Yega1979

That's ok. I called "season over" about two weeks ago. It's apparant this team has lost "it", lost the spark, lost their confidence, lost their nerves, lost their ability to hit a jump shot.

I watch the games and marvel at the fact that this squad is actually above .500. Right now, the winning streak seems like some kind of dream, and we've just woken up to find the real blazers. What the hell happened?

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"Why of course the people don't want war ... But after all it is the leaders of the country who determine the policy, and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship ... Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is to tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country."

Hermann Goering, Nazi leader

KingSpeed

When we were 5-12, would I have been a delusional Pollyanna to say that we'd be 28-24 at the All Star break?

ProZach

We weren't going to make the playoffs at 5-12 either. It ain't over til the big-boned, non gender-exclusive individual sings.

I agree that we shouldn't run Roy and Aldridge into the ground. This is, unfortunately for us impatient ones, a rebuilding year, so spread the minutes and see what others can do.

I disagree in starting Sergio though. It's one thing to give guys opportunities to show what they can do, it's quite another to start them. Sergio has done nothing to show that he deserves a promotion like that. Some may say that he's walking on egg-shells because of Nate... Well cry me a river. He's a professional, deal with it like everyone else. Shoot over 37% from the field or over 65% from the line and we'll talk. Hell, try defense while you're at it. You may find it fun.

As far as not talking so many jump shots, I think I agree with you - But... At some level I find myself wondering if they should just stick with what they're good at. I'm sure this is something that everyone has been hearing and focusing on, and I wonder if that's just adding additional pressure whenever they do shoot jumpshots. It's hard to go against your nature. Of course, work for the best shot (which is usually close to the basket), but you can't be afraid of taking those open shots from the outside, and I've been seeing guys pass up more and more open shots and try to go inside only to miss or turn it over in the process.

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uhh...

craigehlo

I think 10th place in the West is a little disappointing at the AS break to be honest. 28-24 is a so-so record that not indicative at all of the current, poor level of play this team is bringing (getting blown out on an almost nightly basis).

The real problem is that this team hasn't learned anything from the winning streak that brought us over the .500 win mark in the first place.

KillWill

there is still about half a season to play, and there is not that much separation between the top ten teams in the west. keep the faith my friends.

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"Some people, they play the piano. And some people, they move the piano."

-O. Schmidt

ProZach

They're young, they're streaky, it's just a fact. That doesn't mean they haven't learned anything. The fact you think 28-24 is disappointing for the third youngest team in NBA history proves you had overly optimistic expectations. That's not their fault.

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uhh...

craigehlo

Arrogant huh? What have they learned exactly? Aside form Roy, what has this team brought to the table that shows growth from the 5-12 start? We look back to square one to most fans I've spoken to.

ProZach

Sorry, but if by growth you want more wins, .500 is probably all you're going to see this year. Growth comes from experience, learning how to be consistent, learning from failure, learning from adversity, bulking up and working on your weaknesses during the offseason, dealing with heavy minutes over an 82-game season, learning how to deal with double-teams (Aldridge), to name only a small few. It's not a multiple choice test, you don't just cram for 48 hours and expect to be Michael Jordan. This is a learning process, even if it appears that they're regressing, and I agree with you that it does appear that way. But there's still a reason that patience is a virtue.

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uhh...

KingSpeed

Keep in mind... we played a team that has only lost 3 times at home all season and we did it without James Jones which is clearly a key leader on our team. That's the difference right there.

MAS RipCity

Eric, they blew us out by 20 without arguably their most important player in Howard, a great 6th man in Stackhouse and their starting pg in Harris. We should have won, but the least we could have done was put up a fight, and we really didn't. I love the Blazers as much as you but we got a couple years to go.

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PDX Fan Since '90

KingSpeed

Dude, they had their MVP. That and Terry and home court advantage still clearly had them as the favorite tonight. I know it would've been great if it was a closer game, but the MVP of the entire league stepped up and carried his team and we couldn't answer that until it was too late. By the time Roy started to get it going, it was already over.

BiggaAdams

Martell Webster is simply AWFUL! Such a disappointment.

PorterIn2004

I wouldn't start Rodriguez but I would play him more. I'd seriously consider not playing anyone much over 30 minutes. Give Rodriguez the bulk of the PG minutes behind Blake. Give Jack the bulk of the SG minutes behind Roy. Have both Roy and Jack on the floor at the same time occasionally still, but not to the extent it's been recently.

As for everyone else, I'd seriously consider pulling LaFrentz from all PF time (though center seems fine if Przybilla, Frye, and Aldridge are all in foul trouble). Try to get McRoberts an average of at least a few minutes a game, just to see what happens. Don't rush Jones back. I think he's potentially a huge piece of the puzzle and it'd be great to see him get healthy.

moldorf

duhhhh!

this forum is filled with people who are right, now over-reacting to the youngest team in the league doing exactly what young teams alway do: stuggle mightily at times.

And I'm certain that most of the people engaged in negative over-reaction now were also engaged in positive over-reaction during the blazers's win streak. I'm certain because I generally remember who said what.

Your comment about the blazers having "a couple of