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Game 57 Preview: Blazers vs. L*kers

Well, here we go folks.  If you've been a Blazer fan for very long a healthy resentment of the L*kers is pretty much branded into your soul.  For myself the Magic game-ending, underhanded toss from the Western Conference Finals is a horrible memory I'll never forget.  For more recent converts the 2000 WCF Game 7 deal probably causes indigestion to this day.  We've gotten the best of the L*kers in the playoffs a couple of times, but no more than that.  And it rankles.

In short, this is what it's all about.  Short of making and fighting through the playoffs these are the games that boil the blood most.  If you don't want to beat these guys an extra little bit you probably have to turn in your fan card.

Unfortunately we're not in very good position to do much right now.  Even stocked with our regular lineup this year the chances would be slim.  With Brandon Roy out?  Sheesh.  It's a wee bit anti-climactic.  Then again, that won't matter much once the ball goes in the air.

The current story of the L*kers comprises two eras:  B.P. and A.P. (before Pau and after).  Many, MANY people speculated that the L*kers would suffer without the inspired play of Kwame Brown, but somehow they have managed.  Before Pau got there they were 29-16, well on their way to a playoff spot but pretty much considered the Aquaman of Western Conference Justice League...capable in the right environment, nice uniform, now get out of the way while Superman and Batman do the job.  They're 10-1 since Gasol arrived and they show no signs of stopping.  They might not exactly be Superman Part Deux yet but Aquaman got himself a Bowflex, that's for sure.

The L*kers have topped 110 six times in their last eleven games.  Scoring remains the nastiest part of their attack.  But don't sleep on their defense either.  They've allowed 100 only twice in that stretch.  Kobe is still at the heart of their attack at but Pau has been averaging 22 points on 63% shooting since he put on that ugly uniform.  Lamar Odom is now their third fiddle and even though his production has been down this year his last three games have been great and he makes a habit of destroying us.  Fortunately young beast center Andrew Bynum is still out.  After that the roster is filled with capable guys like Derek Fisher, Luke Walton, Jordan Farmar, and Vladimir Radmanovic.  Those guys don't exactly scare you, but they don't have to.  All they need to do is not throw the game away so far that their big scorers can't retrieve it.

The L*kers are very, very efficient scorers.  They average a ton of points on relatively few possessions.  Not a one of their regular rotation players shoots poorly.  You can't really cheat off of anyone, which is a real problem considering all the places you'd like to double-team.  They are excellent from distance as well.  As you might expect they draw significantly more fouls than their opponents and they're far removed from the days when Shaq would lose them the game from the stripe.  Generally speaking you are not going to match the L*kers' offense.  You better find another way to win.

The L*kers will sometimes give you those ways, through inattention if nothing else.  At times they get absorbed in that same old Kobe game and don't pay enough attention to the rest of the game, allowing you a crack.  If you can frustrate them you have a chance.  But that's exponentially harder now than it was earlier this year.  Your best hope is probably that they come out thinking they have a God-given right to win this game and then you teach them different.

But let's face it, that would be a major surprise and not particularly indicative of anything.  In another couple of years this should be quite the battle in the West.  At the moment though we don't have the guns to expect a positive outcome.

What I'd Like to See

This game is going to be all about emotion.  The only way we even begin to have a chance is if we come out with plenty, perhaps surprising them.  With Brandon out I am looking directly at Jarrett Jack, Martell Webster, and Travis Outlaw, all of whom are capable of stellar performances when they are fired up.  We pretty much need all of them plus a lot of hustle plus a few bounces and calls to go our way.  If there's no fight in us, however, we might as well give up right now.  They will outmatch us in anything short of a pitched battle.  Last year we nearly saw a fight in Staples Center.  We need a repeat of that spirit or it's going to be a painful outing.  And that's all there is to it.

--Dave (blazersub@yahoo.com)

P.S.  At one point this was going to be our big Blazersedge Gameday Thread Party where we tried to break the single-game record for comments.  Given the bad news about Brandon we're going to postpone that for another game.  I hope traffic will be high anyway.

P.P.S.  You can check out ForumBlueandGold this morning for some Blazer Q+A.

0 recs | Comment 11 comments

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I phoned Pau
I told him that he must be kind with my team and do not score more than 15.
"You, my friend, are an enigma" (einman77)

by amlmart1 on Feb 26, 2008 7:07 AM PST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Everybody plays tonight
I hope Nate mixes it up tonight. Unlike the last game against the Sonics, where 7 palyers logged uninspired unproductive minutes, including 45 by Roy. I hope that nate will see the error of his ways on that call.
2-4 the who

by 24thewho on Feb 26, 2008 8:05 AM PST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Ugh
This game is totally going to ruin my "no more mid-week drinking" creed.

by Scorcho on Feb 26, 2008 10:26 AM PST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

I have a friend here
Who is a fan of that team.  After his team wins, he goes outside and pushes over old ladies, pees in the Holy Water at the local Catholic church, and throws feces at monkeys.  It's another reason to not like his team.
"Sometimes nothing can be a pretty cool hand." - Luke from Cool Hand Luke (1967)

by tominhawaii on Feb 26, 2008 11:21 AM PST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Predictions
Steve Blake gets the assignment on Kobe, shuts him down with frustrating D and getting him ejected early in the 3rd.  Steve meanwhile hits 4 of 5 from deep.

Martell finds his stroke hitting 8 of 11.  His flagrant foul on Lamar Odom fires up his team and gets the Lakers thinking about payback and not running their offense.  Blazers win the free throw battle, with Odom fouling out.

Sergio is inspired to show who the best Spaniard in the house is and Nate turns him loose for a 19 point, 11 assist, 5 rebound night.

Von Wafer provides a spark off the bench, teaming with Travis Outlaw for 40 points.

Joel takes advantage of Gasol not wanting to bang down low and is 4 of 6 from the field, mostly with putbacks and 7 of 9 from the line.

We still probably lose, but it's a hell of a fun game to watch.

by timg56 on Feb 26, 2008 12:56 PM PST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

LOL
>>Von Wafer provides a spark off the bench, teaming with Travis Outlaw for 40 points.<<

That means Travis 38, Von Wafer 2, right?

--Dave

by Dave on Feb 26, 2008 1:33 PM PST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Lemme get this straight...
.............. Outlaw the former "power forward" is now the starting "shooting guard"?!?!?!?

Nate McMillan needs a CAT scan, pass it on...

t

"You don't live by the jumpshot, you die by the jumpshot." ---Charles Barkley, 2/7/08

by timbo on Feb 26, 2008 4:56 PM PST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Tim...
............. check in to the office tomorrow for mandatory drug testing, 8:00 am sharp.

t

"You don't live by the jumpshot, you die by the jumpshot." ---Charles Barkley, 2/7/08

by timbo on Feb 26, 2008 4:58 PM PST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

No need.
I get my drugs from a very reputable source and don't need to have them tested for quality.

by timg56 on Mar 2, 2008 7:37 PM PST to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

In a match like this
Back in the Ol' PNW days, as soon as the match started we'd drop to our knees and beg for mercy!

This always stops the opponent "Dead in Their Tracks"! As they look around at the fans (yeah YOU Jack) hands out stretched in wonder, asking for guidance in what they should do now? Feigning punches to the head (or dunks thru the hoop, in this case) while asking the Fans for approval. That's when we would apply the sneak attack!

My fav was the "Nut Cruncher"!

"The Team with Caricature!" - Elizabeth "The Lizzard" Lowblow

by Lizzy Lowblow on Feb 26, 2008 1:52 PM PST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

I can't say.........
..........that I get fired up about the Lakers like you do, Dave.

The Lakers are shaping up to be the class of the West this year. The Blazers remain a doormat, if not THE doormat.

Apples and oranges...

t

"You don't live by the jumpshot, you die by the jumpshot." ---Charles Barkley, 2/7/08

by timbo on Feb 26, 2008 4:54 PM PST reply reply actions actions   0 recs

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