This is getting old. Aren't they all? I love how a "Blazer Fan" said if we lose tonight it's over for us. Really? Fucking morons!
I don't think that it's a "must win" for the Blazers... but it is for the Suns. If Portland wins tonight, we cruise into the playoffs. If we lose, we're suddenly on a cold streak and we just helped out the one team that can eliminate us from the playoffs. I don't think that anyone here is a "fucking moron" and I think that it's sort of sad that you'd hurt that invective at anyone, HCP. Ed O.
I'm not sure I can even bear to watch this game. I am afraid the Blazers will come out flat and listless and get blown out by halftime. Think live kittens getting fed down a garbage disposal.
i really dont think we have enough scoring to keep up. this team easily will score 115... we cant even score 100 sometimes in OT
As in all basketball games, it is about controlling the tempo and making it comfortable for your team to play in. If the Blazers go inside, and get their bigs involved, and don't jack up a lot of 3's, they will be in good shape. If they shoot 30 3's again, they will lose. Period. Lots of 3's=lots of long rebounds=lots of easy transition points for PHX. It is that simple.
No, not a "must win". An "important game to win"? Yes A "statement game"? Yes A "start the Phoenix implosion game"? Sure But not a "must win", by definition of making the playoffs.
Phoenix has played zone almost exclusively in this latest winning streak. They are daring teams to shoot from outside and then running off of long misses. That's what worries me about this game. We need to have patience running our sets. Zones almost always break down on the baseline or at the foul line area. If we move the ball and look to penetrate on the baseline or facilitate the offense through the middle of the zone, I think we can get some easy buckets. But only if we are patient and don't try to force things. -Pop
That's a really good point, and this is where the Blazers' #1 in the league offensive rebounding needs to step up and dominate. Hopefully Oden can get at least 20 minutes to at least negate Shaq on the defensive boards. Przy can steal some offensive boards, but he simply doesn't have the size to keep Shaq from the rim. Then it is up to LMA to give the team at least 3 or 4 extra possessions on an offensive rebound with Roy, Batum, and Outlaw adding a few more. The good part of a zone is how easy it is to get to transition lanes, but the bad part is that teams the rebound well on the offensive end can abuse the team in a zone. Offensive rebounding is the key tonight IMO.
Yep yep good observations Pop. It will be very important for the guards to challenge the zone with the movement. At the same time, that seems to be the Blazers demon every game. Some quarters they move and attack well. Others they settle for the jumper. In this game if there is even one stretch of settling for the jumper, the Blazers will go deficit during that period of time.
I'm not that worried about Portland missing the playoffs. They've just had two tough losses...one of them to Cleveland, one of the best teams in the game, on the road. And arguably neither loss would have happened if not for Aldridge and Batum being out. So, I don't think Portland is playing poorly. The losses hurt, but weren't indicative of the team struggling or dropping their level of play. And if their level of play hasn't dropped, Phoenix would need a pretty historic run to overtake Portland. Possible? Sure. Certainly not at all likely. And if Phoenix overtakes Portland due to a great run, not due to Portland losing a lot, it's likely not Portland that will miss the playoffs. Big game, though. A win would almost crush Phoenix's tiny hopes and be a big deal in terms of seeding. A loss quite hurts Portland's quest for HCA and keeps alive the tiny chance that they fail to reach the playoffs.
My fearless prediction: If Portland shoots 34 3 point attempts in this game like they did against Philly they will loose the game by double figures. Another prediction: If Portland shoots 34 3 point attempts in this game like they did against Philly I will be the guy you hear screaming "FUCK!!!!" from section 301.
I'm not concerned with the quantity of three point shots so much as the quality. If they are GOOD three-pointers (i.e. in rhythm, good shooter, no defender nearby) then I want as many as possible. But if there are more than a few of the last-second-gotta-get-the-shot-off-to-beat-the-violation-buzzer variety, I can promise that I will lose my voice before the night is through.
The only problem with this is if we don't get the offensive rebounds we made not get back if we are crashing the boards and that'll lead to easy baskets for the Suns. I think the key is getting back and stopping any easy baskets by the Suns. Of course if we can get a lot of offensive rebounds that would cut down on the easy baskets too.
Do something like politely make a statement about his comment, maybe? Allowing him to reconsider his approach and maybe avoid doing it in the future (without feeling like he's been pushed around)? Would that be a good thing for a mod to do, do you think? Ed O.
