Exclusive Blazers Loss to Thunder Cuts Deep

[Chris Craig]

https://www.blazersland.com/blazers-loss-to-thunder-cuts-deep/

 

[stampedehero]

Donovan planted Steven Adams 10 feet from the rim which was a situation Stotts should have addressed. I don't like OKC and this loss is especially painful.

 

[Orion Bailey]

Bad loss, but seeing Dame holding his kid after the game kinda made me feel the players dont feel the pain we are.

 

[chris_in_pdx]

Bad loss, but seeing Dame holding his kid after the game kinda made me feel the players dont feel the pain we are.

If I was making umpteen millions of dollars to play a game regardless of whether I won or lost... I might get over it pretty quick, too.

 

[Orion Bailey]

If I was making umpteen millions of dollars to play a game regardless of whether I won or lost... I might get over it pretty quick, too.

That might be you...and most NBA players.

I don't think that's Dame and if he did get over it quick, I fully believe it isn't because he is saying to himself, who cares, I got paid....Its because he believes they can bounce back quickly.

Dame is elite and wants to win, i'm sure he is his own worst critic like most successful people.

Your post is not Dame. Sorry.

 

[Hoopguru]

Bad loss, but seeing Dame holding his kid after the game kinda made me feel the players dont feel the pain we are.[/QUOTE
When your 20 plus years old and Multi Multi millionaires playing their passion, how sweet bad can it be. Dame has already went on record stating their more to the game than Championships.

 

[chris_in_pdx]

Dame is elite and wants to win, i'm sure he is his own worst critic like most successful people.

Which is why I am almost certain that he will not finish his career in a Trail Blazers uniform.

 

[Chris Craig]

Which is why I am almost certain that he will not finish his career in a Trail Blazers uniform.

It'll be a sad day to see him play for another team

 

[Hoopguru]

Bad loss, but seeing Dame holding his kid after the game kinda made me feel the players dont feel the pain we are.

When you were that age and competitive you shake it off and wait tell next game. Remember, a good part of Dames success is mental as he's been against odds & haters his whole life. He knows that its menatl preparation and aspect for him gives him more controlled effort. Even in the pro's when guys lose it emotionally on or of the court they tend to regress in the production.
I played ball with great competitors and players (when their head was straight) that when they had a hard loss or messed up on the field, they threw their little tantrum, tizzy fit and took themselves right out of game form, always.

 

[Rhal]

It was not a fun game to lose but it doesn't make or break the season. Unfortunately such an important game comes after a 7 game road trip, that is just asking for a letdown. If this is a team that wants to go deep into the playoffs then more importantly then this loss is how they show up the next few games. Do we come out and underestimate PHX and lose or do we take care of business at PHX then come home and take care of the Clippers and NO.

 

[crandc]

What hurt was the feeling it was self inflicted. Blazers missed a lot of free throws, ar least seven not counting the hapless kid tapped to shoot for Nurk,and lost their cool. Could Nurk really think head butting would be missed or ignored? Get a rep as a guy who loses it and opposing players will bake from here to eternity.

 

[Binx]

It was not a fun game to lose but it doesn't make or break the season.

It was a telling loss. The fact that we still can’t beat OKC, even after adding Hood and Kanter, is sobering. Even at home, with a great crowd and wanting to beat the Thunder at least once this year, we couldn’t do it. Even with Lillard scoring 51, we couldn’t do it.

 

[CupWizier]

If I was making umpteen millions of dollars to play a game regardless of whether I won or lost... I might get over it pretty quick, too.

You aren't given the players much credit. I would bet that majority of players play the game for the competition. It's how athletes are wired.

 

[KingSpeed]

https://www.blazersland.com/blazers-loss-to-thunder-cuts-deep/

That loss didn’t cut deep to me at all. It was a hard fought game and either team could’ve won. I don’t come out of that game thinking we can’t compete with them in the playoffs. All the games were close. It’s doubtful they’ll beat us 8 times. The good news is that they have no answer for Dame and that is bad news for them in the playoffs. Also- run the article past a proofreader. There’s a random parentheses in the first paragraph and you say advance instead of advantage. Relax. 17 more games plus playoffs. Long way to go. This game will be meaningless next month. Did it matter that we beat Pelicans in reg season last year? No. OKC sweeping us means nothing come playoff time.

 

[Drttimmy]

It was a telling loss. The fact that we still can’t beat OKC, even after adding Hood and Kanter, is sobering. Even at home, with a great crowd and wanting to beat the Thunder at least once this year, we couldn’t do it. Even with Lillard scoring 51, we couldn’t do it.

I haven't really feared the Thunder in years. Perimeter oriented team whose best player is more stud athlete than stud basketball player. But Paul George is a different player this year attacking the paint, and I think he's usurped the best player on the team title from Westbrook. They're different than the past few years, when we could count on Westbrook or even Durant chucking highly contested 20 footers to close games. They get a lot shots in the paint now and, to me, that's largely Paul George's doing. I hate to say it, but they've definitely closed the gap on us and make a strong case to being better than us. Can't help but wonder what we'd look like if Olshey had acquired him. He's pretty much exactly what we need.

 

[Orion Bailey]

You aren't given the players much credit. I would bet that majority of players play the game for the competition. It's how athletes are wired.

Almost impossible to get to that level without an ultimate competitive edge that provides the drive to be the best.
Yes some get paid and cash out mentally, but not Dame.

 

[Dom McBlazer]

Given how Westbrook was wanting the crowd to boo him, I wonder if this loss cut @Boob-No-More .

 

[Chris Craig]

That loss didn’t cut deep to me at all. It was a hard fought game and either team could’ve won. I don’t come out of that game thinking we can’t compete with them in the playoffs. All the games were close. It’s doubtful they’ll beat us 8 times. The good news is that they have no answer for Dame and that is bad news for them in the playoffs. Also- run the article past a proofreader. There’s a random parentheses in the first paragraph and you say advance instead of advantage. Relax. 17 more games plus playoffs. Long way to go. This game will be meaningless next month. Did it matter that we beat Pelicans in reg season last year? No. OKC sweeping us means nothing come playoff time.

Thanks for your opinion. I agree we can compete with them. Beating them in a series is going to be tough. George wasn't at his best with his injury. Though the Blazers weren't at their best either. Good point with Dame. That haven't been able to stop him. A good sign. If we face them in the playoffs we will have to see how they adjust to that.

Im gonna be really relaxed after the Blazers destroy Phoenix tonight. I almost feel bad for them.

 

[cityofroses]

Given how Westbrook was wanting the crowd to boo him, I wonder if this loss cut @Boob-No-More .

Whatever happened to him

 

[Orion Bailey]

Whatever happened to him

​

 

[CupWizier]

Wow, if we win tonight we will be tied with OKC. After reading some of the posts i would have never thought that possible.

 

[Rhal]

It was a telling loss. The fact that we still can’t beat OKC, even after adding Hood and Kanter, is sobering. Even at home, with a great crowd and wanting to beat the Thunder at least once this year, we couldn’t do it. Even with Lillard scoring 51, we couldn’t do it.

It wasn't that telling of a loss. It was a loss after coming home on a 7 game road trip. That is a game that is almost always lost by the home team. You could call this loss, and some were, the moment the schedule came out. We also didn't have our 2nd best player for OT. Its not like this was a straight up ass whooping or something like that.

 

[cityofroses]

​

Did he die?

 

[Orion Bailey]

Did he die?

He left with annoyance at the forum noting me as icing on the cake.
I was having some fun mocking a couple people who mock others with stupid threads. Id change history if it brought him back. Was a huge fan.
Sorry for the loss.

 

[Driew]

It was a telling loss. The fact that we still can’t beat OKC, even after adding Hood and Kanter, is sobering. Even at home, with a great crowd and wanting to beat the Thunder at least once this year, we couldn’t do it. Even with Lillard scoring 51, we couldn’t do it.

I'm still not too worried it was the first game back from a long road trip and those first games back from a long road trip are usually the hardest games to win.

 

[Orion Bailey]

I'm still not too worried it was the first game back from a long road trip and those first games back from a long road trip are usually the hardest games to win.

“More important things than winning championships.”

Like first born babies and families that you cNt wait to get back too.

Dame is our superman but he is also human. I cant blame a man or a team (dame culture) that might be distracted first game back from a long road trip. There ARE more important things than the NBA.

 

[hoopsjock]

Wow, if we win tonight we will be tied with OKC. After reading some of the posts i would have never thought that possible.

1) They have the tiebreaker so being tied with them doesn't help. Plus we're screwed in a 3-way tie with OKC involved too because the 0-4 against them pretty much solidifies us as losing 3-way tiebreakers.

2) Instead of being tied if we took care of Memphis and OKC we'd be 2.5 games clear of them with a win tonight. Maybe you started doing common core math recently but being up 2.5 games is way better than being tied without the tiebreaker. I'm not sure why you can't seem to realize how much more of a struggle it is battling for position instead of being ahead of the pack.

 

[CupWizier]

1) They have the tiebreaker so being tied with them doesn't help. Plus we're screwed in a 3-way tie with OKC involved too because the 0-4 against them pretty much solidifies us as losing 3-way tiebreakers.

2) Instead of being tied if we took care of Memphis and OKC we'd be 2.5 games clear of them with a win tonight. Maybe you started doing common core math recently but being up 2.5 games is way better than being tied without the tiebreaker. I'm not sure why you can't seem to realize how much more of a struggle it is battling for position instead of being ahead of the pack.

Not sure why you think I am so math challenged as I am far from math challenged but really don’t think the snarky comment was necessary as that’s how posts go sideways. I am well aware that 2.5 games up is better than tied, but that wasn’t possible after the Memphis game. As for your scenario regarding beating Memphis and OKC, we can’t just take back games and make them wins as you would have to extend the same courtesy to OKC as well and then it becomes an unrealistic scenario. Heck, we can take the “if” action all the way back to the first of the season for both teams and say what if we won about a lot of games. That doesn't really accomplish anything does it?


I always thought this season was going to be a grind and a very competitive dog fight to the very end. My goal at the beginning was wanting to make the playoffs and hopefully get the HC in the first round. Naturally I would like us to finish 2nd and as it stands it is still realistic although it won’t be easy but with 2 head to heads with Denver opens the possibility much more. We are also in a very good position to get HC so right now I am happy. I always refer to the post season as a new season and I am excited to see how it plays out and look forward to watching all the games during the playoffs as everyone is 0-0.

 

[hoopsjock]

Not sure why you think I am so math challenged as I am far from math challenged but really don’t think the snarky comment was necessary as that’s how posts go sideways. I am well aware that 2.5 games up is better than tied, but that wasn’t possible after the Memphis game. As for your scenario regarding beating Memphis and OKC, we can’t just take back games and make them wins as you would have to extend the same courtesy to OKC as well and then it becomes an unrealistic scenario. Heck, we can take the “if” action all the way back to the first of the season for both teams and say what if we won about a lot of games. That doesn't really accomplish anything does it?


I always thought this season was going to be a grind and a very competitive dog fight to the very end. My goal at the beginning was wanting to make the playoffs and hopefully get the HC in the first round. Naturally I would like us to finish 2nd and as it stands it is still realistic although it won’t be easy but with 2 head to heads with Denver opens the possibility much more. We are also in a very good position to get HC so right now I am happy. I always refer to the post season as a new season and I am excited to see how it plays out and look forward to watching all the games during the playoffs as everyone is 0-0.

You probably shouldn't call other people's posts snarky when you specifically called out posts that made it seem like a tie was impossible.

I am mad about the last two games because of the difficulty factor in trying to leap teams versus being the frontrunner. You call out those posts as negative even though I made them at the time of each game. Now you are saying I can't change the past? No shit! That is why I am frustrated.

 

[kjironman1]

I had a little time today. So i did my thing and actually went full speed into standings and projected outcomes. I just don't have that kind of time much anymore.
I did research on pretty much all 8 current playoff teams in the western conference. One thing that stands out the most is what we have now is probably what we will get. The Spurs are pretty solid into the eighth position and the Kings are 4 games back. I highly doubt Sacramento will catch San Antonio, The Clippers or The Jazz. Where it gets murky is 3rd seed to 8th seed.
Portland actually has a pretty favorable schedule for the rest of the season and the way they handled the road trip helped them tremendously. The Thunder are currently on a 4 game trip and they still need to play Utah after that loss last night in LA. Here is where it gets tough though. They go home for a one game turnaround against the Nets who are trying to stay in the mix in the east. That is their trap home game and they have to jump right back on a plane to play Indiana the following night. then they go back home to play the Warriors. A good gauge as to how they stack up is how they do on that game as it will be about the same kind of thing Portland just did against the Thunder. Playing the return game at home after a tough stretch. Much like the Thunder were here they will face the Warriors well rested. The Thunder are by no means a lock for home court. By the end of next week they could be 2 games back of Portland easily.

Houston is by far the team playing the best ball going 7-1 since the break. And they have a decent schedule also. Portland has no more games against Houston. But both OKC and GS do have games against them. Something tells me the Rockets are going to get that 3rd seed.

From my look it will be #3 Houston #4 Portland #5 OKC #6 Clippers #7 Utah #8 Spurs

This is a little deviation from where they are now but not much. As far as 1-2 go Portland could help GS quite a bit. I'm sure they want the #1 seed. I also feel Portland will be needing victories against teams like Denver as well as payback against the Mavs, Memphis. They need to win the games they should be favored in and play tough against the rest. Finish this season strong and they will get that 4th seed. I think they will need it against the Thunder.

I know a lot don't think the Thunder are a good matchup but that is where it looks to me like they will end up. To me it's a good thing! Go get that tough first series and get battle hardened. If they can't get by OKC they have no chance getting by either the Warriors or Denver. But if they do????? The sky is the limit!. Old guys like me remember winning a championship. It was no cakewalk in the early rounds. It will not be a cakewalk in the first round for any team this year in the Western Conference.

Go Blazers!
Kjironman is a fan!!!