...at this juncture of the season....yes? You know, watershed, to see if we've "really" taken the next step. We've been beating some OK teams lately. I'd like to see how we do against a level higher...in their crib.
...it should be about 70 degrees around tip-off: http://www.weather.com/outlook/health/airquality/hourbyhour/graph/USAZ0166?from=hrly_table_tab
This was something we did last year when they played Denver in Denver during the streak. At that point they had a six game winning streak, and we thought Denver had their number, and we thought that if they could beat them at home, then maybe they'd have finally pulled out of the cellar. It didn't necessarily translate over the rest of the season, but they look a lot better now than they did last year.
Did you know... In Phoenix, a lot of front yards are gravel and not grass. One of the most depressing things I've ever seen.
The lawns that do have grass have really rough, hard grass. Most lawns are pebbly pink with cacti or other plants. Many of the houses are stucko, and there are tons of geckos running around.
OT: Well that must mean people in the Southwest are starting to develop half a brain. You know what's really depressing? Seeing people pour water on something as trivial and pointless as a lawn, while the Colorado river no longer terminates in the Ocean.
Speaking of Phoenix. The city, population wise, is like Seattle. However, when you drive through PHX it doesn't feel much like a 'big' city like Seattle. Not even close. It's actually kinda weird.
But Orlando doesn't have Terry Porter! OK - I'm half kidding - but I honestly do believe TP is going to do better with the Suns than many people seem to expect.
Yeah, this game showed me right where we are. Not quite good enough to beat a veteran playoff team on the second night of a back to back. So for the whole team it's not a big deal. I can't help but be thoroughly disappointed in Oden. I'm not one to over react to one game. I'm not one to prematurely declare that someone's a bust before they've had ample time to prove themselves. But watching him out there on the same court as Shaq was embarrassing. It was like watching a puppy try to run with a grown dog.
Well that's exactly what it was. Shaq is a 4 time champion. Oden is a 20 year old who is 8 games into his career after a year off.
Back to back has nothing to do with this loss. We lose to the Suns on their floor 9 out of 10 times right now with our weak perimeter D. The real turning point for this team is when we can consistently beat Western teams on their home floor. We can't even beat Golden State away from home right now.
WOW is it going to be like this after every loss. PHX owns us, 10 straight. I guess I look at this game as half full vs half empty. We hung with them for most of the game. Shaq was playing out of his mind. I am sure that was by his own choosing. Shaq picks and chosses when he gives 100% effort. If Shaq isnt playing that well last night we hang with them and possibly beat them. I looked at the game as we played very poorly, Shaq and Raja bell had excellent games and we were still with them most of the game on the 2nd of a back to back. I am enjoying the journey, but there will be bumps in the road.
That is the beautiy of the NBA, there is always a game the next day so there isn't alot of time to harp on it. Sure it would have been nice to beat the Suns, the way Portland was shooting last night they should have been blown out of the gym by a lot more We're not going to get every game, but this would have been a nice one to have due to the history of losing down south.
It's not like we are never going to beat teams on the road. I'm talking doing it with some consistently against the Western power houses. Beating the Suns, who own us in their gym, would have showed something to me about how this team handles pressure and adjusts to teams making runs.
Phoenix seems built to beat us. I'm not feeling too terrible about it right now. They're not going to win in Portland, though.
