A pattern... ?

[Ed O]

Byron Scott:

"Bottom line is that we just didn't play a hard enough game and didn't compete hard enough and they were just the better team tonight."

Michael Curry:

"They [the Pistons starters] put us in a hole that we never got out of, and when we put them back in, they didn’t do anything great. I’m a basketball coach — I shouldn’t have to be searching for energy."

I can't find them, but I would imagine there are quotes from Bulls and Heat and Kings about effort/energy, as well.

Are the Blazers just getting lucky with all of these teams being indifferent? Or are the Blazers capable of MAKING other teams look like they don't have energy?

It seems like the latter is more likely.

Ed O.

 

[yenniedn]

I WANT to post a reply - but your avatar is still intimidating me from doing so

 

[tlongII]

Biorhythmns. It must have something to do with that.

 

[fumanchu]

Until the Blazers are considered an elite team they are still going to take opponents by surprise much like the Hornets did last year. So I'm inclined to believe that we have benefited from our reputation as a lottery team and that some of our opponents aren't coming in with their A focus and effort. But once the league takes notice that they are for real that will change.

It might not matter though, this team is so talented, deep, athletic, heady, balanced, and well coached that they should be a wrecking ball against the best effort from any opposition.

 

[tlongII]

Until the Blazers are considered an elite team they are still going to take opponents by surprise much like the Hornets did last year. So I'm inclined to believe that we have benefited from our reputation as a lottery team and that some of our opponents aren't coming in with their A focus and effort. But once the league takes notice that they are for real that will change.

It might not matter though, this team is so talented, deep, athletic, heady, balanced, and well coached that they should be a wrecking ball against the best effort from any opposition.

I'm not buying that. I think the rest of the league is well aware of who we are.

 

[Ed O]

I WANT to post a reply - but your avatar is still intimidating me from doing so

Haha.

Is this better? You can see less of my face, so it's probably less irksome.

Ed O.

 

[Minstrel]

Haha.

Is this better? You can see less of my face, so it's probably less irksome.

Ed O.

Now you just look like a demon-ghost. White, invisible face...only your eyes can be seen.

 

[timmay]

Until the Blazers are considered an elite team they are still going to take opponents by surprise much like the Hornets did last year.

Read the post-game comments from the last few coaches. They're fully aware of what Portland's doing right now and have adjusted their game plans accordingly.

Portland is NOT sneaking up on teams anymore. That was last season.

 

[yenniedn]

Haha.

Is this better? You can see less of my face, so it's probably less irksome.

Ed O.

better . . . but still not nearly as good as TLongII's!!!

Who is that???

 

[Ed O]

Who is that???

Except MAYBE for certain neighborhoods in Seattle, it's difficult for me to compete with Jessica Alba

Ed O.

 

[yenniedn]

Except MAYBE for certain neighborhoods in Seattle, it's difficult for me to compete with Jessica Alba

Ed O.

LOL - San Francisco FTW!!!

 

[oldmangrouch]

Except MAYBE for certain neighborhoods in Seattle, it's difficult for me to compete with Jessica Alba

Ed O.

A friend told me they have a neighborhood up there refered to as the "Swish Alps." Is that for real, or was he just testing my gullibility?

 

[oldguy]

Byron Scott:
Michael Curry:
I can't find them, but I would imagine there are quotes from Bulls and Heat and Kings about effort/energy, as well.

Are the Blazers just getting lucky with all of these teams being indifferent? Or are the Blazers capable of MAKING other teams look like they don't have energy?

It seems like the latter is more likely.

Ed O.

I don't think the Blazers are getting lucky, they're that good. And, they're getting better by the game.

I didn't notice a lack of effort from the Pistons, but NO seemed sluggish. There were some extended periods where I thought the Pistons were making every hustle play. The guys played though it.

The Blazers play reasonably fast, (and getting faster.) They play a fairly physical game. They don't let up much, and they don't get rattled. When the starters sit, there's hardly a letup at any position.

Maybe they just suck the energy out of other teams?

 

[Paxil]

After the very beginning Detriot really came at us hard. They played like crap... but it wasn't for a lack of effort. How they didn't get called for more fouls is beyond me. I think we'd have beat them by 30 at home. There are unfortunately a lot of games like that in the NBA... where the bail out the home team on reputation. Great win by the blazers though. If they can play through that... look out.

 

[drexlersdad]

i remember remarking about this a year ago or so, but it seems like portland has a knack for holding other teams best players to low scoring/bad games. not sure if it is the gameplanning or what, but alot of other teams stars this year (yao/wade/iverson) have shitty days when we play them.

 

[Da_O]

i remember remarking about this a year ago or so, but it seems like portland has a knack for holding other teams best players to low scoring/bad games. not sure if it is the gameplanning or what, but alot of other teams stars this year (yao/wade/iverson) have shitty days when we play them.

Paul was also below his season averages against us.

 

[Ed O]

A friend told me they have a neighborhood up there refered to as the "Swish Alps." Is that for real, or was he just testing my gullibility?

Haha... I hadn't heard that, but Capitol Hill is the most prominent gay neighborhood, so maybe that's what the cool kids are referring to it as these days (or maybe it's an old name, or maybe it's an un-PC name... I dunno).

Ed O.

 

[hasoos]

Now you just look like a demon-ghost. White, invisible face...only your eyes can be seen.

Its ok, the Demon-Ghost like to party, and are actually pretty good folks.