I mean, the Blazers played about as well as I've seen them play...laid their collective hearts out on the floor, Brandon has a monster game...on our floor.......................yet, the Rockets were in it until the end. I'm not normally a naysayer, but I really don't see how the Blazers are gonna pull this series off. Oh, I'm as hopeful as the next guy.....but, at the same time, I'm trying to be realistic as not to set myself up for that crash to the floor. That said, this team has FAR surpassed my expectations for this season. It's been a great ride thus far!! Go Blazers!
I think Brandon, LaMarcus and Joel played well. I thought Blake and Batum played okay. Rudy, GO and especially Travis were below par. On the flip side, Houston has received out of their mind contributions from Brooks and Wafer. I still think we can pull this one out.
Brandon and LMA played about as well as they can. No one else did. So, I wouldn't say last night's game was the best night Portland can possibly hope for and they can't expect that again. They can't expect 70 combined points from Roy and Aldridge, but they can expect about 40-50 combined points from them and a lot more production from players like Przybilla/Oden (as a combo), Rudy and Outlaw.
This is pretty much exactly what I was going to post. Roy and LMA did awesome, but others need to step up. If they don't, we're going to have trouble winning 3 more games, especially the ones in Houston.
I don't disagree with you about the concern but I do disagree in you saying the Blazers played about as well as we've seen them play. I thought they played poorly for the most part and if it wasn't for Brandon Roy having an unbelievable game it would be a blowout. If he had an average game, around 25 points it would be a loss. Unfortunately, nobody besides Brandon and now LaMarcus have shown up to play. Call it nerves or whatever, but our biggest assett which is our bench, has not shown up in either of the games. This may continue and if it does, we're easily finished. If they actually show up like they did in the regular season, then I am hopeful, but I am a bit worried that they haven't shown up in two games thus far. I'm talking about primarily Rudy, Travis, and Sergio. They haven't done much, if they do I think we win. If they don't, we will lose. Last night's performance? Do it again in Houston and we lose, no matter Roy's performance. They played poorly last night and still won, but that's because Houston played pretty poorly as well.
That was the best you saw the blazers play? Seriously? Did ANYONE outside of Roy and Aldridge even step up? NO. Usually our depth is what's good, but NO ROLE PLAYERS have stepped up this post-season yet. No one has been on fire like their role players such as Brooks and Wafer have been. We WILL win GAME 3
The Rockets are a great team. There is a reason they won 53 with T-Mac out for most of the year. But - I think this team can do an awful lot better - so at this point I would not be surprised to see the Blazers win it or lose it. I said it before and I will repeat - the big deal for this team is to get out of the first round. If they do - I think they are taking out the Lakers and whoever stays standing in the WCF - but the Rockets are just a hell of a matchup problem. But - with Travis really out of sync and Blake only so-so - the Blazers can get a lot better - on the other side of the coin - Yao will have better games - but I suspect that the Baron and Brooks will not be as hot as they have so far been.
I think we played good, but not the BEST we could. I don't think we can depend as much as we have been on Brandon. Brandon's given about everything he's had but our role players need to step up offensively. And plus, Greg was in foul trouble so we didn't get the best from him. I could see the concern though but that's why they play these games. Anything can happen in Game 3 or 4.
I am not concerned.. I realize this is the playoffs and it is VERY hard to beat teams on a back to back basis especially when its 2 very VERY evenly matched teams. In 7 game series' the better team usually wins out.. while the Rockets pose matchup problems definitely, I think Portland is the deeper better team, especially with Mt Mutombo (RIP, what a class act, used to be one of my favorite players!) the Blazers hold a depth advantage. It will win out IMO.. while they were still in the game it took Blake, Outlaw, Rudy, and Batum having only an ok game... and Wafer and Brooks playing out of their butt again. Yao will have better games.. but the fronting D really gets to him.
This playoff run is a way for KP and Nate to see who is going to rise to the challenge in the post season and who isn't. Right now Roy and LaMarcus are two guys who have. Blake, Joel and Rudy are on the fence. Outlaw and Sergio are no shows. I expect some of these short comings to be addressed in the near future.
I hate to agree with you ABM, but me thinks you are right. As an aside, I just left the NBA Store and they have a life size replica of Yao there. It is hard to imagine just how gigantic he is. I, literally, looked at his navel at eye level. He dwarfed Shaq. He is a unique talent, and challenge.
I think if you watched closely last night, you will see that our team learned some things from game 1, and implemented them in game 2. For example, Joel started to front Yao, and Yao couldn't get the ball. Blake learned how to slow down Brooks. I think it is reasonable to assume that our YOUNG team will learn after game 2 as well, and improve for game 3. This is what I'm hoping, at least.
I don't agree on being the best we could. The Blazers still have yet to display that "Nasty" side of them that they did against the Celtics, Lakers, Spurs, etc. Right now, when the refs make calls, a lot of times their heads hang low. What they have to do is use it. Use it to generate intensity and anger. Play until the whistle blows, don't depend on the calls. Also I would like to point out that the Blazer rebounding has been lacking compared to the regular season. They can rebound much better. In many facets of the game, the facts are they have been out efforted. That can improve.
Dunno where to put this, so I thought I'd put it here: http://www.basketballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=648
yeah i think houston has got all they will get from their role players they will start to go down hill while we need ours to even show up aka blake sergio but WHERE THE HECK IS the bs-nickname Mr clutch aka mr clunk? OUTLAW the pressure to great for you? YOu need to step up or your cover is blow,,,great during the reg season worse choker than uncle spliffy. as for MT. M? DEK i think is either truely done thus the rocket lose a big chunk or he is not as bad and will ride on his "pony" to save the day. I cant help but think DEK will be back like PP or whoever did last year.
