The last three games the three worst teams in the League looked on par with the Blazers. A win is a win but we're either playing down to the level of these doormats or we're just not that good. Minnesota, New Jersey, and Sacramento all sliced up our defense.
That's why you play the games. As Micheal Holden likes to say, those other teams have millionaires, too. And, as Charles Barkley says, there are no bad players in the NBA. Every team in the league has enough talent to beat any other team on any given night. New Jersey beat Utah tonight. The Jazz also lost to Washington on Monday. The Magic barely beat the 76ers by one point, in OT, at home tonight. The Bulls, who were 18-3 at home lost at home last night to the Bobcats, who were 3-14 on the road. The Lakers lost to the Clippers on Sunday. They've also lost to Memphis twice this season. Good teams lose to bad teams just about every night. It happens. Given the Blazers depleted roster, it's encouraging that they are finding ways to win these games they should win. I'll take winning ugly over losing any time. I also think winning these close games improves their confidence and gives them a chance to learn how to close out games. They've relied on Brandon Roy for that in the past. With Roy out, and his future uncertain, it's good for the rest of the guys to learn how to win these close games - even if they are against lesser opponents. The confidence and experience they gain now will make them better prepared for close games against better opponents in March and April when they are fighting to make the play-offs. It will also make them better prepared for the play-offs once they get there. BNM
Had the outcomes been different if we had a HEALTHY Greg, Brandon, and Camby playing? I think we kill ALL 3 of those teams. You might have to start bringing your expectations down to earth a bit. We aren't that good of a team anymore when we don't have 3 of our best 6 or 7players. Apply that logic to any team in the league and it works.
Ever since Brandon went down, my expectations have been dropping like a rock. The talent on the floor just isn't there anymore as LMA can't carry the team by himself.
Well said. People never seem to mention when other great teams struggle with the bad teams. It's not how much you win by. It's just that you win. And we've done that three times in a row. We're in the 8th spot for the West. The Kings are in the basement. Taking us to OT doesn't make them nearly as good as us. You have to actually win games.
Also important to note that we looked pretty damn good against what was at the time a healthy and red-hot Miami team a week and a half ago. Playing up or down to the competition happens.
Well, Utah just lost at WAS and NJ back to back. With our roster as depleted as it is, I'll take wins any way they come.
I vote for this post as the worst of the week. My god man, a team decimated by injuries pulls out a tough win, get a grip.
To Hcp - I think there was some truth to what you jokingly said in another thread about using Armon Johnson as a backup Center. I think Camby's absence opens up minutes mostly for Joel but follow my logic here: my response in that other thread I suggested more minutes for Nico/Dante in the 2nd big-man role. That could open up more minutes for Wesley as a Small-Forward thus opening up more minutes for Patty at Shooting-Guard. If you give Patty a big part of his minutes as a non-point guard you open up more minutes for Armon behind Andre Miller.
Yea well think about this too. The Clippers have started to win. A lot of writers and media have written them off because of their bad start, but they are only 7 games back of a playoff spot with a bunch of bad teams in front of them. It would take a hell of a run, but now that their starters are clicking, I think some of those teams that had penciled in a 7 or 8 spot have some new competition.
These teams have just as much talent as we do. And they may be deeper. I do not see a team right now in the NBA that is horrible like in years past. Look who the Lakers have been getting beat by. Utah got beat last night in NJ. The NBA IMO has never been more even. These "easy" home games coming up scare me. I bet we go 3-2 at best. The Blazers have to take the attitiude that "hey we are playing at home, we have a chance to win" . not............"we are playing at home, we should win". Or it will be ugly. " They need to really "scrap" out there.
This Blazers squad is very talent deficient right now. Beating the Kings last night boiled down to one thing: We outworked a team that has almost no clue how to win.
The one year that wasn't totally ruined by injury (2008-09), the Blazers had the 5th highest point differential in the NBA. What a generic complaint.
Two of Chicago's 10 losses in 95-96? Losses to the 21-61 Toronto Raptors and the 35-47 Denver Nuggets.
