Scary Halloween Opener
posted: 10/31/2008 at 10:14 AM
It's opening night at the Rose Garden. It's sold out, of course, and there are many special things planned. It's on ESPN, as well as the Trail Blazers Television Network and Blazers Radio Network. Earth, Wind, and Fire will be performing on the court after pre-game warm-ups, and the place will be jumping.
Now, the bad news. The Blazers are playing the San Antonio Spurs.
I actually prefer to look at this as an opportunity, and that's probably the most positive attitude. That being said, let me give you some numbers that will be as scary as anything you'll see tonight on Halloween.
Portland was 28-13 at the Rose Garden last season, and piled up some very impressive wins. They sold out everything from about mid-December on, and it turned into an incredibly difficult place to play for opponents. Difficult for everyone except the Spurs. They don't sweat this place. In fact, since the Rose Garden opened, the Blazers are only 9-16 against the Spurs at home. That's, by far, the worst winning percentage against any opponent they have since they moved into the building.
Overall right now, the Spurs have beaten Portland 12-straight times (insert loud, creepy scream here). That's the longest losing streak the Blazers have to any team. And, San Antonio has won 19 of the last 20 meetings, including five in a row at the Rose Garden. The last time the Blazers defeated the Spurs was January 24th, 2005.
The Blazers have had a couple of very good practices since the disappointing opener against the Lakers on Tuesday. The practices have been physical, and have been designed to pull agression out of the players. That's not to say you're ever wanting a time where your players aren't agressive, but there are things you can do in practice to turn up the heat, and Nate McMillan has done those things.
Brandon Roy has talked several times in the last couple of days about being embarassed in L.A., and how you will not see that same team tonight. They played with uncertainty and lacked confidence. You do that against good teams and they'll eat you alive. Especially the Spurs, who smell blood like a shark and are among the best at kicking you when you're down (sorry for the violent terminology, but hey, it's the right day for that).
Roy was particularly upset with his own performance, and said if he's tentative, the rest of the team tends to follow him. Brandon finished the game 5 for 15, but all of those makes came after the game was decided. Tonight, he simply runs into the best perimeter defender in the NBA, in Bruce Bowen, a guy who's shut him down in the past.
The Blazers scored just 76 points against the Lakers on Tuesday, and were very bothered by L.A.'s agressive defense. The Spurs, as you know, wrote the book on agressive defense, and the last time these team played, last April, they held the Blazers to a measily 65 points.
I'll see you on TV tonight, in High Definition, and hopefully that won't be too scary. We'll have the pre-game show at 7 o'clock on KGW, and tip off is set for 7:36.
Following the game tonight we'll fly to Phoenix, get in at about 2:30 in the morning, grab some sleep, and take on the Suns tomorrow night. It doesn't get easier after that, as we're at Utah on Wednesday, and home on Thursday against Houston.
Sorry to scare you.
RSS FEED
Thanks MB, although those numbers are awfully scary, you made the right comment: this is an opportunity. Just considering the line-up changes - Channing said that the team perhaps is more accustomed to playing without Oden. Tonight Ginobli will be out, and how accustomed are the Spurs without their 3rd best player?
Aside from all reasoning and what-if's, we've watched this team develop through these past few years and we've been saying all summer long that the time is now to step up. Us fans don't doubt our team and are going to do our part to leave San Antonio without a treat tonight!
Earth Wind and Fire! I'm so jealous. That is awesome.
If the Blazers are agressive shoot 45% or better, I think we'll get the W! Come on Brandon! Find the open lane, the open Rudy, and let the energy from the Arena surge through your veins! Come on Lamarcus, let's see that 10-18 foot jumper "clinic" tonight that you're able to put on. No one can defend against that shot. Rudy: let loose! 3-point city. Greg: we'll see you in a few weeks, heal up bud!
MB: rest your voice, I don't want you to get any more hoarse, let RICE do all the yelling tonight. I do love your blog!
If the Blazers are agressive shoot 45% or better, I think we'll get the W! Come on Brandon! Find the open lane, the open Rudy, and let the energy from the Arena surge through your veins! Come on Lamarcus, let's see that 10-18 foot jumper "clinic" tonight that you're able to put on. No one can defend against that shot. Rudy: let loose! 3-point city. Greg: we'll see you in a few weeks, heal up bud!
MB: rest your voice, I don't want you to get any more hoarse, let RICE do all the yelling tonight. I do love your blog!
Nah, i don't buy it. We're the scary team this year. LA was a fluke. The season starts tonight and we're just playing an 81 game season. Duncan can't stop Lamarcus anymore (not sure he ever could) and bowen can't shut down both brandon and rudy. Watch this....
This IS an opportunity we gotta really start thinking positive about our team. This is a chance for the blazers to prove to the world that there is a rising western bball team that is still sleeping but.. when we have all of the pieces into the puzzle they will unleash their potential
Go Blazers
Viclubsmau4eva
LOL, You and your numbers are always trying crush our hopes. Forget the numbers and that LA game. We're tired of tricks and we need a treat tonight! Blazers will win by 5.
the real opportunity is that the spurs are short handed all around. in addition to ginobili being out, oberto is sidelined as well. even though we are missing martell and greg, they are outmanned. we need to lock in on parker and duncan on defense, and make someone else beat us. if have a balanced aggressive attack on offense, they will not be able to stay with us. the past is the past, and the trends in this rivalry are about to change. swarming in red!
GO BLAZERS!
Thanks for the update Mike.
I am not worried tonight. I was against the Lakers though. Maybe it is a premonition. OR, maybe it was after I watched the game several times; I don't think the Blazers played that bad. They couldn't hit their butt with either hand or both. But that could have been LA defense. They did some great things in the game. They went from 20 down to 8 down. And that is what I care about. Never give up on your game and just keep fighting.
COGLEY:
I think you are right I think the only ones that beat LMA, and BRoy are themselves, by just trying to hard and not getting their own rhythm.
I will not make a prediction tonight but I really believe we will be up to the challenge and Kick them while they are down and be the intimidator instead of being intimidated.
I don't think LA was a fluke. They came off an embarrassing lost last year and they wanted to re-establish them selves. Don't get me wrong, I don't like to give the Devil its due, nut, I think the Lakers are going to be a horribly good team this year. But, next time they play us here they will know that Portland is a horribly scary team.
Win, Win, Win
hg
The home opener is going fantastic so far. Blazers up by 2 in the 2nd right now.
BEAT LA!
I mean... beat S.A.!
good job!!! that was a good win we needed lets carry that confidence over to the PHX suns. I am so glad that we won man.. GO BLAZERS
WE BELIEVE IN YOU!!
Wow... 6 a.m in the morning and i was seeing the game through the internet here in Spain. Now i am so asleep that i don't know what i'm really writting, but it worth it!! What a win! When LA and Roy play well we are unstoppable!!
By the way, happy to see a little more confidence in McMillan to Sergio, and about Rudy... a little shaky in the offense side, but you are just starting to see what he can do in the defense!
Mike,
My family and I will be in Phoenix to watch the Blazers tonight. We will be in a suite. Lookup for the Blazer banner in a suite tonight. Do you know where we can meet the players to get autographs on this banner? Do you know where in the USAIRWAYS center they board the bus?
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