Don't blame the bad goaltending call

by Gargen on Feb 7, 2012 9:34 PM PST

While the blazers would have almost certainly won the game if not for the block being called goaltending (it's not completely certain... one missed free throw and a 3 pointer sends it to overtime too), there are a few other things that happened at the end of that game. After Aldridge hit a pair of free throws to go up by six with 2:17 to go, the Blazers missed 5 of their 6 shots. In the 18 seconds before the bad call, the Blazers failed to secure three defensive rebounds. That's 8 opportunities to win the game that would have made "the call" irrelevant (or even nonexistent).

This seems more to me like Memphis losing the 2008 NCAA tournament. A team that was in position to win ends up losing in painful fashion in overtime because of a flaw that everyone already knew they had. In Memphis' case, they couldn't shoot free throws. In Portland's case, they don't have a reliable closer.

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OKC gave up a lead in the 4th too

They weren’t exactly doing well in the 4th either. Using only our flaws totally misses the fact that we overcame a 6pt deficit in the 4th to take the lead.

by poorwebguy on Feb 7, 2012 9:45 PM PST reply actions

So the play of the game had more to do with the outcome than the bad call?

That’s what I’m saying too!

by Gargen on Feb 7, 2012 9:59 PM PST up reply actions

The thing is the block was the play of the game.

A clean block on who will probably be this years MVP. HUGE!

Loud pipes save lives!
Bad knees break hearts!
Time for an exorcism.

by We-B-Dunkin on Feb 8, 2012 10:35 AM PST up reply actions

if the call hadn't been made it still would have been up to OKC to make a shot to tie or win

as it was the ref spotted them two to tie the game. I’d agree completely about our execution down the stretch, if it wasn’t for them being awarded points that they didn’t earn because of a bad call from a non player. None of us can say what would have happened in the last five seconds of that game, because the game was altered by the refs, and that’s all there is to it.

I don't give a damn for a man that can only spell a word one way.
Mark Twain

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by Tyler Durrden on Feb 7, 2012 10:17 PM PST reply actions

Regardless of Portland's playing that led to such a close game..

the fact is that if the goal tending call wasnt made then Portland wouldve won. So if we want to decide what to blame then blame that because that call DID change the outcome. Plain and simple. All one needs to ask is “Would Portland have won if that call wasnt made?” The answer is yes. There you go. No more debate needed. We can talk abotu how they didnt play as well in over time but the fact is that overtime wouldnt have happened if the goaltending call wasnt made.

by L.A.B on Feb 8, 2012 6:09 AM PST reply actions