The difference between this year and last year

Discussion in 'Portland Trail Blazers' started by Natebishop3, Nov 17, 2014.

  1. Natebishop3

    Natebishop3 Don't tread on me!

    Joined:
    Sep 17, 2008
    Messages:
    90,157
    Likes Received:
    52,173
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Portland, OR
    Last year we started hot, but it felt like we were playing above our heads. Wes was just unconscious in the first half of the season. Our starting unit was insane.

    This season I feel like we're just playing really good basketball. It's a completely different feel. This is how a good veteran team plays. You just win. You find ways to win. You play consistent defense and take good shots.

    The bench.

    The defense.

    Our stars playing like stars.

    This is what sustainable basketball looks like. Enjoy it Blazer fans.
     
  2. BlazerCaravan

    BlazerCaravan Hug a Bigot... to Death

    Joined:
    Sep 20, 2008
    Messages:
    28,071
    Likes Received:
    10,384
    Trophy Points:
    113
    YES YES YES!

    Last year we got a bunch of wins through heroic shots, which was great make no mistake, but this year we're winning through execution.
     
  3. magnifier661

    magnifier661 B-A-N-A-N-A-S!

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2009
    Messages:
    59,328
    Likes Received:
    5,587
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Occupation:
    Cracking fools in the skull
    Location:
    Lancaster, California
    Brett Barry and Smitty talking us up on NBA TV right now.

    Barry thinks we are legit
     
  4. Natebishop3

    Natebishop3 Don't tread on me!

    Joined:
    Sep 17, 2008
    Messages:
    90,157
    Likes Received:
    52,173
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Portland, OR
    Yup. Big complements for our bench.
     
  5. KingSpeed

    KingSpeed Veteran

    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2008
    Messages:
    60,908
    Likes Received:
    21,060
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Occupation:
    actor
    Location:
    New York
    Amen. I'm loving it. We've been mostly playing at home but it's been against some good teams (Dallas, Cleveland, NO, OKC with RW). Last fall we built a winning streak by beating crappy East teams in their building. Remember, Mags gave me money to go to the Milwaukee game because we were winning every game I went to? Well, those games are coming up again. At Boston and Philly next week. I'll be there. Lots of time to get ready for Friday's home game against Chicago before that. 11-3 should be the goal. We have a real shot at the #1 seed, don't you think?
     
  6. BlazerDuckSeahawkFan94

    BlazerDuckSeahawkFan94 AWOL

    Joined:
    Jul 2, 2013
    Messages:
    21,056
    Likes Received:
    10,366
    Trophy Points:
    113
    We're a lot like those Mavs teams back in Dirks prime (with more overall talent). You know? They finally got over the hump that one year they beat the Spurs but ultimately lost to D-Whistle.
     
  7. Natebishop3

    Natebishop3 Don't tread on me!

    Joined:
    Sep 17, 2008
    Messages:
    90,157
    Likes Received:
    52,173
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Portland, OR
    Those Mavs teams were insanely talented. They just didn't play defense. That team with Dirk/Nash/Finley was extremely fun to watch.
     
  8. RipCity71252

    RipCity71252 Member

    Joined:
    Nov 29, 2008
    Messages:
    123
    Likes Received:
    11
    Trophy Points:
    18
    I don't necessarily think that digging ourselves holes early and somehow climbing out is "sustainable" basketball. We need to be better and bring that intense defense from the get go more often. On the road this won't fly. This is just my opinion. Don't get me wrong, I love how the team is looking so far; but there is still tons of room for improvement.
     
  9. BlazerDuckSeahawkFan94

    BlazerDuckSeahawkFan94 AWOL

    Joined:
    Jul 2, 2013
    Messages:
    21,056
    Likes Received:
    10,366
    Trophy Points:
    113
    I was thinking more along the lines of the team with:

    Harris
    Terry / Stackhouse / Daniels
    Howard / Griffin
    Dirk / Van Horn
    Diop / Dampier
     
  10. maxiep

    maxiep RIP Dr. Jack

    Joined:
    Sep 12, 2008
    Messages:
    28,243
    Likes Received:
    5,790
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Occupation:
    Merchant Banker
    Location:
    Denver, CO & Lake Oswego, OR
    It's the old saying in sports, "first you win, then you get good".
     
  11. KingSpeed

    KingSpeed Veteran

    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2008
    Messages:
    60,908
    Likes Received:
    21,060
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Occupation:
    actor
    Location:
    New York
    The ability to come back is huge but we have blown out a lot of teams too so yes, I think this level of play is sustainable.
     
  12. PtldPlatypus

    PtldPlatypus Let's go Baby Blazers! Staff Member Global Moderator Moderator

    Joined:
    Nov 10, 2008
    Messages:
    31,952
    Likes Received:
    40,229
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Let's just remember that we've only played 3 road games so far. Starting Sunday, we have a stretch of 12 games in 21 days, of which 9 will be on the road (so basically, the travel equivalent of a 12 game road trip). That's where we'll see what this team is really made of, and whether or not our current level of play is sustainable.
     
  13. SheedSoNasty

    SheedSoNasty Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 15, 2008
    Messages:
    4,215
    Likes Received:
    4,575
    Trophy Points:
    113
    I'm enjoying this year... What little I've been able to see. You bring up the word "sustainable", Nate. I'm hoping that we can continue our winning ways past this season. It seems like we have such good chemistry right now so it's going to be interesting to see how this off season plays out. Neil has his work cut out for him. Unless he already knows howthings are going to fall into place already.
     
  14. julius

    julius Global Moderator Staff Member Global Moderator

    Joined:
    Sep 16, 2008
    Messages:
    42,404
    Likes Received:
    29,999
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Occupation:
    singer songwriter
    Location:
    Washington
    Albeit, a super small sample size, I think it boils down to these factors.

    Damians shooting has increased a lot. He's better at driving to the hoop, getting fouls and just overall shooting.

    They DID learn from the Spurs series. They're still learning, but they are showing that they learned how to turn up the effort. There is still a struggle from the start, but they don't give up. And when they do get it going, they go full throttle (like the Spurs).

    Everyone who is playing, is playing their roles and not shooting a ton (Mo).

    Their defense has improved a LOT more than any of us expected, hoped for, or thought possible this soon.

    Chris Kaman.


    There are things that do need work. They still make sloppy passes, they don't always start the games off with the defensive intensity that is needed and Batum is struggling offensively.
     
  15. Pinwheel1

    Pinwheel1 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 13, 2008
    Messages:
    21,008
    Likes Received:
    13,564
    Trophy Points:
    113
    I think they are better as well because of the bench. Forget the stats for a moment, everyone on the bench is better than they were last year from experience alone. Then you add Kaman and Blake......who have been huge stabilizing factors. You still have a lot of new combinations that have not played a lot together, so the turnovers are still high. So they can still get better.

    The biggest worry for me is still the lack of ball handling from the SG's. Against teams who pressure, jump the passing lanes, and constantly poke their hands in at the ball......they just don't do a good job of handling it. We play best in the 4th because we go small and play with 2 pg's plus Wes.
     
  16. OSUBlazerfan

    OSUBlazerfan Writing Team

    Joined:
    Jul 13, 2009
    Messages:
    6,906
    Likes Received:
    1,664
    Trophy Points:
    113
    We've only done that the last 3 games out of necessity, with batum out
     
  17. illmatic99

    illmatic99 formerly yuyuza1

    Joined:
    Sep 16, 2008
    Messages:
    56,114
    Likes Received:
    53,918
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    NYstateofmind
    I don't like how we're digging ourselves into holes in a lot of these games. As mentioned above, it will be a lot tougher to flip the switch on the road. We can't count on fourth quarter comebacks every night.

    The BK game was better to me than last night because we got a 10-15 pt lead early, and held that the whole night while absorbing punches that they threw at us. That's the mark of a great team and absolutely IS sustainable.
     
  18. H.C.

    H.C. Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 25, 2013
    Messages:
    8,446
    Likes Received:
    8,728
    Trophy Points:
    113
    I agree nate.
    But I want to see how they do with more road games.
    One of my biggest pet peeves with the Blazers in the past has been playing up/down to the level of competition they're facing.
    On this road trip the Blazers play a lot of eastern teams. I want to see the Blazers come out with defensive intensity, lock teams up, and finish with a defensive rebound.
    The Blazers have an improved bench so the Starters should be expending more effort on the Defensive side of the ball because they don't have to do all the scoring this year.
    In 11 games the team does look a little different than last year. Last year they shot their way out of bad starts. This year Lillard is playing good point of attack defense, his p&r defense still needs work but his man on man defense is much improved.
     
  19. HomerLovesKoolAid

    HomerLovesKoolAid I have a well-known member.

    Joined:
    Oct 4, 2010
    Messages:
    7,352
    Likes Received:
    7,511
    Trophy Points:
    113
    I believe this team will be even better on the road. They are developing a killer instinct.
     
  20. Wizard Mentor

    Wizard Mentor Wizard Mentor

    Joined:
    Oct 22, 2008
    Messages:
    13,835
    Likes Received:
    13,631
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Occupation:
    Master of Xen Foro
    Location:
    La Grande, OR
    The end result is that We're winning comfortably more. Last year we had a better record but a worse point differential. This year we've had to deal with injuries already.

    Let me add one to your list:
    Playing with Blake and Kaman gives the bench guys a comfort level they just didn't have last year.

    Finally, I agree that this thread is made when we're still just 1-2 on the road, and it's made after we have a 5-game winning streak. Will our winning ways continue on the road? Stay tuned, that's why watching is so much fun.

    edit: just wanted to also mention that with vets coming off the bench we're more likely to be resilient on the road.

     

Share This Page