After going back and reviewing some of Clydes dunks. I am sold that he is the most beautiful player that I have ever had a chance to watch. More beautiful than Magic, Michael, Kobe, Lebron. Any of them. But back then, it wasn't only Clyde, it was the whole team. Terry, Jerome, Buck. They all knew how to play off the fans and even more, how to play to the fans. They all knew what the fans wanted on the court. They knew and they did it. Jerome did his best to tear down the rim any chance he got. Every time he did, the crowd would go nuts. One time was never enough for him. Once he heard the thunder from the crowd once. HE WANTED MORE OF IT! Clyde the same. I think they did everything they could to go out and put a team out of a game early and often. They never had a killer instinct. But they used to really take you out of it early. I loved that back then. It was fun, it was exciting. I won't ever forget that team. Championship or not. In comparison to this current team. This team has SOME moments. But I really, really doubt they will ever come close to being as fun and as exciting as that team. I don't know if they understand or if they do, that they will ever be out to play to the fans. Not too many teams do. They may do it at times. But never to the degree that team did. Meaning, by going out and doing the things the fans wanted to see. Clydes team understood us, understood blazermania. And they did their best to keep it revved up. In the end, I do expect them (current team) to be better. Mainly because, they are better fundamentally sound players. I think this team will walk away with a title or two unlike Clydes Blazers. But they will never be as fun and as exciting. It's too bad the blazers don't have someone teaching a course about blazermania to the blazers. What it is. What it's about. The pulse of it. Just how special it is. How you conduct yourselves to it on and off the court. The game, The players, The fans. The fans have the players best interest in mind. The players have the fans best interests in mind. Winning is one thing. How you do it is another. Blazer mania is crazy excitement. And I haven't felt that KIND excitement since the early 90's. It was special. Thoughts
I attended several games during Clyde's years in Portland, and I even went to the finals against the Pistons and Bulls. I believe that Brandon Roy is more entertaining now, and will be in the future than Clyde. I also don't think that you can compare the generations, because technology has changed the experience of being a fan so much. Message boards and forums have totally changed how we interact with sports. Many fans now spend a great deal of time thinking about the team, while in the past it was a more focused energy during the games or season for that matter. In the past it was really easy to be a fan, you got excited the last week of September when the Oregonian would print their Season preview. I used to keep those sports sections for the entire year. Things are just different now for the players and fans.
Look, I'm not knocking the team. My love is unconditional. But the fact is this team doesn't totally understand the passion that revolves in and around blazermania.
This is a much smarter team. The 90s team was terrible in end-of-game situations. And I bet Roy/LMA/Oden/Rudy will grow that connection to the fans that the 90s team had. iWatas
That team had two fingers on the fans pulse at all times. Do you think this team might check it once?
I don't think that's a fair assessment of the team. That team had several years together (as a core) whereas this team is in it's 3rd year together. That team was created less than a decade (sans Buck) after the title team and was in the grips of the intense love affair. This team was made during the low-point of the last 30 years Blazer fan-wise.
Maybe it's you. That is not a slam, I am just saying that your perception of this team might be the problem. I think the team is doing a great job of keeping the city engaged, and the fans are responding. Don't forget that winning is the number one fuel of Blazermania, so any team that gets to the finals in Portland is going to see the passion.
It might be a bit early to jump on these guys. They are at the toddler stage. The fans may condition them as time goes on. IF the players have a finger on the pulse, they should learn as time goes on. I do agree with Rick Adelman. Blazermania was at a higher fever back in the early 90's than it was the year the blazers won a title. The support by the fans was just amazing. From the type of atmosphere at the coliseum, to the fever that spread to the airways, to people driving miles and miles just to meet the players at the hillsboro airport. But I firmly believe that team was responsible for it and not Waltons title team.
Sure they are. They win. That's what makes most fans tick. The vast majority don't care how they do it, just as long as they do. Showcased by the rally at Pioneer Square before the playoffs even started.
Good point. But I think there is more to it than just winning. The fans being at the courthouse square was more of a voice of support that the blazers, who just made the playoffs for the first time in six years. I think they were celebrating that feat.
I think RIC07, you're missing the fact that this team doesn't play at a generally exciting pace. And that is because of Nate, Roy, and Blake IMO. But, I remember reading about Rudy saying how the Blazer fans are like soccer fans at home. Anytime a European says your fans are excited as European soccer fans, that is a BIG compliment! I know Batum used to be like "what is this shitty place, i thought i was going to houston!" but he has since been converted too!
I think you are giving most fans too much credit. I have friends in Portland whom I have known for over 5 years, and this past season was the first time I've EVER heard them talk about, let alone watch the Blazers. I agree with you on the reason for the rally. I was referring to the turn-out. I'd be willing to bet a huge percentage of them couldn't name more than a couple players on the team before the 13 game win streak. My point being, winning is what draws fans in. More than anything else. Also, as far as the team playing off the fans. I think it's safe to say they do, judging by last season's home dominance.
TP>Blake Clyde=BRoy Jerome (who is our SF?) Buck<L.A. Duck<Greg Clyde team had great chemistry, our guys are starting to build it. Tough to compare because one team is full of vets and the other so young.
This team is closer to the 1987-88 Blazers (only more successful) in that all of their drafted starters are young, and we're missing that piece at SF (in the Clyde Blazers case, PF). The whole bullshit "working the crowd" angle is just that: bullshit. Who gives a fuck how well these Blazers sign autographs or smile at the fans versus a team 20 years ago? 20 years ago, fans weren't on the internet slagging Duckworth for being a "fat fuck who couldn't hit water if he fell out of a boat" or whatever. Fans these days do that. So you stay a little further away, because the flamethrowers reach a little farther. The very fact that I called one of your concepts bullshit should tell you how much more rude we as fans are now versus 20 years ago. Keep the players away from us, keep them well-paid, keep them happy on the court and in the locker-room, keep them winning, and we'll be just fine with that arrangement... bullshit pop psychology or no.
Well. With all do respect to you, I'm going to call bullshit to your reply. The fact is the fans back then, literrally got off on the up and down play of the blazers. The blazers had thee loudest arena in the league due to this. Don't think Clyde, Terry and Jerome didn't know this. The blazers didn't need the pa announcer to the get the fans involved. They didn't need to splash make noise on the jumbo tron to get the fans revved up. The players did it themselves with their play. If you have been a fan long enough. YOu should know that. They tried equally hard to put out the needed effort and the play to give the fans what they wanted. And they did.
