Make That 50- UPDATED
posted: 4/09/2009 at 12:39 AM
Let me start out by giving you some news that you may have already heard- maybe not. I know some of you will be very happy to hear that all of the first-round playoff games will be televised on KGW-8, and the Trail Blazers Television Network. I can also now tell you that all of the games, home and road, will be in HD.
Basically, that means you've seen the last of the games this season in standard definition. The three remaining home games, as always, will be in HD, and so will our final road game against the Clippers in L.A. It's my hope that we've seen the last of standard definition, period. There is an effort underway to show every game next season in HD, home and road. There aren't many teams who are entirely in HD, and we hope to add our names to the short list. We'll see.
Now then, the smoke has cleared a bit following this latest winning road trip, which was punctuated by the huge win at San Antonio on Wednesday night. You're probably like me, but I keep checking the league standings over and over to make sure I'm seeing things correctly- that this team has 50 wins.
I've thrown some different statistics out over the past few months, and there's one more that's official now. The Trail Blazers have become the first team in NBA history to win 50 games, with four different rookies appearing in at least 50 games. Sounds a bit obscure, but basically it says what has been proven time and time again- youth doesn't normally win like this in this league.
On Wednesday night in Texas, the Blazers came from 19 down to win that 50th game, and beat the San Antonio Spurs 95-83. It was the second-straight game, and 17th time this season, the Blazers have won a game after trailing by double figures. They lead the NBA is this category, which is both a good and a bad thing, probably.
In Memphis, on Tuesday night, the Blazers trailed the Grizzlies by 18 before rallying to win. In San Antonio, they trailed 41-22 with 7:16 left in the second quarter. From that point on the Blazers outscored the Spurs 73-42. That's pretty amazing given what was on the line in this game for both teams.
Several times during the TV broadcast we called this a "double game," meaning that basically by winning the season series from the Spurs, the Blazers also claimed the tie breaker should these teams end up tied. They're tied right now, both 50-28. So, by winning the series, the Spurs would have to finish a game in front of the Blazers to claim a higher seed. By winning one game, you essentially gain two in the standings.
I can tell you the team was very pleased after the game, and coach Nate McMillan was especially happy as he boarded the bus after the game. He's normally will give a thumbs up and a smile or two following a win like this, but after this game he barked a few excited words as he climbed into his seat, and let out a yelp or two. After that, it was pretty much business as usual.
This team is obviously playing on adrenaline now, and they're going to need that to continue. Because we're smack in the middle of a four-games-in-five-nights set. Following the game against the Lakers on Friday night, we'll fly to Los Angeles and take on the Clippers on Saturday night in the final regular-season road game of the season. After that, it's home games against Oklahoma City and Denver to finish off the 82.
One other note about the Lakers game, it's now been announced that due to swelling in his leg, Lakers coach Phil Jackson will not be with his team when they fly to Portland late on Thursday night. Kurt Rambis will handle the head coaching duties. Often situations like this lead to teams playing harder, and better, at least for one game. This team will not only be trying to snap a long and ugly skid in Portland, they'll be trying to win one for their coach, who will be watching the game at home on TV.
What this also means is we won't be hearing Jackson whine about the weather in Portland on this trip. He's tied the Lakers' long losing streak to rainy weather and "depressed faces in the stands." Here's hoping it's about 45 degrees and raining sideways when the team arrives at the airport.
As for the depressed faces, the only faces I've seen at the Rose Garden that match that description are usually wearing Laker shirts, and they usually end up leaving early, after the Blazers have the game well in hand. At least that's the way it's been in the recent past. Then, like clockwork, they write comments to this blog, telling me I suck.
The loudest arena in the NBA would have been in rare form Friday night even if this team wasn't playing the Lakers. I can't wait to see the greeting the Blazers get from the crowd following another winning road trip, and the clinching of a 50-win season.
RSS FEED
this game made me want to cry TEARS OF JOY!!!
I hate the Spurs.
Have hated the Spurs, and them losing this game, at home, against the Blazers....
today was like christmas!
Get out of the way you over the hill SOB's, this is a young mans game, and today timmy D learned that the hard way!
Go Blazers!!!Go Blazers!!!Go Blazers!!!Go Blazers!!!Go Blazers!!!Go Blazers!!!Go Blazers!!!Go Blazers!!!
Mike, thank you for giving us the chance to post! I've been waiting all night! What an exciting win.
I won't lie, when I saw that it was 20 to 6 at with about 8 minutes gone by in the first, I felt like turning off the TV. It'd hurt being blown out in a tight race and on national television. Than, I remembered something... we are *NOT* the Utah Jazz!
Great game without a doubt! The Blazers played probably the smartest ballgame of the season. Normally when a team gets blown out so early and so easily, they give up the rest of the game, much like Utah seemed to do in Dallas following the Blazer game.
Ginobli and Duncan didn't play last time, and Tony Parker was showing why he was an All-Star ( and in my opinion, should be a mention in the MvP race ). Today, he was held on a leash.
Sergio and Rudy were great today I thought. Sergio made some shots to help get this team started, and they were great point-guard scoring shots. Rudy made some amazing passes, and this is like the 5th game in a row where he has done that amazing 1 hand pass down to Greg or Joel or LaMarcus.
Speaking of which, LaMarcus was able to take a rest after being blown out the first quarter it seemed like. He did great, with about 14 points in the forth quarter, but the rest of the team picked themselves up and got back in the game. Greg was amazing, and Joel was picking up every rebound after some great communication and teamwork. Tell Rice that's 2 in a row.
Who else was great? Oh that's right... the whole team! Brandon Roy has done it again. When he needed to make shots, he did. One thing I saw that was awesome was some great give and go's by Greg and Brandon, and some nice pick n rolls. And Greg, even though had 5 fouls, never really got into that foul trouble that he's been getting into. He played great and every game he plays where he doesn't get into foul trouble makes me regret ever doubting him. I just can't wait until the refs let him play BASKETBALL.
Now for the bad news. We are going to win the rest of the games of the regular season. Lakers can't win here, Denver can't win here, OKC is going to get schooled again after their article, and Clippers, well I'll take ESPN's word that that's basically another home game for us.
So that's great, we are looking at maybe getting home court advantage and 3rd seed. Bad news is is that Dallas has been blowing out two teams, luckily they have been teams that lack defense or lack motivation on the road, Pheonix and Utah. However, Dallas has been the only team to sweep us that has won at the Rose Garden *TWICE*. We can win against the Mavs, but those losses, whether they be by 1 point or twenty million points, are dangerous to this team. I'd much rather be battling New Orleans, a team we can win on the homecourt, and a team we can win if we secure Chris Paul.
I say we are going to be 54 wins, as long as the Blazers play some playoff basketball, which they certainly did tonight.
Great game Mike, welcome back home! Tomorrow is going to suck, now that we've hit the playoffs, I just want to watch Blazer basketball!
Oh and as always... BEAT LA! BEAT LA!
Wow, just wow.
Mike: You are so kind. You must have known I was up waiting for you.
I thought the game was on KGW at 5:30. I did get to listen to the first quarter though. I was listening to 690 KRCO and the game came on. I said to my wife that I read that the game would be televised on ESPN at 4 O'clock but I wanted to watch it on KGW. (Thought it was a delayed broadcast) I finished up my business and listened to the game although I was sure I would be watching it on KGW.
When I finally got home, it was in the middle of the 2nd quarter and I wasn't sure I wanted to watch it. Than I found out it was not on KGW. I switched over to ESPN and we had just gone down by 17. I was so darn disappointed because I was sure we were going to come out swinging and really take it to the Spurs. About the time I was ready to give up we started catching up a little.
What a fantastic come back. It was slow and decisive as if they didn't want to make another mistake and get trounced on again.
Great win. Glad the team and Nate were as happy as I was.
hg
This is the first time I've actually posted on a blog so bare with me.Oh and no I am not a bandwagon person lol.I started watching the blazers when I was 6 I am 33 now.I don't even watch the playoffs if the blazers don't get in.I really love this team reminds me of the 90-91 team at least with character, versatility,depth,and the connection they had with us.
Mike:thanks for always posting these your the best!I have come on time and time again very late and 90% of the time a blog is up waiting.
About last nights game wow what a game.LA is a beast,BRoy is well BRoy,Travis is playing better defense(which is nice)Batum total steal or the draft.GO dude so needs to suck up to the refs or something.He cann't even touch someone without them blowing a whistle,but when he isn't in foul trouble he does very well.Still makes rookie mistakes but thats to be expected.
I never had any doubts we would win against SA not after watching the first 5 min of Duncan limping down the floor.They hit alot of 3's and got to the basket at will until Portland said ok we aint playing around anymore.Then just locked them down on defense and game was over.TBH I was more worried when we played tuesday as the grizzles are young and very athletic and we so stole that game from them :).SA looked old tonight.
geat game Mike. its a great day to be a blazer! p.s. tell mike rice to quit cheating on the trivia questions
And all those top analysts predicted the Blazers to be around a 48 win team this year, and at the very best the 6th seed in the West.
Think again.
I've been looking up and down all of the remaining schedules for each team seeded 2 through 8 (thi is the 3rd day in a row that I have). It's pretty easy to make an accurate estimation at this point in the season.
#2 - Nuggets 54-28
(Currently 53-27 with 3 games remaining. The Nuggets will probably lose to LA, win one against the Kings, and lose to us at the Rose Garden.)
#3 - Blazers 54-28
(Currently 50-28 with 4 games remaining. A win this Friday against the Lakers is, quite frankly, very probable. Wins against the Clips and Thunder are likely, and a win against Denver at the Rose Garden for the regular season finale? I think so. Also, note that we lose the tie-breaker against Denver.)
#4 Spurs 53-29
(Currently 50-28 with 4 games remaining. The Spurs play the Jazz, two lottery teams, and Hornets. This team is banged up and getting older. I'm guessing they will go 3-1. The win tonight gives the Blazers just enough breathing room if they do go 4-0.)
#5 Rockets 53-29
(Currently 50-28 with 4 games remaining. If the Rockets beat the two lottery teams, and lose one against New Orleans or Dallas, they'll go 3-1 and tie San Antonio. If they go 4-0, we'll be out for the 3rd seed even if we tie. From there, we one up the Spurs if tied. We may have secured the 4th spot however, with the Spurs win.
#6 Hornets 50-32
(Currently 48-30. This team is no longer a high seed threat. They play the Mavs twice, then the Rockets, and then the Spurs. Good luck with that. Even if they win all 4, and let's hope they do, that's still just a 52-30 record.)
#7 Dallas or Utah 49-33 +/- 1
#8 Dallas or Utah 49-33 +/- 1
And that about wraps up my predictions.
Great game. I hope we blow out the Lakers. I feel like Batum is going to have a great game.
On another note, as Blazer fans we always criticize about the Blazers have emotional hang overs and set backs. Well what other team this young has done what the Blazers have? They should be praised because a typical team this young would be inconsistent and fold in crunch time. This very young team is way beyond their years. I'm so proud of our team.
I have been supporting the boys since a child in Australia and now live in London and to be honest I am absolutely over the moon and am going to try get to the games in the home of basketball... I am pumped... Come on lads fire up and drop these other nobody's by the way side on the way to the title!!
WHAT A GAME! Again the Blazers get stuck in a rut during the first half but pull themselves out of it with persistence, vigor and composure! If these Blazers continue with this impressive standard of play we will be on track for 54 and 28! But for now, CONGRATULATIONS ON THE BIG 5-0!
Hey MB: wow.....gotta tell ya...i LUV this Blazer team....my wife predicted 50 wins & I predicted 52 wins....I know....we always heard from our friends that there was NO WAY....maybe 45-46 wins....well, looky here....this young blazer team is growing up!
The last two games were speachless in the fact that they were down 20+ points but came back to claim the win and in tonights game they won like 15+ more then the Spurs.
It just shows how hard this young team works, its amazing to think how far they have gottin with 4 "rookies" and claimed a spot in the playoffs. Nate should be really proud of his young team.
I wanna give props to Rudy in the Grizz game for giving the team the spark they needed in the 2nt half from the bench.
Thanks KP for our great team!
50 is something to celebrate -obviously making it into the post-season is too, but when you consider 16/30 teams get there, is it really a great measure of success?
Interesting to see Oden's offense come to life when Roy made an concerted effort to create shots for him. If the Blazers can get Oden engaged on the offensive end, he can be a big x-factor in the playoffs.
Rip City!!!!!!!!!!!
This game shows why we're so scary.
Go Blazers!!!!!!!!
I am a true beleiver of this team. I am proud to stand behind this team and we need to make this playoff season memorable. GO BLAZERS!
MB,
First time you ever called a win in San Antonio? Get used to it buddy, they're on their way down and we are, dare I say, uprising.
What a game last night. I am so proud of the way the Blazers responded to the early deficit. The Sandman came back after his first rest looking as focused as I have seen him, and from that point on they just looked like an old beat up team.
Awesome job by our centers last night. Gregzilla was absolutely dominant. That is controlling the paint. I know POP will say he pulled Duncan to rest him but the Thrilla was shutting him down.
Great Job to all the guys they played their asses off and I am one proud Blazer fan.
MB, couple questions for you and please try to answer them.
1. Why does no one use the sky hook?
2.Why does no one use the triangle offense?
There are a lot of championships tied to both so an answer to this would be welcome. Anyone else feel free to post in.
Lakers are going to get smacked down like only the Blazers know how to do. Here we come playoffs!!!
Thats what you call a TEXAS sized butt whoopin'!!!! Bring on the Lakers... Bring on the Playoffs!!!!!!!!!
Joel Przybilla Rules, pure a simple!! Big Ups to the rest of the Blazers too. Great game, the only bad thing about it was that the Mikes wern't calling it! RIP CITY
LA was awesome and Oden is catching on nicely... its been a great season, the beginning of many great seasons to come!!!!!!!
This is insane. I knew they would make it but I thought they would only just make it, the way west is always so tough. last nights game to me proves that they can win anywhere anytime. Ive always been a fan. Its to bad people fell off the wagon. LETS GO ALL THE WAY!!!!!
I love the way our guys fought back after a disastrous looking first quarter. They showed a lot of resolve and poise. Looking forward to seeing our squad step toe-to-toe with the Lkers on Fri. night. Once again, let's remind the rest of the league that we have arrived, and we are a force to be reckoned with. Nobody wants us in the first round right now. Nobody!
leif:
I share your enthusiasm of the young Blazers. But, please don't be so harsh on us over the hill people for the young Blazers and maybe you will be there before you know it
hg
Mike, it looks like the Blazers have a new formula for winning:
The first quarter play rusty, disoriented, sloppy, and make few assists. Then, after that, metamorphoze into a dominant, well choreographed team. Take the crowd out and demoralize the opponent which "moments before" thought you were a pushover.
Of course, I realize this isn't the real game plan, which consists of dominant play through all of the quarters, but it is kind of "funny".
The main thing is that this game was a Huge win, and we congratulate the team and coaching staff.
BEAT LA!
I went into a meeting when the Blazers were down by 17 in the 2nd quarter. I came out to my car near the end of the 4th expecting a 20 to 30 point loss. When I heard Wheels announce the Blazers by 10, I thot he meant down by 10. Then we scored and were ahead by 12. I simply could not believe my ears. I opend the car windows and screamed to everyone on the freeway. What a gutsy come back!!!
just to be clear in my earlier post I asked y noone use the triangle, I am not recommending it 4 our blazers
Herr:
IMO, we won't be able to get ahead of Houston. I think we will play SAS with home court advantage in the first round. If I got this right that would put us against the Lakers the second round. Is that right? If it goes the way you think it will wouldn't we have to play the winner of the 2nd and seventh place team. Which I think would be Denver. I think I would rather play SAS than The Lakers than maybe, Dallas and Denver. is that right?
This is too head blogging for me. If you go to Blazeredge.com, Dave got it explained pretty well.
hg
Mike, I couldn't believe San Antonio was shooting so well in that first quarter, but I knew that they would start missing some shots, and man did they miss. You know things are going to even out over the course of a game when it comes to shooting percentage. This might be the biggest win for the blazers this season in terms of where were at and what's at stake. I think I can smell home court for the first round. Hopefully the Lakers will rough up Denver tonight and give us a chance to get the division.
By the way, Joel is a beast and really is under appreciated around the league. People don't realize what a stud we have in Joel. Agree?
George
corybauer: Be careful, Mike Barrett the author of this Blog predicted 48 to 49 and from 6th to 8th seed. LOL!! Don't take him to heart, Mike. It is easier to predict above 50 when we are already 50 and you predicted way early in the year. I think I predicted 50 to 51, can’t remember so I can change mine. LOL!!
Your predictions could be right on the money. I am in the opinion that Houston will end up in 3rd and Division Champions Houston owns the tie Breaker with SAS. That would leave SAS playing against the Blazers. We own the tie breaker with SAS unless they end up Division champs than Houston owns the tie breaker against the Blazers. I think it will be Houston 3, Blazers 4 and SAS 5, NOH or Utah 6 and 7 with Dallas 8th.
hg
It was a good game last night, but not great. The start was horrible but the comeback was solid and determined. This young team did what they had to do, win on the road against an experienced playoff team.
If Nate has the opportunity he should now consider giving the rookies a strong thank you for their contribution to the team this year.
I suggest he start the four rookies with Martell (possibly his first game back) in our home game against Oklahoma City Thunder for the first five minutes of the game if at all possible.
Point guard: Jerryd Bayless
Shooting guard: Rudy Fernandez
Power forward: Nicolas Batum
Small forward: Martell Webster
Center: Greg Oden
It would give the home crowd the chance to say thank you to the rookies as well as a welcome back to Martell Webster.
I believe it would be the first time in NBA history four rookies would start an NBA game. (I guess in the very first NBA game they all would have been rookies but many of them were long-time pros prior to the formation of the NBA.)
Go Blazers! Win the rest of the games and claim HCA.
Now your messin with a... a SON of a Bitch.
Eclectic Spider: You can add the question to your list, "Why hasn't anyone shot free throws underhanded?" Rick Barry set an NBA record for free throw accuracy shooting the ball underhanded, yet no one has copied him since, not even his own sons. It looks like Yao has taken a page out of Lou Alcindors' book and added a hook shot to his repertoire. At the risk of sounding like Dr. Seuss please don't say, "Lou Who"?
eclecticspider: I am not sure what the triangle offense completely stands for, but someone told me that it is somewhat going inside than passing out with two shooters on opposite wings. You need a Center or a PF that can pass well. In the development of Oden and his passing abilities with LMA and BRoy on either side and Batman and Steve waiting for the three or the back door cut would make us so much more awesome than we already are. Is this kind of a triangle offense?
I think the sky hook has turned into the jump hook.
This is in my opinion only, give me feed back, I would like to learn more.
hg
Last night just age marked the fall of Duncan..watching him hobble up and down the court was absolutely painful. He looked like he needed a walker and a respirator, it's sad to say, but Duncan needs to retire.
Fanman:
I think the game plan for us was to push the ball and wear them out. I think the game plan for them was to hit us with everything they had before we wore them out. So maybe, It was just that we outlasted them. Did you notice the second qter was opposite of the first qtr. They had 33 to our 19 the second qter we had31 to their 19.
I think what you said about the game plan seems right. It sure starts to look like our identity. Put them to sleep and destroy them before they wake. LOL!!!
hg
When they do a retrospective of this season 10, 20 years down the road we will finally realize how special all of these comebacks and this team was! Just unbelievable...
These comebacks are great but these lapses that get us into deficits aren't gonna fly in the playoffs. Oden will be the X-Factor. If he can have solid games on the road and not get stupid fouls, we've got a good chance to punch a real dent in this thing. Go Blazers (future dynasty!).
I'm glad the Grizzlies aren't in the playoff race because I would worry a lot more about them than the Spurs, based on the last two games.
I missed most of the first half of the Spurs game since I rushed off to the cable store to get an HD box to try to see Blazer games in HD.
I thought Comcast Sportsnet was going to do an HD version on ch 737, but there wasn't one, but I was pleased to see that ESPN was broadcasting the Blazer Spur game in HD on ch 735.
Maybe I'm just a few years out of it when it comes to tech stuff but I was amazed at the quality of the game in HD, I had been frustrated that it is hard to identify the players when they are showing the full court on a regular broadcast.
I hope that a lot of Blazer games get broadcast in HD.
Meantime, go Blazers. They have sure been showing ups and downs. Poor performance on the Philly game. They seemed to me to try pretty hard at Houston but it seemed like Houston had a pretty good strategy for handling the Blazers. It seemed like they played decent at Memphis but Memphis seemed awfully impressive in handling them, particularly shutting down Aldridge.
Then comes the early part of the San Antonio game and I am thinking well the Blazers seem to be faltering quite a bit at this tail end of the season. And then all of a sudden they are stomping all over the Spurs.
There is definitely still a considerable uneven quality to the Blazers' play. But when they are on their game I believe they can beat anyone on any court. After all, they came very close to beating Cleveland in Cleveland.
I'd like to see them face the Spurs or Utah or NO in the first round, but as tight as the 2-8 spots are I don't think there's any way to predict who will be facing whom in the first round.
The Blazers can't expect to win in the playoffs if they don't come to the game until the end of the 1st quarter. Spectacular recoveries will be much more difficult with playoff intensity.
Hg, you are essentially correct about the triangle and I don't recommend it for the Blazers. I would have loved to have seen it ran with Sheed and Sabonis.
Phi Slamma, your right that is another good question but I believe we all know the answer is ego.
dbc - yes, 16 teams do get the post season. In the East, you can easily get in it with a below 500 record, many teams have this season, there are only really 3-4 teams in the East that are dominate, and we all know who those are.
In the West however, it's another story. Look how tight the race is and has been. 3 posistions out of 8 are tied up. New Orleans, Utah, and Dallas are all 1/2 games behind them, meaning if Dallas won and New Orleans lost, they'd nearly switch posistions, where Dallas would take 6th and New Orleans and Utah would tie for 8th and 7th.
Also, Pheonix has a better record than most of the Eastern Confrence playoff teams, yet they have been eliminated because they are a Western Confrence team. Last season the Blazers could have been in the playoffs if they were Eastern Confrence. It's not really a 50% chance to get in the playoffs either, that's only possible if teams were randomly selected to be in them, it took lots of hard work and great ballgames inorder for this young team to be where they are at. It wasn't a matter of being one of the 16 teams to get into the playoffs.
Hg - I got to ask, why do you think Houston will overtake us and pass us? The blazers, as long as they play the way they should, can easily win all 4 remaining games. Houston I believe takes on the Spurs and the Mavs one more time this season. If not the Spurs than definently the Mavs on April 15th. I don't think Houston will win all 4 of their remaining games like Portland should. Making us 54-28, and Houston 53-29.
Leif - just curious, what is wrong with the Spurs? From my experiences, they are a friendly team and play some great ball. I've never seen any of them get cocky and taunt like KG, Kobe, JR Smith or Birdman (which reminds me, Greg slam that jerk to the ground on April 15th!)
So I enter the room and ask, "How much are they down by?"
"19 at San Antonio."
"Only 19?" I yawn, take a pull from my tinny, give my ribs a scratch. Victory assured. The Blazers, like usual, were just messing with us, jerking our chains a little for laughs. Those wicked youngsters. Rip City.
Herr: I think SAS is going down hill because of Duncan's injury. This would more than likely put Houston as division the champion and ahead of Portland and SAS. That would put IMO only SAS and Portland as maybe tied for 4th and 5th. Portland owns the tie breaker with SAS so that would put us in fourth. If SAS, was to keep division championship and we stayed tied with Houston, Than Houston owns the tie against The Blazers. That would put Houston at fourth and Blazers 5th.
The only way we can get home court advantage is if Houston wins the division and SAS and Portland is 4th and 5th. So maybe it is wishful thinking.
This is somewhat complicated with me, I was getting my information from Blazersedge. com
I just think that Houston will win out and Portland will win out and that gives Houston the tie breakers. Unless SAS also wins out than SAS will win the tie breaker against Houston Than Houston still wins above Portland.
I know I must be confusing you. That might be because I am a little confused so it is only IMO.
My question is if we are fourth and SAS is fifth and we have home court and we win, Do we play the winners of the Lakers and eighth place team?
hg
I have been supporting the boys since a child in Australia and now live in London and to be honest I am absolutely over the moon and am going to try get to the games in the home of basketball... I am pumped... Come on lads fire up and drop these other nobody's by the way side on the way to the title!!
krb: I don't know when PTB are playing bad and the opponents are playing well. Mike Barrett told me that basketball is series of little games inside of the big game. The opponents put on a different defensive scheme or stint. Then PTB has to figure it out. SAS is an experienced seasoned team. Mike also told me the reason the whole team gets cold at the same time is they take us out of our comfort zone. That is why we are inconsistent because we haven't the experience to spot stints on the run. That is why Nate says to stay connected. That is why Travis, Rudy, and BRoy are so important because they can create for them selves regardless of the defensive stint. By doing that it leaves the defense scrambling to cover all the shooters.
With all that said, I feel you are right we are not champions yet, but wait next year or so.
hg
I have a question for everyone!
First off let me say last nights game was awesome! I was upset with the play in the first 18 minutes of the game, but then the defense played amazing. It's great to have pryzbilla and oden in there at all times doing all the dirty work and brining a very needed toughness to this team. Now lets bring that effort for all 48 minutes against LA. Now to the question i had...
If the blazers go 4-0 with their remaining games, and denver goes 1-2(which is very possible) then each team will be 54-28. Also we will have split the season series with denver at 2 wins each. So my question is what will the tie-breaker be? Since we have the same record against each other what then determines the tiebreaker? If anyone knows that would be great.
Hey Mike, thanks for the update about the playoff games being shown on KGW and ALL games being broadcast in HD.
As an HDTV owner with limited cable, this makes me VERY HAPPY!
The trust this team has in each other is fun to watch. Deficits are simply a challenge to rally against. Carpe diem!
I feel that Roy and Aldridge are becoming the 1-2 punch we've needed since Kiki and Clyde. The difference is that LA and the "Natural" thrive off each other.
If I were in Las Vegas, I'd get to a sports book and put $100 of Portland. The payoff would be huge!
just clarify, it is impossible for the Blazers to pass both S.A. and Housten. one of those teams is going to win their division, and will be seeded higher, even if portland has a better record. even if portland wins their last 4 games, 4th seed is the best they can do (unless denver loses all their remaining games). right now, i think the best thing is for housten to win and SA to lose so we can get homecourt advantage against SA in the playoffs.
R-dub,
division record, right now adv den
R-dub:
the tie breakers go as followed...
1) season series
2) Division record
3) conference record
4) league record
5) coin toss
No joke. I just read that recently
To steal a line from a once popular hip-hop song:
This team is 2 legit to quit!
You know how some teams start fooling around on the bench when they get way ahead? I doubt many are gonna do that against the Blazers anymore...
Here are the official tie-breaker rules, including the very possible 3-way tie:
TWO-WAY TIES
1. Results of games against each other.
2. Better winning percentage within own division (only if tied teams are in same division).
3. Better winning percentage against teams in own conference.
4. Better winning percentage against playoff opponents in own conference (including teams that finished the regular season tied for a playoff position).
5. Better winning percentage against playoff opponents in opposite conference (including teams that finished the regular season tied for a playoff position).
6. Better point differential between offense and defense.
MORE THAN TWO TEAMS TIED
1. If applicable, division champions must be determined first.
2. Better winning percentage in all games among the tied teams.
3. Better winning percentage against teams in own division (only if all tied teams are in same division).
4. Better winning percentage against teams in own conference.
5. Better winning percentage against teams eligible for playoffs in own conference (including team that finished the regular season tied for a playoff position).
6. Best point differential between offense and defense.
Tough break for Martell Webster. Let's hope he is healed and ready to go next season.
The Phoenix and San Antonio games had somewhat the same feel to them. Two of the great big men in NBA history, Shaq and Duncan, both seemed to be making a last hurrah. The young Blazers took the baton and ran off with it leaving the last generation of players winded, bent over holding on to their knees. A tip of the hat to both of those warriors. Now move over.
I'm thinking that Rudy will make a notable splash in these playoffs, sort of sneak up on people while everyone is concentrating on Roy & LMA. Rudy likes that spotlight, as evidenced by his fine play in the Olympics before billions of viewers. He's been in the big game at prime time and likes it. The Pistol Pete in him will shine.
Drain the Lakers. Rip City.
This is great news Mike. I only have one comcast box so I have to watch the games only on that tv. Now that both road and home will be HD it makes it worth it to get an additional box.
SD on a 50" screen is so bad I can't even see the players faces from the broadcast view. It's just blurry. When the ball goes through the hoop you can't even tell until it's gone through the net. HD makes it so you can see the ball go through the hoop if that makes sense. Great news, lets blow out the Lakers tomorrow.
Hg:yes we would player the fakers.The team with the best record has the easiest path to the championship i.e: 1 vs 8 2 vs 7 3vs 6 4 vs 5 then next round if all the higher teams win would look like 1 vs 4 2 vs 3
"Then, like clockwork, they write comments to this blog, telling me I suck."
That made my day. Rofl. Now I don't like to put down people, but it kills me that the Lakers and the Celtics were in the finals because their fans seem to be the worse fans in the NBA. Always find ways to critize another team for getting dominated.
Be prepared for getting more insults Mike, the Blazers are going to put on another show for us.
it says an incredible amount about this team that their emotional "let down" after clinching a playoffs birth came in the form of two phenomenal come from behind victories. teamwork and togetherness define this team. i very sincerely hope that they (and we as fans) realize how special this year is for portland. the ceiling of transcendent greatness for this group is hard to see.
also, i want to give big props to brandon for starting his radio show thursdays on 95.5 with wheels. the first installment can be found on the blazers page of the oregonian's website as well. he truly seems to be a man meant for these times.
and, it is great to hear that the games will be on KGW-8. this city will be swept over in a river of red and black.
GO BLAZERS!!!
Mike:
Sir Charles is still saying we ar not going anyhow in the play-offs because we never get easy baskets. At the first of the season he said we couldn't make the play-offs because we were a jump-shooting team.
We proved him wrong once, lets prove him wrong again.
hg
Hey Mike,
Just wanted to say how proud I am of the way the team and organization has turned this franchise around!
I can't believe we're this young, with 50 wins already and in the playoffs!
I noticed they haven't really done one of those playoff commercials for our team so I thought I'd put a short one together for the Blazers. I couldn't fit everybody but hopefully you'll still enjoy it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5B7CzXnv0s
Ripcityisalive: Thank You for your reply. I watched the Lakers vs. Denver last night and they sort of explained it. Of course I heard again that it didn't matter where we ended up we can't advance because we can't make easy shots. Didn’t it use to be that we couldn’t make the play-offs because we are a jump-shooting team. Well if Greg wouldn't get rim checked we might make easy shots. LOL!!
Regardless of what Sir Charles says, we would be OK if we could get Third place away from Houston. That as it stands right now would put us against NOH. I don't think we will beat out Houston plus I think I'd rather stay where we are at and play the Lakers in the Second round. Playing Utah or Denver in the second round is also scary.
I am getting like everybody else worrying about where we will end up; I can't do anything about where we end up since I don’t play.
I just don't always remember that it doesn't matter who we play, if we are the best than we will win anyway.
hg
I've been amped up all day about the game tonight! It's going to be crazy in the Rose Garden.
Go Blazers!
hg:I would actually like sa to lose 1 more game as it stands right now SA would be 3rd,houston 4th and portland 5th all by tie breakers.Who ever listens to Charles? the guy is a waist of space actually the whole TNT crew sucks.Just watched the blazers beat LA WOOOOT.Great game.
Also I think the only team I would hate to see portland matched up against in the first round is Houston they match up very well with us.Doubt portland wins their division as denver plays sac next should be a easy game for them but I'll still hope sac can pull off the upset.Can you imagine if going into the last game of the season being tied with Denver :).
Not the least bit pleased by KGW-8 televising the first-roung playoff games. HD is nice but I want Michael Holton and Tony Luftman after we beat the Lakers and whoever. It's enough to send me out to the car to listen to Wheels after the game; maybe during the game; he does a great job. Channel 8 cuts immediately to return to "regular programing." Who cares; channel change time.
nice vid jimmy, blazers beat lakers......lets hope kings take down the nuggets......
Ripcityisalive: Right at the moment The Blazers are fourth and SAS or fifth and that is what I want because that gives Portland with home-court advantage over SAS. I agree I don't think I would want to play Houston either. One thing though, The Blazers are still evolving and getting better in leaps and bounds now that they know they can win against élite teams on the road. We have all the ingredients and I think Greg will get lots better in the play-offs because I hope they will let him play. As shown the last two games if he can stay in the game long enough to get his rhythm he can be a force. He doesn't have to do anything but rebound while Joel is out. Ya, it was a great game last night. I don't know how the players felt after the game, but I was completely exhausted.
I'm in complete agreement with you on Denver winning Monday against sac; but wouldn't be sweet if it did go to the last game of the season.
OPPs!!! Got a little exited and got diarrhea of the mouth.
Do you think we will have a let down against the Clippers tonight?
hg
AWW TOO BAD BLAZER FANS. Blazers do not have an answer for Yao and Brooks. This series is going to be a piece of cake. no resistance at all. Maybe next year!
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