Reality bites (Jack Bog's Blog)

Another tough night for the young Blazers, but this one was really heartbreaking. They played great ball against one of the league's elite teams, the San Antonio Spurs, for about 45 minutes. Unfortunately, the game is three minutes longer than that, and the Spurs overcame a nine-point deficit in short order to win the game at the Rose Garden.

The kids on the Portland team looked devastated as the final seconds of the game ticked away. They had thought they had the game won. The home crowd had most definitely thought the same. It was kind of like the Blazer game I saw against Phoenix: great play, and the higher-powered visiting team just barely prevailed, but prevail they did.

I worry about the youthful Blazers' heads. Like others, I suspect they tend to put extra pressure on themselves in home games, and a loss in Portland hurts more on account of it. To make matters worse, a scheduling quirk gives the Blazers four days to brood about this particular defeat; their next game isn't until Sunday.

Of greatest concern, of course, is forward Zach Randolph, the Blazers' best, but most unstable, player. He's got to be feeling pretty low right now. Came to camp in tremendous shape, and focused. Has worked his rear off on the court every single game. Yet didn't make the All-Star team. Isn't going to make the playoffs. Seriously losing record. Lots of losses in close games that could have been won with just a break or two.

The weather's getting warmer. The end of the season is near. This is the kind of night on which Zach gets himself in trouble. I hope he drives the Escalade home, unloads the guns, has some booze (or other intoxicant of choice) with a couple of buddies, enjoys a few laughs, and calls it a night. But you worry.

What wound up killing the Blazers tonight were the Spurs' Euro three-point shooters, who rained down shots as the contest came to a close. I'm starting to get a bias against these guys. I watched the Utah Jazz on the tube a week or two ago, and I found myself feeling the way I did when I used to watch the Soviet East German teams. Boo!

Anyway, sympathies for the Blazers. And watch out for that Escalade; let's hope nobody sees it out there tonight.

Comments (3)

Can't back you up on the Euro-hatred, Jack. Just as the great Lakers and Celtics teams of the 80s needed long-range bombers (Jerry Sichting, anyone?), even though they did little else (ever see Jamaal Wilkes take a charge?), the modern NBA teams need them, too. If there wasn't anybody to stretch the defense from long range, we'd still be watching the ugly basket-brawl of the 90s Knicks and Pistons teams.

It's not the European players' fault that American basketball puts a premium on dunks. The game is about putting the ball in the basket, and if Beno Udrih can do it from long range, more power to him even if he is from Slovenia.

Posted by Sheef | March 7, 2007 8:44 AM

The keep trying to put Martell Webster into the role of the 3 point specialist, but he seems to be choking a lot lately. Hopefully the Blazers are out there scouting for their own Euro 3-point assassins so everyone can hate on us next season. Besides we can't get too high and mighty about the European thing since we have Spanish Chocolate in the line up. We also need to get rid of Magliore (sp?)...too slow and clumsy for this high octane group.

Posted by Usual Kevin | March 7, 2007 4:29 PM

I'm sure they've been shopping Magloire. They probably want another young guy at center. They may get one in the lottery.

Martell is a talented guy, but it's hard to see what the heck Nate is doing with him. He can go to the hoop, and as you say, his three-point act isn't that strong. Yet he often seems parked at the arc.

Aldridge isn't quite there yet, either, but he's learning. He needs to gain 15 pounds and keep playing. The real dagger last night was when Topo Gigio ran around him for a circus layup at the end. The shot was very blockable, and he wouldn't have tried that on Randolph. In fact Zach appeared to be displeased with LaMarcus after that point.

Posted by Jack Bog | March 7, 2007 4:36 PM

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Tuesday, March 6, 2007

Reality bites

Comments (3)

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