This has been the Blazers biggest problem for the longest time, and so many times it has come back to burn us, and it almost did again tonight against an undermanned Orlando team. I don't get it, we get up 14-15 points and then completely let our foot off the gas, and guys are hesitant to shoot. I don't know if it's a part of being a young team (we're not even that young anymore), but home or on the road we need to learn how to put our foot on the neck and close teams out. Not only does it give our best players rest, but it builds momentum going forward and provides valuable experience for playoff basketball. Nate really needs to emphasize to the guys the importance of building leads and holding on to them.
The NBA is a game of runs. We've certainly lost our share of games (you might say) we should have won, but let's enjoy the win for tonight. It's borderline greedy to complain about blowing a 14 point lead to a team like Orlando on the road, considering we got the "W". Sure they were w/o Howard, but there are a lot of shooters on that roster. You know that sooner or later they are going to start making some, and they did. But we kept our composure and held on. Helluva way to start the roady.
Freaking Richardson is the greatest shooter in the history of the NBA......or so it would seem based on what he does against us.
He's why we lost to the Suns in the playoffs. In 3 of our 4 losses, Richardson led the Suns in scoring.
I agree it was a good road win and important, but it could have come a lot easier if we knew how to close an opponent out, and we'd have a better chance against the Heat tomorrow due to rest. It stretches farther than just tonight though, if we could have back those games we blew we'd be top 4 in the conference right now (Thunder, Heat, Lakers etc.)
"Closing out games" is subjective. The Blazers did a great job "closing out the game" tonight after Orlando made their run, IMO.
ive always been rabid. thats why so many posters get mad. they cant control me. anyhow... if we play that poorly vs heat.... it will be 30 point win for them
Rest? LA played 40+ minutes, but he always does. He played 40 minutes in the Charlotte blowout the other night. Other than that, nobody played that much. Dre, Wallace, Wesley all played about 33/34 minutes. Batum, Roy, Camby all in the low 20's. You don't want them playing much less than that. I don't think rest is as important right now. Not with a 9/10 man rotation. If they lose tomorrow night, it won't be because they didn't get enough rest.
It all adds up. LA played 43 minutes tonight and will more than likely play 40+ again tomorrow night. I'm really not liking this trend of ridiculous minutes for him, it's going to wear him down. If the Blazers had built on that 3rd quarter lead there's no doubt he would have rested a little more.
