roy is often a key in Portland victories over L.A. but again the shooting of Matthews and Fernandez could be just as important. Points galore from Wallace and Batum wouldn't hurt. Andre Miller occasionally finding success on the drive or post-up wouldn't hurt. In short, it's everything and the kitchen sink tonight. Every shred of goodness this team has evidenced in the last month brought together in one game...that's the expectation. This is Portland's playoffs started early and they will need to play like it.
KEYS:
1. Count the loose balls, count the rebounds, count the free throws. All will be indicative of how aggressively the Blazers are attacking on the floor. If either team gains a significant advantage the other is unlikely to overcome the difference with shooting alone.
2. Run on this team every chance you get. They want to make this game nice and fair, their strength against yours. Don't be fair. Hit them before they're ready. Make those big, older guys run up and down the floor!
3. If the Blazers can do any kind of credible job defending the paint they have a chance. L.A. doesn't shine as brightly when shooting deep and they don't run in non-obvious situations. Keep them out of the key and they will have to manufacture points. That doesn't always work for them. (They've not exceeded 90 points in any of their last three losses.)
4. Point #3 assumes you don't just let them grab the rebound when they miss. They're a really, really good offensive rebounding team. This may be the Blazers' biggest vulnerability tonight.
Silver Screen and Roll will talk a little more about the Lakers.
Game form for tonight's Jersey Contest.
--Dave (blazersub@yahoo.com)
127 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
It is handy to have a simple reference for what we hope for from our players:
Play like Gerald Wallace.
Jordan's not a bad guy.. he gave us Gerald Wallace.
Your preview was very good!!! The only thing I wonder about is this...
and a refusal to be intimidated.
It seemed the Blazers have been a bit “intimidated” or whatever you call it when it comes to closing out the Lakers at the end of the game…The Blazers allowed the Lakers to come from behind twice in a row…and to me this seems to be because they allowed themselves to be intimidated at the end of the game. (aside from GW that is)
I hope we have lots of fuel left in our tanks.
At least we don’t have to beat them to stay in the play-offs. Staying in 6Th would be great, but just being in the play-offs after our season is terrific.
I am like everybody else, Dallas is the team to play, but they might end up in fourth so we don’t know if that is even important.
We are the underdogs, whoever we play and we do better as underdogs. Nobody is supposed to come out of the lower seats, so let just do that regardless of where we end up.
hg
Gerald Wallace says "hi"
the only problem is, who’s guarding Ron-Ron if Crash is on LO?
that, and all the switches
When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
why do the Blazers switch so much?
I read on BE…that Roy calls for switches frequently. But what about when he is not in the game?
Do the Blazers just not switch BACK quickly enough?
Chances are ron ron will be guarding himself
No one in the world can beat me at RBI baseball 3(nes).
haha
that’s exactly what I was going to write! Great minds think alike. So do ours :-)
I have Comcast. I know that makes you hate me. I'm sorry. If it's any consolation, my neighborhood may get Comcast but we've got someone who plays the tuba. A lot.
maybe it's just me - but the Blazers feel very small against the Lakers
Crash helps, though – and Batum needs to play big.
Mostly, the Blazers can’t have an off night from distance and expect to win this game – neither can they have an off night on the defensive boards.
Law of Logical Argument
Anything is possible if you don't know what you are talking about.
wow..that is criminal. Wonder if they would get away with this now?
Especially with what came out due to Donaghy ‘s allegations. It seems as though the NBA has become just a little bit more “careful” about this kind of crap. I didn’t follow the game in 2002 but man if I had..I may have stopped at that point.
Did anything ever come of this? That foul on Bibby was FLAGRANT.
thanks for posting this
bill walton was the first guy to come out and challenge the officials during broadcasts. much respect to bill walton, steve jones no respect (jobber).
bill simmons wrote a number of interesting articles about this and other games that appeared to be fixed (including portland’s 2000 series against the lakers) around the time the donaghy stuff came out. funny how the league dismissed the situation immediately the next day as a rogue instance. you’d think they’d at least try to come across as taking it seriously. of course if this is a surprise to anyone you haven’t really been watching. once jordan’s popularity transcended the sport’s (among the fringe fans that wouldn’t watch the next series anyway if he wasn’t in it) this became rampant.
by heybabydrinkyourmilk on Apr 8, 2011 4:23 PM PDT up reply actions
"Run on this team every chance you get."
No, no, and once again no.
Why should Portland play against its strength of controlling the tempo by running? That doesn’t make sense at all.
In reality, Portland should slow the game down to a crawl. That way, it’ll limit the amount of overall possessions — which is a positive when playing against a superior opponent such as the Los Angeles Lakers, since it’ll hopefully keep the game tight — in addition, it should prevent dumb, sloppy turnovers from happening when bringing up the ball and, moreover, allow guys to get into position in the halfcourt sets, so as to score buckets within the offense’s methodical flow or hit the offensive glass hard off of missed shots for second-chance opportunities.
Concerning the Trail Blazers most recent loss against the Lakers, it had to do mostly with poor offensive efficiency — which ranged from missing easy two-pointers, clanking long-range bombs, and connecting on only 2/3rds of its free-throws attempts — as well as not forcing a bundle of turnovers like these guys have done so many times this season. For Portland, the only positive thing the guys did then that’s likely unsustainable was their tenacity on the defensive glass—especially with Andrew Bynum back in the mix. Oh well, the Trail Blazers will just have to force more turnovers this time around to compensate for the Lakers’ probable increase in offensive rebounds.
In essence, the recipe for success is to swing that ball around the perimeter in the halfcourt and work the high-low game inside and out for nice looks at the basket; that should boost the team’s offensive efficiency to a respectable level. Past that, though, it’s all about playing to the team’s strenghts — whether that’s controlling the tempo, hitting the offensive glass, or forcing turnovers — and, perhaps, hope for a li’l’ bit of home cooking regarding which team makes the most trips to the charity stripe.
"They say it has no memory. That’s where I want to live the rest of my life. A warm place with no memory."
Ummm just because we run on them doesn't mean we can't control tempo. If you run and get easy baskets, you get and defend.
You want easy baskets against the Lakers. Their half court defense is very good.
You are right. Their half court defense is great and our jump shooting is not.
I’m pretty sure I remember LaMarcus waiting for the double to come in the last game and it didn’t work out. They filled the paint and limited us to one missed jumper per possession. Two free throws are worth 1.6 points per possession to us and fast break buckets are probably somewhere close to that.
Even if we shoot a smoking 50% from our halfcourt offense, that’s only 1 point per possession.
You tend to favor Jeff Van Gundy/Mike Fratello crawl as a matter of basic basketball philosophy
and in this case I concur. There is method to your madness. Swing that ball around the perimeter and work the high-low game indeed. Play with poise and relentlessly out-“scrap” the team from L.A. Take easy buckets if they appear. Let’s generate a tough, smart rhythm and win.
ignacio
Agreed.
Slow it down and make them work to get every shot whether they make it or not.
Blazers fan since '91
REST IN PEACE MAURICE LUCAS 1952-2010 R.I.P #20
"We're family because of this stupid, stinkin' team." - Dave
by rise_stand_resist on Apr 8, 2011 7:33 AM PDT up reply actions
Ooops, doublepost x.x
Blazers fan since '91
REST IN PEACE MAURICE LUCAS 1952-2010 R.I.P #20
"We're family because of this stupid, stinkin' team." - Dave
by rise_stand_resist on Apr 8, 2011 7:33 AM PDT up reply actions
we can run when the opportunity presents itself
it doesn’t mean they get to run also
"If I had a dime for every basket I made today, you'd still suck!" - from the book 'John Dies @ the End'
This.
Every time we slow the game down and ugly it up we seem to play better.
Blazers fan since '91
REST IN PEACE MAURICE LUCAS 1952-2010 R.I.P #20
"We're family because of this stupid, stinkin' team." - Dave
by rise_stand_resist on Apr 8, 2011 7:33 AM PDT up reply actions
this
Lakers are better than us in the half court by far. Got to run when they let you.
Last night's game was an absurd anomaly, end of story.
Portland, by the way, will get crushed in the playoffs; that’s a guarantee by me.
Chicago, which plays the game “the right way,” will win the Larry O’Brien Trophy this year.
Y’all can take that to the bank, ’kay.
"They say it has no memory. That’s where I want to live the rest of my life. A warm place with no memory."
Blowing out the Lakers in the RG is not anomalous. We crushed them for a few years straight.
We usually do it just like we did last night — converting turnovers into fast break points and feeding off of the playoff energy.
so when we meet the lakers and are up 3-0 in the series
do we do a “sweep LA” chant
I'm not a fan of Mike Barrett
blazers record with wallace starting: 5-1
i don't hate the heat
Can I get a headband?
Columbus til I die, Columbus til I die. I know I am, I swear I am, Columbus til I die!
by Andrew Tolliver on Apr 8, 2011 6:54 AM PDT up reply actions
Camby ok?
OSU '06
GForce Crash Wallace FTW!
by TyboOSU on Apr 8, 2011 7:27 AM PDT via mobile reply actions
he sprained/strained something again so he'll be out for a little while.
how many games has he even played this season?
Treat people well because Karma can hit you at any second.
58 games
Me: "I heard the BCS just bought March Madness.......the vote should be out tomorrow and we will see Duke and Kansas in the championship game"
BEAT LA
Blazers fan since '91
REST IN PEACE MAURICE LUCAS 1952-2010 R.I.P #20
"We're family because of this stupid, stinkin' team." - Dave
by rise_stand_resist on Apr 8, 2011 7:32 AM PDT reply actions 3 recs
Clearly, LA is the better team. Just depends who
brings more fight.
Treat people well because Karma can hit you at any second.
the most annoying, unbearable aspect of home games against the L*kers
is that there are invariably thousands of L*ker fans in the arena. How do all those L*ker fans get seats? Are these nominal Blazer fans on any other night, who are secretly fans of the L*kers? Do L*ker fans buy up thousands of tickets somehow? Any way we can put a stop to this? It almost seems like a L*ker home game sometimes. Geez!
Win the day!
Coffee is for Closers!
Always Be Closing!
this is definately a factor
resale value and demand on Laker tickets is far and away much higher than any other team. The Blazers priced 3 home games in their top pricing tier this season – both Laker games and the Heat game. Even the Miami won didn’t seem to generate the action that both Laker game did.
Hard to turn down 2x to 3x STH cost on Laker games when you have to eat money on so many other games.
"I want to be traded to a contender" is almost always code-speak for "I'm a loser."
-Dave, 2/5/2010: http://www.blazersedge.com/2010/2/5/1297509/no-amore-for-amare
yeah, money has got to be a big part of it
I am guessing that home game tickets for the L*kers are probably hard to get, and hideously expensive, so many folks probably find they can hop a flight to PDX and snag some tickets here for about the same cost
Win the day!
Coffee is for Closers!
Always Be Closing!
it is probably a relief for S.Cal fans to come up here and have less risk of having their weekend spoiled
by mudslides, earthquakes, riots, wildfires, smog, and all the other facts of life in the LA area
Win the day!
Coffee is for Closers!
Always Be Closing!
by Blzr fan on Apr 8, 2011 8:17 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
The biggest problem
in considering going to a game here is how many gang bangers show up. These are not family friendly atmospheres! You actually risk not making it out alive and never never wear opposing team colors. The color thing seems to be of significant importance. The LA city council members have multi-million dollar personal slush funds they can use for community development. Well they spend a lot of money on tickets in disadvantaged neighborhoods ala free tickets for gang members. There is a SF Giant fan in the hospital with half his skull removed for brain swelling. He tried to get out of dodger stadium to get a taxi and got jumped from behind with his head slammed on the pavement followed by complimentary kicks to the head. He had txted his cousin just before leaving the stadium saying he feared for his life.
Maybe they are Blazer fans except when we play the Lakers---Then they get star struck
hg
by BBK on Apr 8, 2011 7:52 AM PDT up reply actions
they need to be glad that people in Portland are so nice
if you were in NY, Boston or Detroit and folks were flaunting the gear of their team’s greatest rival, someone would get hurt for sure
Win the day!
Coffee is for Closers!
Always Be Closing!
I have seen a good deal of fights at Blazer Laker games
Close to getting in one myself.
Team Aldridge
by Sabonis4Ever on Apr 8, 2011 8:19 AM PDT via mobile up reply actions
No it's not that. It's the resale of Blazer tickets for $.
I haven’t sold my tickets randomly to the LA games but could have for quite a bit of $. Unlike many of the other games this season.
So for those who pay a ton for season tickets it’s a risk they are willing to take (that the Laker fan buys the tickets) in order to recoup some of the money spent on the season tickets.
I think you'll find that in a lot of arenas.
The Lakers are one of those few franchises in pro sports that really has a national following, like the Celtics, Raiders, Cowboys, Red Sox and Yankees. If the Lakers go to San Antonio, you night well see Lakers fans in attendance there, as well.
It's become a reality...
…that I venemously hate. Growing up, 90’s…even the 2000 Blazers, you would of never had Blazer homecourt so “poisoned” by Laker fans.
It’s free commerce, the tickets get owned by whomever is buying them. So what do you do? It’s IMO REALLY sad.
"Mother Nature started this fight, I think it's about time we ended it!"
if we get back to the point where we are competing with them for high seeds and deep playoff runs, then I believe this reality will shift back significantly.
"I want to be traded to a contender" is almost always code-speak for "I'm a loser."
-Dave, 2/5/2010: http://www.blazersedge.com/2010/2/5/1297509/no-amore-for-amare
I had to re-read the start of your post a couple times...
Dave, when did you start using such vulgar language out in the open?!?
Maybe I slept on it and missed it from earlier games this year… but if I’m being honest I’m a little disappointed you’re now saying “Lakers” and not “L@kers”.
Wherever you may be; good night, eeeeeeverybody!
by you'vegottomakeyourfreethrows on Apr 8, 2011 7:52 AM PDT reply actions
Dave responded to that once, by saying we were no longer competitive with them so there was no reason to spell it L*kers
hg
by BBK on Apr 8, 2011 7:55 AM PDT up reply actions
calling them anything but L*kers is embarassing
when S.California becomes lake country, they will earn their name; until then they are the L*kers to me
Win the day!
Coffee is for Closers!
Always Be Closing!
I've always thought
that L*kers is nothing but an affectation.
old news
anyone know how much longer his contract runs?
Win the day!
Coffee is for Closers!
Always Be Closing!
we have him for next year, then he goes into the post-rookie situation
so, we can extend him post-lockup, or put a QO on him in summer 2012 (small number given his modest salary), making him an RFA that summer.
All this is assuming these factors are unchanged in the new CBA, which is not necessarily a safe assumption.
PS – Nic’s contract situation is essentially the same, with slightly different values.
"I want to be traded to a contender" is almost always code-speak for "I'm a loser."
-Dave, 2/5/2010: http://www.blazersedge.com/2010/2/5/1297509/no-amore-for-amare
There is.
He’ll be shooting 40% from beyond the arc… as soon as he’s on another team.
"Coach said to always be careful around Greg, because Greg costs a lot and even the slightest amount of basketball can damage him." -- The Onion
and when playing against Portland he'll have 4-5 shooting nights from 3
When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
in that case, I vote we send him to a non-contending EC team at the earliest possible moment
And get whatever value we can for him
Win the day!
Coffee is for Closers!
Always Be Closing!
by Blzr fan on Apr 8, 2011 11:58 AM PDT via mobile up reply actions
if it really is his back, that might be a permanent, recurring issue.
Discs don’t heal.
Jordan's not a bad guy.. he gave us Gerald Wallace.
i wonder if there’s a way to get him back on track
because he has been AWFUL
That pretty much sums it up. It’s too bad because Rudy brings some energy and pressure defense into the game. But you still need to short a respectable total to be effective – especially at the 2. 36.9% & 31.7(3)% respectively are too low. And the streakiness in insane. He can’t be depended upon on a game-in/game-out basis. The disc problems are very concerning. Maybe that’s why he’s been so inconsistent for 2 years.
Sadly, I think Rudy & Portland are going to part ways in 2012.
2011 NFL Draft - Doplhins
Trade Down from #15
1st - 1a) Colin Kaepernick, 1b) Ryan Mallett (QB)
2nd - OL pick (Cannon, Moffitt, Ijalana, etc)
3rd - 1a) DJ Williams, 1b) Rob Housler (TE)
4th - Taiwan Jones (RB)
5th - Alex Green (RB)
6th - Mana Silva (S)
7th - BPA
UFA - Vai Taua
he's shooting <12% in april
that’s 2/17.
that’s not streaky. he’s consistently bad.
PHILLY!
by CleBlazer on Apr 8, 2011 11:45 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Yup
2011 NFL Draft - Doplhins
Trade Down from #15
1st - 1a) Colin Kaepernick, 1b) Ryan Mallett (QB)
2nd - OL pick (Cannon, Moffitt, Ijalana, etc)
3rd - 1a) DJ Williams, 1b) Rob Housler (TE)
4th - Taiwan Jones (RB)
5th - Alex Green (RB)
6th - Mana Silva (S)
7th - BPA
UFA - Vai Taua
Revenge of the Steve Blake?.........
You really think he’s upset about being a Laker? I love the sense of place but……come on!!!!!
We must endeavor to persevere.
some revenge
he’s having possibly the worst season of his career right now with LA.
if you want some bitterness and hatred, follow @kristenblake2
PHILLY!
yeah, I don't recall that Steve has hurt the Blazers much since he has been a L*ker
Win the day!
Coffee is for Closers!
Always Be Closing!
He hurt the Blazers more
when he was a Blazer.
by hercher on Apr 8, 2011 9:25 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
It is very obvious that the Lakers are coasting to the playoffs
If they lose, they will say it’s no big deal and that they aren’t worried about the state of their team,blah blah blah.
The Blazers should show that they care about this game even less.
That way the loser of the game is the real winner.
I'm done rubbing it in now.
I'm on board but not yet
if we lose tonight and NO wins then yes. But if we win tonight we have to keep pushing for the 6 seed. Hopefully the Suns will help us out tonight. NO still goes @ Memphis, vs. Utah, and @ Dallas…so pretty decent chance they drop either the Memphis or Dallas game, opening the door for us to secure the 6 seed.
"If I had a dime for every basket I made today, you'd still suck!" - from the book 'John Dies @ the End'
we absolutely need a NO loss or Portland win tonight
both would be better. if we get neither, our chances at 6 get REALLY slim.
"I want to be traded to a contender" is almost always code-speak for "I'm a loser."
-Dave, 2/5/2010: http://www.blazersedge.com/2010/2/5/1297509/no-amore-for-amare
if we get neither, I think we need to give up the 6 seed dream and focus on rest
because at that point it would take a 3-0 by us coupled with a 1-2 for NO, or a 2-1 for us coupled with an 0-3 for them…and I don’t think they want to play the Lakers either. We should be doing everything we can to win tonight though.
"If I had a dime for every basket I made today, you'd still suck!" - from the book 'John Dies @ the End'
its even worse
after tonight, we only have 2 left. so if the worst happens tonight, then we would need to go 2-0 while NO goes 1-2 (or 1-1 and 0-3). pretty much no chance of that.
so, if that happens tonight, id favor sitting guys down the last 2 games, and if we happen to fall to 8th, so be it.
"I want to be traded to a contender" is almost always code-speak for "I'm a loser."
-Dave, 2/5/2010: http://www.blazersedge.com/2010/2/5/1297509/no-amore-for-amare
word up
good thing we’re gonna win tonight
"If I had a dime for every basket I made today, you'd still suck!" - from the book 'John Dies @ the End'
Oh, come on
I mean, I know this is that team from down in California, but still, bringing out that kind of heavy artillery seems a bit over the top. Unless that’s a metaphor for Gerald Wallace?
Oh, never mind….
When the world knows Nico Batum as "The Inevitable", I'll be very happy with where he is as a player.
"Batum, who stands 8 feet tall with a 9-foot wingspan and never makes mistakes..." - Posting and Toasting
I still believe in #52. See you soon, Greg!
Good
synopsis for this game. It seem to me often times the things you look for for determining a game end up not being the important factors so I like to expect the unexpected. The Lakers are the superior team so if we don’t have a few breaks it could be ugly. I would think they would want to just play mean and just out muscle the Blazers. My main thing has been as Miller goes so goes the Blazers. Last night he had 12 assists some real beauts too! He should be a mismatch for Fisher but those first three games proved that not to be the case. Fisher always seems to rise to the occasion.
The Lakers are bored.
So bore them by getting LA the ball and letting him shoot 25 to 30 times. Make the bigs get tired and maybe Jackson will throw this game away and rest his bigs.
One thing that would be nice to see is Roy and Batum feeding the post but also trying to shoot over the post to secure for the blazers that a double team will have to come from the other side.
Playoff positioning could be another reason, though frankly I suspect that with the #1 seed now out of reach L.A. doesn’t particularly care about their first-round oppon
As someone mentioned yesterday…the L*kers could be looking at the Bull’s W-L record with an eye towards finals home-court advantage
or not
When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
as long as the Finals continue to use the ridiculously unbalanced and outdated 2-3-2 format
then home court in the Finals will continue to be even more important than home court in any other playoff round is. As such, LA (or any team with a legitimate chance) should be considering locking up that advantage against as many team from the other conference as possible.
That said, Phil Jackson may be the one coach who considers this less important than other things.
"I want to be traded to a contender" is almost always code-speak for "I'm a loser."
-Dave, 2/5/2010: http://www.blazersedge.com/2010/2/5/1297509/no-amore-for-amare
I hate the 2-3-2...loath it
For the team without homecourt in a regular series format to win the series they must just grab one road game and then win all their home games
With 2-3-2 format this is still true of course, but those 3 homes games are consecutive and what are the chances of winning 3 straight against a championship caliber team….plus….get a split in one of the two home stands. If the u-dog gets a split in the 1st two games …they are almost certain to give up one of their own home games.
Me: "I heard the BCS just bought March Madness.......the vote should be out tomorrow and we will see Duke and Kansas in the championship game"
by 92wastheyear on Apr 8, 2011 12:16 PM PDT up reply actions
the Celtics almost pulled if off, last year
and they would have (it says here) if Kendrick Perkins hadn’t picked game 6 to tweak his knee
Boston was the superior team last year, the L*kers got the breaks, as usual
then Ainge went and traded Perkins away…nice job, Danny! The L*A fans salute you
When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
Popovich would be the other
it didn’t look L*A was too concerned last night, esp the way they were defending in transition
When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
It'll be close, the Blazers may win
It’s not these kinds of games I worry about, because the team usually shows up and plays hard for ‘rivalry’ games and/or vs. good teams. It’s the Golden States that bother me.
I wonder if lost in the clamor to play Dallas/OKC is the fact that Dallas/OKC are really good teams.
The Leeroy Rule: being insistent >>>> being correct
its all a matter of relativity
they are good teams, but the relative chances of beating them in a series is significantly higher than the chances of beating the Lakers
"I want to be traded to a contender" is almost always code-speak for "I'm a loser."
-Dave, 2/5/2010: http://www.blazersedge.com/2010/2/5/1297509/no-amore-for-amare
Would have much rather had Lamarcus a little rested for this game
He was atrocious last night playing tired. Nate should have taken him out with five minutes left and up 10. He does have the mindset to play effectively when he is really tired – yet.
by LicketyBrindleDowntheMiddle on Apr 8, 2011 10:25 AM PDT reply actions
"Staples Center North"
Is how the LA SB Nation writer referred to the Rose Garden in his ‘Game Preview’…
I take that as an insult, even though it was probably meant out of respect
they wish they were “Rose Garden South”
"If I had a dime for every basket I made today, you'd still suck!" - from the book 'John Dies @ the End'
last Lakers/Blazers game I went to at the Rose Garden
was in February, and I was amazed by how much purple and gold there was in the arena. At times it almost sounded like an LA home game when the Lakers were up. Embarrassing. Too many LA transplants live in the Portland area. (Usually the rejects who couldn’t make it in LA I suppose)
I misinterpreted it...you're right, Laker fans are well represented in the Rose Garden
I thought they were referring more to the atmosphere in general…this makes much more sense haha
"If I had a dime for every basket I made today, you'd still suck!" - from the book 'John Dies @ the End'
I think the big edge the Blazers have in this game is motivation,
They are actually are playing for positoin. LA will try to win, but I don’t think they are going “lose their identity” if they lose another game. Not going to be a maximum effort by LA. They can ‘try some things’ to get ready for a possible playoff matchup.
Jordan's not a bad guy.. he gave us Gerald Wallace.
Same thought I had
just before the Blazers rolled over for Golden State in their own arena.
I say play conservative
no sense playing your butt off and getting injured. Remember this is the game last year where Roy blew out his knee after being manhandled by Ron Artest. It killed any chance of beating Phoenix in the first round. I really would like to see this team enter the playoffs healthy, regardless of who we play in the first round. The more Mills, Babbit, Johnson & Johnson on the court in this game, the better.
Why do the Blazers play the Lakers so tough at the Rose Garden?
I have to say it’s the fan support—which most folks think is the most important factor in the “home court advantage.” Even the Lakers (Phil or Kobe?) recently pointed to the Rose Garden crowd’s Laker-hating intensity as a challenge to overcome. Even officials get caught up in the wave of energy that emanates from a truly reved-up home crowd.
Unfortunately, you can’t get blood out of a turnip, and the Blazers figure to be a very pooped bunch tonight. All the crowd support in the world won’t get you to play well when your legs feel like lead. Watch out for wide-open Blazer jumpers clanging off the front rim early on tonight. If that happens, then cover your eyes: this could get ugly.
I still believe in Greg Oden. The Blazers' medical staff? Not so much.
I'd change my handle to "bringback'09," but I'm too lazy.
I'm breaking stuff if we get swept by the %$#ing lakers tonight.
With that out of the way, the rebounding (especially on the defensive side) is a major concern going in as we have been terrible on the defensive glass. With Camby out, it’s going to be even more glaring mismatch tonight.
Hopefully, Rudy breaks out of shooting slump and Nate stop overplaying Roy in the 4th. I don’t like seeing Aldridge and Roy together in the 4th quarter for extended periods as player movement tend to stop as well as Aldridge post ups. It’s too much of pick & pop when Roy and LA works two man game, partly due to Roy’s inability to feed the post.
The cake was a lie.
3 out of our 4 matchups against LA will come on the second night of back to backs
1 of those 4 is on the second night for them.
i wouldn’t give too much thought to a sweep, if it happens. 2 out of the 3 we’ve played so far were really close and could have gone either way.
PHILLY!
Well, my head can rationalize it.
But, my heart just won’t understand it. It especially hurts since they came back on us in the 4th for both close games.
The cake was a lie.
Is anyone buying playoff tickets today?
are they going to be the same price as regular season??
Go to Heaven for the climate, Hell for the company.
they do...
want to guess how long i sat at my computer refreshing trailblazers.com until I figure that out?
Go to Heaven for the climate, Hell for the company.
A win's gonna be a lot harder w/out Marcus "Neck's too stiff to play" Camby.
We need his size and rebounding against the Lakers.
Dre ain't got no love for these pros
LMA just tweeted:
Win the day!
Coffee is for Closers!
Always Be Closing!
by Blzr fan on Apr 8, 2011 12:21 PM PDT via mobile reply actions
LMA just tweeted: "Nice day in Portland today! Is this what summer is like?"
Someone should tell him that summers here are even better. Endless sunshine. Long days. No humidity.
Does he not know that by now? He has been on our team all these years and has no idea how glorious our summers are? Sad.
Win the day!
Coffee is for Closers!
Always Be Closing!
by Blzr fan on Apr 8, 2011 12:23 PM PDT via mobile reply actions
an average summer here
Is spectacular
Win the day!
Coffee is for Closers!
Always Be Closing!
by Blzr fan on Apr 8, 2011 12:32 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
I think he is being a bit sarcastic there....
I mean look at how much rain we have had….and last summer was kind of pathetic.
Sometimes a player's greatest challenge is coming to grips with his role on the team.
-- Scottie Pippen
i hope you are correct and he is just being sarcastic
OTOH, if I were here only during the months of Oct-Apr, I would probably think this is a dark and dreary place to live
Win the day!
Coffee is for Closers!
Always Be Closing!
by Blzr fan on Apr 8, 2011 2:05 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
I don't think he's being sarcastic as he spends most of his summer months in Texas.
LA’s usually in a game with the ex-UT guys and pros that play for Texas teams during the summer. In fact, I haven’t heard of him spending any extended time in the NW in the summer.
The cake was a lie.
Oregon summer is hard to beat
Even 7 months of rain is not too high a price to pay.
Bennett Salvatore is one of the refs for tonight’s game. I didn’t know who he is so looked him up. I found this among other damning articles on him.
“2. Bennett Salvatore — Always one of the worst, he took it to another level this season. If you see him on the court at the start of the game, get ready for about six technicals, two near-brawls and both coaches having to be restrained by their assistants at various times.”
Is Salvatore related to Ken Mauer?
Why is this relevant? Not only did Salvatore officiate Game 4 of the Suns-Lakers series (the one where Kobe tied it at the end of regulation and won it at the end of OT on two shaky non-calls on Nash, both by Salvatore), not only did Salvatore officiate Sunday night’s Game 5 (in which Miami had a 40-12 free-throw advantage at one point), but Salvatore called the foul on Wade’s final drive in overtime (remember, the call where ABC couldn’t find a replay to show that anyone touched him?) even though he was standing at midcourt a full 35-40 feet from the play, and even though two other refs were closer to the play. Not only was that NOT his call, he butchered it.
Maybe Violet Palmer will make up for whatever Salvatore does wrong...
I think she has actually come to officiate the Blazers in a fair way.
Hehe -- Bill Simmons, right?
Prone to hyperbole, so take it with a grain of salt — though Salvatore’s definitely messed up calls, for sure.
Did you see Henry Abbott’s series of interviews with Salvatore, The Salvatore Side of the Story? Long, but interesting stuff. Definitely worth reading (I especially liked the Charles Barkley anecdote.)
Also, since you’re reading up on officials, thought you might be interested in this SI article from last year’s playoffs? Brief write-ups of Salvatore, Callahan, both Crawfords, deRosa, Foster, Mauer, Stafford, Washington.
Wiggada Wiggada Zers!
Looked up games and who reffed...Salvatore only reffed one other Blazer game
nothing stood out…Blazers lost to the Suns 111-115 in Phoenix. There were many free throws…65. Blazers attempted 33, Suns 32.
But yes, from what the articles said, Salvatore listened to Stern’s request that there be a 7th game..when Miami was involved
this is the heading for the Lakers/Blazers preview on the Laker's blog site
Lakers-Trail Blazers Preview: Return To Staples Center North
by DexterFishmore on Apr 8, 2011 9:30 AM PDT in Game Previews
just a little annoying.
My least favorite part going to games against LA or Boston
The fans. I don’t generally mind other teams fans at all, I think it’s pretty cool to have the guts to wear an opposing teams jersey in a place as passionate as the RG. But LA and Boston fans are just such jerks.
I was at an LA game last year and this fat, drunk guy was sitting about 20 seats over from me and he stood the whole game and just yelled personal insults at everyone who cheered for the Blazers. And after LA won, a bunch of Lakers fans were yelling and pushing people on the 300 level, trying to start fights.
And last Cecember I went to the Celtics game at the RG and there was so, so much profanity from Boston fans. A 50-something, normal looking woman in a Celts hat kept yelling “Blazers F’n Suck” every relatively quiet moment.
I guess it figures, insecure jerks usually root for teams like LA, Boston, NYY, Dallas Cowboys…and they always seem to be drunk. Hold your liquor jerks!
by JasonCantDunk on Apr 8, 2011 4:39 PM PDT up reply actions
call the ushers and complain next time this happens. Fans are not supposed to stand the entire game.
They can get thrown out for this.
Sounds terrible
Stuff like that would probably put me pretty close to a blind rage lol
seems that 20 minutes is about roy's limit right now
last night he played well then dropped off about the 20 minute mark. same with the latest dallas game. hard to take him out when he’s playing well, but hoping that objectivity wins out especially when you have a cut-throat like wesley matthews salivating on the bench in the 4th.
by heybabydrinkyourmilk on Apr 8, 2011 4:28 PM PDT reply actions
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
NBA Playoffs Content Module
Related FanPosts on Blazer's Edge
Related FanShots on Blazer's Edge
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
