Unfortunately, I had this game marked down (along with the home Spurs game, last game vs LA, and @ ATL) as one of 4 key games we needed to win to take the division. It was obvious we didn't have it tonight. For whatever reason, they hit some tough shots. I don't recall them making many open jumpers and we were just cold. We failed to attack the hoop (Bayless should have got backup PG minutes and given the keys to the offense and attack). We can not have a meltdown game vs the Nets..they have the pieces to sneak in here and knock us out. And going 4-1 on the road seems imperative if we want the division..but even if we don't win the division, or get HCA in the 1st, we can still win a round as long as we are playing hot down the stretch and can get a healthy Oden back..Lord knows we need him in there. So as tough as a loss as this was, Go Blazers..take it out on the Nets on Friday!
If anything, if we are matched up against them in the playoffs, Bayless needs to get some minutes in order to help slow down their guards. Batum did a hell of a job on Kidd for a Small Forward IMO. Good matchup planning by Nate.
We played good D..Jet shot 9-22 and Dirk only had 2-3 open looks all night..just hit some lucky shots imo..We simply did not bring the intensity tonight. Dallas only played 8 guys, were on the 2nd half of a back to back without Howard, and we didn't attack. Our small lineup killed us, we should have went with Batum as the backup 2 and Bayless as the backup PG..but Nate went bonehead on us and tried to matchup instead of play his game. At one point in the game, they had Jet, Kidd, and Barea on the court at the same time and we continued to settle for jumpers...this season is a learning process, hope we were taking notes.
Batum did a hell of a job everywhere. Why didn't he come back into the game?!? After Nic got hurt in the first place Nate left him in, but once he came out he was out for good. What gives?!?
Didn't want to risk aggravating the injury? I know he came back at the end, but it was situational, and only for a few seconds. If he came back in and got more injured, we'd be calling for Nate's head....
Fuck Dirk and Terry kill us every time. And Barera and Bass seem to play out of their minds against us too. They've got our number this season.
Again, Terry went 9-22..he didn't exactly kill us. We just couldn't hit the broad side of a barn when we needed too.
The Blazers are much better about moving on after a loss than they were last season. They haven't gone into any major funks after bad losses this season. That's made the difference in our record. I think they'll bounce back. My only real concern about losing is the injury factor.
Yea, I am just scared about the Nets..everything to gain, nothing to lose..I think Brandon and LMA could lead us, but we need help as well. Blake and Outlaw will need huge games and Przy to stay out of foul trouble. Color me worried for this one.
