Tell me that the Blazers were just nervous about playing in their first playoff game. Tell me they weren't used to the higher level of intensity right from the opening tip. Tell me they wilted under the pressure. I'll buy any of those excuses. I really will. Just don't tell me that the Rockets are really that much better than us. I don't think I could take it. Sigh.
The matchups aren't great, but this team really did look a little wide-eyed and over-hyped ... all you need to know is that they stopped playing the way they did all year and that's got to be mostly nerves. It's growing up time.
I think they're above their station right now having home court this early in their development, but they certainly aren't this bad. It's part nerves, part bad match up, and part good scouting and coaching by the opponent. That was a complete victory. Welcome to the playoffs, Blazers.
BRoy compared this game to Game #1 @ Staples. Said guys were nervous, and were completely out of rhythm.
- The Rockets couldn't miss. Literally. 75% shooting in the 1st quarter, 60% for the game? I don't care who you play, if you shoot those numbers, you will win. - Scola played a BRILLIANT game vs. Aldridge. Maybe one of the best defensive games of his career. - The refs swallowed their whistles on the Blazers' end of the court in the first half. Drives that were called fouls during the regular season weren't called fouls in this game, and that confused and frustrated the hell out of Portland. - Yao could do no wrong in the first half. He was the dominate player that people have been expecting him to be his entire career.... for one half. Part of that was the Blazers' defensive strategy against him, but take nothing away from his performance... he was a possessed man. - Aaron Brooks absolutely SCHOOLED Steve Blake. Made him look like a statue. You'd think Bayless would have given Blake a little heads-up on what Brooks was capable of.
We'll find out Tuesday if it was just nerves. They got the shit beat out of them, so that should definitely shake the "nerves" off.
The NBA play-offs are like an NFL game. Teams have time to fully scout the other team and install team specific defensive wrinkles. The Rockets may not be more talented - but they are tougher, smarter, and more experienced. They shredded the Blazer offense, without having to worry about the Blazers returning the favor.
That's a good post. I like your first point very much. That kind of a shooting percentage is very tough to beat, especially against a good defensive team like Houston. Let's just hope they don't keep it up in Game 2.
And if they don't? So what, this wasn't going to be the year for a deep playoff push unless something unique was going on -- Frankly, I think we as fans have gotten completely ahead of ourselves in our expectations. I got accused earlier today of being a "Debbie Downer" because I was trying to inject a little bit of 'perspective' into the 'sugary sweet' circle jerk that people were engaging in, within certain threads for the past couple of days, but for me I think it was OK to lose; in fact this might be the best thing that could happen, because it ends up showing this team just how hard you have to work, and just how focused you have to be to enjoy success at this level. If they were to achieve a lot of early success without really having to pay the price it could end up being counterproductive in the end: KP might end up sitting on his hands this summer and not make the moves he needs to make, players could slack off (like the Hornets did this year a little) and not quite have the same energy and fire the following year(s). I'm actually happy this game was a blow-out tonight; it's going to be a huge test of character to see how they respond.
I don't think anyone really thinks the rockets are better than us. The refs clearly thought they needed lots of help to win.
HCA HCA HOMECOURT ADVANTAGE I said it before PORTLAND NEEDS ALDRIDGE AND ROY TO BE THEIR BIG 2 SCORERS. The playoffs is too different for the rest of the Blazers young guys. If you can't create, hope Roy or Outlaw or Aldridge create something for you. If not Roy or Aldridge have to create something for themselves. Every shot, lay up, and three pointer is contested in the playoffs. It's win or go home.
Maybe not more talented, but they were certainly a step ahead of the Blazers at both ends of the court. This was experience on full display, not a screw job by the refs -- they called it like a playoff game for the most part.
The only problem I had with the refereeing was Roy was getting bumped and thrown down and no foul was called - then on the other end any one of our guys could bump any of their guys and there was a call. I just find it frustrating that our star guy for the first half was going to the hoop and getting nothing and Von Wafer had more free throws attempted than him. That's about it, really.
Most of the NBA analysts at ESPN picked the Blazers to win this series. I think there are a lot of people around the NBA who are surprised by this result, and they're not just Blazer fans.
Well, it's certainly not over by any stretch of the imagination, but that's why they play the games, as they say. Win or lose though, I'm anxious to see how they respond to this adversity.
I'm not. These experts just want to sell a Lakers-Blazers series. The Rockets beat you without a Brandon Roy, and don't sell outside of their local market. Look at the NBA playoff predictions thread.
I dont know why but can someone please explain to me how the Rockets are good? I just don't see how they did so good this year, they don't really have a bench, there only rly good players are Yao and Artest, then Battier, Scola, & Brooks are solid...I dont know why, but I'm just confused and shocked we got absolutely demolished..
