Joe Freeman: "Makin' excuses"

[BrianFromWA]

If the EJECT button is my thought that we'll make the WCF playing like we are, with the lineups that we are, then yes, I'm close.

Your faith in the Coach is much higher than mine, at present. How can anyone have a reasonable conviction that, come playoff time, Nate will lead us to the Promised Land, when he's shown he's incapable of even putting a logical starting lineup on the floor? Or deviating from set substitution patterns? Or making his want (running more?) become a reality?

 

[LittleAlex]

The annoucers during the Utah massacre mentioned the team is the third youngest in the league.

What a fucking joke. Will they bust that out when Portland is the 15th youngest team in the league? Or will it change to Portland is one of the 10 oldest teams in the league?

I would have assumed a young team would come out with some energy instead of looking like they needed walkers on the floor.

 

[WillG]

What a crock, Tired? . . .Really?
Are these guys really that much of a bunch of pussies?. They're are all in their early twenties FFS, and being payed MILLIONS (hello motivation).

How about, atleast, showing some effort in exchange for P Allens $$'s.

 

[hasoos]

What ever happened to the Shawn Kemp days, when players would just "Powder" their energy!

 

[Minstrel]

it's insane for professional athletes to play hoops for 30 minutes every other day or so? Geez color me unimpressed. In my 20's I played hoops on pavement for hours most every day year round. I'm 42 now and still ride my bike or run pick up hoops for an hour plus at least that often. Am I insane?

No, but did you remain at your sharpest edge all the time? The issue is not that the Blazers are too fatigued to play...it's that they're fatigued enough to be slightly off their game. I think it's quite plausible. Obviously, you'd like them to "power through it," but it's not always possible. No matter how much they're paid or how well conditioned they are, there is a limit to how much one can do while remaining at peak skill level.

 

[yenniedn]

Out of curiosity, were you one of the people last year who thought everything was fine right up to the moment we got beaten with HCA in the first round of the playoffs?

And why is it that we have plenty of time and room to "peak", but somehow the other teams we'll be playing against don't?

You're correct--it's hardly time to eject. But, uh, if there are glaring weaknesses, what is your explanation to the reason why we shouldn't correct them now? Do you surmise that these weaknesses will be mitigated with our inevitable "peak"?

Uh, yes, everything was fine last year as far as where that team measured up to my expectation going into that season. Prior to the season, I didn't think that last year's team as it was built and with the experience level the players had any sort of realistic chance of winning 54 games and tying Denver for the Division title. So yeah, they got bounced in the playoffs - so what? Did you think they were going to win the title last year? The team last year far exceeded my expectations so, yes, everything was fine.

As for this year, everyone's expectations are understandably raised but it's still the same shit. This team, like every other team in the NBA, has good nights and bad nights. They even have good stretches and bad ones. They have to figure out how to incorporate new players like every other team. They have to figure out how to play well every night and to win every game possible. It is annoys the shit out of me the way people around here seemingly LOOK for every possible reason to bitch and moan.

I'm a fan - my team is going to do well sometimes and not others. I pay for tickets when they come to town and I chip in my couple hundred bucks for the League Pass each year - but I also realize whatever I say, do or hypothesize on an online forum has pretty much no effect on the outcome of their season. I guess to better fit in I'm going to root for more losses so I can panic too!?!?!?

 

[PapaG]

If the EJECT button is my thought that we'll make the WCF playing like we are, with the lineups that we are, then yes, I'm close.

Your faith in the Coach is much higher than mine, at present. How can anyone have a reasonable conviction that, come playoff time, Nate will lead us to the Promised Land, when he's shown he's incapable of even putting a logical starting lineup on the floor? Or deviating from set substitution patterns? Or making his want (running more?) become a reality?

His substitutions have been all over the map. Miller has even closed some games, yet Saturday night he plays 6 minutes. An odd criticism of Nate, and I have to include it when assessing your overall criticism of him.

 

[BrianFromWA]

I was speaking specifically about Oden's "rules" and the odd characteristic of inserting Blake and/or Miller into the lineup at just the times when Rudy or Webster is "hot". Obviously he changes them, since DC and JB didn't sniff the floor in the first 10 games and now are getting 2nd-quarter minutes.

Do you think that his substitution patterns have been an overall plus for the team's success? If not, then my criticism seems still to be spot-on. If so, I'd like to hear more about why you think so.

 

[PapaG]

I was speaking specifically about Oden's "rules" and the odd characteristic of inserting Blake and/or Miller into the lineup at just the times when Rudy or Webster is "hot". Obviously he changes them, since DC and JB didn't sniff the floor in the first 10 games and now are getting 2nd-quarter minutes.

Do you think that his substitution patterns have been an overall plus for the team's success? If not, then my criticism seems still to be spot-on. If so, I'd like to hear more about why you think so.

You mentioned "set" substitution patterns. I think Nate has been all over the map trying to find pieces that fit, and has been anything but "set" in doing so. He's even deviated from the Oden rule, hasn't he? I don't see how this difference in opinion makes yours "spot-on", other than some people think it is "spot-on" because it aligns with their own opinion.

 

[STOMP]

No, but did you remain at your sharpest edge all the time? The issue is not that the Blazers are too fatigued to play...it's that they're fatigued enough to be slightly off their game. I think it's quite plausible. Obviously, you'd like them to "power through it," but it's not always possible. No matter how much they're paid or how well conditioned they are, there is a limit to how much one can do while remaining at peak skill level.

I agree with all that, I'm not accusing them of tanking it. I do take issue with the idea that their schedule has been off the charts difficult/insane. Please They're young, relatively deep, and they've been playing a lot of patsies. Weak sauce.

STOMP

 

[boatsandstars]

I agree. The Blazers are a very young team, and playing every other day--especially with the depth they have--shouldn't be a problem. This is a bogus excuse.

Says the expert, err, message board troll. Just the person to take advice from, some dude, somewhere, with a keyboard. Way to go, tiger.