As much as I respect Roy for nutting up and playing, it begs the question: Is it really worth it this year? Do the Blazers really have a chance to get past the Spurs/Mavs, Lakers/Thunder, and Jazz/Nuggets? What if Roy re-injures that knee, only worse during a playoff run that may just be a futile try? Don't get me wrong, I'd like to see my hometown team win a ring for the first time in my lifetime. But you all have to wonder if the risk outweighs what may be too little, too late.
IF Roy recovers 100% and IF we make it past Phoenix... (both huge ifs) ...we can get past either Dallas or the Spurs; we match up well against both (we'd also have HCA against the Spurs). We can beat the Thunder (with HCA), and take the Lakers to 7. Jazz and Nuggets? They're tougher. Much, much tougher. But will either of them get past the Lakers? I suppose if the Thunder win, then either the Jazz or Nuggets will feast on them, which means the WCF will be bad news... but if we can get past Phoenix, we have a decent chance of getting to the WCF's. If that second round is the Spurs, we have HCA and better than even odds.
With the way the Spurs are playing, they'd be a much tougher opponent for Portland than you think. Not that I see the Blazers getting past Phoenix. But a Blazers/Spurs 2nd round matchup would be awesome.
Roy says he's playing to win a championship, this is how you do it. We're not going to win one this year but this is how you learn, how you grow together as a team. We will have the same starting lineup next year, Miller/Roy/Batum/LMA/Camby. It's the losses and learning to overcome adversity that makes a team strong.
Right now is basically the only time all season the Spurs have had everyone healthy, the team that lost all those games in the regular season isn't around anymore. I think I'd rather face Dallas than San Antonio. I'd love just having the chance to try and get past either one.
Excellent point. I'm just not sure if playing so soon on a recently surgically repaired wheel is the way to learn about overcoming adversity. With that said, good luck to Roy and the Blazers either way.
I don't think it was a surgical repair so much as it was removing the torn meniscus tissue. I don't think there is a lot of risk of reinjury (unless his knee is not strong enough to run, jump etc.). He showed me in this game that his knee is strong enough. I am concerned about post-game swelling etc. though, so I may be cautious about playing him in game 5 if he seems to be sore.
If the doctors cleared him and he wants to play, play. Everyone's making a big deal about it, but the doc's cleared him. Doctors cleared him, Roy says it feels good, he played. 2 + 2.
Craig Sager: Talk a little about why you were able to come back. Was it the fact it was such a small tear or little swelling? Roy: No, actually the doctors said it was a pretty bad tear, but the minute the surgery was over and I woke up in the recovery room my knee felt great. Weird.
I think one of the most amazing things about that clip is how the crowd was that excited just halfway through the 1st period. Kind of reminds me of how last year in the pre-season the crowd was already chanting "defense" in like the 2nd possession.
Well, he allegedly begged the docs and even Paul Allen that he was ready to play. If you're dismissing him playing 8 days after being 'scoped, I have to wonder about your agenda.
