This one is tough to swallow

[Pinwheel1]

In the orlando game the guy missed the shot so badly he banked it in! (Lucky) Why intentionaly foul a guy and send him to the line? What is easier, make a free throw and intentionally miss the other so you can make a put back to tie, or hit a three pointer and you lose? Not saying you are wrong, just saying don't take a cheap shot at Nate for a philosophy that the majority of coaches believe in.

 

[Kaydow]

Justify? No. Make a reasoned assessment that fatigue plays a factor in shooting? Yeah.

A guy who normally shoots around 94% from the line isn't likely to miss 4 out of 5 unless he's worn out. Blake's hit plenty of clutch shots this season. Some of you guys make no concessions to reality. These guys are beat and it's affecting their performance.

Give me a break. Fatigue? Fatigue explains going 3-5 when you're a 94%. 1-5 is a GAG.

He choked. He sucks. Actually, he's a decent b/u PG. No way he should be starting for a (supposed) playoff bound team. He proved he can't handle the pressure tonight. You don't get over something like that either. Well, one guy did. Remember OSU kicker Alexis Serna? Missed 3 PAT against LSU and came back strong. It doesn't happen very often. Usually, a guy has a game like that and the voices in your head haunt you for quite a while. Let me ask you a question e blazer. So, if it WAS fatigue . . . let's fast forward to tuesday night and the Kings. 23 seconds left, you have the ball and a 2 point lead. Do you want the ball in Blake's hands? I mean, he's had 3 days to rest, right? He won't be fatigued - nothing to worry about, right? Sure.

 

[Shooter]

Failing to recognize the impact of fatigue in a game like this is absurd. What are the odds that Steve Blake misses those free throws if his legs weren't dead?

Not sure about that. Shooting a free throw requires less from your legs than a 3-point jump shot, which Blake made after he missed all those free throws. I think Blake basically choked at the line.

I'm actually sort of encouraged by this loss, believe it or not. I like the fact that Roy is looking to score now, rather than always deferring to others, and I like the progress that Oden is making. Roy hit a number of big-time clutch shots tonight, and his confidence seems to be sky high. This will eventually pay off big time.

3 losses in a row is tough to swallow, but I think the Blazers are going to bounce back and get much better as the year progresses.

 

[craigehlo]

The only thing I worry about is the fact that it gives the refs a chance to screw you. If the other team does get their hands on the ball, the refs could call a foul too and give the other team a chance to win.

Well we did the refs' job for them since we screwed ourselves.

We are dealing with Baron Davis, it's not like Chris Duhon had the ball in his hands. Foul the guy for 2 shots.

 

[Kaydow]

Well we did the refs' job for them since we screwed ourselves.

We are dealing with Baron Davis, it's not like Chris Duhon had the ball in his hands. Foul the guy for 2 shots.

My wife turned to me when they flashed "Baron Davis 0-12 in pressure situations from 3 - worst in NBA" and she laughed. I said . . .

"That means he's due." Sometimes it sucks to be right.

 

[MAS RipCity]

I usually do not pile on players, because they hurt 10 x more than we do, but damnitt I was really upset with Blake tonight, everything he did tonight. He already wasn't one of my faves, and this just adds to it. He is to fucking passive, which is why he never makes turnovers, BECAUSE he takes no risks. If he is going to start being unclutch at the line, then why play? I hope he comes back strong and I'll be behind him, but bottom line is I am not happy/comfortable with him being the starting pg on this team and playing crunch minutes. I've seen enough of Bayless..FREE HIM!

 

[MAS RipCity]

Well we did the refs' job for them since we screwed ourselves.

We are dealing with Baron Davis, it's not like Chris Duhon had the ball in his hands. Foul the guy for 2 shots.

Yep, I was thinking the same thing myself. There was no 2 secs before he shot. Foul him. Even if he makes both, there simply isn't enough time. I am really doubting Nate lately.

 

[bodyman5001]

I want Nate gone, but I am not going to pile on him for this game. Blake choked, I really wouldn't have guess it from him but whaddya gonna do?

 

[craigehlo]

IHe is to fucking passive, which is why he never makes turnovers, BECAUSE he takes no risks. If he is going to start being unclutch at the line, then why play?

Oden rolls to the hoop after giving Blake picks and Steve doesn't even look in Greg's direction for a pass. If we want Greg to blow up on the offensive end we need a PG that can deliver him the rock.

 

[MAS RipCity]

Oden rolls to the hoop after giving Blake picks and Steve doesn't even look in Greg's direction for a pass. If we want Greg to blow up on the offensive end we need a PG that can deliver him the rock.

Yep, is it me, or does it really seem this easy to do? We are a horrible pick setting team. We like "whiff" on the picks, while the likes of Utah and Boston set firm, hard screens that actually get the ball handler open.

 

[chris_in_pdx]

I want Nate gone

I'm curious whom you think would do a better job. Name names.

 

[alex42083]

I don't want Nate gone.. I want him to start being Sarge again and start kicking someone's ass in practice, or chew them out for just going brain dead late in games.

 

[bodyman5001]

I'm curious whom you think would do a better job. Name names.

I did last night. Tom Thibodeau. I couldn't find his contract with the Celtics this year but Rivers isn't going anywhere and they would be total dicks not to give him a shot at being a head coach.

Or you could just use the t-shirt shooting gun and shoot one into the crowd and pick whoever catches it.

 

[Kaydow]

Yep, is it me, or does it really seem this easy to do? We are a horrible pick setting team. We like "whiff" on the picks, while the likes of Utah and Boston set firm, hard screens that actually get the ball handler open.

Except for Joel. Joel doesn't whiff very often.

 

[BrianFromWA]

Out-of-the-box....John Thompson III from Georgetown to take Monty's place when Monty gets his job next summer.

Tough, young, defensive-minded, works well with big men, runs a Princeton offense predicated on cuts and out-smarting your opponent. I'd love to see Rudy and Batum and Greg in an offense like that.

 

[bodyman5001]

I'm curious whom you think would do a better job. Name names.

Actually, it would be easier to name those who I don't think would do better. Sadly, two of them have jobs anyway. Cheeks and Dunleavy.

 

[craigehlo]

Our new coach:

[video=youtube;TROhlThs9qY]

 

[Kaydow]

Please. Blake choked. He even admitted so.

I heard him say he took the loss personally. I heard hims say he feels like the loss is on him. I did NOT hear him say that he "choked".

I woke up this morning and I'm still pissed off. I feel like we lost a playoff series this week, which is stupid. We still have 57 more games to go.

I hope I'm underestimating the mental toughness of this team. The thing I'm most discouraged about is HOW we lost the Orlando and Clipper games down the stretch. No way we should have lost both of those games in one week. Normally, you have about two of those games all year (where you blow a game you absolutely should win) I remember the Cleveland game at home last year when Lebron went nuts and scored like 11 points in the last 2 minutes. I can remember one or two others as well. But nothing as shocking as the way we lost to Orlando and the Clips. I just hope they didn't lose all their confidence playing in close games or with the lead down the stretch (4th quarter) It's like a cancer. You blow a few games that should have been wins and it spreads the seed of doubt. Next thing you know, you are a team that can't finish off a game all year. I was willing to forget about the Orlando game - chalk it up to bad luck. After last night's game, I'm sick. Say what you want about Hedo or Baron's "prayers" at the buzzer. It never should have came to that in either case if they execute.

 

[The_Lillard_King]

I don't remember the exact sequence (can't bring myself to open the sports page today), but something like:

Blake with a FT to put Blazers up by 3 with little time left -miss

Right after that miss: Blake with 2 FTs to put Blazer up by 4 with little time left (ice the game)-miss both

Blazers sweating it, battle on defense, get a stop and desperation foul on Blake by Clips . . . Blake with another chance to ice game and redeem himself-makes 1 of 2

Given that FTs are one of Blake's strengths . . . Blake choked

 

[Crimson the Cat]

Nice to see we learned nothing from the Orlando game. Foul the opposing team when you are up by 3 (not while they are shooting a 3-pointer of course) and you win the game.

Nate is horrendous in these late game situations.

And risk the player hitting a 3-pointer "and 1"?