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chris_in_pdx · 11-13-2006, 07:58 AM

I'm pleased after last night's game. Dallas is a very good team, and the Blazers hung in there and battled to the final buzzer. There's definately no quit or giving up in this year's team. Even though they seem to have maddening ability to start games slow, they usually catch up and make the game competitive very quickly. I mean, come on... last year, they would have gotten blown out of the building by Dallas. This year, they nearly won. I see improvement everywhere.

Aldridge is going to be a star player in this league, there's no doubt in my mind.

Webster had a bad shooting game, but come on. He's 19 years old. His defense has improved 500% over last year. He's active and contributing, and can only get better.

If you would have told me before the season that the Blazers would be 4-3 after 7 games, I would have said you were on crack.

Now, road trips are the true mark of if you are actually molding into a good team, or just a mediocre team that's good at home, but terrible on the other team's floor. This upcoming 4 game trip would be the measuring stick. If they go 2-2, I'll be ecstatic.

mediocre man · 11-13-2006, 08:10 AM

While I'm not pleased with losing, I'm certainly not upset that the team lost. As I've said in multiple other posts, as long as they play hard I have no complaints. I realize they are too young to seriously contend for anything, but the future looks great.

A few questions I have.

What to do with Aldridge. He really is probably a 4, but to me he should play the 5. With Zach and now Travis at the 4, Aldridge will have to get his minutes at the 5.

What's this teams core going forward?

Jack/Rodriquez
Roy/Webster
Webster/Outlaw
Randolph/Outlaw/Aldridge
Aldridge/Przybilla

Something like that with Ime and Joel Freeland somewhere in the mix maybe? Then what about this years lottery pick...yes, there will be one. Who do you take if you have the top pick? I personally think Durrant will be the best player out of this draft, and he is a SF

**crandc** · 11-13-2006, 08:25 AM

I think it shows the changed mindset among Blazer fans, I was really disappointed in the loss, because I was sure this team would find a way to pull it out.
Sure didn't feel that way last year, at least after the New Year.

Chris, I would add that on an off night Zach still managed 20 points/8 rebounds. And we consider that an off night!

Utherhimo · 11-13-2006, 08:27 AM

yeah I think oden wont be in the draft and we will go for an sf

GrandpaBlaze · 11-13-2006, 08:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Utherhimo

yeah I think oden wont be in the draft and we will go for an sf

Even if Oden is in the draft, unless things change dramatically, I don't think we have a shot at getting a pick where we could land him.

Gramps...

yuyuza1 · 11-13-2006, 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crandc

I think it shows the changed mindset among Blazer fans, I was really disappointed in the loss, because I was sure this team would find a way to pull it out.
Sure didn't feel that way last year, at least after the New Year.

Chris, I would add that on an off night Zach still managed 20 points/8 rebounds. And we consider that an off night!

Exactly! Last year, I would have expected us to lose before the game even started. I think the same applies to what I expect to happen on this upcoming road trip. Last year, I didn't think that we could actually win one away game, but now I assume/hope that we can come out of it 2-2 or even 3-1. I really think that we are capable of winning against any team in the league.

chris_in_pdx · 11-13-2006, 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crandc

I think it shows the changed mindset among Blazer fans, I was really disappointed in the loss, because I was sure this team would find a way to pull it out.
Sure didn't feel that way last year, at least after the New Year.

Crandc, I'm not sure what you mean here. Do you mean that we are getting accustomed to losing, and we are rationalizing victories in our minds? I don't think that at all. I hate losing. When the Blazers took a two point lead last night, I was 100% thinking that they could win this game, they'd be 5-2, and the talk of the NBA. Dallas, though, is a defending WC champ, and I don't think a close loss to them in this stage of the Blazer's development should be regarded as a negative. The team needs to feel the sting of close losses to good teams, as it will make them hungrier to work more as a team.

Quote:

Chris, I would add that on an off night Zach still managed 20 points/8 rebounds. And we consider that an off night!

Dallas was throwing double-teams at Zach every time he touched the ball, and he'll probably see that for the rest of the season. Hopefully Zach will learn to either take advantage of the situation and drive and earn the foul, or kick it out to an open Webster, Roy, or Aldridge. Ball rotation will have to improve to get it to the open man. All baby steps, but the team is heading in that direction, and it's wonderful to watch the process. Barring injury, I see them getting back into the playoffs either next year, or in 2009.

**crandc** · 11-13-2006, 09:39 AM

Chris, what I meant was that I for one expected Portland to win and was therefore disappointed that they lost. I had hoped/thought they would find a way to win. Last year, at least after January, I no longer expected this team to win. Even when they had leads in games, they ended up losing. I was not disappointed any more at losses last year because you can't be disappointed when you don't have hope.

Now, I have hope. I am not yet at the point where I expect them to win every game, the way I was in 1990-1992, and in 1999-2000, but at least I can hope they win. I no longer expect to lose.

I agree with your point that a closely played game, considering how banged up this team was, had a lot of positives.

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