Here's what I think.....
1) Dame has ALWAYS had a problem going up against guys with length; and especially those with length who can keep up with him. These guys can do that, and more. Craig is looking like the next great Defender in this league, and he uses his size very well, as does Murray and Harris (or was it Beasley....?). This is intimidating to Dame. Denver isn't OKC. They don't have a headcase leader, and they play as a team with multiple guys who can step up.
Murray’s very good but that injury to Nurk has changed everything about how Portlands playing defense and Murrays been the guy who has taken advantage of it.
This. Big time.
2) Dame came into this series expecting it to be either easy, or consistent and fair with the calls.....and this series is neither of those things. He, as well as the rest of the team, needs to put their big boy pants on and stop worrying about the calls. Play the fucking game YOUR WAY. Don't play it to the expectations of what the refs may or may not do.
Dame had a brief problem with this against OKC, but then once he realized that he could use his skill to outplay Westbrick and Company, he stopped worrying about calls and started PLAYING the game HIS WAY. And you see the result.....he ended that series with the best game of his career.
The refs are doing us no favors, but playing this kind of style isn't doing the Blazers any favors either. They need to just fucking PLAY, and play their way. And if the calls don't happen, then that sucks, but it's a moving tank battle....not a nuclear war.
