This Is NOT A Playoff Team

[ABM]

As reality would have it, the current team, as-is, doesn't make the playoffs.

Sorry, it is what it is.

 

[TripTango]

I thought that was already a given. To be fair, I can't think of a single current playoff team that WOULD, once their two best offensive and defensive players were removed...

It is time to practice acceptance.

 

[ABM]

It is time to practice acceptance.

Sage advice.

 

[Nikolokolus]

The roster that's left after all the injuries they've sustained is most definitely not a 50 win team ... but damn, this seems to go deeper than just being out-talented or over matched, they just look like the walking dead at times; when I look at guys like LaMarcus and Rudy they have doubt written all over their faces. They just look like they're laying down now ... very disturbing.

I wish I could say there's some lesson to be learned in getting their heads pounded in to the ground like this, but I'm not so sure anymore.

 

[BGrantFan]

I thought that was already a given. To be fair, I can't think of a single current playoff team that WOULD, once their two best offensive and defensive players were removed...

It is time to practice acceptance.

This is no time for being realistic.

 

[RoyToy]

I agree, which is what it was great that they could win game 1 on the road in Phoenix.

 

[Minstrel]

The roster that's left after all the injuries they've sustained is most definitely not a 50 win team ... but damn, this seems to go deeper than just being out-talented or over matched, they just look like the walking dead at times; when I look at guys like LaMarcus and Rudy they have doubt written all over their faces. They just look like they're laying down now ... very disturbing.

I wish I could say there's some lesson to be learned in getting their heads pounded in to the ground like this, but I'm not so sure anymore.

There's an emotional toll that comes with constant adversity. I hate getting into pop psychology, but it's tempting to see Game 1 as their final emotional push, leaving them nothing left.

They've been dealing with a lot of injuries and set-backs that probably would have caused a lot of teams to wilt and fail to even make the playoffs, let alone win 50 games. They accomplished those things and then, after doing so, they lose their best player going into the playoffs. At some point, "This just ain't happening" probably starts to gnaw at you.

I don't think they're purposely tanking or anything. I think they may just be mentally/emotionally worn out.

 

[MIXUM]

thats possible. perhaps all the drama has finally taken a toll

The blazers need to watch this ASAP....

[video=youtube;_Z5OookwOoY]

 

[Nikolokolus]

There's an emotional toll that comes with constant adversity. I hate getting into pop psychology, but it's tempting to see Game 1 as their final emotional push, leaving them nothing left.

They've been dealing with a lot of injuries and set-backs that probably would have caused a lot of teams to wilt and fail to even make the playoffs, let alone win 50 games. They accomplished those things and then, after doing so, they lose their best player going into the playoffs. At some point, "This just ain't happening" probably starts to gnaw at you.

I don't think they're purposely tanking or anything. I think they may just be mentally/emotionally worn out.

I think this is a distinct possibility. But damn it just seems like such a wasted effort to expend so much energy just to get here and then to collapse mentally ... but it probably can't be helped.

 

[maxiep]

There's an emotional toll that comes with constant adversity. I hate getting into pop psychology, but it's tempting to see Game 1 as their final emotional push, leaving them nothing left.

They've been dealing with a lot of injuries and set-backs that probably would have caused a lot of teams to wilt and fail to even make the playoffs, let alone win 50 games. They accomplished those things and then, after doing so, they lose their best player going into the playoffs. At some point, "This just ain't happening" probably starts to gnaw at you.

I don't think they're purposely tanking or anything. I think they may just be mentally/emotionally worn out.

Minstrel is exactly right. I think this team has given all they can. And for the record, it's a damn sight more than any fan has a right to expect. I will look back at this team years from now and still be amazed at their resilience in the face of constant adversity.

 

[RoyToy]

Beating the Lakers w/o Roy, then beating OKC the next night w/o Roy again and the Marcus Camby chants was fucking great. OKC game was a huge game, team was down early, they rallied back and won the game, just like they did all season without their best players.

Get off these guys' backs and give them a break. They've done more than enough this year. I think winning game 1 gave everyone hope that this series was actually winnable w/o Roy, but that was probably a little bit of a fluke. Honestly, Phoenix should be blowing out this team w/o Roy, or at least win pretty much every game. They didn't finish above Utah and Denver because they got lucky.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

Now that I've cooled off from last night, I gotta agree with Minstrel and Maxie and RoyToy. We've seen them go through so much, and even getting one game out of any playoff series has to be considered a victory. These guys have been through some crazy stuff this year, and now that I'm done being selfish, I gotta say I'm glad I'm a Blazer fan, and I'm glad we have the team we do.

 

[Sug]

Every fallen hero has a tragic final moment, to me this is that moment for this team. We might very well get one more chance to cheer our team in the arena if they win tomorrow. Ever since Roy went down I have not viewed this series as winnable, but I have expected to see some better play. If we have a good win tomorrow then I will be happy regardless of the final outcome. If we lose tomorrow I will be pretty disappointed with the way things ended up.

Many people have given up on this team all year, so the current state of some fans is to be expected. I will be in the RG tomorrow cheering on our boys as they go to battle, I will honor them as they have us for the entire year. When we look back at these last two games we should think about one of the final scenes in the move 300. We may not win, and they may have slaughtered us, but we still made a stand in game one. I feel like this team will show us some more of that grit tomorrow. We should also think about the final scene in 300 when the larger army came together, because regardless of the result of this series, we will live to fight another day with a stronger army.

 

[tlongII]

I agree with ABM's post, but we can certainly play better than we have the previous 2 games. I still believe we can beat Phoenix at the Rose Garden with the players we have available. We'll see.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

Totally, Sug... it's like <dork> when Boromir died in the first LOTR movie. Got his with a giant arrow, kept fighting orcs, hit with another, dropped to his knees but kept fighting, then hit with that third one and everyone knew that it was over... and it is sad, but it's only one battle in the greater war. </dork>

 

[Blazinaway]

Minstrel is exactly right. I think this team has given all they can. And for the record, it's a damn sight more than any fan has a right to expect. I will look back at this team years from now and still be amazed at their resilience in the face of constant adversity.

I generally agree
with this, win or lose would just like to see them go play with effort, pride and some fire. Maybe there is just nothing left in the tank, but the last two games have been just brutal. I expect a pissed off team and very physical game on Saturday.

 

[OddEnormous]

There's an emotional toll that comes with constant adversity. I hate getting into pop psychology, but it's tempting to see Game 1 as their final emotional push, leaving them nothing left.

They've been dealing with a lot of injuries and set-backs that probably would have caused a lot of teams to wilt and fail to even make the playoffs, let alone win 50 games. They accomplished those things and then, after doing so, they lose their best player going into the playoffs. At some point, "This just ain't happening" probably starts to gnaw at you.

I don't think they're purposely tanking or anything. I think they may just be mentally/emotionally worn out.

Another in your long line of fantastic posts.

Wrepped.

 

[hasoos]

I disagree. If the by far worst team in the playoffs, the Chicago Bulls, can nut up and beat the best team in the playoffs, the Cavaliers, when they have a home game, the Blazers can do the same. It's about effort and coaching.

 

[oldmangrouch]

Game 3 was a flashback to last season.

The game 3&4 losses didn't send me into a tizzy. Losing a close game, on the road, to a good team is understandable. The game 1 blow-out *at home* pissed me off royally. I have the same problem with what happened last night.

And WTF is up with the new software on this board? The screen is 3 seconds behind my fingers....and I am a crappy/slow typist!

 

[ABM]

Another in your long line of fantastic posts.

Wrepped.

I agwee, as as well.

 

[Sug]

Totally, Sug... it's like <dork> when Boromir died in the first LOTR movie. Got his with a giant arrow, kept fighting orcs, hit with another, dropped to his knees but kept fighting, then hit with that third one and everyone knew that it was over... and it is sad, but it's only one battle in the greater war. </dork>

Someone might argue that us spending a lot of time on this board discussing the Blazers puts us in the dork category as well. We will fall, all teams but one will fall. If we prescribe to the theory that life is about the journey then we can say that this was one of the most interesting seasons of all time in the history of the Blazers.

 

[craigehlo]

I don't think they're purposely tanking or anything. I think they may just be mentally/emotionally worn out.

That's a convenient excuse, but it doesn't really make a lot of sense to me. They've run out of talent, not out mental toughness (which has never been a strong suit on this team in recent history anyway).

Nate’s offense is built around Roy and Andre bailing the team out with one-on-one heroics. Now with Roy gone and the Suns effectively shutting Andre down, we are left to mediocre bench players hoisting up jump shots against the clock.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

As a journey, this season has been more dramatic than any I've ever witnessed. There's more dramatic wins this year than two years ago or last year... there's more success in the face of adversity. I'm glad I recorded most of the radio broadcasts; this season has some real gems to listen to, and a crazy but compelling narrative.

 

[Minstrel]

That's a convenient excuse, but it doesn't really make a lot of sense to me. They've run out of talent, not out mental toughness

I agree that they're simply not talented enough, without two of their three best players (and arguably their two best players).

I was attempting to explain why they were able to win Game 1, in light of not being competitive in games 2 and 3.

(which has never been a strong suit on this team in recent history anyway).

We'll have to agree to disagree. I think they've exhibited a lot of mental toughness this year, pushing through all the injuries to win games, even against other high-leve; teams.

 

[RoyToy]

I will say one thing though, and that there's been multiple times this season where you thought the team had done all it could and that they didn't have much fight left, only to go out the very next game and show that they haven't given up and come away with a big W.

Remember when they lost to LAL and OKC right before the all-star break, only to go on the road and beat Phoenix in Phoenix the very next night? Who the hell saw that coming?

Idk, it seems whenever the team finally looks finished after all the adversity, they go out and show that they're not done fighting. Maybe that trend continues tomorrow.