Fools gold victory

[Mediocre Man]

I'm not trying to have a Mixum moment or anything but .......

That win against the Raps was a total fools gold win, and hopefully the Blazers see that.

A lot of the fouls Oden normally gets weren't being called

Our offense once again really struggled until Brandon Roy took over.

Toronto had the worst game plan I have seen all season against us. No one attacked Greg, and they didn't double quick enough.

Toronto missed a lot of open shots. Rice made the comment that the Blazers "dodged a bullet" several times last night.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Last night was a tale of two halves. The first half, most of everything you are saying is true, in the second half the team played the best defense I've seen in a month.

I don't think anybody is thinking this team has arrived at the promised land, but last night was a good win against a team that is desperate to get a little traction.

 

[drexlersdad]

another person who thinks we should dominate every minute of every game or else there is a problem of monumental proportions.

we won.

thats what happens when you score more points than the other team.

 

[hasoos]

No I agree with him, this was a fools gold victory. You could see many of the problems that were there previously, it was just a bad team. It is really obvious that Portland needs to work on getting the ball into the paint, and becoming an outside-in team instead of the other way around. You are never going to win in playoff basketball being a jump shooting team, which Portland is right now. This is also the reason we are getting raped on fast break points allowed (lots of long rebounds) and why Greg isn't getting involved into the game as much. Until they figure that out, it will be rough.

 

[Sug]

There is only one fool in this thread...I know who it is, but I cannot tell you. It will tell you soon though, it is BIG!

 

[The_Lillard_King]

I don't get the fools gold idea.

The victory was a home game against a bad team. I don't see anyone blowing it out of proportion saying this game show the Blazers have arrived or anything like that.

Blazers sucked it up in the second half and got the victory in the 4th quater . . . I don't think that strateegy will win against better opponents . . . but against the Raptors it was enough.

Let's hope they step it up against the Celtics.

 

[alex42083]

Do other teams not get any credit on this board or does the NBA just revolve around the Blazers? Give me a break with this fool's good stuff. Sure, we're not playing perfect basketball but damn, it's only December. There's only one team playing the best right now and that's Cleveland IMO. Boston and LA have shown a few kinks in their armor the past week or so.
If our 50 wins are all fool's good, I'll take it.

 

[DaRizzle]

I'm not trying to have a Mixum moment or anything but .......

You failed miserably

 

[C_note]

....whine, cry, complain...

Rice says that EVERY TIME the opponents miss an open shot. I guess with those cynical blinders on, you didn't notice the Blazers were missing A LOT of shots early on, and in the 1st half Toronto was nailing jumpers from everywhere...20 foot fadeaways and such. I agree with the general sentiment on this board though. If we aren't winning every game by 40 points, then let's trade half the team away until we do. Seems like a reasonable course of action to me.

 

[Boob-No-More]

Geez, we win by 13 and people are disappointed? Seriously?

A little perspective folks:

Last Season the Blazers won a total of 6 games by 13 or more points.

So far this season, through 31 games (38% of the season) they've won 7 games by 13 or more points. And we still haven't even played the two worst teams in our conference. We have still have 8 games left on the schedule against Memphis (5 - 24) and Oklahoma City (3 - 28).

Personally, I find it a bit foolish to be disappointed in a 13-point win regardless of the opponent.

BNM

 

[rocketeer]

a win is a win and a loss is a loss. there is no fools gold.

 

[oldmangrouch]

The Blazers won this game because all of the theoretical "big 3" had a good game at the same time. If that is "fools' gold" that can't be replicated....we're boned.

 

[DaRizzle]

Hey guys...how about that 10 point qtr you guys held the Raptors to...that was pretty impressive!

 

[Pinwheel1]

Well I agree that our weaknesses were not corrected. But I do give Toronto credit int he first half they shot very well. I have heard over and over and fucking over how great Bosh is....... so when he shoots lights out in the first half it was because of the Blazers bad defense? Also they were on fire from beyond the arc. If teams are hot they are hot. Just like the Blazers were in November. There is no excuse for leaving a good 3 pt shooter wide open, but if it is contested and he makes it, hats off to the shooter. the won't fall forever (usually)

As for our offense.....we still need one more player on the floor with Brandon that can attack the basket. (PG or SF) No doubt in my mind. But we had good movement before Brandon took over. Then it got stagnant. But it worked. Catch 22. Do you want to take the ball out of his hands when he is hot? Does Miami or the Lakers do that when their star players are hot? I hear what you guys are saying though. Brandon waved off screens last night when he was feeling it. And last night it was the right thing to do. But we do need one more "attacker" out there.

 

[MARIS61]

The same can be said of Boston's win over us, or just about any game in the NBA.

There's always room for improvement, but let's not start with any "half-baked" trade ideas (pun intended).

BAKE IT!

 

[Paxil]

Shit... you're right. Let's phone the league and have them give the Raptors a win. A win is a win is a win. One point, played great, played like shit... refs handed it to us... so what... they all count as one W. Nothing carries over. No Ws are worth more than others. Sometimes you play bad and the other team worse.

Last night the Blazers were competing against the Raptors... not someone's expectations.

 

[julius]

Hey guys...how about that 10 point qtr you guys held the Raptors to...that was pretty impressive!

Nope, sorry. This team is destined to be a lottery bound doormat for as long as Nate McMillan is the coach. Duh?

 

[THE HCP]

Nah dogg, here is some fool's gold!!!!!!!

 

[SnakeOiler]

There is only one fool in this thread...I know who it is, but I cannot tell you. It will tell you soon though, it is BIG!

So true. Sadly.

 

[crowTrobot]

So far this season, through 31 games (38% of the season) they've won 7 games by 13 or more points. And we still haven't even played the two worst teams in our conference. We have still have 8 games left on the schedule against Memphis (5 - 24) and Oklahoma City (3 - 28).

you mean minnesota is 5-24, and we've played and beat them twice. memphis who we haven't played yet is 10-20, playing pretty well right now, and has the same record we do in their last 10 games.

 

[drexlersdad]

Shit... you're right. Let's phone the league and have them give the Raptors a win. A win is a win is a win. One point, played great, played like shit... refs handed it to us... so what... they all count as one W. Nothing carries over. No Ws are worth more than others. Sometimes you play bad and the other team worse.

Last night the Blazers were competing against the Raptors... not someone's expectations.

 

[Boob-No-More]

you mean minnesota is 5-24, and we've played and beat them twice. memphis who we haven't played yet is 10-20, playing pretty well right now, and has the same record we do in their last 10 games.

Yes, you're right. I was looking at Minnesota's record when I thought I was looking at Memphis'

Still the Grizz only have three wins against 0.500 teams all season and have been beaten by double digits in 10 of their 20 losses. They are 2 - 12 on the road with 9 double digit defeats. They are a worse team than the Raptors we beat by 13 last night.

We also have'vt played any of the Eastern Conference's four worst teams at home this year.

My point was we already have more blow out wins this season than all of last, and have many more potential blowouts against weaker teams remaining on our schedule.

BNM

 

[Kaydow]

Last night wasn't fools gold, it was exactly who we are right now.

A talented young team that loses defensive focus and shows poor execution at times (first half)

When Brandon Roy goes off the 4th quarter, we usually win (at least when we at home) and
when he doesn't . . .

We fed the post more and had more points in the paint than we've had recently
(didn't settle for as many jumpers)

We played a 12-18 team at home and we won, like we should. Our poor defense is going
to allow most teams to stay in the game with us, so I'm not suprised Toronto was in the game
or had the lead several times.

 

[crowTrobot]

My point was we already have more blow out wins this season than all of last, and have many more potential blowouts against weaker teams remaining on our schedule.

we're also 0-7 vs. western conf. playoff teams on the road and with a little less luck could easily be 3-3 or worse against them at home. you could say there are signs both ways.

 

[BBert]

Last night wasn't fools gold, it was exactly who we are right now.

A talented young team that loses defensive focus and shows poor execution at times (first half)

When Brandon Roy goes off the 4th quarter, we usually win (at least when we at home) and
when he doesn't . . .

This is what I was thinking during the game. Sometimes, teams play 'over their heads.' Like during our 13-game winning streak last season. Sometimes, teams play below their ability (like the Clippers game or some of the games at the end of our grueling early season schedule when our guys were just worn out). It sucks when it happens (to us).

Against Toronto, I thought the Blazers were pretty much showing exactly who they are. The Blazers are good, but inexperienced, and they have lapses. They had a few against Toronto (including some ugly sequences in the second half); luckily Toronto helped us by missing shots. Our inexperience especially shows against the experienced teams -- that's why, imo, we lost to Dallas. And got killed by Boston. They owned us because of their experience. The experience will come. And we'll still be good.

 

[julius]

This is what I was thinking during the game. Sometimes, teams play 'over their heads.' Like during our 13-game winning streak last season. Sometimes, teams play below their ability (like the Clippers game or some of the games at the end of our grueling early season schedule when our guys were just worn out). It sucks when it happens (to us).

Against Toronto, I thought the Blazers were pretty much showing exactly who they are. The Blazers are good, but inexperienced, and they have lapses. They had a few against Toronto (including some ugly sequences in the second half); luckily Toronto helped us by missing shots. Our inexperience especially shows against the experienced teams -- that's why, imo, we lost to Dallas. And got killed by Boston. They owned us because of their experience. The experience will come. And we'll still be good.

I sometimes get the feeling that some fans don't understand that things don't happen over night. Sure, Boston won 41 more games than they did the year before, but they also had a long period of really poor basketball.

It takes time, and we're ahead of schedule (realistically).

 

[Mediocre Man]

I sometimes get the feeling that some fans don't understand that things don't happen over night. Sure, Boston won 41 more games than they did the year before, but they also had a long period of really poor basketball.

It takes time, and we're ahead of schedule (realistically).

Being ahead of schedule and seeing glaring weaknesses that have not been corrected in over 2 years are two different things.

We are a horrible perimeter defensive team. Nothing about that has anything to do with lack of experience. It has to do with coaching schemes and players wanting to play defense.

We have a very poor offensive flow. Our EFF is pretty high because Roy saves us a lot, but in reality there is little movement and we are fairly easy to defend. We don't get a lot of easy baskets or points from the line either.

We have a few players that hit the boards hard, or in LMA's case block out well, but others don't have a clue about how to rebound.

 

[Paxil]

We have a lot better offensive flow than a few years ago. We seem to move the ball great now. What I think you may be saying is that we don't dribble the ball around a lot on our offense and in that sense... yeah... we don't have a lot of flow. I'm sure Nate wants passing instead of dribbling to cut TOs.

Rudy moves amazing without the ball... but a lot of the other players seem to want to stand on the perimeter. The penetrate and kick has worked damn well for us though.

Another thing I think we have improved on is running. The first few years Nate didn't want the team to run really. At that stage in their development I think he just didn't want the turnovers and wanted to focus on half court execution. It was ugly... but they did learn to execute. Now they push it whenever they can and I think it is really helping the team. No... we are not a super running team... but it does wear down defenses, and when we have a deeper bench I think it is to our advantage.

Are we a finished product ready to challenge for a championship? No. Playoff team? Very close. Personally I think a very good team in the west will miss playoffs. Hope it isn't us. We still have not had a single game this year with our projected 5 starters (Blake, Roy, Webster, Aldridge and Oden) They may have played in one game... but they didn't start. So for that reason alone, while I think we do need some more pieces... I would not make a trade. I need to see all the pieces together first.

 

[Mediocre Man]

We have a lot better offensive flow than a few years ago. We seem to move the ball great now. What I think you may be saying is that we don't dribble the ball around a lot on our offense and in that sense... yeah... we don't have a lot of flow. I'm sure Nate wants passing instead of dribbling to cut TOs.

Rudy moves amazing without the ball... but a lot of the other players seem to want to stand on the perimeter. The penetrate and kick has worked damn well for us though.

Another thing I think we have improved on is running. The first few years Nate didn't want the team to run really. At that stage in their development I think he just didn't want the turnovers and wanted to focus on half court execution. It was ugly... but they did learn to execute. Now they push it whenever they can and I think it is really helping the team. No... we are not a super running team... but it does wear down defenses, and when we have a deeper bench I think it is to our advantage.

Are we a finished product ready to challenge for a championship? No. Playoff team? Very close. Personally I think a very good team in the west will miss playoffs. Hope it isn't us. We still have not had a single game this year with our projected 5 starters (Blake, Roy, Webster, Aldridge and Oden) They may have played in one game... but they didn't start. So for that reason alone, while I think we do need some more pieces... I would not make a trade. I need to see all the pieces together first.

Our team passes a lot, but it's not to cutters, it's to jump shooters. Quite frankly that hasn't been a very good model of success.

As for penetrating and dishing....when?

Improved running? We are dead last....AGAIN in fast break points.

Deeper bench? It has been said by a lot of "experts" that you win with your top 8 guys. Having a deep bench means shit in reality.

But whatever. I get that I am alone on this one.

 

[Minstrel]

Being ahead of schedule and seeing glaring weaknesses that have not been corrected in over 2 years are two different things.

We are a horrible perimeter defensive team. Nothing about that has anything to do with lack of experience. It has to do with coaching schemes and players wanting to play defense.

We have a very poor offensive flow. Our EFF is pretty high because Roy saves us a lot, but in reality there is little movement and we are fairly easy to defend. We don't get a lot of easy baskets or points from the line either.

We have a few players that hit the boards hard, or in LMA's case block out well, but others don't have a clue about how to rebound.

We're near the top in pretty much all offense rankings, and among the best rebounding teams. If those are "glaring weaknesses" on the team, you may have to live with the Blazers having glaring weaknesses in all facets of the game for your entire lifetime.

As for defense, no real arguments. I think our interior defense is better than our perimeter defense, but that isn't saying a ton.