I took the liberty of a minor edit. Watching the last few minutes of 'game calling', it seemed kind of like the spread must have been in jeopardy.
I think it is just personal preference. The Mike's rub me the wrong way and I turn the TV on mute to listen to the radio broadcast. Tone is there to keep it light and works well with Wheels IMO. Every time I have interacted with him, it is hard to not loosen up a bit.
Spread was well covered, and teams were already over the over. We were favored by 2, 2.5. They weren't going to get it that close. Over under was around 189, 190. That was covered with a good 3.5 minutes left, roughly. No real reason to get Memphis "back into it". Nothing to read into. We just got complacent with the game.
We did, and it's a good lesson to learn; they were practicing their playoff game calling: nothing in the last 4 minutes. Physicality went up, and Memphis was more attuned to that style than Portland. We need to get ready for that sort of stuff.
These two physical games are so needed for preparing for the playoffs. This is the way it will be i the playoffs, so the blazers better get used to it.
You know, I kinda have a good feeling about that. Last night, after Mo got ripped off and T'd up, he played with a vengeance. I can see the same thing happening in the playoffs. I don't think we'll lose composure when we get bad calls. Often, it takes something like that to jump start Lillard and you know what can happen when he gets irritated.
In years past, I would be the first to tell you that Blazers teams were mentally fragile, that a stiff wind would be enough to throw them off of their game, and force them into bonehead mistakes. This years team seems a bit different. Lillard, even though he's been struggling, hasn't lost that confident swagger, and somehow, someway, Aldridge turned into a quiet leader, which is amazing since he's been a follower his whole career. I think that this team will handle the playoffs well, and won't lose because they self-destructed. They'll win or lose based on how they play and if the other team is better.
Did you notice in the team huddle after the game, LaMarcus told the team: "Three down, seven to go"? At least, I thought it was LaMarcus.
This is also the top story on ESPN's Daily Dime "It's been a long few months since the Blazers were the darlings of the league, and they've opened themselves up to a host of questions, but all of a sudden they have a tenuous hold on health and something like momentum as the rest of the conference's middle class takes on water. If they can steel their resolve just seven games longer, the Trail Blazers may emerge, after months of looking like they peaked too early, as a team heading into the postseason at full strength." BNM
We will know more tonight. This is a game they would drop in the past couple of months they have been struggling. And...I personally didn't like they way the finished that game last night. They let them back in the game when maybe they should have had the pedal to the metal with the intent to take them out. But we know they don't do that.
I would like to see them learn from this. They have a tendency as most teams, to think the game is over when they get up 20 in the 4th. They tend to relax on offense by taking a a poor shot, or by getting careless with the ball. Then they get conservative on D by not wanting to foul, and all of a sudden the other team hits a few threes, gets a steal for a layup and the lead is quickly single digits. It doesn't take much of a let down........
It's been like that all year, even during the hot start. Back on Dec 1st we went down to LA & let a 20 point 4th qrt lead dwindle to 1, but held on. It wasn't pretty. The good news is there was no carry over to the next game. We played one of the most complete games of the year beating Indy 106-102 the next day. I'm not worried about the end of the Mem game. I AM worried about what we saw the last time LA came to PDX. They pretty much gave us the 3 ball, especially in the corner. They had 32 fast break points, a lot of those on missed 3s in the corner where we didn't get back on defense. I'd like to think this team has turned the corner when it comes to defensive effort. The last 3 games have been some of the best defense we've seen all year. It's hard to imagine us losing tonight if we bring that same effort & determination. Even if we don't shoot well, we should win this game. This Laker team is easily discouraged if you don't let them run/score on you. They flat out play no defense when that happens. But when you allow them to run & shoot 3s in rhythm, they'll play SOME defense. We just need to come out tonight & break their will by not giving them anything easy offensively & they will fold. Lakers simply have no interest in "grinding" out wins.
I think a recent factor has been Damian playing much better defense and moving the ball instead of thinking he's in the 3pt contest every game. We beat the Grizz with him scoring 13 pts. Feeding Rolo just opens the game up outside and Mo Williams is a spark plug. 7 guys in double digits is going to win the lions share of games. Keeping the other team under 100pts is another factor. LaMarcus played some of the best defense he's played all season the last 3 games.
I agree Dame's defense has improved and he's working hard at it. I've been watching him on defense and he's been getting BEAT. UP. running through picks all game long. There's only so much a guy can do against the best players in the world when they get even a half step. I also think Stott's has done a great job testing and developing his players, and working guys into the offense. TRob is noticeably better than at the beginning of the year. Even Mo has settled in and is giving us what I had hoped for when we signed him. Same with Wright.
