A memorable season

[Shooter]

Anybody else loving this season?

I am floored by how well the Blazers are playing, and by how competitive they are in every single game. I don't care if Oden is out--I hardly think of him anymore. I love the NEW Nicolus Batum, and the emergence of Bayless, and the occasional brilliance of Webster, and the unbelievably good play of Juwan Howard, and of course the rise of Andre Miller and the amazing shot making of Rudy Fernandez. Combine those guys with our two good rooks, and this is an amazing collection of players. When Roy comes back, we are really set.

For a season with so many injuries and heartbreak, there have been an amazing number of good moments and memorable wins. I am LOVING IT!!!

 

[Buzz Killington]

fuck this season.

 

[Entity]

The last three have really had their moments. Should this team go relatively uninjured next year, I'd expect there to be some serious contendorship.

 

[Kaydow]

Anybody else loving this season?

I am floored by how well the Blazers are playing, and by how competitive they are in every single game. I don't care if Oden is out--I hardly think of him anymore. I love the NEW Nicolus Batum, and the emergence of Bayless, and the occasional brilliance of Webster, and the unbelievably good play of Juwan Howard, and of course the rise of Andre Miller and the amazing shot making of Rudy Fernandez. Combine those guys with our two good rooks, and this is an amazing collection of players. When Roy comes back, we are really set.

For a season with so many injuries and heartbreak, there have been an amazing number of good moments and memorable wins. I am LOVING IT!!!

These guys captured my heart the 1st time they won in Dallas (when Joel went down) and then the next night in SA w/o Brandon. They are 11-9 since that Dallas game (and 5-5 w/o Brandon) which just blows my mind. It's not pretty at times, but it's been a pleasure to watch the effort they bring every night (the effort might be the number one factor in how they've been able to stay close in almost every game) I'm so proud of this team.

 

[The Professional Fan]

fuck this season.

Yep.

The only way this season becomes memorable is if we find a way to make it past the first round. All things considered.

If not, it will literally become "the lost season." And we will move on to bigger and better things.

 

[Shooter]

The only way this season becomes memorable is if we find a way to make it past the first round.

I couldn't disagree more. This season is ALREADY memorable. With all the injuries we've had, the performance of the team (at 29-21) is downright amazing.

 

[Shooter]

These guys captured my heart the 1st time they won in Dallas (when Joel went down) and then the next night in SA w/o Brandon . . . I'm so proud of this team.

Isn't it the truth! These guys are showing the kind of heart and commitment that I've wanted to see for many years. Too bad it took all the injuries to bring it out in them, but maybe it will carry over into the playoffs and next year.

 

[The Professional Fan]

I couldn't disagree more. This season is ALREADY memorable. With all the injuries we've had, the performance of the team (at 29-21) is downright amazing.

I agree with that. But I feel like we've been here before. The 41-41 season was extremely memorable because going .500 wasn't expected. Last season winning 54 was extremely memorable because we won so many games, finished in the top half of a tough WC, and made the playoffs. This year? Yeah, it's been impressive and it's a great story no doubt, but without advancing to the 2nd round after all the injuries and setbacks? I don't know - it feels like we've been there and done that to me. Feels like the 41-41 season. Exceeding low expectations. I'm done with that. Time to move on.

 

[Buzz Killington]

I couldn't disagree more. This season is ALREADY memorable. With all the injuries we've had, the performance of the team (at 29-21) is downright amazing.

Same thing happened last year, we had an awesome run of games. Then what, we got totally pwned in the first round.

There's only so many moral victories you can stomach. Fuck being "proud of this team", I already am. I want to win and win NBA championships, not a sportsmanship award or a good "thumbs up" for effort.

I need the Portland Trailablazers to be elite.

That's my memorable season. Where we are competing for the NBA championship.

 

[JDC]

Same thing happened last year, we had an awesome run of games. Then what, we got totally pwned in the first round.

There's only so many moral victories you can stomach. Fuck being "proud of this team", I already am. I want to win and win NBA championships, not a sportsmanship award or a good "thumbs up" for effort.

I need the Portland Trailablazers to be elite.

That's my memorable season. Where we are competing for the NBA championship.

Game 1 at home I'll give you....but we lost game 3 and 4 in Houston by a combined 4 points. A couple breaks here and there and the Blazers win that series.

 

[Buzz Killington]

yeah, but we lost.

 

[Minstrel]

I'm impressed by how hard and well the guys are playing despite lots of injuries, but I've seen enough Blazers' postseason appearances that I'm not all that compelled by an against-all-the-odds story of making the playoffs. I want to see them contend seriously for the championship and, in that regard, this is simply a lost season.

That doesn't mean it can't be entertaining and have things to follow. But I doubt this will be a season I remember years from now.

 

[Kaydow]

Same thing happened last year, we had an awesome run of games. Then what, we got totally pwned in the first round.

There's only so many moral victories you can stomach. Fuck being "proud of this team", I already am. I want to win and win NBA championships, not a sportsmanship award or a good "thumbs up" for effort.

I need the Portland Trailablazers to be elite.

That's my memorable season. Where we are competing for the NBA championship.

I hear you. I want to compete for NBA Championships just as bad as you do, but what can you do when you team is enduring the most injury plagued season in the history of the league? I read somewhere that (assuming Oden & Pryz don't come back - safe assumption) that the Blazers will break the Houston Rockets record from 2005? for most total games missed due to injury EVEN if there are no more games missed due to injuries in the 2nd half of the season! We're talking historically horrific injury plagued season.

 

[Buzz Killington]

I hear you. I want to compete for NBA Championships just as bad as you do, but what can you do when you team is enduring the most injury plagued season in the history of the league? I read somewhere that (assuming Oden & Pryz don't come back - safe assumption) that the Blazers will break the Houston Rockets record from 2005? for most total games missed due to injury EVEN if there are no more games missed due to injuries in the 2nd half of the season! We're talking historically horrific injury plagued season.

no excuses. we should be this good. I'm impressed that we're staying afloat to be honest, which is a good sign for our depth and I'm glad we're getting some of the little used players some burn. We were being hyped to be a DYNASTY. So in that regard, I'm disappointed.

But how can an injury plagued season be memorable if you don't get far in the playoffs. Injuries or not, that is how this season will be remembered. When the team gets the summer off.

We've had injuries in the past few years (Frailblazers), part of the game. Fuck it, just get over it and move on and get more W's.

Its really not that better than last season. We had a lot of great comebacks.

 

[maxiep]

I've been enjoying the team more since in the injuries then when there was all the Sturm und Drang at the beginning of the season over roles and minutes. I'm going to look back at this season with fond remembrance, for this was the season where we stopped relying on our overwhelming talent and started relying on our heart and grit.

 

[Buzz Killington]

we did that last year.

 

[Nikolokolus]

I'm impressed, and I'm a little awed, but I do NOT love this season.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Anybody else loving this season?

I am floored by how well the Blazers are playing, and by how competitive they are in every single game. I don't care if Oden is out--I hardly think of him anymore. I love the NEW Nicolus Batum, and the emergence of Bayless, and the occasional brilliance of Webster, and the unbelievably good play of Juwan Howard, and of course the rise of Andre Miller and the amazing shot making of Rudy Fernandez. Combine those guys with our two good rooks, and this is an amazing collection of players. When Roy comes back, we are really set.

For a season with so many injuries and heartbreak, there have been an amazing number of good moments and memorable wins. I am LOVING IT!!!

Nice post, rep'd.

 

[The Professional Fan]

I've been enjoying the team more since in the injuries then when there was all the Sturm und Drang at the beginning of the season over roles and minutes. I'm going to look back at this season with fond remembrance, for this was the season where we stopped relying on our overwhelming talent and started relying on our heart and grit.

If anything was learned from this season, as you pointed out, a consolidation is certainly in order. That might seem counterproductive based on all the injuries we sustained this season, but it's not. The early days of this season when we were at full strength were very painful. But I believed then, and I believe now, that we would have worked all that out. Either with consolidation or straight benching of players. I prefer consolidation.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

I don't know what you're talking about but this has been the season from hell.

Seeing Greg go down again was horrific.

 

[Driew]

I've enjoyed this season a lot mainly because each game now I can just enjoy the little things. I don't really care if we lose games now because half our team is hurt. Do I want us to win every game? Of course. I get excited when we win. But when we lose I just shrug and go "half our team was hurt--we'll get 'em next year".

 

[Shooter]

no excuses. we should be this good.

Give me a break. No team has EVER had to endure the kind of injury onslaught we have suffered this year. That Portland has continued to play well, despite losing Oden, Pryzbilla, Outlaw, Batum, Fernandez, Roy, et al, is practically a miracle.

 

[Kaydow]

I don't know what you're talking about but this has been the season from hell.

Seeing Greg go down again was horrific.

29-21 and in playoff position is not the "season from hell". Seeing Greg go down broke all of our hearts, and when Joel went down it just felt so unjust. But they kept winning and it was special. My favorite road trip of ALL TIME was the Olrando, Miami, Dallas, San Antonio. We just kept losing troops and ended up winning in two buildings we NEVER win in.

Maybe I'm being optimistic but I'm not giving up on this season. I know the West is tough, but the worst we can be at the break is 4 games over .500 (if we go 0-5, which we won't) Let's say we go 2-3, we go to the break 8 games over .500 and our schedule is much more favorable in the 2nd half. Plus, we're getting guys back. If we are able to make a deal for a big man, I really like our chances to make some noise in the 2nd half. I still think we could make a playoff run THIS season. The season from hell would be enduring all the injuries and being 20-30 after 50 games.

 

[tlongII]

I'm proud of the team and amazed that they have a winning record despite all the injuries. However, I'm disappointed in the season as I expected us to be contenders this year.

 

[Buzz Killington]

Give me a break. No team has EVER had to endure the kind of injury onslaught we have suffered this year. That Portland has continued to play well, despite losing Oden, Pryzbilla, Outlaw, Batum, Fernandez, Roy, et al, is practically a miracle.

Houston Rockets?

 

[Kaydow]

Houston Rockets?

We are going to break their 2005 record of most games missed due to injury - it's already been decided (we can safely assume Oden & Pryz won't be back this season) Even if Travis & Roy came back tonight and nobody missed anymore games, the record is ours. Think about that - all time record.

And still 29-21.

 

[LOTBfan]

I would call 4-43 the season from hell personally, and I am glad we aren't having it.

 

[THE HCP]

It could have been a lot worse!

 

[BlazerCaravan]

While I do still consider it a "Bleak Winter" or a "Lost Season", there has been a lot of good to come out of it: there's talent in the late 1st round/early 2nd round, and we know now that KP can mine those veins of gold. This is good to know, because when uninjured, we'll be getting a lot of those late 1st round picks. Nate has learned to better accept players with established methods of working; we are now more likely to integrate well with a free agent or received player from a trade. We have learned who plays well together, in which roles, and why. Extra minutes (including starter's minutes for some otherwise warming the bench) gave the front office and coaching staff insights.

Look at how well we use Bayless now in late-game situations. Look at how well Howard has done, not only as a stop-gap player, but as a mentor. Without minutes, his rookies might not have learned so well or quickly. See how Nate no longer pulls players after one mistake or two fouls. He plays the hot hand more. The team is gelling, and in unexpected ways. Dante and Batum in the same lineup? That would never have happened without these injuries; we know now that Dante is a young Ime Udoka, and that he and Bayless are smothering without being foul-prone. They will likely be a great defensive pair without sacrificing offense.

There are so many positives to take out of what looked like a desolate proposition. I'm with Shooter: this has been a season that will be remembered, and not only for the injuries.

 

[e_blazer]

I've enjoyed watching the team overachieve this season. I think that it sucks that we haven't been able to see what this team could have done without the injury plague, but it's probably helped in the development of the young guys, so we may be better for it in the long run.

I'm not counting this a lost season at all. Frankly, with the improving injury situation (likely everybody back but Joel and Greg after the All-Star break) and the relative lack of truly dominating teams this year, I think that if KP can pull off a deal for a decent big man before the deadline there's no reason that the Blazers can't still make the playoffs interesting. The schedule looks pretty favorable in March, so if the Blazers can hang close through this month, getting homecourt advantage isn't out of the question.