The Trail Blazers and Destiny-- Quick

illmatic99 · May 13, 2019

Quick's article was freaking amazing. https://theathletic.com/974878/2019...-a-stroll-into-the-western-conference-finals/

I'll post some excerpts:

No, pressure would not get in the way of destiny, not if Turner and his brilliant fourth quarter had a say in the matter.

“I made love to pressure,” Turner told The Athletic.

That’s why after the Trail Blazers beat Denver 100-96 on Sunday to earn a trip to the Bay Area for a Western Conference finals matchup against Golden State, there was nothing — not the cement walls, not the wooden doors — that could hold back the emotion inside their locker room.

With owner Jody Allen — the sister of Paul — leading the charge with a double-fisted pump toward the skies, the Blazers and destiny celebrated. Celebrated so hard that Nuggets president of basketball operations Tim Connelly winced as he waited outside to congratulate the victors.

“You could feel and see the emotion with every word,” McCollum said of Jody Allen’s address. “Special.”

The coaches popped champagne. Meyers Leonard cracked a Coors Light. And they celebrated like this franchise hasn’t celebrated since 1992, when it last made the NBA Finals.

“Hell yes it’s destiny,” Leonard said. “But we aren’t done yet.”
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“I know what I’m talking about, bro,” Lillard said, almost angrily when he was reminded that he talked of this as the ashes were still warm from the sweep by New Orleans in the first round last year.

“After last season, I said there is no way our team — operating the way we operate … who works the way we work … and do stuff the way we do stuff — goes and does something like that (get swept), without there being a reward for it after that. There was no way.”

Before the Blazers’ team had flown out of New Orleans there were rumors coach Terry Stotts was going to be fired. Questions about the pairing of Lillard and McCollum in the backcourt heightened. And criticism of the team’s wings was rampant.

Yet, Paul Allen held firm. He kept Stotts. He kept Neil Olshey, the team’s president of basketball operations. And the team came back determined and hardened. You could see it from opening night, when during player introductions, neither Lillard nor McCollum danced or shimmied like they had in years past. For 82 games, they would come out stone-faced and stoic.

He would tell anybody who would listen that he would be back. And that the team would be back. The sweep was the learning experience they needed. He reminded throughout the season that teams have to go through trying times before experiencing success.

“I wish I could show my text messages,” Lillard said, shaking his head at the thought.

One by one, he had conditioned this roster to weather the dips and turns of a season. He texted. He consoled. He led by example. And every now and again, he would drop reminders.

“Ever since the playoffs started, he’s been like ‘This is our year. This is our year,”’ Maurice Harkless said. “He’s had that feeling for I don’t know how long.”
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Lillard couldn’t stop smiling after the game, almost gushing to anybody who listened that he said this would happen. When he opened the door leading to the coach’s office, crashing the staff’s own gathering, the coaches trumpeted his arrival with cheers and applause. He left with the same smile he had after Game 6, when he told McCollum “and then there was one, dude.”

McCollum was asked about that scene, and the knowing smile he and Lillard exchanged.

“We’ve been talking about getting to the conference finals for a long time, man,” McCollum said.
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At the Trail Blazers’ practice facility, there is a steam room that nearly every day is occupied by at least three players: Al-Farouq Aminu, Harkless and Turner.

“We call ourselves the Steam Room Mafia,” Aminu said.

It is in the steam room where the Blazers’ wings talk about life and basketball, strengthening their already deep bond. It’s also where destiny flirted a bit with the Blazers’ wings.

In the days leading up to the Denver series, the Mafia met in the steam room and talked about their upcoming roles. Unlike the Oklahoma City series, where Aminu and Harkless shined, they knew this series would be different. Their defense, more than their offense, would be needed.

“I remember before the series, we talked about how we might not average the points that everybody thinks we should, or play the style everybody says we should,” Aminu said. “But once it says Western Conference finals by our names, it will make sense, and it will make it all worth it.”

The steam room conversations played out, especially in Game 7, when Aminu, a starter, played only 7:08 of the game. Harkless, another starter, played 16:48. Turner, meanwhile, came off the bench and played 19:12, including the entire fourth quarter.

He scored 14 points, and in the fourth quarter alone he had 10 points, four rebounds, two assists and a block.

“I’ve always been comfortable in back-to-the-wall moments,” Turner said. “If anything, I lock in more. Unfortunately, Rodney —had to get hurt for it to play out that way.”
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The Blazers laugh now at how Denver insulted destiny and got burned.

Before Game 6 in Portland, the team’s film session ended with three video clips: One of Murray over-celebrating at the end of Game 5. One of Juan Hernangomez shimmying to the Nuggets bench after a late 3-pointer in Game 5. Then a still shot of the Nuggets putting Western Conference finals tickets on sale after the Game 5 victory.

Leonard said assistant coach Dale Osbourne said, “Look at this! We can not accept this!”
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“I believe it’s all God’s plan,” Harkless said. “I couldn’t sleep last night. I had a funny feeling. I just knew we were going to win this game. Dame has been telling me since Game 3: ‘We gonna win in 7.’ And he was right.”
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There is just so much more here. People here take Quick for granted. They need to stop

TorturedBlazerFan · May 13, 2019

yuyuza1 said: ↑

Quick's article was freaking amazing. https://theathletic.com/974878/2019...-a-stroll-into-the-western-conference-finals/

I'll post some excerpts:

There is just so much more here. People here take Quick for granted. They need to stop
Click to expand...

I think their are valid reasons for people to dislike Jason Quick. I don't think he's a bad writer, and nowhere near the level of Canzano but there's a reason Quick isn't exactly "beloved" by Blazer fans and it's not just because he doesn't write what we want to read, though at times that's part of it.

Bob Dobalina · May 13, 2019

yuyuza1 said: ↑

Quick's article was freaking amazing. https://theathletic.com/974878/2019...-a-stroll-into-the-western-conference-finals/

I'll post some excerpts:
There is just so much more here. People here take Quick for granted. They need to stop
Click to expand...

Not a Quick hater. He can be "fluffy" at times though. Still, just can't bring myself to actually pay for the privilege to read The Athletic.

beast blazer · May 13, 2019

LeBron should have come to portland

crandc · May 13, 2019

Thanks for excerpts. Tried to read but was told to download an app.

UKRAINEFAN · May 13, 2019

Reading that reminded me of a short shot in the game (when Nuggets were far ahead) showing Murray and maybe Harris and Craig just laughing and joking. And I thought I so hope they will get their comeuppance.

riverman · May 13, 2019

beast crnjo said: ↑

LeBron should have come to portland
Click to expand...

Anthony Davis just might seeing how the west has panned out.

illmatic99 · May 13, 2019

UKRAINEFAN said: ↑

Reading that reminded me of a short shot in the game (when Nuggets were far ahead) showing Murray and maybe Harris and Craig just laughing and joking. And I thought I so hope they will get their comeuppance.
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Monte Morris chest bumping Barton (I think) and getting in Dame's way, while the two exchanged glances, after making the score 39-22 was my turning point. We outscored them 78-57 after that.

Pinwheel1 · May 13, 2019

I will say the Nuggets were classy after the game. But yeah their smugness when they were up bugged me. I am sure our bench can seem that way as well at times, but even Isaiah Thomas was irritating me.

BlazerWookee · May 13, 2019

beast crnjo said: ↑

LeBron should have come to portland
Click to expand...

Fuck Lebron.

BlazerBeav · May 13, 2019

I don't think Denver did anything too crazy, but I'm all for using anything we can as motivators. We seem to thrive on disrespect - which is good, because we're about to get a lot more thrown our way.

kjironman1 · May 13, 2019

yuyuza1 said: ↑

People here take Quick for granted. They need to stop
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Look man. Everyone agrees Quick is a good writer.
Those that know him and have met him know what kind of person he is. People don't take Quick for granted. Quick takes PEOPLE for granted.
HE NEEDS TO STOP!
I will never Pay for a Quick article. I am not the only one.

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The Trail Blazers and Destiny-- Quick

illmatic99 formerly yuyuza1

TorturedBlazerFan Well-Known Member

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UKRAINEFAN Well-Known Member

riverman Writing Team

illmatic99 formerly yuyuza1

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BlazerWookee UNTILT THE DAMN PINWHEEL!

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The Trail Blazers and Destiny-- Quick

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illmatic99 formerly yuyuza1

TorturedBlazerFan Well-Known Member

Bob Dobalina Funkee Human Being

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UKRAINEFAN Well-Known Member

riverman Writing Team

illmatic99 formerly yuyuza1

Pinwheel1 Well-Known Member

BlazerWookee UNTILT THE DAMN PINWHEEL!

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