They have 2 players on their roster that would be backups on most teams. Noah and Thomas. I mean, did they luck out or what? No garnett. He would have eaten those 2 alive. Watching noah is like watching an awkward college ball player for the first time who is playing out of position. Meanwhile we get stuck with YAO. I just am so sick of this hype about the Bulls.
What upsets me is that teams like the Bulls and Sixers have won a playoff game and the Blazers, who had the league's 5th best record, haven't. Pisses me off. Reminds me of 2002. We came back from a horrible start to the season and got really hot, won 12 in a row, and had me really excited about what they could do in the playoffs. And then we got swept. 1, 2, 3, and it was over. Best of 5 series so we only got 1 home game and that's it.
Noah is basically a younger more athletic version of Joel; he's not an offensive player but he's actually a very strong rebounder and shot blocker. Thomas is more of the same, not very polished offensively, but he blocks the hell out of shots and can jump out of the building.
thems are the breaks. i still think for a young team it may be better to start on the road and have no pressure. having said that i wouldn't give up hca, cause if we get it to game 7 it's in our house. we can't concern ourselves with what other teams are doing.
I'm glad to see them beat the Celtics....though I do feel kinda sorry for Danny Ainge. But you know, it's ok, that is the Eastern Conference. If we were in the East, we'd be facing Miami, and of course, if a few bizaare things didn't happen we'd be facing NO. But it's ok, our ultimate goal is to win a championship, not a playoff series. To win a title, you have to be the best, and beat good teams. What would be the great accomplishment in beating an inferior team just to say we did?
Don't you see the contradiction in your posts? You constantly complain about Blake and Batum being less than stellar options as starters. But the Bulls "lucked out" b/c they get the C's w/o KG? Dude, are you watching the series? Rose and Gordan are studs. Tyrus Thomas and Noah aren't scrubs either - they've got 9 blocks tonight. And the addition of Salmons was better than we thought. Let's put it this way. Do you think the Blazers would be on the cusp of going up 2-0 against the Celtics on the road? Even with no KG? I don't know about that. The Bulls are kind of scary, even w/o a big front court.
sorry... wout kg the celtics are not that good. and i dont care what noah does... hes playing out of position. oh... and if gordans a stud.... then you need your head examined
You're right Mixum. Who needs a 20 ppg guy who shoots 41% on 3s, 86% FT and has a history of making clutch shots?
We kinda have that guy already... I s'pose another would be nice... This of course makes your point; B-Roy is clearly a stud, and his numbers are very close to Gordon's... ergo, Gordon's probably also a stud.
I think Portland easily could be 2-0 vs either the Bulls (@ home) or the Celts on the road w/out KG. But you're also right about the Bulls not being pushovers, especially when their bombers get hot. By defending and rebounding, Noah and Thomas do the most important things for Bigs and Miller gives them quality depth. The Blazers are a lot bigger then either of these teams though, so they'd project to do well on the boards vs them... dominating the boards has been a real common thread in their success this year. Houston is a weird matchup for them as they're the smaller team for once. Their strengths are Houston's. The Rockets could have the 2-0 lead as well. STOMP
Geez Mixum, if the Blazers could switch rosters with last years team USA you would say . . . Dwight Howard can't make a free throw, Deron Williams/Michael Redd/Chris Paul/Carmelo Anthony don't play defense, D Wade & Boozer are injury prone, etc. When somebody says a guy is a stud, it doesn't mean they are in the Kobe/Lebron (beyond reproach) category. Is Gordan the best player in the game? (No) Does he have flaws? (yes) But he IS A STUD. And if we didn't have Brandon Roy already, I would take Gordan in a heartbeat. And by the way, Jason Terry is no slouch either. Why be so black & white? We could point out flaws in just about every guy in the league - they are human after all.
That's just the way it is with Ben Gordon, he gets no respect. He's been the leading scorer for 4 straight years on a team that made the playoffs in 3 of them. He is said to not be able to start, because he is too much of a defensive liability that the entire defense will fall apart, despite being a starter on the top defense in the league in 06-07. Hell, even tonight. ESPN was doing a little piece about the big performers in the Bulls/Celtics series, and they only did Rondo, Allen, and Rose...somehow they neglected that guy who scored 42 points. And it's not just fans and media. It obviously extends further, as Gordon is playing on the qualifying offer. Pat Riley might be one of the only sane ones (he made a sign and trade offer for Gordon, willing to pay Gordon the money), and also Donnie Walsh, who offered Jermaine O'neal for Gordon in 2004 on draft day, and made a sign and trade offer with Marbury's expiring this year, and Isiah Thomas obviously, who has been trying to steal Gordon away for as long as Gordon's been in the league, and maybe Danny Ainge, who offered Paul Pierce for Gordon on draft day.
