Great. Miller's given up on the team.

[KingSpeed]

"Anything can happen in the playoffs, but I know for certain with the way the league is, no team wants to face the Lakers in the first round," Miller said. "Because they are going to advance, regardless of how well you play, just because of the way the market is."

Listen guys. It is HIGHLY likely that we will be playing the Lakers in the first round so let's get used to the idea and get excited about it. Or we can act like our FUCKING STARTING POINT GUARD WHO HAD ONE FUCKING ASSIST LAST NIGHT and concede the series two weeks before it begins. Great. That's not the kinda shit I like to hear. Sounds like a jaded old loser who has been in the league 10+ years and never won a round in the playoffs so why should he bother trying. Horrible.

You can't win a series like this if you don't believe it in your gut from the beginning. I'm not liking this at all.

And Batum's already scared of the Jazz. Ridiculous. The whole point of the playoffs is to win the championship and if you're a champion, you should be willing to face anyone. It's not about winning a playoff series and then patting yourselves on the back. It's about proving you the best and holding the trophy up in the air.

 

[craigehlo]

He's a realist. There's zero chance we beat the Lakers right now. Hell, taking them to 7 seems like a stretch if they are playing solid defense.

 

[MickZagger]

Listen guys. It is HIGHLY likely that we will be playing the Lakers in the first round so let's get used to the idea and get excited about it. Or we can act like our FUCKING STARTING POINT GUARD WHO HAD ONE FUCKING ASSIST LAST NIGHT and concede the series two weeks before it begins. Great. That's not the kinda shit I like to hear. Sounds like a jaded old loser who has been in the league 10+ years and never won a round in the playoffs so why should he bother trying. Horrible.

You can't win a series like this if you don't believe it in your gut from the beginning. I'm not liking this at all.

And Batum's already scared of the Jazz. Ridiculous. The whole point of the playoffs is to win the championship and if you're a champion, you should be willing to face anyone. It's not about winning a playoff series and then patting yourselves on the back. It's about proving you the best and holding the trophy up in the air.

Do you have trichotillomania?

 

[anonymous gambler]

I think he's saying that the fix is in- no way the zebras let la lose early

 

[axs88]

fuck this thread, go post your over the top bullshit about yi, blatche or the bucks winning it all.

 

[KingSpeed]

He's a realist. There's zero chance we beat the Lakers right now. Hell, taking them to 7 seems like a stretch if they are playing solid defense.

A realist? Realists don't win in the playoffs. You gotta have heart. The 2004 Lakers were heavily favored, starting 4 future Hall of Famers but the Pistons disposed of them in 5 games. The 2007 Dallas Mavericks won 67 of their last 78 regular season games (yes 67 of 78) but the Warriors bounced them out in the first round in 6 games. The 1994 Sonics had the #1 seed and a 2-0 first round lead, but the Nuggets (thank god, they weren't "realists") came back and won the series.

It is not CRAZY to think we can beat the Lakers. The Lakers have been playing bad basketball lately and we have always played well against them. Yes, they took one from us in the Rose Garden this season but Roy didn't play that game. When we had Roy, we whupped them.

Our leader (Miller, the point guard) should have this belief in our team and it appears he doesn't.

 

[axs88]

Or we can act like our FUCKING STARTING POINT GUARD WHO HAD ONE FUCKING ASSIST LAST NIGHT

Sure, why not blame the loss on Miller who was our best player. How about our "fucking" starting SHOOTING guard who SHOT fucking 3-13.

You're worse than mixum. Actually, I take that back, since that's probably your goal.

 

[KingSpeed]

I think he's saying that the fix is in- no way the zebras let la lose early

Yea, but that's defeatist thinking. I mean the league wanted Cleveland in the Finals but the Magic found a way to get there. The league never wants the Spurs to win titles, but they've won 4 in the last 11 years. You can't go into a series believing you have no chance and then expect to win.

 

[KingSpeed]

Sure, why not blame the loss on Miller who was our best player. Why not our "fucking" starting SHOOTING guard who SHOT fucking 3-13.

You're worse than mixum. Actually, I take that back, since that's probably your goal.

Miller had 1 assist. He was never looking for his teammates. He started the game shooting 1 of 8 when he should've been trying to figure out how to get everyone else going. He got to the line yes but then he couldn't make a decent percentage when he got there. It was a bad game for Miller.

 

[craigehlo]

Miller had 1 assist. He was never looking for his teammates. He started the game shooting 1 of 8 when he should've been trying to figure out how to get everyone else going. He got to the line yes but then he couldn't make a decent percentage when he got there. It was a bad game for Miller.

It's funny you mention "heart" in this thread then try to pin this loss on Miller. He was one of the few guys out there playing with pride. Roy, LMA and Batum certainly weren't.

W/o Miller we were are discussing who we are drafting in the lottery, not who we want to face in the 1st round.

 

[WillG]

Miller had 1 assist. He was never looking for his teammates. He started the game shooting 1 of 8 when he should've been trying to figure out how to get everyone else going. He got to the line yes but then he couldn't make a decent percentage when he got there. It was a bad game for Miller.

Because Miller is a Vet.
Roys shot wasn't falling and everyone else was standing around like retards, so he took it upon his own shoulders to keep the Blazers in the game. I'm sure he would have had assists had anyone else been playing with the same intensity as he did.

The game would never have been as close as it was for as long as it was without Miller out there.

Edit: Agree with CraigEhlo above.

 

[KingSpeed]

It's funny you mention "heart" in this thread then try to pin this loss on Miller. He was one of the few guys out there playing with pride. Roy, LMA and Batum certainly weren't.

W/o Miller we were are discussing who we are drafting in the lottery, not who we want to face in the 1st round.

He's been great in a lot of ways yes, but we did get 54 wins without him last season.

 

[KingSpeed]

Because Miller is a Vet.
Roys shot wasn't falling and everyone else was standing around like retards, so he took it upon his own shoulders to keep the Blazers in the game. I'm sure he would have had assists had anyone else been playing with the same intensity as he did.

The game would never have been as close as it was for as long as it was without Miller out there.

Martell's head was screwed on straight from the moment he entered the game. He was active and Bayless got him two quick dunks. Then he sank a three. Then Miller came back in and even though Webster was WIDE OPEN and clearly in one of his good zones, Miller would not give him the ball. On several occassions, Martell would be open and instead of giving him the ball, Miller would force up some horrible looking shot that had no chance of going in. It was sad to watch. If Miller got it going with Martell like Bayless did, we would've won the game going away.

P.S. Miller's a Vet who has never won a playoff series. And it sounds like he's already given up on this year.

 

[WillG]

You've got to be joking.
Martells head is never screwed on right. (basketball wise)

He looked just as lost as ever for the majority of the game.

 

[KingSpeed]

You've got to be joking.
Martells head is never screwed on right. (basketball wise)

He looked just as lost as ever for the majority of the game.

Wrong. He came out. Got two quick dunks. Blocked Carmelo. Was constantly moving and working to get open. And made 4 of his first 5 shots. Last night, Lost= Batum. Webster was completely dialed in to the game at hand. If he ever looked "lost" it was you seeing him WIDE OPEN while Miller ignored him.

 

[craigehlo]

Yes, not letting Martell jack up 15 3-pointers was the reason we lost the game.

It had nothing to do with our complete lack of defense or non-isolation offense.

 

[KingSpeed]

Yes, not letting Martell jack up 15 3-pointers was the reason we lost the game.

It had nothing to do with our complete lack of defense or non-isolation offense.

We lost the game because we couldn't shoot straight. So why not give the ball to the one shooter who was hitting??? He shot 6 of 9!!! When Martell is having a good game, you get him the ball!

 

[KingSpeed]

And you know what really gets me about Miller's quote? He should have a FIELD day against the Lakers. Farmarr and Fisher can't cover him at ALL. If anyone should be believing that we can beat the Lakers, it should be Miller.

 

[STOMP]

He's saying the same things a lot of fans (including me) have said based on Donaghy and umpteen years of playoff observation... it's fixed. Thats why a large percentage of the fans have tuned out the league and it regularly is compared to pro wrestling. Fisher and Farmar can't cover Andre, but they will flop and be rewarded just like every other year. This is just an extension of Stern's star system which he openly trumpets as good for the league

STOMP

 

[bobf]

Do you have difficulty with reading comprehension? It was a statement about NBA reffing and darling-favoritism, not about lack of confidence in his team. Maybe a tactical shot to try to get semi-fair treatment from the refs in the event that we do face LA.

 

[axs88]

Do you have difficulty with reading comprehension? It was a statement about NBA reffing and darling-favoritism, not about lack of confidence in his team. Maybe a tactical shot to try to get semi-fair treatment from the refs in the event that we do face LA.

Also, maybe some motivation not to coast the rest of the season now that our playoff spot is locked up. Better get a higher seed or we will go out in 5 versus America's favorite team.

 

[BGrantFan]

Martell's head was screwed on straight from the moment he entered the game. He was active and Bayless got him two quick dunks. Then he sank a three. Then Miller came back in and even though Webster was WIDE OPEN and clearly in one of his good zones, Miller would not give him the ball. On several occassions, Martell would be open and instead of giving him the ball, Miller would force up some horrible looking shot that had no chance of going in. It was sad to watch. If Miller got it going with Martell like Bayless did, we would've won the game going away.

P.S. Miller's a Vet who has never won a playoff series. And it sounds like he's already given up on this year.

I agree with Miller not getting a hot Webster the ball. I noticed it last night. I'm not going to kill Miller for it, though. He saw Brandon struggling and decided to try and force his will offensively. Probably not the best choice last night in retrospect, but the way the Blazers played "defense", I don't think anything would have mattered.

What an extremely frustrating game to watch. Not once did I feel the Blazers were going to win it, so I'm willing to give Miller a pass, since he probably noticed the piss-poor defensive effort as well.

 

[Blaze01]

Is this a joke?

Yeah...that is what he meant...he is giving up if POR faces the Lakers in the 1st round....Seriously I cannot believe you posted such a ridiculous topic....

Oh and BTW, he has some historical perspective to back his case...Unless you think #1 seeds lose to #8 seeds all the time.....

 

[Nikolokolus]

Man, talk about taking a quote out of context ... then again, I'm pretty sure KS did this mostly to get people riled up.

 

[MIXUM]

millers right... if we get la in round 1... its over before it starts.

i think our only hope is dallas or maybe utah. lakers and denver will smash us to pieces

 

[Blaze01]

I think we can win a few games against DEN and UTA at home, but so far this team has not shown ANY ability to beat Utah or Denver on the road, which is pretty much required to advance.....

 

[hasoos]

I think we can win a few games against DEN and UTA at home, but so far this team has not shown ANY ability to beat Utah or Denver on the road, which is pretty much required to advance.....

Maybe we can get through one round by cutting Diener, and signing Mike Tyson, start him against Utah, and have him punch Darrin Williams in the gnards as hard as he can the first play of the series!

 

[TripTango]

millers right... if we get la in round 1... its over before it starts.

i think our only hope is dallas or maybe utah. lakers and denver will smash us to pieces

 

[hasoos]

Denver is a totally different team at home than on the road. Don't let that fool you. I see Denver going 7 with whoever they play because of it, every series.

Folks relax. How many games in the playoffs are going to be the back end of a back to back in Denver. Fuck man it's hard enough to play at that altitude without it being back to back. The Blazers were in that game for 3 quarters, and would have been ahead had some players sacked up and hit their shots. All it takes is a slightly different scenario to get a W there.

 

[Rhal]

Theres a giant difference between the conference finals, the finals, and the first round. The lakers are the biggest franchise in the NBA... they are expected to win the WCF and the NBA would lose a lot of viewers if the lakers are ousted in the first round. Plus their reputation will pretty much make all the calls go to the lakers in the first round. When was the last time that the lakers lost in the first round when they made the playoffs?