I still feel really good about this series!

It wasn't a blowout, so I'll just say "whatever". We had it the whole time if we wanted it, but we just couldn't pull it out. I don't expect it to continue. If we can keep these road games close and pull one out in game 2 or 5 all is well. If we get blown out like we have previously then that's when we can call up Mixum to tell us it's all over.

 

Nic after the game (his gf tweeted):

 

I agree with the OP, and many other posters in this thread. We looked like the better team, and I think that we are. I was working during the game (at a sports bar and it was busy), but every time I looked up Dirk was at the FT line (in the 4th). Then after I watched the replay I still think we got hosed. 19-2 FT's in the 4th quarter? Are you fucking kidding me? And I love how Rick Kamla and the NBA TV guys tow the company line and act like it was because Dallas was so aggressive. So transparent.

Anyways, my conspiracy theory is that I think Stern knows we're the better team, and if we had won this game it could have been a sweep. This way it will go at least 5, probably 6 games, which means a few extra million for the league. So his goons did all that they could do, and in this case it was enough. We're not THAT much better. Go Blazers!

 

It's not that far fetched. It reminds me of the WWE which at least comes out and acknowledges the fake action. The NBA is a private corporation and they can do whatever they please in order to get more money and I would probably do the same as well. Though I do wish there was a mainstream alternative to the NBA sometimes, but then again mainstream means money and money means not having a star player getting swept by some mid-market team so yeah sigh...

 

The Blazers were 2-16 for 3 pointers. Up until Batum hit that 3 pointer in the closing seconds we only had one 3 pointer (Rudy). I attribute a lot of that to Matthews early foul trouble. He wasn't able to get into a rhythm. I still give them a good chance in game 2, but what a great opportunity to to take game 1.

Before the series started I felt who ever won game 1 would probably take the series. Hope I was wrong!

 

Kidd will not continue to score like this. I actually like seeing him bombing away instead of Terry.

 

Kidd was not a player I had much concern about in this series. I had concerns about Terry getting hot. Hopefully Kidd is just a flash in the pan. I think he will try to coast the rest of the series.

 

I don't think he has a choice.

 

If Kidd's series is like Game One, and Wes and Gerald continue to play terribly, then we tip our hat to the Mavericks and say they were the team that got hot at the right moment. IMO, you stay the course and let Kidd try to beat you from the outside while focusing on stopping Dirk and Terry. On offense, we continue to pound the paint and force them to try to stop us. I don't think they have the toughness to do it.

 

They beat us with threes and touch-foul free throws -- if that's not a tenous combo, I don't know what is. If Portland can continue to work them in the paint, the outside shooting and FTs should normalize. In this particular case, both teams shooting their seasonal averages for FTs and 3P% would have resulted in a 102-73 Blazer win, and the media would be predicting a Portland sweep.

 

Yo Mamba, tell me how the Hornets taste.

 

TT, this is a terrific post and spot on, IMO. Repped.

 

Thanks man -- here's to statistical self-correction on Tuesday!

 

Nice post but not anything like the beauty above to Mamba!

HORNETS IN FIVE!!!

Repped as well.

 

You 2 want to get a room?

 

Why? I think they're both comfortable with PDA.

Spooning FTW.

 

[Insert wife joke here.]