Blazers/Cavs Game Thread

[Masbee]

Yeah... it's difficult to be upset that James beat us down the stretch.

I'm not Outlaw's hugest fan in the world, but I don't blame him one bit for getting outplayed by James. It was like when Pippen chewed up and spat out Kersey back in the day. It doesn't mean that Outlaw is horrible merely because he's not as good as one of the best.

Ed O.

Outlaw has been in most of my trade proposals for years now. Clearly he is not part of my "core" Blazers, and I am not too fond of players that only do one thing well. That said, Travis did about as well as he could from the 4th on. Asking him to check LeBron at the end like that - when we all know Travis is a weak defender - is simply asking too much.

Add in that Travis gets called for a b.s. and crucial travel near the end of the game - can the officials honestly say with a straight face that not ONCE in the entire game did any Cav travel - and that Travis says the LeBron block was an uncalled foul - and a stacked deck against Travis in terms of talent and ability becomes even more stacked with a little hometown officiating.

 

[PapaG]

Outlaw has been in most of my trade proposals for years now. Clearly he is not part of my "core" Blazers, and I am not too fond of players that only do one thing well. That said, Travis did about as well as he could from the 4th on. Asking him to check LeBron at the end like that - when we all know Travis is a weak defender - is simply asking too much.

Add in that Travis gets called for a b.s. and crucial travel near the end of the game - can the officials honestly say with a straight face that not ONCE in the entire game did any Cav travel - and that Travis says the LeBron block was an uncalled foul - and a stacked deck against Travis in terms of talent and ability becomes even more stacked with a little hometown officiating.

Outlaw got hammered on that 3 pointer and Nate, to his credit, actually called BS on the travel. He then sighed and said that LeBron isn't going to called for a foul there. So much for the NBA's credibility...

 

[oldmangrouch]

Outlaw got hammered on that 3 pointer and Nate, to his credit, actually called BS on the travel. He then sighed and said that LeBron isn't going to called for a foul there. So much for the NBA's credibility...

That's twice. The last team to challenge the Cav's home win streak was Orlando. In that one, the Cavs got bailed out by a crucial, and "unusual" 3 second call on Howard.

Pure coincidence, I'm sure.

 

[tlongII]

Because if we don't, we'll still make the playoffs....

Screw just making the playoffs. I want HCA!

 

[Masbee]

Outlaw got hammered on that 3 pointer and Nate, to his credit, actually called BS on the travel. He then sighed and said that LeBron isn't going to called for a foul there. So much for the NBA's credibility...

I wouldn't say "hammered". Travis says LeBron got him in the wrist - and that's what it looked like.

On the flip side, they didn't call a foul on Pryz on the last play of regulation. Not that there was a foul. Just, with the MVP missing that shot, who would have been surprised if one was called? The refs did make the Cavs "earn" the win in overtime.

 

[crandc]

Losing in OT is always frustrating because of the "might have beens". One fewer missed free throw, the Blazers win. Roy's toe maybe 1" further back on the last play of regulation, 3 free throws. Or the 3 that was changed to a 2, correctly, again, 1" back and the Blazers win.

Sigh. It would sure have been sweet.

But as others are asking, would the refs then have called Joel for a foul on the last play of regulation?

I love Roy, I think he's going to be great, he's improved every year, he's shown himself to be a true leader. But clearly he is not - yet - at the level of LeBron James. In OT James strapped the team on his back and basically refused to lose. Three defenders and he shot over them. Roy is not yet there. But I have faith that in 2 years he will be.

 

[Masbee]

Losing in OT is always frustrating because of the "might have beens". One fewer missed free throw, the Blazers win. Roy's toe maybe 1" further back on the last play of regulation, 3 free throws. Or the 3 that was changed to a 2, correctly, again, 1" back and the Blazers win.

Sigh. It would sure have been sweet.

But as others are asking, would the refs then have called Joel for a foul on the last play of regulation?

I love Roy, I think he's going to be great, he's improved every year, he's shown himself to be a true leader. But clearly he is not - yet - at the level of LeBron James. In OT James strapped the team on his back and basically refused to lose. Three defenders and he shot over them. Roy is not yet there. But I have faith that in 2 years he will be.

I am sorry Crandc, as a huge Roy fan, Roy will NEVER be able to do that. Roy has just as much - if not more - will to win than LeBron. But, what LeBron is, is the most incredible combination of freakish body, amazing athletic ability and will to win. There is no way Roy can match a player who most likely ends up top 10 of all time.

Roy can't win games playing 1 on 5 basketball for long stretches. LeBron can. That is the difference. The Blazers are building a (hopefully) better TEAM than the Cavs - aka LeBron and the Pips. The Blazers are the TrailBlazers featuring Roy. Different approach.