Honestly, I think they spent too much time talking about it. Saying it over and over again may make it seem real, but it's only an allusion, that creates an illusion. Time to stop talking and start doing.
Best BGD post ever? Possibly. If nothing else, it's a valid point. If the Blazers are going to be contenders, they must be able to win constistently on the road.
After last night's game, I never wanted to watch basketball again. Seriously. But I'm better now. Tomorrow's a chance for redemption. We started the season 2-2 last year after all. I may have to go to more games too. That was key to our quick start. Remember when Mags chipped in to send me to Milwaukee?
I'm not really sure what fans thinking has to do with a team being a championship contender? Either they're good enough and they'll play like it or they aren't and they won't. Personally I think the leap from being a "feel good, Cinderella story" team to a "push you down and steal your lunch money" team is very hard to make and it'll be interesting to see if the Blazers have it in them to build on what they started last year.
Dame will be fine. He worked harder than he ever has this offseason on conditioning, strength training, & cut soda/junk food out of his diet because he's focussed on being "elite". His slow start is surprising, but temporary. Guaranteed. Only concern to me is closing out games. Can't rely on ball movement to get good looks when the game slows down. Even the Spurs have Parker & Ginobli to bail them out when they need it. We need a perimeter player other than Dame that can get a shot off when a play breaks down & there's nothing there. I was hoping/still hope CJ might be that guy. Batum's versatile, Wesley grinds, & LA is one of the best PFs in the game. But good teams close out games with defense & playmakers on the perimeter who can break down a defense/get to the line. Seems like we try to close out games by posting up LA, but defenses take that away & we have to settle for long/contested jumpers. I'm keeping an eye on the degree of difficulty of the shots we give up vs the ones we get down the stretch of close games. If that continues to look uneven, I'll be worried.
The next 7 out of 9 games are at home. You want them to win now, right? Winning games will help with their confidence. Do you not want that?
I'd like to see more of the LA to Kaman dagger. Stotts had them together in one game and when LA got the ball the double team came at him leaving Kaman on the block to get bucket after bucket. When we need scoring it's pretty effective.
I don't know why everyone seems worried. We are first in our division. What more do you want??? Ugh, this is depressing... And yet encouraging at the same time. I should note that at the time of this post the Jazz are only down 4 points in the 3rd and could take the division lead right out from under us with an upset of the Clippers.
I mentioned on the around the NBA thread that 4 games in, last season the 76ers were #1 in the league..
They don't? That surprises me. I would think a championship team 'worries' (really focuses and strategizes on) everything. Every minute thing. Like taking advantage of a home stand to win games on your home court. Gritting it out and winning games on a long road trip. It's a matter of setting long range goals (like winning a championship), shorter range goals (like winning the division), short range goals (like winning out on a home stand) and immediate goals (like winning the next game). Determine what needs to be accomplished to obtain those various goals, and focus on the minutae, from the next game down to the next possession, knowing that's the path to success. If I'm in charge, I have the conversation about this week's opportunities, challenges and risks. And I challenge my guys to win out on their home court. Maybe that's just me.
