Blazers now have lost four of seven

[Nikolokolus]

Even though our record kind of sucks lately, I'm actually liking a lot of what I see out there. Good defense, good ball movement, Aldridge being aggressive in the post, Matthews doing well at both ends, Batum averaging 16 ppg.

Portland wins that Utah game if they don't get really hot on three pointers.

I think the team is struggling right now because they still haven't firmed up their identity in the fourth quarter. They seem to be looking for Roy to take over even though he isn't suited up.

Only 2 of their next 7 opponents are quality playoff teams. If the Blazers go 5-2 like they should, or get a little lucky and go 6-1, there will be a lot less panic around here.

Plus, it seems like Camby starts out the game dominating at the center position, but just kind of tapers off as the game goes along (and maybe his old legs give out). I can't wait for Przybilla to come back and take some of the load off of him.

I feel pretty strongly that this is indeed the case. What's really killing them is that when things tighten up, they just don't have a player that scares another team into committing a double team, and as we all know most teams don't really start to play defense until the final frame (with a few exceptions).

The other big thing is that despite the improved perimeter defense, players are having to over-rotate to compensate for the lack of size in the middle, which exposes them to teams that actually quickly and decisively move the ball leaving open shooters on the weakside.

If Joel really is back to close to 100% of what he used to be then I think he's going to do a lot to shore up the defensive holes we have in the middle, and as for the offense it's really going to take somebody on this roster showing that they can force a team to double them AND still get theirs at a high percentage, the best bet appears to be Aldridge. If not, then they have to hope that Roy can give them something, or they'll probably have to try and work a trade.

 

[Nate Dogg]

We now have lost the last 8 of our 13! Yeeehaw!!