[Speed]

http://www.oregonlive.com/sportsfla...&sports&blazers

If Scottie is suspended because of this *******'s selfishness, I'll be so ANGRY!!!

He wanted Scottie to play, and now he might miss a HUGE game!

Go Blazers

[MAS RipCity]

Pippen and Patterson were getting the rim pretty easy when they tried, just use Zach in the high post and let him work, I am all for wide open 3's but none in fast break transistion and please no more then 15 attempts 25+ is just way too much.

[Ed O]

It sure seems like he could be. It seems like the only accusation that would be able to really stick, though, is him throwing a cup of water at the "fans".

I don't think that he'd get suspended for wagging his finger at them or yelling at them after he'd been verbally targeted all game. And I'm not sure the "say it, don't spray it" claim is going to do it, either.

Ed O.

[Gym Rat]

I doubt Pip is suspended. They need to prove this first and it doesn't sound like there is STRONG evidence this happened the way the claim is going.

[Samuel]

one of the keys to friday's game will come tomorrow morning when Sabonis and Pippen wake up with their injuries.

[Speed]

You know what's really exciting???

If the Blazers get to Game 7, they have THREE GAMES of experience of winning with the whole season on the line. Dallas will not have been in that position at all this season. They will crumble and we will rise.

I love it.

These guys have never won a Best of 7. Remember that.

Go Blazers

[MAS RipCity]

They will NOT suspend Pip, he is one of the 50 Greatest. No way can they suspend him for one of the biggest games in the Blazers last 10 years.

[Speed]

At this point, we have to ask ourselves, what is better:

Blazers lose two in Dallas, win two in Portland, lose Gm 5 in Dallas?

Or the current situation?

I like the current situation cuz we're feeling good about ourselves.

After we win series, we should go down 0-3 to Queens so that we can fight back with 4 straight again.

Go Blazers

[FeloniusThunk]

As good as Damon was playing, the Blazers didn't start winning until Pip came in. Wow. It's what most of us have been saying for most of the season, but it was still a bit surprising somehow. Damon at his best vs. Pip old and part-injured, and the gap is still that much?

[Minstrel]

Originally posted by <b>Ed O</b>!

Considering his predispositions offensively and his weak rebounding, Rasheed could be an effective 3, I think, and if he complains about it (as he reportedly did when he and BGrant started together) it's tough beans for him.

He doesn't like small forward because it's a bad match-up for him defensively. He doesn't have the pure speed and quickness to defend small forward swing men. His speed and quickness is excellent for a power player, but not compared to Paul Pierce-mold players.

I'd move Wallace to center. He's played that far less grudgingly and with great results in the past. Sure, he's not physically a match for Shaq, but no one really is. He defended Shaq competently in last year's playoffs. Against all other centers, he'd be perfectly fine. In fact, he'd likely dominate other centers.

Wallace at center, Randolph at power forward. I'd move Bonzi back to two guard, where he excelled, because he was able to post up two guards at will without giving up a quickness edge, whereas small forwards aren't overmatched by his size. I'd drop Pippen, if he can be re-signed, back to the small forward position and make a serious push for Payton.

A lineup of:

PG: Payton
SG: Wells
SF: Pippen
PF: Randolph
C: Wallace

And a bench of:
Derek Anderson, Ruben Patterson, Dale Davis (hopefully), Jeff McInnis, Antonio Daniels (hopefully)

seems championship-caliber to me, with great offense, defense, passing and extremely quality depth.

If Payton cannot be acquired, but Pippen can be re-signed, I'd instead go with:

PG: Pippen
SG: Wells
SF: Patterson
PF: Randolph
C: Wallace

Not quite as much passing, but still perfectly good play-making at the point and very fine defense and offense.

The main goals are to get Wells back to shooting guard, where he can exploit his size advantage again and go back to his power game that made him most successful, and to get Randolph and Wallace into the lineup together. I don't like Wallace at small forward, because that would mean the Blazers would only have two perimeter defenders (their point and shooting guards) to defend three perimeter players (opposing point and shooting guards plus the small forward). Randolph, Wallace and Davis, in my opinion, cannot adequately guard a small forward.

[loyalty4life]

As I was digging this thread up since the game is today, I went all the way back to the third page! Yikes, we had a lot to say after game 5!

Here's hoping for another win for Portland!

GO PDX!

[Samuel]

i just realized that if Portland gets worked tonight, game 5 is completely overshadowed.

we really need to win tonight.

[HOWIE]

Key to a huge Portland win tonight is.............




Physical play!

Make Dallas work hard for every shot! Break there will to be on the court with Portland. Send them home shaking in the boots!

[Speed]

Felonius. Without Damon, we wouldn't have had a chance to win. Pippen couldn't have done what Damon did, nor could he have played all those minutes. Damon brought us from 10 down and tied up the game. Then we fell down again and Rasheed hit some big shots.

Don't diss Damon. Without him in GAme 5, we lose.