Absolutely. I noticed that some sketchy calls did indeed go against Denver. However, many more went against the Blazers. Simple, Honest Question: When a shooter shoots a 3-pointer, what are the refs looking at? On 4 of Lillard's 3 pointers IN ONE GAME (OKC series), he was clearly hit on the wrist - no call? OK, the refs must be looking down low. In a GS-Hou game, Harden was Undercut twice in 5 minutes while attempting 3s - no call was made when it should have been a flagrant. OK, the refs aren't looking down low. WTF? No, there isn't some grand conspiracy against the Blazers. However, the refs know that the league profits more when the big markets win. It's like racism in the new millennium. No one is using the N-word anymore, the racism is more subtle. However, it's still there. Sometimes, the person being racist isn't even aware of it. It's pernicious. p.s. The Undercutting both times was Klay "dirty" Thompson. Look for these boards to go ballistic when he does it to our backcourt. But, hey, how much can you blame him for his dirty play? The refs allowed it, and it helped their team.
That's been pretty consistent all season. Although Dame gets hit on virtually every drive, something about the way he takes (or half avoids) the contact seems to make it a no-call by the refs (too often IMHO).
I'm not sure that you can draw general conclusions from that. These refs are individuals and, while they're supposed to have disciplined technique in the way they look at plays, they obviously vary a bit from one to another. We all know that there are certain refs that we can draw that are going to make it a long night for the Blazers (looking at you, Scott Foster). I guess if I saw those guys getting assigned to the Blazers with regularity I could buy the prejudice angle. But since they rotate assignments, I have a hard time viewing it as anything organized. I do believe that superstars get preferential treatment and the fact that our guys are viewed as only borderline superstars probably bites us in the butt.
great post. However, I think we (me included) need a bit of self-reflection. How are we different from the team that was swept the last 2 years? In the national zeitgeist, we're not. In another thread, I suggested a few reasons why we might be: 1) Lillard is different. Extended range, vastly improved defense, wants it more. 2) Collins has improved our defense, and is some sort of thread from deep. 3) CJ. Improved defense (I think, can anyone confirm?) 4) Harkless is healthier. 5) More depth: Kanter, Hood, Curry.
I didn't say the Blazers didn't earn their victories (and I said nothing regarding the Thunder that could "take away"), I was saying that beating Denver is not the sort of victory that suddenly elevates the Blazers to the best team in the NBA (which they'd have to be to be favorites over the Warriors, especially with the Warriors having HCA). The Blazers earned both series victories and beating Denver was impressive. But Denver wasn't a juggernaut, as they showed in the first round. Denver not being a juggernaut says nothing about whether the Blazers earned their victory or deserve to be in the WCF. They did and do. And now they're deservedly the significant underdogs.
You honestly think in your mind that we will "SMASH" the Warriors? I mean I get the whole , "82-0" rah rah mentality, but as a grown human being, you REALLY think this. "SMASH"?
Its like the other series, who fucking cares what the "experts" say, means absolutely nothing as we have seen. Same voices were saying Lakers were sure thing for the post-season and Boston would be in the finals. They really have been mostly wrong about all predictions and should basically say as much. But the average viewer likes definitive, matter of fact statements, like we get from politicians. Makes them sleep easy at night.
Shaq should have given hood a tub of icey hot and a barrel of gold bond. What shitty endorsements. What's next on the docket Shaq, shilling for Werther's Originals?
Oh yes they are! It's made a huge comeback ever since DT was elected. Subtlety has been thrown (or should I say throne? sorry, i just saw this glaring spelling error in the GOT thread) out the window.
I do. I think the warriors are nothing what they once was. Theyre bench is really a joke. ( 1 game vs houston is not same as consistancy during whole series). I believe Dame and CJ have become better and both are hitting their prime now, while Steph is still great but always injured or carries some form of injury, the warriors have not played consistently without KD for almost 3 years now, right now is the time to punch them in the mouth and put huge doubt in their team without KD. I always felt if we somehow beat Chicken nuggets, we will be free from chains, because Jokic and millsap were absolute nightmare match up where we had no answers, we match up much better against GSW and they are there to be punked right now!!!
I believe Barkley once said that Shaq has no shame and he is certain it is just a matter of time before Shaq advertises tampons. “Shaq has got no shame, zero.” the 1993 NBA MVP replied, much to the audience amusement. “Every time I look at TV there’s no doubt in my mind he’s going to do [a commercial for] tampons any day. It’s just a matter of time. It’s just a matter of time.” https://www.newsweek.com/charles-barkley-shaquille-oneal-late-show-stephen-colbert-1377923
The people who think we have a good chance to win are not the people that will make threads saying they are losers who didn't try, for the most part. I'm going in to this series optimistic and confident, but if we lose I'll still be proud of the team.
This. And let's remember that, when we had Nurk, he went ape shit against the Warriors this season, and they had NO answer for him. We don't have him now, and our backup literally has one shoulder. I don't like those odds. I say we win two games this series, and I'm okay with that. The Warriors are NOT the Nuggets or OKC. They ARE a tier above everyone else, regardless of your homerism.
