The Importance of Thursdays Game

[Boise Blazer]

Maybe some of you will think its too early to say this but I think that Thursday's game is HUGE! We are coming off a what was a sloppy game at times with all those turnovers and we need to show that we can make adjustments, progress and get better. But more importantly we are playing the division rival that most of think will be the team we are competing for with for the NW Division title. It seems like the 2nd game of the season shouldnt be that important but just look at one loss to the Nuggets last year cost us. The 2nd seed and the outright NW title. Many of us believe that if we wouldve had the second seed we wouldve not only won in the first round but wouldve had a good shot in the second round too. Its important to set the tone with them now and get a heads up on the tie breaker. I dont think many of us think we will run away with the NW crown this year so this game takes on huge significance if not now then possible later in the year.

So hopefully the Blazers recognize this even though it would be real easy to chalk up a loss tomorrow to early season rust and say, "Well thats only game 2 and we have 80 more." Dont let this be the game that costs us a good seed or even homecourt advantage. These are the kind of games that contenders win.

Go Blazers! Its time to show the Nuggets who's division this is!

 

[alex42083]

Yep, you always want to win your division games. And we don't want to squander one at home and have to get one in Denver later if it comes down to a tiebreaker. It's going to come down to the final week of the season between the two teams, I think, and it'd be nice to get the first one of them.
And they come in on a back-to-back against Utah at their place, which will be nice.

 

[Mediocre Man]

I think you're right on. Thursday's game is a big one because

A. It's a home game
B. It's a game against a division rival
C. Denver is on the second night of a back to back

 

[hasoos]

I'm praying to the dark ones that Nate figures out the Blake and Miller on the court at the same time doesn't work. It didn't work in any of the pre season games, and it didn't work last night. Please stop running that lineup Nate. Please open your eyes and read the fortune cookies!

 

[Buzz Killington]

National TV game baby! Gonna watch it in a sports bar..hopefully i'll have a TV to the game while the rest of the bar watches the Yankees destroy the Phillies.

 

[Blazer_Hippie]

National TV game baby! Gonna watch it in a sports bar..hopefully i'll have a TV to the game while the rest of the bar watches the Yankees destroy the Phillies.

BOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Go Phillies!

 

[LittleAlex]

Every single game versus a division opponent is vital.

Last year Portland would have won the NW division had they not lost badly to a shit-tastic Thunder team in OKC.

I hope that is a lesson they learned from last year.

 

[RR7]

C. Denver is on the second night of a back to back

Which is likely the excuse some will use when we win. Well, sure, but they were on a back to back.

 

[BoBoBREWSKI]

We gotta win!
Denver wont have JR Smith and as a few of you have said they are playing on a back to back. But not just any back to back, they play on national TV tonight so their game wont get over until late. Then they have to drive 40 minutes from their arena to their airport and fly to PDX. They wont be here until early Thursday morning so hopefully they'll be nice and tired for our TNT game.

 

[oldmangrouch]

I'm praying to the dark ones that Nate figures out the Blake and Miller on the court at the same time doesn't work. It didn't work in any of the pre season games, and it didn't work last night. Please stop running that lineup Nate. Please open your eyes and read the fortune cookies!

Not to be a cynic, but running that tandem makes me wonder just how bad Rudy is hurting.

 

[Pinwheel1]

Not to be a cynic, but running that tandem makes me wonder just how bad Rudy is hurting.

Maybe he is easing him back. Miller, Blake, and Rudy all played the same amount of minutes. (Or within 45 seconds).

I agree. I see no other reason than that for having Blake in at the two over Rudy. (Unless a team is trapping us)