Realize that this year is about simply making the playoffs. We don't need to win the division, conference, or championship, nor are we likely to do so. We're a young team, that will invariably have ups and downs. Look at some of the other teams in our conference; they are very talented. The Lakers, Houston, New Orleans and Jazz are locks to make it. That leaves Dallas, Phoenix, San Antonio, Golden State, Denver and Portland battling for the four remaining spots. All it takes is an untimely injury or two to put your team down or to be able to easily beat a team that isn't at full-strength. So for everyone that is freaking out, realize that we are better than we were a year ago, as indicated by our record, despite playing a very difficult, road heavy schedule. Is this not enough to satisfy your appetite? I know that we are passionate fans, I am too. But sometimes you can't help a Hedo game winning shot. Or occasionally getting blown out. Should we be worried about the rookies? Maybe Oden a bit, but you have to realize he and Batum are already at the Rookie Wall, having never played a travel-heavy, long season like they're in. Our time will come. We aren't built for this year. Getting into the playoffs would be fantastic. Once we're there then we'll see what happens, as any team can string together a few hot games in a row. So no more bashing on Aldridge, Oden, Outlaw, Batum or anyone else. They are young and getting better. We have a great financial situation with our players being cheap, movable and "more valuable than their contacts". I've never been the highest on McMillan, but I think he is a good choice (for now). If that means a five-game losing streak, so be it. It might mean another 12-game winning streak too. Overall, I'm just tired of the negativity I continue to see in this forum for the last several days. The world isn't ending. And if you think it is, take a step away from the computer, go outside, and make a new girlfriend. That's my piece. Take a deep breathe and enjoy. No reason to stress about things out of our control. Merry Christmas.
we have EVERY right to be critical of the team if its justified. just being complacent despite a poor performance is not natural and not good. we, as fans, have to expect more
Some fans are always going to complain if the team shows anything less than perfection. They will attempt to justify it, but the majority of us need to just filter them out, and ignore their silly threads.
So calling out bad defense and holding this team to higher expectation than you makes some of us "haters?" Seriously, it's time to demand consistent play and solid defense at least from the vets on this team. Travis Outlaw has been in the NBA for 6 seasons now and he often looks like same confused rookie he was in 2003. In the NBA you are only as good as your last few games. I don't care that we beat some teams last month. What has this team done lately to prove they can hang in the Western Conference? It is starting to look and feel like the skid we went on last season after the streak was over.
Of course it will make a difference - if the team plays dumb night in night out and does not show progress - people will stop buying tickets and the team's finances will suffer. It's always that way. The good news is that it seems like there is a very good chance that this team will recognize the problems and work hard to solve them - which is really all you want to see.
BALANCEDMAN, I understand your point...I even AGREE with most of it...but you can't just ask people to turn off their brains and coast. For *this* season, just making the play-offs is the goal. Most of us have higher aspirations for down the road. We see obvious problems with the roster, and instead of serious discussion, we are greeted with "let the cake bake." It's damn frustrating.
I understand the point also. I think its fine, and actually I think that is really what a message board is for, to critique the play of your team, and talk about them, the players, what trades you would like, etc... I think there is a line between critiquing and losing it, but meh, its their right to do w/e the hell they want. They are ultimately the ones that pay for the tickets and merchandising, for the new arenas, etc.. But i'm def. on the side that i get sick of "the sky is falling" posts and the Greg Oden is a bust, Outlaw is a dumb idiot and incompetent, etc...
Bravo BalancedMan! We lose 2 games in a row and a solid # of people on here stop using logic and start freaking out. It's hilarious.
In fairness, I guess I am not one to criticize the Blazers too much. I don't go to the games (haven't been to one in years) nor do I really buy merchandise. I like basketball, it has always been my favorite sport, and the Blazers are my team. Do I think we need better offense? Sure, but you won't get that with McMillan. And is it frustrating that players are inconsistent and not playing up to their potential? Of course! But chatting our heads off about it on a forum won't accomplish anything. In any case, I think we're lucky to have such a loyal fan base that supports the team financially. But I think there is just too much negativity. Maybe it's only coming from a small subset of posters who write a lot...I'm not sure because I don't like reading negative things. But then again, I try to be a glass half full kinda guy.
Piss off. Just cause some of us look at the negatives after a loss and analyze, does not make us Haters. I think some of the posters here have views that are far more derogatory than mine, but that does not make them haters. They LOVE their Blazers. They just have differing opinions on the current state of the team.
Hey, I'm not attacking anyone individually. It just makes me sad to see so many negative threads filling up the page. Should I start one about Jarret Jack? I don't think that most (if any) people on this site are "haters", but some do seem to have overly-negative opinions. It reminds me of myself...I have OCD (without having much compulsions though) and tend to dwell on things too much. Often they are things I can't do anything about. I only named this thread "haters" because I've seen so much negativity and it's like the forum is bi-polar, up one day and down the next. I've been a part of this group for a long time (5+ years) and had more than a thousand posts at BBF (under the name 'Perfection' ironically enough). In my opinion, even though we're playing better ball, with a better crew, than any other time, it seems like the negativity is at a high. And that bothers me. So that's fine, if you want to keep posting negative post one after another. In my opinion everything is fine and completely explainable. Batum struggling? Of course. Oden? Frustrating but we can't do much...call Tony Robbins. Outlaw has always been a model of inconsistency. The Blazers are who they are, and I enjoy watching them for that reason. I want them to get better and they will, but it won't happen overnight (well I guess unless there is a trade...hmm). In any case, it's just sort of my observation. I guess some of you are more passionate and take this team's success and failure much more personally and closer to heart. I'm just trying to provide a reality check. In the big scheme of things, we're doing just fine. Not unbelievable, not disappointing, but solidly good. And I'm fine with that. If you aren't, I think you're asking a bit too much of guys who are between 19 and 23 years old.
I understand, to some extent, that we "should be blown out" by the L*kers and Celtics on their floor. I don't lump the Jazz in that category. We'll see what happens on our home floor. What I don't believe is that it can be blamed on "inexperience". We played the Celtics twice last year, and got punked both times. I'll grant you that Rudy and Oden and Batum can blame it on inexperience, but Roy, LMA, Blake, Outlaw, Przy, Sergio, etc have no excuses. That's not inexperience. It's laziness, or non-effort, or frustration, etc...but letting a man get an uncontested layup is something that doesn't happen in pickup or rec league, (or in the NBA for that matter), but it happens to us. A lot. "inexperience" doesn't account for shooting 3's at the end of the game with time left on the shot clock when you're up 8 by two 6-year veterans of the league. That's "not knowing/remembering how to play"/"messing up". If you're Roy, and every time you go to the basket you get fouled but nothing's called, and your wild shot is just rebounded and taken in for an easy transition score...maybe you should think about continuing that strategy. Maybe not. But "inexperience" doesn't fly...b/c it happened last year at Utah to him as well. And the year before that. What amount of "experience" do we need before one of our bigs consistently does what Channing did last night? You know why it was called a flagrant? Not because it WAS a flagrant (Channing's hand had a LOT of ball) but b/c no one's done that all year, so the ref assumed it was intentionally showing frustration (instead of just being a run-of-the-mill hard foul). How much more experience does Ronnie Brewer have over Roy that allowed him to keep going baseline on a back cut? How much more experience does D. Wiliams have over Blake? At some point, it's not going to be about "inexperience", it's going to be about "inability to execute" or "inability to adapt". The sooner we get to the latter two, the better. Because then maybe someone will take the initiative to try to fix deficiencies and discrepancies instead of hoping the oven's set to the right temperature and letting the work happen through time.
dude, unless we make a deal....this current group is not making the playoffs. no way. they are not better tehn any of the other 8 teams. sory its the truth. we will be the 9th seed and have another meanigless lotto pick. we will all have visions of KP trading that pick for a starter only to be dissapointed with his cake baking quotes. its the same BS every year.
1) I'm not a Hater (but I play one on TV ) 2) We were sold a load of goods about Oden in the off season - it was superhyperbole. We understand that now, but we rightfully have high expectations. Basically, this team now seems to go as Travis Outlaw, of all people. When Travis plays well, we usually win. He hasn't played well in the last four games, and we've lost 3..... Is it too much for us to hope, maybe even demand, that Travis Freaking Outlaw to be a little more consistent (in a good way)? 3) The term "fan" is short for "fanatic." If you think anyone on this board's views are only fair and balanced, then wth are they doing spending so much time on a message board for. By definition, you must be unbalanced to spend so much time. It's OK, though, because we're all FANATICS.
To tell you the truth, I am actually more of an optimist than a pessimist. The reason I got irked in the first place had less to do with you than the my overall pet peeve of Posters wanting the rest of the community to be one big homogeneous group. To me, it's the differing opinions that make this site (and previous incarnations) a pleasure to visit. I read a lot of threads, but the ones i tend to stop reading are the ones where everyone agrees. It could be one that says "Przybilla is the best BU C in the NBA" or it could say "Przybilla is the worst BU C in the NBA", but everyone just agrees with that opinion. Boring. Lets get in a good old fashion argument. One where tempers flair because people are truly arguing their core beliefs that conflict with others. Now that's entertainment. Point is, Instead of starting a thread complaining about people being too negative (or too positive), why not just post your differing opinion, start your own thread or post in one thats already going, but have the center focus be on the Blazers, and not on the posters.
