Archive for April, 2010

Ah, a lesson in the perils of overreaction. It has sort of a knowledgy taste. After a win as special as this one, there’s no need to pile on those who fell into doom and gloom after the previous two games, but it’s good to trust in those things that have earned patience during the regular season. We know LaMarcus Aldridge isn’t soft, and we know he’s been playing very well since around the middle of January, so jumping on the hate wagon after a couple outings doesn’t make sense, even if the voices on the radio tell you it [...]

Playoff Game #4

Let’s dive right into this one. You know the scenario. Portland enters into today’s Game 4 down 2-1, with their backs against the wall. Make no mistake about it, this is a must-win situation. Just to illustrate how quickly momentum can swing in a series or how intense the highs and lows of the playoffs are, remember how you felt after Game 1? Now think about how long ago that feels? Crazy right. The two beatdowns that the Blazers have received have had some fans thinking it’s over. Well a loss today will change things from ‘if’ the Blazers get [...]

As expected, there’s a lot of finger pointing going on today. Lot’s of people want someone to blame after the Blazers stood up from the dinner table, took five steps into the first quarter and summarily collapsed at mid-court. Why? Because it’s easier to digest tough situations when there’s someone to blame. Nevermind that the Blazers are a Kazzoo going up against a grand piano, or that the Suns somehow administered the Five-Point-Palm-Exploding-Heart Technique during pregame. Nevermind that LaMarcus Aldridge is dealing with double teams, and was sitting on the bench with foul trouble when Phoenix made their biggest run [...]

Well….That was disheartening. We could talk about the Xand O’s and rehash what happened and all that. Truth be told I spent most of my time after the game trying to make sure I wouldn’t remember what happened during it (half joke). What I remember the most from last night was just how quickly my emotions changed. It went from being super-hyped and excited, to slightly frustrated, to a sort of jaw-dropping shocked to a 2-3 minute span of just scowling at the TV screen during a commercial in between quarters. (The scowl didn’t leave) The last time I felt [...]

After a bright and sunny Game 1, the Suns made their adjustments and dropped two feet of snow on the Blazers in Game 2. Two days later, the Blazers are not only still shoveling, but it’s still snowing. But that’s OK, because it builds character. Right? Right. If you’re searching for glimpses of clear skies in this iffy weather analogy, that’s it. It’s another growing experience for the young fellers, a chance for LaMarcus Aldridge to experience life as The Man in the playoffs. It’s good for them, it’s healthy. And it’s also incredibly painful to watch. This team also [...]

We’re back and chatting, once again hosting the Blazers.com Live Chat here, tonight, at 7 PM. Be there, rather, be here. Playoff Game #3 vs Suns Live Game

Just passing this on, from Sean Meagher over at OregonLive.com, a video coming straight de la bouche de Mr. Batum. More to come when it drops.

There is no doubt that Game 3’s carry a lot of weight in a playoff series. They can either make or break a team’s chances in a series. A Game 3 win can give a team hope that they have a chance, renewed confidence or control of a series. A Game 3 loss can make a playoff exit inevitable, or take all that hope and optimism and momentum away. After Portland’s Game 1 victory, all eyes turned to this game. Despite a 29-point loss in Game 2, Portland still finds itself in a position of power. In essence this series [...]

From the Blazers: Nic Batum was … indecisive when asked if he would play tonight. First said he wasn’t sure, then yes, then maybe. Nobody seems to know whether Batum will play or not, much less Batum himself, so let’s stick with “questionable”.