Game 5 *IS* the series.

[chris_in_pdx]

The Blazers can't win a Game 7 in Dallas. So it's pretty much Game 5. The Blazers will then have Game 6 in their pocket.

 

[maxiep]

Agreed. It's highly unlikely we would win a Game 7 in Dallas, so Game 5 is it.

 

[TripTango]

Unless it's not.

 

[magnifier661]

Well the way things are going in this series, anything is possible. I'm just not gonna quit on this team.

 

[Minstrel]

Portland can win game 7 in Dallas. Dallas is far from a great home team. And if you believe in "clutch" or "intangibles," Dallas doesn't appear to have them. Portland just needs to grab one of games 5 or 7. And, of course, hold serve in game 6.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

The Blazers can't win a Game 7 in Dallas. So it's pretty much Game 5. The Blazers will then have Game 6 in their pocket.

Didn't today's game teach you anything?!?

When it comes to this team never say never!

Or can't.

 

[3RA1N1AC]

http://twitter.com/#!/jadande

jadande J.A. Adande
And if you don't think Dallas is shooting 50 free throws in Game 5 and coming back to Portland up 3-2, u haven't been watching NBA very long
3 hours ago

ugh, i dont want to think abut that

 

[KingSpeed]

Chris- you already said we couldn't win Game 4 during the third quarter tonight. Have you learned nothing? Whether we win or lose, Game 5 is not the series. Game 5 is Game 5. Important but not an elimination game.

 

[yenniedn]

Chris- you already said we couldn't win Game 4 during the third quarter tonight. Have you learned nothing? Whether we win or lose, Game 5 is not the series. Game 5 is Game 5. Important but not an elimination game.

What . . . the . . . Hell? Eric being the voice of reason?

Next thing you know you're going to try to tell me that we'll come back from 23 down with about 14 minutes of gametime to win a playoff game! Get outta here with that craziness - so far fetched I can't even believe the premise.

 

[Natebishop3]

I'm still scared because this fits the NBA formula. Stern wants to maximize the value of the series, that's the whole point of going to a seven game series in the first place, so I have a feeling it will go seven games (because let's face it, the Nugs/Thunder game is a snore fest and nobody cares much about the east outside of Chicago, Miami, Orlando, and Boston)

 

[PHXBlazer1]

Dallas has a history of choking in the playoffs. They choked bigtime today. That being said, we're still the underdogs in this series. I cried tears of joy today on several occasions, but we're still only tied 2-2. I really hope we can keep the momentum going from today and strike while their confidence is low, but it's not gonna be easy. Get this win! GO BLAZERS!

 

[KingSpeed]

Dallas has a history of choking in the playoffs.

Unfortunately, we do too.

 

[alex42083]

It'd sure be pretty sweet to have a series clinching Game 6 here. But all in all, you can make a case for any playoff game as a must win.

 

[Natebishop3]

It'd sure be pretty sweet to have a series clinching Game 6 here. But all in all, you can make a case for any playoff game as a must win.

Well ya, but a game seven in a hostile environment is extremely difficult to win.

 

[chris_in_pdx]

Well ya, but a game seven in a hostile environment is extremely difficult to win.

That's why I'm thinking it's make or break on Monday.

 

[Natebishop3]

That's why I'm thinking it's make or break on Monday.

Definitely need to snatch away the HCA from them, otherwise I think we're toast.

 

[RoyToy]

That's why I'm thinking it's make or break on Monday.

No surprise to see you're back on the bandwagon. Surprised you're even here after reading some of the game thread.

 

[Minstrel]

Well ya, but a game seven in a hostile environment is extremely difficult to win.

I think any playoff game in a hostile environment is extremely difficult to win. I'm unconvinced that game 7 is harder than game 5.

 

[chris_in_pdx]

No surprise to see you're back on the bandwagon. Surprised you're even here after reading some of the game thread.

Most of my in-game posts are a sort of therapy. I hope for the best and expect the worst at the same time. I whine and complain and bitch and moan and use this place as a sort of buffer to protect my emotions and psyche. That way if they lose, I can claim some sort of detatchment, that I "called it" and "expected nothing else". However, I know that win or lose, I'll be back tomorrow. I liken it to battered spouse syndrome.

 

[3RA1N1AC]

Most of my in-game posts are a sort of therapy. I hope for the best and expect the worst at the same time. I whine and complain and bitch and moan and use this place as a sort of buffer to protect my emotions and psyche. That way if they lose, I can claim some sort of detatchment, that I "called it" and "expected nothing else". However, I know that win or lose, I'll be back tomorrow. I liken it to battered spouse syndrome.

that sucks man, dont do that anymore

 

[Natebishop3]

I think any playoff game in a hostile environment is extremely difficult to win. I'm unconvinced that game 7 is harder than game 5.

Oh man... I don't know.... Do you think a game 7 in Portland wouldn't be any more intense? I just have to think that it would be, knowing our fans.

 

[MARIS61]

One game is pretty much like another.

 

[Minstrel]

Oh man... I don't know.... Do you think a game 7 in Portland wouldn't be any more intense? I just have to think that it would be, knowing our fans.

Not really. What would fans do extra? I think Dallas has experienced the Rose Garden as intense as it gets, especially during that fourth quarter, and I think Portland will experience Dallas' crowd as intense as it gets in Game 5. The key is to win two of three...since I doubt Portland wins two straight road games in the playoffs, that basically means winning game 6 at home and one of either game 5 or 7. I think they'll both be of equal difficulty.

 

[B-Roy]

Not really. What would fans do extra? I think Dallas has experienced the Rose Garden as intense as it gets, especially during that fourth quarter, and I think Portland will experience Dallas' crowd as intense as it gets in Game 5. The key is to win two of three...since I doubt Portland wins two straight road games in the playoffs, that basically means winning game 6 at home and one of either game 5 or 7. I think they'll both be of equal difficulty.

I think there's a lot more mental pressure in a game 7 than a game 5. Especially when you know you're not on your homecourt.

 

[Minstrel]

I think there's a lot more mental pressure in a game 7 than a game 5. Especially when you know you're not on your homecourt.

I think the added mental pressure is on both teams. While being on the road is always added pressure, I don't think it amplifies the "game 7 pressure."

 

[DUB]

I'm still scared because this fits the NBA formula. Stern wants to maximize the value of the series, that's the whole point of going to a seven game series in the first place, so I have a feeling it will go seven games (because let's face it, the Nugs/Thunder game is a snore fest and nobody cares much about the east outside of Chicago, Miami, Orlando, and Boston)

Spot on.

Every game has been refereed in favour of the home team.

As much as we're all ecstatic about Roy's 4th quarter, remove the emotion; we fucking blew in game 4, and the refs helped to get us back in it.

This was everyone's upset tip, or "series to watch"; the NBA needs this to go to at least 6.

My only hope is that now we've got the meaningless first 4 games out of the way, the rest of the series will be refereed fairly.

 

[B-Roy]

I think the added mental pressure is on both teams. While being on the road is always added pressure, I don't think it amplifies the "game 7 pressure."

We'll agree to disagree, but I think there's definitely more mental pressure on the road team in a closeout game.

 

[Paxil]

I think we could win a game 7 just as we can win a game 5. The positive thing is that we really haven't played that well and we are still tied. If we put one decent game together in game 5 or 7 if it gets there... then 2nd round here we come.

 

[BlazerBeav]

My hope is that we finally get a breakout game from GW tonight. He hasn't been able to get really going at the offensive end for whatever reason to this point, and that would be a new dynamic for Dallas to have to deal with.

 

[3RA1N1AC]

i would love to see lma go to the post all game and get at least 10 FT, get their bigs in foul trouble, and just straight up fucking take this shit over