"Blazers Letting Season Slip Away"

[maxiep]

I have confidence in this team. I was a naysayer at the beginning of the year, but I'm not now. We've lost close games, we've lost tough games. No shit we've struggled with our very best player not 100%. He hasn't been 100% since the All-Star break.

We're not three headed monsters like most other teams. Aldridge completely defines how teams play us. If they don't need to worry about him, then we're pretty average. Lillard is great, but he doesn't fundamentally change the attack strategy of the opponent. Frankly, I don't think there is another high level team that is so dependent upon one player, with the exception of Oklahoma City and Durant.

LA will come back, he will work himself into rhythm and come the playoffs we'll be just fine.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

News flash, Blazers almost beat the reigning champs last night without LaMarcus on the court.

But maybe that's not so great an achievement given that...

and the Heat have just lost 7 of 12...

 

[RoyToy]

The season has already slipped away

Now we just wait for them to get slaughtered in the playoffs. The hopes of this being a special season was gone weeks ago.

They're 20-22 in their last 42 and they can't beat a playoff team in the west. That tells you all you need to know.

I watch the games with no emotion and don't care about the result. I just want the season to be over.

 

[noknobs]

and the Heat have just lost 7 of 12...guess they'll be firing their coach and trading their allstar too eh?

I was talking about making the playoffs, not sure how you arrived at firing their coach or trading their allstar...

At any rate, it's applies and oranges. If you go NBA.com and click on standings, you'll note there's a little 'x' next to Miami, which means they've already made the playoffs and are 9 games ahead of the 3rd seed... And given they were busy winning back to back championships while the Blazers were busy missing the playoffs entirely, I'd say they're a little more entitled to a slump than we are under the current circumstances. The Blazers should be picking it up, playing for their post-season lives, not finding new and creative ways to choke game after game away, or getting bitch-slapped for 48 minutes by Charlotte.

 

[Strenuus]

I was talking about making the playoffs, not sure how you arrived at firing their coach or trading their allstar...

At any rate, it's applies and oranges. If you go NBA.com and click on standings, you'll note there's a little 'x' next to Miami, which means they've already made the playoffs and are 9 games ahead of the 3rd seed... And given they were busy winning back to back championships while the Blazers were busy missing the playoffs entirely, I'd say they're a little more entitled to a slump than we are under the current circumstances. The Blazers should be picking it up, playing for their post-season lives, not finding new and creative ways to choke game after game away, or getting bitch-slapped for 48 minutes by Charlotte.

This. You earn your benefits of the doubts around these parts.

 

[noknobs]

I have confidence in this team. I was a naysayer at the beginning of the year, but I'm not now. We've lost close games, we've lost tough games. No shit we've struggled with our very best player not 100%. He hasn't been 100% since the All-Star break.

We're not three headed monsters like most other teams. Aldridge completely defines how teams play us. If they don't need to worry about him, then we're pretty average. Lillard is great, but he doesn't fundamentally change the attack strategy of the opponent. Frankly, I don't think there is another high level team that is so dependent upon one player, with the exception of Oklahoma City and Durant.

LA will come back, he will work himself into rhythm and come the playoffs we'll be just fine.

Unfortunately the team seems to have the same laid-back attitude as you. I got news for you. The teams right behind us, they're actually playing like the season depends on it, that's why they're not 3-7 in the last 10. Things aren't just going to magically fall into place, LA or no, unless they get back to playing like they have something to prove.

 

[maxiep]

The season has already slipped away

Now we just wait for them to get slaughtered in the playoffs. The hopes of this being a special season was gone weeks ago.

They're 20-22 in their last 42 and they can't beat a playoff team in the west. That tells you all you need to know.

I watch the games with no emotion and don't care about the result. I just want the season to be over.

Then fare thee well. We'll see you around these parts in November.

 

[maxiep]

Unfortunately the team seems to have the same laid-back attitude as you. I got news for you. The teams right behind us, they're actually playing like the season depends on it, that's why they're not 3-7 in the last 10. Things aren't just going to magically fall into place, LA or no, unless they get back to playing like they have something to prove.

Thanks for the "news". We'll see which one of us is right.

 

[riverman]

I was talking about making the playoffs, not sure how you arrived at firing their coach or trading their allstar...

At any rate, it's applies and oranges. If you go NBA.com and click on standings, you'll note there's a little 'x' next to Miami, which means they've already made the playoffs and are 9 games ahead of the 3rd seed... And given they were busy winning back to back championships while the Blazers were busy missing the playoffs entirely, I'd say they're a little more entitled to a slump than we are under the current circumstances. The Blazers should be picking it up, playing for their post-season lives, not finding new and creative ways to choke game after game away, or getting bitch-slapped for 48 minutes by Charlotte.

Tying a game with 8 seconds to play, coming back from 17 down in the 4th, having Dame take a charge from LeBron...I hardly call that a choke. Charlotte, yeah, that was ugly but I didn't see a white flag in Miami or the 3rd string ending the game. I thought last night they were playing for their post season lives.

 

[noknobs]

Thanks for the "news". We'll see which one of us is right.

You do realize I'm already right, right? If they change their approach to these games then I imagine they'll find more success. That wouldn't mean that nothing was wrong to begin with...

 

[maxiep]

You do realize I'm already right, right? If they change their approach to these games then I imagine they'll find more success. That wouldn't mean that nothing was wrong to begin with...

Golly, you're so fucking wise. My knuckle-dragging Neanderthal ways just can't comprehend your brilliance.

You can read minds...it's amazing!

 

[noknobs]

Golly, you're so fucking wise. My knuckle-dragging Neanderthal ways just can't comprehend your brilliance.

You can read minds...it's amazing!

Sorry for trying to inject a little reality into why the Blazers are sub .500 over the last several months. Wasn't anything personal.

Who needs to read minds when you can watch the team on the TV... What I've been watching the last several weeks isn't a team with a chip on their shoulder. Anyways, I've made my point and will bow out.

 

[maxiep]

Sorry for trying to inject a little reality into why the Blazers are sub .500 over the last several months. Wasn't anything personal.

Who needs to read minds when you can watch the team on the TV... What I've been watching the last several weeks isn't a team with a chip on their shoulder. Anyways, I've made my point and will bow out.

"Reality" is just a fancy word for "pessimistic". It's a bullshit term to pretend that you can somehow see what others cannot; somehow you see what's "real" and everyone else is deluding themselves. And it's not personal; I'm simply mocking you for your complete misunderstanding of how this team works.

Aldridge is everything to this team. He is the one player that cannot be matched. He's either too big or too quick. He alters the way teams play defense. It's no accident that our swoon began with his groin injury.

This team playing with a chip on its shoulder without LA is just an average team. Clearly, they lack confidence without him. Was that your insightful "news"? Because all I have to say in response is "No shit, Sherlock".

 

[Rastapopoulos]

The season has already slipped away
Now we just wait for them to get slaughtered in the playoffs. The hopes of this being a special season was gone weeks ago.
They're 20-22 in their last 42 and they can't beat a playoff team in the west. That tells you all you need to know.
I watch the games with no emotion and don't care about the result. I just want the season to be over.

Dude - you are like the Smiths song that voices my adolescent angst way more melodramatically than I could.

 

[oldmangrouch]

The downslide started well before LMA got hurt. Even with him on the court, Dame and Wes had lost their shooting consistency.

 

[maxiep]

The downslide started well before LMA got hurt. Even with him on the court, Dame and Wes had lost their shooting consistency.

And are you under the impression that it would have continued at this rate?

 

[noknobs]

"Reality" is just a fancy word for "pessimistic".

No, it's not. I don't think I'm pessimistic at all. This isn't in my mind, pretty sure it's happening here in reality. I think what I'm saying is fairly obvious, so when you say it's "to pretend that you can somehow see what others cannot; somehow you see what's "real" and everyone else is deluding themselves", I think you're just a tad too defensive. Simmer down. If I had lost all hope for the season I wouldn't be wasting my time on here.

And it's not personal; I'm simply mocking you for your complete misunderstanding of how this team works.

Thanks for mocking me in such an impersonal way... Your grasp of what 'personal' means is as impressive as your grasp of 'reality'.

 

[magnifier661]

There was a six game stretch in early March where we had no key injuries except Freeland and they went 2-4. All teams deal with injuries. We've had it pretty easy, that's just an excuse. This is about the guys on the court not playing the way they did early in the year, for God knows why. Now they're just finding ways to lose every time they take the court. I see no reason this death spiral won't continue since the pressure on them will only increase.

That 6 game stretch was brutal bro. We played all but one playoff team and played all 6 games in a 8 day stretch, with 2 back to backs. I don't see many other teams with that same grueling stretch.

 

[maxiep]

No, it's not. I don't think I'm pessimistic at all. This isn't in my mind, pretty sure it's happening here in reality. I think what I'm saying is fairly obvious, so when you say it's "to pretend that you can somehow see what others cannot; somehow you see what's "real" and everyone else is deluding themselves", I think you're just a tad too defensive. Simmer down. If I had lost all hope for the season I wouldn't be wasting my time on here.

Okay, so your position is if the Blazers REALLY cared, they could win any game they chose? My position is they are playing to their talent level right now, because they don't have their best player. And even when they did recently, he wasn't himself. As a result we field a team that is average and somewhat mercurial based on whether their shots are falling.

Thanks for mocking me in such an impersonal way... Your grasp of what 'personal' means is as impressive as your grasp of 'reality'.

My advice is to grow a thicker skin.

 

[noknobs]

Okay, so your position is if the Blazers REALLY cared, they could win any game they chose?

No...

My position is they are playing to their talent level right now, because they don't have their best player.

I understand that. I disagree. Do you understand that?

My advice is to grow a thicker skin.

So you're assuming I'm actually mad about you mocking me? I just thought it was funny you think mocking someone isn't personal... :MARIS61:

 

[maxiep]

I understand that. I disagree. Do you understand that?

So, because you disagree, you're just bringing a little "reality"? Hilarious.

And yes, grow a thicker skin if you somehow think losing LA and then bitching about how we're not winning isn't worthy of mockery.

 

[Kaydow]

The downslide started well before LMA got hurt. Even with him on the court, Dame and Wes had lost their shooting consistency.

This. But generally they haven't been getting the same looks. LA's hot start spread the floor perfectly. If he wasn't scoring, the ball was whipping around the perimeter for open shooters. Before LA hurt his groin teams started to defend us differently though, forcing LA off that left block. When he pops out & faces up now, there's always help when he takes a dribble and goes to the middle (only way he goes). Most nights he's able to get all of the 18'ers he wants, but everything else has become more difficult. If he's one dimensional, floor balance = hosed. Shots are contested, passing lanes close down. Forces us to play more "one on one". Shooting % naturally declines.

 

[noknobs]

So, because you disagree, you're just bringing a little "reality"? Hilarious.

And yes, grow a thicker skin if you somehow think losing LA and then bitching about how we're not winning isn't worthy of mockery.

You're pretty confrontational on here aren't you?

Is it not reality the Blazer are 14-17 in their last 31 games? Aldridge played in many of those games. So I was "trying to inject a little reality into why the Blazers are sub .500 over the last several months." It's still just my opinion, obviously, and I think it's pretty obviously correct, again just my opinion. Somehow you think that statement means I'm questioning your manhood, otherwise I have no idea why you're getting so bent out of shape over it. Maybe you need some fresh air?

 

[tlongII]

And the Blazers are getting smashed by Orlando tonight. 19-52 Orlando. It sure looks like they've given up to me.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

And the Blazers are getting smashed by Orlando tonight. 19-52 Orlando. It sure looks like they've given up to me.

I don't think they've given up. I think that (a) they weren't really as good as they looked at the beginning of the year, and (b) they've lost confidence. "Given up" implies that if they tried, they'd fix everything. I don't think they're that talented.

 

[tlongII]

I don't think they've given up. I think that (a) they weren't really as good as they looked at the beginning of the year, and (b) they've lost confidence. "Given up" implies that if they tried, they'd fix everything. I don't think they're that talented.

They don't need to be very talented to beat Orlando.

 

[tlongII]

At least Lopez is till working hard. The rest of the guys look like shit.

 

[BigGameDamian]

[video=youtube;gnxEt2L6Oy4]

 

[riverman]

Joel Freeland was a big part of keeping a lead when the bench came in..he's never discussed but he's missed and he was a big part of early season success. It's the 3pt shot that's hurting the team recently

 

[maxiep]

You're pretty confrontational on here aren't you?

Boy someone sure is all hot and bothered that someone is disagreeing with them. And you're pretty sure what "reality" is aren't you? I guess what happened before was all fake?

Is it not reality the Blazer are 14-17 in their last 31 games? Aldridge played in many of those games. So I was "trying to inject a little reality into why the Blazers are sub .500 over the last several months." It's still just my opinion, obviously, and I think it's pretty obviously correct, again just my opinion. Somehow you think that statement means I'm questioning your manhood, otherwise I have no idea why you're getting so bent out of shape over it. Maybe you need some fresh air?

Yay for cherry picking facts! If you think the Aldridge that played in those games was the same as the one we had earlier in the season, then I question your basketball knowledge.

You are under the impression I think you're questioning my manhood? What a bizarre conclusion And don't mistake rebuttal for getting bent out of shape. Which one of us is sensitive?

Like I said, grow a thicker skin.
Yay for cherry picking facts!