Honestly-who is excited about the next game

Oh my god how things have changed.

it's_Mixum_time just hopes we don't get embarrassed this time. A competitive game where the outcome is still in question in the second half is all I ask for.

But reading this board is slowly getting me up for the game tomorrow. I agree with the idea in GOD's post that maybe the only thing that will get me out of a "getting killed on your home court in the first game of a playoff series funk" is a competitve game 2.

 

Nah, GO time, things have not changed. By "we" Mixum means the Lakers.

 

Really? Seriously? You're not just talking smack?

I don't see us crushing this Houston team, but I hope I'm wrong. They kicked our butts so bad on Saturday night that we looked like a high school team. I think we have a chance to play a very, tight competive game with them, but I'm not looking for a blow-out by any means.

I would love to "crush" them, if we could. That would be sweet revenge for Saturday.

 

I'll tell you one thing, no matter how bad the smackdown was, or even if it happens again which i doubt, I will still watch every Blazer game possible and in the heat of battle, the past is erased and I root on our guys to my fullest. Having some $ issues so I will be at home/bar and not at the games this playoffs, and that sucks, but I still wouldn't miss a second of our first playoffs with this exciting crew.

And then there is looking at the metagame aspects. Almost nobody, even homers, expects us to win it all this season, this is just getting our feet wet for the big battles that should happen over the next half dozen or so years. And if we lose to Houston and get knocked out in shockingly short time, then at least PA, KP and NM will be able to more clearly spot the flaws in the Blazers game and get the required pieces for the future. No matter what happens, we know that the Blazers have a ton of guys who hold good value around the league and can be used to bring us whatever we are missing.

But, as I said, all is not lost, not against Houston. This was just one crappy game and the Blazers, headed by our hero Roy, will hopefully figure out how to put a little hurt on the Rockets and deliver us a second round. If I were to make a bet, I would would place in on the Blazers for game two. I'm looking forward to see the competitive spark that has made this current Blazer team my favorite Blazer squad ever (second fave is Drexler, Duck, Buck, Porter, Kersey and Cliff).

Go Blazers, kick some humid Houston ass.

 

Look, if we can crush the teams we've crushed this season, we CAN CRUSH THIS TEAM. Abso-freaking-lutely!

 

*raises hand*

FUCKING STOKED--"Blazers in 7!"

 

I can't WAIT for the game. I really really want it to start now. I need us to win so badly. I need us to win the next two, really, until I can fully exhale.

As for those of you who need encouragement, it's already all been posted but here it is again:

1) I know it was a different team but in 2005, the Rockets won Games 1 & 2 in Dallas but ended up losing in 7 games. In fact, they lost game 7 by 40 points! Lesson? Losing the first TWO games of the series doesn't kill you even if they were at home.

2) In the 1985 NBA Finals, the Lakers got crushed by the Celtics in Game 1, known as the Memorial Day Massacre, but they ended up winning the series in 6 games. Lesson? You can get blown out in Game 1 and still win the series.

3) In Game 2 of the 2000 WCFs, the Lakers lost to the Blazers 106-77. It was the worst playoff home loss ever for the Lakers, but they recovered, won the series in 7 games, and won the championship.

4) The Spurs lost Game 1 of the playoffs at home in 2003, 2005, & 2007. All three years, they recovered, won the series, and won the championship.

5) Batum has guaranteed that we will win Game 2.

The point is... it's a 7 game series. There is a margin for error. There are lots of opportunities to turn the series around. Look at our last playoff series. We lost the first three games but then won three straight and were up 2 going into the final quarter! We lost the series, but the opportunity to win it was there. We can win tomorrow and we can win the series.

Go Blazers

 

I am excited for the next game and seeing how the team responds.

Yes, the Blazers have smacked a lot of teams this year but as others have mentioned, Houston just seemed to be a team that had the Blazers number. I was hoping for pretty much anything except Houston.

I think we can still take the series but we need to do another round of growing and maturing. Over the season, the Blazers went from being a team with potential to a team that played very well together. As many have pointed out, the playoffs is another level of intensity as compared to the regular season and the boys have to adjust. I think [hope?] they will adjust quickly and take game two and put give Houston something to think about.

At the beginning of the season, my hope for the Blazers was the playoffs. As they did better than I expected and finished the season strong, I dared to raise my hopes that they would advance (heck, I'll be honest, I have, way in the back of my mind, dreams of them going on a roll and taking it all). Overall though, they've reached the goal I had for them and even if they don't get past Houston, I think the experience of playoff basketball will better prepare them for next year.

During the regular season they probably all note things they could do to improve. During they playoffs, they may find new or additional items they need to improve.

I'm hopeful but won't be crushed if we don't advance. In spite of the outcomes, I'll look forward to each game.

Gramps...

 

As they say, 'hope springs eternal.'

I'm excited, but more to see how they respond than worrying about the scoreboard. But then again my expectations have already been far exceeded by this team just by making it to the post season so I haven't been all that down the past couple of days.

My advice is to look at this series are more of a test run than anything, sure you hate to see an opportunity squandered to advance (assuming it's there) but try to keep it in perspective and it will do wonders for your blood pressure.

 

We don't play on Thursday. We play on Friday.

 

Doh! I was thinking it was Tuesday then again Thursday. This is good. Now I just have to convince the wife to not spend too much time at a wedding reception we're attending Friday night.

Gramps...

 

No, not at all. My worst fear going into the last game of the season was that we'd have to play the Rockets. Then we got home court and I'm thinking maybe it'll be ok.

But it wasn't. Saturday's loss was just about the most demoralizing loss I can remember. I knew it would be a tough matchup. But I didn't think they would mop the floor with us like that. At home. So depressing.

 

WTF

 

I am scared sideways. If we come out strong, then we can win the game. At this point, I am managing my expectations: let's win this one, PLEASE!

iWatas

 

Excited? Nervous as all fuck!

I also didn't watch or read any sports stuff for the most part. I didn't even visit any boards for the most part. Hardly visited here. It did affect me big time. I think it was not only losing, but how we loss. How badly we loss. I'd be sitting watching tv and suddenly say 'fuck!' and Karla would ask me what? And I'd say I can't believe we lost! Just couldn';t get my mind off of it.

We'll win tomorrow though. We have to! I posted all those tickets and would hate to only use two of them!!

I actually think we can win this in 6. We win tomorrow and one of the next 2 and the pressure will be on them and they'll choke! After getting HCA and losing it back to us they'll fold up! Ya, that's it!

 

Nervous. Don't want to see Blake getting beat like a rookie against Brooks.

 

I will admit to being kinda bummed yesterday! Today I was too busy to think hoops! Ripped out my whole yard, putting in new sod tomorrow! I am very excited for tomorrow's game. I think Nate and the players will make the proper adjustments.

 

Don't let your dogs piss and shit in the yard now!

 

It's not them I'm worried about.............. it's your girlfriend!

 

It's hard not to piss in fresh grass though. It almost pulls your pants down.