Advantages With Roy Gone

[STOMP]

In the playoffs last year, Andre averaged 21 ppg, 5 assists and 6 rebounds. He's going to have to put up pretty similar numbers if we want to even be competitive.

close... 31, 8 & 5

Camby needs to pull in 15 rebounds pretty much every game, continue to hit his top-of-the-key jumper, and stay out of foul trouble on Amare.

17 boards, several top of the key jumpers and just 2 fouls... of course Amare was the one who fouled out

I'd be a lot more optimistic about this series with Roy. There's always a chance, but I'm not that optimistic

how about now?

box score

STOMP

 

[The Professional Fan]

close... 31, 8 & 5

17 boards, several top of the key jumpers and just 2 fouls... of course Amare was the one who fouled out

how about now?

box score

STOMP

You know, I'd love to be as confident as you are WRT our team. I always pegged you as a curmudgeon. I was wrong.

 

[EGame]

Well it seems Bayless plays well when Roy is out. That proved so tonight. Would be great if he continues it too because I don't expect much from Rudy.

 

[STOMP]

You know, I'd love to be as confident as you are WRT our team. I always pegged you as a curmudgeon. I was wrong.

I've never been called curmudgeonly before but okay

This club is largely made up of guys I was a fan of before they became Blazers. I absolutely love defensive frontcourt players and openly pined for both Aldridge and Batum well prior to their drafts and have admired Camby's play since he was at UMass going up against Timmy D. I've been comparing this frontcourt favorably to Detroit's a few years back. Last spring I was one of many here who was crossing their fingers that Andre would be the FA target. It follows that in the preseason my guesstimate was for 60+ wins... thats the sort of talent I think is in place.

Guess what I think of the no D Suns roster?

STOMP

 

[HailBlazers]

D-FENCE

 

[mook]

close... 31, 8 & 5

17 boards, several top of the key jumpers and just 2 fouls... of course Amare was the one who fouled out

how about now?

box score

STOMP

Lol. I should be writing those "keys to the game" things at the beginning, huh?

I really didn't think the Blazers could win this. It's not that I don't like the team--it's just that I have so much respect for what Roy does.

I'm definitely now sold that this series is more than winnable for the Blazers.

 

[STOMP]

Lol. I should be writing those "keys to the game" things at the beginning, huh?

I really didn't think the Blazers could win this. It's not that I don't like the team--it's just that I have so much respect for what Roy does.

I'm definitely now sold that this series is more than winnable for the Blazers.

it's obvious that the club's success hinges on your keys to the game... that and MIXUM's spot on predictions

I value Roy's game quite a bit too, but against the Suns I see Andre as a more then adequate replacement to make things flow on offense. They have no one who matches up well on him so he can collapse the D and get PDX's many shooters looks. Foul trouble and/or incredibly hot Suns shooting is about the only thing I see prolonging this series

STOMP

 

[mook]

it's obvious that the club's success hinges on your keys to the game... that and MIXUM's spot on predictions

I value Roy's game quite a bit too, but against the Suns I see Andre as a more then adequate replacement to make things flow on offense. They have no one who matches up well on him so he can collapse the D and get PDX's many shooters looks. Foul trouble and/or incredibly hot Suns shooting is about the only thing I see prolonging this series

STOMP

If Portland could force Phoenix to score only 43 points in a half every game, this would be a sweep. I don't really see that happening, though.

I'm still not as optimistic as you. Phoenix is such a hot-shooting team. Whenever they take a three I feel like it's going in. Hell, on the last play where Nash drove up and took a desperation three, while the ball was in the air I was already wondering how the Blazers would handle choking away game 1 in overtime. lol.

Maybe I just have a big psychological barrier about believing in the Blazers in the playoffs. Can you blame me though? It's been a pretty futile experience since the 2000 Western Conference semi-finals.

 

[RR7]

Hell, on the last play where Nash drove up and took a desperation three, while the ball was in the air I was already wondering how the Blazers would handle choking away game 1 in overtime. lol.

I was imagining him hitting that shot, but was also picturing Miller going coast to coast to win it for us. Felt confident going into last night's game, and throughout. Knew Miller would be able to do his thing. Was a great win.

 

[STOMP]

Maybe I just have a big psychological barrier about believing in the Blazers in the playoffs. Can you blame me though? It's been a pretty futile experience since the 2000 Western Conference semi-finals.

no I can't blame you as a fan... I'm a nervous wreck during big games like this pacing, clapping, yelling, and consuming everything in my fridge like an industrial grade garbage disposal. But keep in mind while the laundry remains the same, these are mostly a different collection of guys then we've seen before. Miller Camby LA and Batum didn't lose in the WCF a decade back... hell Nic wasn't even a teenager. Also, this is as good a matchup for Portland as Houston was bad.

looking forward to game 2

STOMP

 

[Mediocre Man]

The "advantages" of not having Roy are this

1. We run more. I don't mean we turn into the NY Warrior Suns, but like Doug Collins said last night, we run when we get the opportunity. With Roy, we seem to hold up a lot more, and not take advantage of the easy baskets as much.

2. The team seems to have much better ball and player movement without Roy. Brandon is a great player, but I think the team stands around too much when he is on the floor. Without him, they seem to cut, and pass a lot better.

3. We make the entire opponent play better defense, and not just one guy. This sort of goes back to point number 2, but without Roy, players like Batum and Miller look to score more.

 

[Draco]

Roy needs to take a look at our success without him in the lineup and see if he can synergistically merge those attributes with his skill set. If he can learn to get other players involved more and defer to teammates for longer stretches it could improve our offense while allowing Roy to spend more energy on defense.

Hopefully Roy gets excited about the teams success and thinks about how he can add a little bit here and there to elevate the group. Some players start feeling sad that the team isn't completely depended on them to win.

 

[BGrantFan]

I'm as excited as anyone about the win, but it's one fucking game. We'll need Bayless (or Rudy), Batum, and Miller to play like this every game, and I don't think they can. It's going to be a long series. I still think we'll win in 6 games, but Bayless, Batum, and Miller played about as well as they could, and we still only won by 5.

 

[RR7]

I'm as excited as anyone about the win, but it's one fucking game.

Well, we can only win one at a time.

 

[BGrantFan]

Well, we can only win one at a time.

I suppose I should have quoted the poster I was answering.

 

[Minstrel]

I'm as excited as anyone about the win, but it's one fucking game. We'll need Bayless (or Rudy), Batum, and Miller to play like this every game, and I don't think they can. It's going to be a long series. I still think we'll win in 6 games, but Bayless, Batum, and Miller played about as well as they could, and we still only won by 5.

Aldridge hitting a few more open shots would make up for Miller not producing at this level. I think Batum and Bayless can keep it up. Bayless can play better...he had a nice sequence, but wasn't dominating all game long or anything.

 

[BGrantFan]

Aldridge hitting a few more open shots would make up for Miller not producing at this level. I think Batum and Bayless can keep it up. Bayless can play better...he had a nice sequence, but wasn't dominating all game long or anything.

Bayless concerns me the most. He can play better, but I'm not counting on him for 18 points on only 10 shots every night. Rudy is the one who needs to step up, considering that he's starting and that he has played in pressure-packed games in Europe and in the Olympics.

Anything from Bayless is a bonus, IMO. I'll add to you post this: PHX won't get 17 offensive rebounds every game this series.

 

[HailBlazers]

Roy needs to take a look at our success without him in the lineup and see if he can merge those attributes with his skill set. If he can learn to get other players involved more and defer to teammates for longer stretches it could improve our offense while allowing Roy to spend more energy on defense. Hopefully Roy gets excited about the teams success and thinks about how he can add a little bit here and there to elevate the group.

Right On. I think Roy needs to modify his game so he doesn't have to work so hard, were gonna need him for the long haul.

 

[Erroneous Subterfuge]

Roy needs to take a look at our success without him in the lineup and see if he can synergistically merge those attributes with his skill set. If he can learn to get other players involved more and defer to teammates for longer stretches it could improve our offense while allowing Roy to spend more energy on defense.

Hopefully Roy gets excited about the teams success and thinks about how he can add a little bit here and there to elevate the group. Some players start feeling sad that the team isn't completely depended on them to win.

By my calculations we're now 9-9 without Roy. By my further calculations that would mean we have a better record with Roy. So I don't understand your comment. Are you saying Roy should figure out how to make us a .500 team? I don't like that idea.

 

[maxiep]

You can run on Phoenix (their transition D is pretty terrible), you just can't get lulled into playing no defense on them and thinking that you can just outscore them.

Especially when you miss wide open dunks.

 

[THE HCP]

We are still a better team with Brandon. I can't believe I have to actually type this out!