Game Thread GAME# 45: WIZARDS @ BLAZERS - JANUARY 24, 2015 - SATURDAY, 7:00 PM (PST), NBATV & CSNNW

[Strenuus]

I think blowouts are boring, the gutsy wins are much more fun to watch.

Having them be fun to watch is only good for us, it's a mental, emotional, and physical toll on them. It's good for later years, but for that current year, it can take a huge part of your energy and could potentially leave them depleted by the playoffs.

Not saying that it IS going to happen, but rest is ALWAYS good.

 

[jlprk]

KingSpeed, Riverman is trying to tell you that you have a nice-looking box.

 

[BBert]

The Meyers Leonard bandwagon is really filling up.

It's hilarious.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

The Meyers Leonard bandwagon is really filling up.

It's hilarious.

Pretty soon, he'll graduate from a short bus to a longer one!

 

[OneLifeToLive]

I think blowouts are boring, the gutsy wins are much more fun to watch.

I think blowouts are boring, the gutsy wins are much more fun to watch.

I think the point is, there are teams out there are winning a lot of their games with relative ease. by 15 to 20 points if not more. Referring to Golden State. Where a team like Portland is working for every one of their wins. It's going to take it's toll on them and they are going to be right back where they were last year.

They some how have find away to separate themselves. If it's even possible. They may not be that good.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

I think the point is, there are teams out there are winning a lot of their games with relative ease. by 15 to 20 points if not more. Referring to Golden State. Where a team like Portland is working for every one of their wins. It's going to take it's toll on them and they are going to be right back where they were last year.

They some how have find away to separate themselves. If it's even possible. They may not be that good.

Are teams? You mean "is a team". Because only one is doing it.

 

[OneLifeToLive]

Are teams? You mean "is a team". Because only one is doing it.

I'm referring to Golden State. Haven't paid much attention to the others. GS kind of sticks out.

 

[OneLifeToLive]

I'm referring to Golden State. Haven't paid much attention to the others. GS kind of sticks out.

And in Portlands case, I think it's harder on them because they dont have the depth. And it puts the pressure on the starters to be on all the time.

 

[magnifier661]

The Meyers Leonard bandwagon is really filling up.

It's hilarious.

I'm glad he turned me! I couldn't be happier

 

[KingSpeed]

I think the point is, there are teams out there are winning a lot of their games with relative ease. by 15 to 20 points if not more. Referring to Golden State. Where a team like Portland is working for every one of their wins. It's going to take it's toll on them and they are going to be right back where they were last year.

They some how have find away to separate themselves. If it's even possible. They may not be that good.

Back to where we were last year? You mean back in the second round with more experience and a better defense?

 

[KingSpeed]

And in Portlands case, I think it's harder on them because they dont have the depth. And it puts the pressure on the starters to be on all the time.

Don't have depth??? Have you paid attention? Aldridge has missed 7 or 8 games. Batum has missed 7 games. Joel has missed about that many at least. And Lopez has missed, what, 20 games? AND WE ARE STILL 32-13, 4th best record in the entire NBA! We have survived those injuries because of our depth. Crabbe, Barton, Wright, Freeland (before he got hurt), Robinson, Kaman, and Leonard have all had to start and we've continued to win games at a good clip. We are very deep.

 

[Blazinaway]

Mey

That was a really important rebound by DWright

yep, he played a really good game, great win!

 

[stampedehero]

Free burgers and coffee from any restaurant for our hero Meyers Leonard. Who would imagime ML gets fouled on a 3 pointer (lame foul but surely accepted) and makes all 3 foul shots to ignite the finish and seal for our team against the Wizards

 

[stampedehero]

Those are fans who don't like to play cards, just love shuffling the deck...over and over and over

Good analogy I'm new in here but quite active in my Ravens forum. Noticed 1971 on your title. That was my magic year and also a benchmark to ID my age. Old as dirt but still young at heart . I play guitar and bass as well when arthitis allows me Love Blues, funk, jazz and classic rock.

 

[magnifier661]

I think the point is, there are teams out there are winning a lot of their games with relative ease. by 15 to 20 points if not more. Referring to Golden State. Where a team like Portland is working for every one of their wins. It's going to take it's toll on them and they are going to be right back where they were last year.

They some how have find away to separate themselves. If it's even possible. They may not be that good.

In previous years there were other teams that easily blew out teams all regular season by double digits. Dallas and Phoenix years ago were the talk of the town, winning by double digits and having 60+ wins. How did they do in the playoffs?

I'm not saying Golden State won't be successful because they have stellar defense, but winning by double digits isn't the reason why a team will have success in the playoffs. It's having a "go to guy", great defense and excellent rebounding. Our team is top 5 in all of those categories. I like our chances

 

[OneLifeToLive]

In previous years there were other teams that easily blew out teams all regular season by double digits. Dallas and Phoenix years ago were the talk of the town, winning by double digits and having 60+ wins. How did they do in the playoffs?

I'm not saying Golden State won't be successful because they have stellar defense, but winning by double digits isn't the reason why a team will have success in the playoffs. It's having a "go to guy", great defense and excellent rebounding. Our team is top 5 in all of those categories. I like our chances

The point is we are expending a large amount of energy trying to pull EVERY game out. Like we did last year. How did we fair in the end?

 

[OneLifeToLive]

Don't have depth??? Have you paid attention? Aldridge has missed 7 or 8 games. Batum has missed 7 games. Joel has missed about that many at least. And Lopez has missed, what, 20 games? AND WE ARE STILL 32-13, 4th best record in the entire NBA! We have survived those injuries because of our depth. Crabbe, Barton, Wright, Freeland (before he got hurt), Robinson, Kaman, and Leonard have all had to start and we've continued to win games at a good clip. We are very deep.

I would say there is no point in making a deal then...

I would say that we could be better back there.

 

[Boob-No-More]

The point is we are expending a large amount of energy trying to pull EVERY game out. Like we did last year. How did we fair in the end?

About the same as OKC and MIA. We ran into a buzzsaw. We wouldn't have beat SAS last spring if all 5 of our starters had taken the entire month of April off to rest for the playoffs.

BNM

 

[magnifier661]

The point is we are expending a large amount of energy trying to pull EVERY game out. Like we did last year. How did we fair in the end?

Better than GS, Houston, Memphis and Dallas

 

[Boob-No-More]

I think the point is, there are teams out there are winning a lot of their games with relative ease. by 15 to 20 points if not more. Referring to Golden State. Where a team like Portland is working for every one of their wins. It's going to take it's toll on them and they are going to be right back where they were last year.

They some how have find away to separate themselves. If it's even possible. They may not be that good.

Would GSW be blowing teams out if they were missing 40% of their starting line up? Who knows, they have had at least 4 starters on the floor in every game this season. They have enjoyed the kind of health the Blazers enjoyed at the start of last season. GSW has lost a total of 14 starter-games (13 for Bogut and 1 for Klay - a 12-point loss to PHO) due to injury this season. The Blazers, so far have lost 43 starter-games due to injury.

And, in spite of our injuries, the team has more blowouts than you seem to give them credit for. Over half of our wins (17 or 32) have come by double digits. With all 5 starters in the line up, we are 15-6 with 8 double digit wins. With all the starters healthy, we've only had one game that was decided by a single possession (2-point win in DEN). As odd as it seems, given all the injuries, we've actually only had 3 games all season decided by 3 points (single possession) or less. Of course, that's misleading because games like the 3OT win over SAS actually ended up being a 10-point win (in a game where both teams were missing two starters).

Given the fact that we've been missing at least 1 starter in over half of our games (24 of 45 games) and two starters in 8 games, we're actually doing amazingly well.

Injuries happen and it's part of the game. Sure, it would be nice to add another quality veteran to our bench, especially someone who can score (Kevin Martin), but there isn't a team in the league deep enough to weather the injuries we've had and fare any better. Heck, at this point, OKC has missed fewer starter-games due to injury (37) than the Blazers (43), but they are barely .500 (22-21) and yet here we are 9 games ahead of them in the standings at 32-13. Oh sure, losing Durant and Westbrook is more significant than losing Lopez and Aldridge (or Batum), but we keep on winning while they've struggled just to get to .500.

BNM