Probably a ridiculous idea, but I'm going to say it anyway.

Discussion in 'Portland Trail Blazers' started by maxiep, Apr 6, 2011.

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  1. PapaG

    PapaG Banned User BANNED

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    I'll take anyone except the Lakers as an opponent for the Blazers in the first round.

    Seems like a good idea to me.
     
    PapaG, Apr 6, 2011
    #21
  2. Minstrel

    Minstrel Top Of The Pops Global Moderator

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    Dallas would have been my preferred match-up, but I like San Antonio as a match-up also. The Blazers have matched up well with them the past couple of seasons and the Spurs are old and have been looking tired. They had a massive lead for the #1 seed and the fact that it was briefly back in question shows that they faded down the stretch.

    Sure, they have experience but eventually "experienced" just means "old." These aren't prime vets. Duncan is in his sunset and Ginobili and Parker, while both good players, are also fragile and not exactly iron men. While they may be forced to play big minutes in the playoffs, I don't think they'll be at their best doing so.

    I mostly wanted Dallas or San Antonio in the first round and San Antonio is still likely. I don't particularly want LA in the first round, though I don't think I want Portland to lose out to try to avoid LA. Ultimately, though, I think they stand the best shot of an upset by facing the Spurs.
     
    Minstrel, Apr 7, 2011
    #22
  3. Rhal

    Rhal Well-Known Member

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    I agree with the general consciousnesses which doesn't want to play the Lakers in the first round, but I also don't want to see us tank games just to get a better match up. Play out the season with heart and go into the first round with confidence and make it a dog fight whoever we play. I'd much rather see us lose a competitive series to the Lakers then see us purposely tank multiple games for a different seed. For those that don't' think its going to be a competitive series, we almost always come out and play some of the most intense basketball of the season vs the Lakers, Its why its so much fun to watch a Lakers game. I don't think we will roll over to them, instead I think we'll play intense and inspired ball to try and beat them.
    I'm fine with whoever we get. Getting the Lakers is pretty much handing us a series loss but SA/Dallas could be fools gold like Phoenix was last year.
     
    Rhal, Apr 7, 2011
    #23
  4. jlprk

    jlprk The ESPN mod is insane.

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    This team plays to how high the opponent is in the standings. So it will do best against the Spurs, so that's who we want. Let's just hope we don't meet Golden State or Charlotte in the playoffs.

    I like your plan to plan ahead, but I look further into the future. Since the next time these players assemble will be in 18 months, we should start Babbitt, Armon & Chris Johnson, and why not play Elliott what's his name? Same for Oden. If they get hurt, they have 18 months to recover. Oden's play might convince us to re-sign him so he can start paying his mother rent and watch Blazer games on TV.

    The perfect game to experiment would be Golden State, since we know the team won't come to play.
     
    jlprk, Apr 7, 2011
    #24
  5. KingSpeed

    KingSpeed Veteran

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    I hope our players don't think SA and Dallas would be easy street merely because we won a few tight games against them (when they weren't at full strength) in the REGULAR season. That shit means nothing. Nothing, I tell you. Teams turn it UP in the playoffs. None of these teams are cakewalks for us. Let's just do what Kobe said last week: "we're trying to win every game." THAT is what champions do. Let's just take it one day at a time and win the game in front of us. Don't get caught up in trying to manipulate matchups. It never works. Play for the best record possible. After all, you never know...we could end up playing the Grizzlies in later rounds and it's probably best to have HCA if it comes to that.
     
    KingSpeed, Apr 7, 2011
    #25
  6. 3RA1N1AC

    3RA1N1AC 00110110 00111001

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    if we win the next 4 games we will get 5th/6th possibly, so im gonna root for that instead, whats wrong with you guys
     
    3RA1N1AC, Apr 7, 2011
    #26
  7. PtldPlatypus

    PtldPlatypus Let's go Baby Blazers! Staff Member Global Moderator Moderator

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    Since we're looking at schedules, shouldn't we look at Memphis' as well?


    Fri, Apr 8 vs Sacramento
    Sun, Apr 10 vs New Orleans
    Tue, Apr 12 @ Portland
    Wed, Apr 13 @ Los Angeles (Clippers)

    I see them winning both home games, putting them 1 game behind us (at most) going into our April 12 meeting--which will be our third of the season, having split the first two. If we lose that game, we're probably going to get the 8 seed; if we also happen to lose to LA tomorrow, then we'll be assured of it.

    We may be stuck with the 8 seed whether we like it or not. Unless, of course, Memphis is also trying to avoid the Lakers. :devilwink:
     
    PtldPlatypus, Apr 7, 2011
    #27
  8. BrianFromWA

    BrianFromWA Editor in Chief Staff Member Editor in Chief

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    remember when some wanted to tank to get more lotto balls, but we beat the Sonics (may they R.I.P.) on "Black Saturday" to beat them by one game, and everyone was going nuts? And then we got the #1 pick.

    I'm with Maris here. Play your ass off the next couple of games (though if you're winning by 20 in the 4th it's ok to pull starters..I know that's not normally done around here) and match up with who we end up matching up with. Screw taking teams lightly and getting run on our own floor. Let the Grizzlies and L*kers rest their starters so we can beat them by 50.
     
    BrianFromWA, Apr 7, 2011
    #28
  9. 3RA1N1AC

    3RA1N1AC 00110110 00111001

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    actually that made us get oden instead of durant lol
     
    3RA1N1AC, Apr 7, 2011
    #29
  10. PapaG

    PapaG Banned User BANNED

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    Yep.

    Brian's post seemed to be a decent argument in favor of tanking. :)
     
    PapaG, Apr 7, 2011
    #30
  11. maxiep

    maxiep RIP Dr. Jack

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    I remember that. It turns out we would have been better off not getting the #1 pick, dropping to #2 and getting Durant. :devilwink:
     
    maxiep, Apr 7, 2011
    #31
  12. HailBlazers

    HailBlazers RipCity

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    Ahh the losers mentality.

    The bright side is that the Blazers play to the level of competition and in the playoff's the competition is high.
     
    HailBlazers, Apr 7, 2011
    #32
  13. magnifier661

    magnifier661 B-A-N-A-N-A-S!

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    Nah we play 110% every game. It will condition and get us ready for the playoffs. Regardless who we face; if we aren't coming in strong, we lose the series.
     
    magnifier661, Apr 7, 2011
    #33
  14. BrianFromWA

    BrianFromWA Editor in Chief Staff Member Editor in Chief

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    ...
     
    BrianFromWA, Apr 7, 2011
    #34
  15. THE HCP

    THE HCP NorthEastPortland'sFinest

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    Well typed and repped!
     
    THE HCP, Apr 7, 2011
    #35
  16. <-=*PdX*=->

    <-=*PdX*=-> RCTID

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    <-=*PdX*=->, Apr 8, 2011
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  17. maxiep

    maxiep RIP Dr. Jack

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    maxiep, Apr 8, 2011
    #37
  18. oldguy

    oldguy Well-Known Member

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    Big win at Utah last night. So ends the 'let's tank the last four games' proposal.

    Go Blazers
     
    oldguy, Apr 8, 2011
    #38
  19. oldguy

    oldguy Well-Known Member

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    In the end, the Blazers didn't tank to avoid LA. So instead they go into the playoffs with some momentum and they get the Mavs in the first round to boot.

    The moral of the story is Don't tank, cause shit happens!

    Go Blazers
     
    oldguy, Apr 13, 2011
    #39
    maxiep likes this.
  20. maxiep

    maxiep RIP Dr. Jack

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    You're 100% correct. I deserve to be called out. Repped.
     
    maxiep, Apr 13, 2011
    #40
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