It's alarming. I can sit here and blame it on my insane family/work/school schedule, but that would also insinuate that I'm not watching any games... which would be a lie. Because I am. Alot of them. I have not missed many Blazer games this year, and I've even attended a game during each of the three acts of the Blazer season.
Whats that? You're asking what the 3 acts are? Well I'm of the theory that you can break the Blazers season into three different acts. They've almost been individual seasons.
The first act, was 10/26/ to 12/15. They started off 3-0 this season, but it didn't take long before Roy's knees began to bother him and the wheels fell off. By the end of November they were being embarrassed by some pretty bad teams and at one point had a 6 game losing streak. This section ended when Blazers brass and Brandon Roy decided to shut him down and let him figure out whats going on with his knees (otherwise known as Brandon Roy's secret suspension for talking shit in the media).
The second act AKA LaMarcus Aldridges' coming out party saw the Blazers (12/16-2/26) go 21-11 even though they were forced to change their offense and reorganize their rotations. This was the stretch from mid January to the end of Febuary when LaMarcus said, "I got you little birdies, hop on my back- I'll take you to safty."
The third act, aka the Super Seven rotation, which we are in right now started with a loss against Atlanta (2/27- current)at home and has seen them go an uninspired 4-3. The first two losses are explainable. They had just made a chemistry altering trade (more ont that later) and were unsure about how Brandon Roy fits in the new rotation. The four wins they ratted off after that included a win in Orlando and a win in Miami.
Here are the three games I went to:
Hornents(11/26/10)- While they were still convinced Brandon Roy could play himself healthy, or they could just ignore his knee's. Not a good idea, and you could tell on the court it wasn't working. They scored 33 points in the first quarter and finished the game with 78 total.
Clippers (1/20/11)- The Age of LaMarcus was just finishing it's first month, and I still wasn't sure if I could trust him to consistantly throw up All-Star level point totals. Watching him throw up a 28 and 8 in person helped eliminate any questions I still had. In fact, after the game I hijacked the "LA for All Star" train, and started driving that bitch myself.
Hawks ( 2/27/11)- Portland just made a team altering trade by trading Dante Cunningham and the longest tenured Blazer- Joel Pryzbilla to the Bobcats for Gerald Wallace. This was to be Wallace's first game in uniform and I needed to go. Doubling my desire to see Crash for the first time, I decided it was time my sister took in her first game. It was a game of firsts all around. The Sister got to see her first game, Crash suited up as a Blazer for the first time, and my 'Belvin 21' Blazer jersey saw it's first action. Unfortunatly, chemistry issues were a factor and the Blazers lost to the Hawks despite their 20+ turnovers.
I am strongly considering never taking my sister to another game.
So far this year, despite the bull shit, I gotta admit- I love this team. It hasn't been all roses though. After the first month they were under .500, Roy was on his way to another surgery, and I was convinced Nate McMillian already had an agreement with the Lakers or the Heat to coach them next year.
It all seemed to change on a 12/15 game in Dallas, when despite the Loss LA went ape shit setting a then career high of 35 points. There was a bright spot in this loss. LaMarcus was hitting buckets, and hitting them down the stretch the fourth quarter. We almost pulled out a win against a Western Conference power, despite the injuries, because LaMarcus for the first time in his NBA career was knocking down fourth quarter buckets.
I remember the next day saying to whoever would listen, "last night LA became a man." Never in my wettest dreams did I think his transition would turn into what it had.
Since that night, the Blazers are 25-15 and LaMarcus is throwing up the ever consistant 25.2 ppg and 9.3 boards per night (they were 12-13 going into that night with Dallas).
I'm not trying to argue that the Blazers are better without Brandon Roy at 100%, but its tough to argue that his injury wasn't a blessing in disguise. The realization of that Roy's knees will never recover has done many things to this organization (outside of the rise of LaMarcus). The team has had to adapt, and develop a new identity on the fly.
Here are the most notable:
- It stopped the battle for the ball between Andre Miller and Brandon Roy. With Roy down, Andre took over. Not coniencedetly, Wes Mathews, Rudy Fernandez, and Nic Batum saw their production shoot beyond expectations.
- If you think there is any chance Andre didn't have a huge hand in lighting the fire in LA's ass you're, high.
- Nate McMillian changed his coaching style. Also contributing to the production of the rest of the roster.
- Wes Mathews, Patty Mills, Rudy Fernandez, Nic Batum, LaMarcus Aldridge, Dante Cunningham( when he was here) and Andre, are all players that want to push the tempo of the game. They're runners. When Roy went away, so did the awful 'slow down Brandon Roy turtle offense'.
- Because Nate shuffled the lineup and is confident in Wes Money starting over Roy ( and because Rich Cho pulled the trigger on the Crash robbery) we now have a insanely deep team and a top 7 that can matchup with ANYONE.
The fact of the matter is, I love this team. Absolute and uncompromised love. This season started off so shitty with the blow out knee marathon, and when the remaining players were faced with all that adversity- the simply put on their 3 goggles and told adversity to suck it.
Even after a stupid loss last night, they're in possession of the 6th seed in the west but are only 41/2 out of the division crown and the 4 seed. Do I expect them to pull the division out? No, no I don't. Do I think it's possible? Yes. Anything is possible with this team. Everytime LaMarcus embarrasses someone with a turn around (see: Bosh, Chris) or Mathews drills a go ahead 3 ball I get more and more confident in this team. Like wise for everytime Andre jacks some young point guards dribble or when Crash hits the ground for a loose ball.
If the playoffs started today, we'd get LA. Quick question, what has two thumbs and isn't scared of ANY team in the west ( answer: this guy)
PS. Before I go, I'm going to post a picture of the recently traded Joel Pryzbilla. This dude gave his blood, seat and knee cartlage for the Blazers and I appreciated his work. Sure he sucked offensively, but there aren't many starting centers better then him, let alone back ups which he had been for the last two years.
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