From O-Live: In the locker room following the game the Blazers were frustrated, but this wasn't a crushing defeat like Monday night in Milwaukee or the week before at home against Dallas. It was however, another close game where Portland ended up on the wrong end. Fifteen of the Blazers 23 games this season have been within five points with less than five minutes remaining and the Blazers have gone 5-10 in those contests. However, as the team filed out of the visiting locker room, the mood was more of resolve than dejection. "I don't think it's that we're youthful or that we haven't been there," Meyers Leonard said. "We just – we have to come up with the plays that will win us games." Added Stotts: "It is good to be competitive, but we want to win all these games. When you're in the games, like I said, it sucks to lose close games." http://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/i..._in_105-100_lo.html#incart_river_mobile_index
Losing close games gives hope. We dont totally suck yet we can keep our pick. If everything falls into place then we are a playoff team next season sent from a phone you've probably never heard of
It's a dangerous game we are playing. Enough close losses, other teams may get the feeling that with a little less effort on their part we might come out on the winning end, and when they understand that we can beat them it will snowball, and pretty soon we are looking at a long winning streak. And nobody wants that. barfo
They should be upbeat. They are playing pretty damn good ball. Just the odd mistake at the wrong time as young players do. They could be a really good team and I enjoy watching them more than last years team.
Young players? CJ and Dame are in their mid 20s and they are the anchors of the team. Young guys like Alexander, Pat C, and Vonleh aren't on the floor in crunch time. This isn't youth. This is bad decision making my players who have outgrown the inexperience excuse.
Hey JinxSpeed, trying to remember which poster on here predicted that we were just talented enough to hang with teams for awhile until the other team realized they should win and would pull it out. How we might catch some quality teams off guard and get a couple Ws we shouldn't get and lose some we should. Then said poster got blasted for being a hater. If you can remember bro who it was, let me know. Sent from my Baller-Ass 5.5" iPhone 6+......... FAMS
Invaluable experience for all involved. Win-win. The rebuild is going to be nice and quick. No 5 year rebuild here! I'm happy!
I think we'll grow into this, I think the team still lacks in facing intensity and closing out games. I think Meyers should have played more in the 4th against Cleveland. I think he has the kind of intensity that he could be a good option for us in close games
I was thinking young in terms of time together, not necessarily age. I'm still impressed with how they are playing overall, they play hard, and are fun to watch. There are going to be some bonehead moments but you'll win your bet. Take it from me, it's a sure thing. Just look at my prediction skills!
I think we're tied with the Jazz for 2nd youngest team in the league (?) and nearly our entire roster from last year is now scattered to the four corners of the Earth. Of the top 10 in our rotation only 4 were here last year, and only 1 started. Besides Damian, the roles of the other 3 are much larger than they ever have been in their careers. Our oldest player, Kaman, hardly ever plays. The one team younger than us- They're currently 1-21. The good news is that despite everything they're still only 1.5 games out of the 8th seed. If they score five more points (2 against Memphis, 3 against Milwaukee) they'd currently be in the playoffs. 9 more points and they have a winning record, 31 more points and they're 16-7 in the 3rd seed. That's just to illustrate how close they actually are despite the youth and the time spent playing with each other. They've so far exceeded my expectations.
They'll be fine next yr. This year is a wash though, which should be the plan. Look at all these other teams who started their rebuilds years ago (utah, minnesota, etc) and we're nearly finished with ours in year 1. This season is the exact outcome I've wanted, play hard, compete, then blow it at the end. That tells me we know what we're doing and are on the right path. We need to give Neil a top 5 pick this year, I can assure you he'll nail it. That guy is an amazing talent evaluator. Then after that play with free agency, and boom next yr is the year you want to taste the playoffs and go from there..
Looks like you might be right, but the season is going as I think most of us level headed fans thought it would.
I'm proud of these guys. Hanging with good teams, coming back and not getting blown out in a lot of games it looked like they would.
More lotto balls. That's all we need. More lotto balls. 1-7 in close games. Exactly what they need to do. Lose most of your games but have the nice feel good win now and then to give the fans hope.
We are the official sparring partners of the league this season...at least we're taking contenders the distance and losing by decision, not so much knockouts
