Stand tall, Portland!

I don't usually talk about moral victories, but last night's overtime game was defininitely that. We gave the Heat everything they could handle, and had a 7-point lead with a little over 2 minutes left in the fourth quarter. The fact that we did this without our star player, Brandon Roy, is hugely important.

The key to last night's game--and everything good that has been happening lately--is LaMarcus Aldridge, our 6'11 wunderkind. I actually believe that if Aldridge can keep playing this way, the Blazers are still a force to be reckoned with. If we could add a couple of players before the trade deadline--a great outside shooter and a tough interior player would be nice--I like our chances to compete with anyone.

 

We just need a bit more depth at C/PF and more consistent shooting off the bench.

Cho had a chance to do something about this, but whiffed on the injured player exception. That was a big mistake.

 

After all these years of lost seasons to injuries, moral victories ring pretty hollow to me. When I see the Heat and the Spurs putting together great records this season, I see the opportunity to make a run if the management has the intestinal fortitude to make an impact trade.

 

I'm pleased with the progress of the team; this is a team that is still learning to play without Brandon Roy. This is a team that has two new players (Mathews and Mills) that get significant playing time; it takes a while to integrate them. I hope they can continue to get better and am optimistic.

 

Excellent points. It's not easy to replace a guy like Brandon Roy, but the Blazers seem to be in the process of doing it. If Matthews keeps improving, and we add a couple of pieces, we still have a bright future.

 

No question - we gave that team absolutely everything they could handle, and it took an off shooting night from us and another freakish shooting night from Lebron for them to force OT. Still sucks to lose another late lead.

 

We blew a 7 point lead with under 3 minutes left in the game. That's a disappointment, not a moral victory.

 

It made me think of all the Roy bashers. Tied game, one possession to win it. In whose hands do you want the ball?

Brandon Roy. No question.

 

Yes, it's a disappointment for sure, but the game as a whole was very encouraging. This rag-tag team of Blazers stuck a big middle finger in the face of 3 of the game's biggest stars--James, Wade, and Bosh. Our starting shooting guard is a guy nobody even heard of two years ago, and Patty Mills has been sitting on the bench most of his career. Without Roy, without Oden, and with Przy still a shadow of his former self, we still were neck-and-neck with the most potent team in the league. That's a cause for celebration.

 

Miami would have stopped the ISO offense earlier in the game, and it probably wouldn't have come down to a last second shot

 

What this team really is lacking right now is a PG who can penetrate and draw fouls. Someone a little like Bayless

 

Or Harris.

 

DEVIN HARRIS

 

Yes. My post wasn't meant as an anti trading of Bayless statement. Harris does that extremely well

 

You bash Brandon Roy yet you just described his game that we are missing. Nice contradiction.

 

roy cant do that anymore unless someone over 70 is guarding him

 

He did? What difference maker was available that made less than 4 million dollars at that position?

 

I bash Brandon because when he is on the floor, 4 guys in the same color uniforms are standing around.

 

That should be on Nate for designing that type of system, correct? This is beating a dead horse, so no need to answer.