If back-to-back games are the killer of an NBA schedule, than the Portland Trail Blazers are deadman walking. It’s bad enough to drop a game in always tough Utah. But now you have to come home against a rested Los Angeles Clippers? Brutal anyway you look at it.
“I think the back-to-back thing is by far the most overblown excuse in the NBA,” Jeff Van Gundy, who now calls action for ESPN said once. “Why should games on consecutive nights be a problem? Because the other team’s more rested? That’s no excuse.”
Portland’s about ready to find out if he’s right. Next up Zach Randolph and the Clips – yes, the same Clips who recently worked out Darius Miles on Tuesday. Hmmm….Either way, it’s been one of those weeks for the Blazers.
Not only have they lost two-straight games – first to Orlando and then Utah – but it’s the way in which they’ve suffered those defeats.
One was a heartbreaker. The other, a head scratcher. How does Brandon Roy go for two-straight 30-plus games, resulting both in losses? How can LaMarcus Aldridge produce two of his more impressive outings of the season and Portland not come away with wins to show for them? How does the bench go from having four guys (Rudy Fernandez, Travis Outlaw, Joel Przybilla and Sergio Rodriguez) all score in double-figures to barely mustering 19 points as a group?
It’s not an excuse. It’s an unsolved mystery.
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On Monday, I launched into a quick flashback about Greg Oden and Dwight Howard – the whole “Greg as Dwight” angle. Appreciate those who chimed in with some thoughts by the way…..really good stuff.
pic via: esmas
I don’t know what to say. This team looks so excruciatingly slow and sloppy against decent teams. We look so uncreative and obsolete against good teams. So static. I don’t know what the deal is. Don’t get me wrong, I greatly appreciate our record at this point and I would have never predicted we would be where we are at with the schedule that we have played, but both our defensive AND offensive sets are so predictable. We look unprepared at times. I have never really been from the “Fire Coach Mac” camp, but, is it Nate’s fault that they sometimes look unprepared or is it because the team is not executing? I’m tired of the “they’re young and still learning” defense. C’mon, this is fundamental basketball we’re talking about. Transition defense, help and rotate on the man, penetrate and dish, etc. Am I that unreasonable? Have they hit the wall after a grueling November?
I’m not going to put this one on Nate…..eventhough he will likely own up to the blame. They just didn’t get the job done. But let’s be real….this was Utah in Utah. That is a tough club – the defense and playing physical.
I don’t think you are being unreasonable.
I think that got outworked….
Horrible week. Boston. Two brutal last second losses at home. Loss to a division rival. Our clutch free thrower misses crucial free throws. Marty down 6 more weeks. Travis down. Brandon screws up pinkie (break/sprain/dislocation?) Przy’s ankle banged up. Nic and Batum come back down to Earth. Darius Miles murmurs. 3-game losing streak. What a craptastic week.
“craptastic”…..that’s good. i may have to employ that line at some point.
stay tuned on the “darius miles murmurs”….will have that story for you on monday.
after that kind of week, there’s no choice but to enjoy the weekend…..