The Blazers Are For Real
B-RoyFor the first time this season, I feel like the Trailblazers are living up to the hype, even if they’re entertaining some boneheaded trade rumors. Everyone was on their jock starting the year, waiting and watching Greg Oden’s every move. But they didn’t burst right out of the gates. In fact, the high expectations made them look like underachievers through their first 11 games as they went 6-5.
But since then, they’ve gone 6-1, avenging an earlier loss to the Hornets on Friday night with an admirable grittiness. Check out this video of Brandon Roy getting in David West’s face after a hard foul towards the end of that game – Roy is this team’s leader 100% of the way. His attitude exemplifies the team’s attitude.
“Guys need to see that we won’t be bullied, not by nobody,” Roy said. “Even though it resulted in a technical, it was needed because we responded well from it. I think it fires guys up to see me like that.”
And then today against the Pistons, the Blazers watched an early lead in Detroit evaporate, only to string together an 18-3 run down the stretch. Roy virtually changed the game from an 80-79 deadlock to a 93-80 lead on his own. He found Oden for a dunk, converted a three-point play, hit a lay-up, and then after a Nicolas Batum J, he dished to LaMarcus Aldridge for an open 20-footer.
At this point last year, the Blazers were 6-12, only to find their hot streak in December for a 13-game run. They’re 12-6 now, and it feels like they’re starting to hit their stride as December rolls back around.
Source: Oregon Live
November 30th, 2008 at 8:38 pm
Vladamir Boskic says:
first
November 30th, 2008 at 9:14 pm
jace says:
@vladamir = corny.
anyway.. yea.. blazers lookin extremely good lately. the whole team has upside. and with a coach like nate macmillan, he’s gonna bring out utilize them well. remember when he brought the sonics to one of the best records in the league a couple years ago? and on paper that sonics team was was horrible. only two bright spots were ray and rashard. next year nate leaves, and what do u kno? seattle is one of the worst teams in the league.
November 30th, 2008 at 9:16 pm
Mo says:
There was nothing malicious there. Roy was flailing cause he was tied up and couldn’t get his shot off. If you’re going to foul a guy foul him so he doesn’t get the shot off and end up getting an and 1. And listen to the homerific Blazer commentators. Mainly old ass Mike Rice. LMAO! Roy knows he don’t want West to throw none of those boxer jabs at his ass.
November 30th, 2008 at 9:16 pm
Mo says:
Oh and yeah, the Blazers looking good lately. They let the Pistons have it today.
November 30th, 2008 at 9:18 pm
Mo says:
BTW, has anyone noticed that Roy’s voice sounds corny just like Richard Jefferson’s?
November 30th, 2008 at 9:22 pm
A-Slam says:
@Mo, haha yeah he definately sounds exactly like RJ
November 30th, 2008 at 9:25 pm
Dagomar says:
It’s so weird that the former Jail Blazers are now the most-liked little team in the NBA. And it’s funny that, however good they are now, they can be that much better in the future. Every and any hole that team has now can be solved with a couple years of maturing.
By the way, lost in the shuffle is the fact that Pistons aren’t that good anymore. I said it from the moment they pulled the trigger on the Billups deal. Dumars had to do something, but that team just doesn’t make sense right now, and Stuckey hasn’t been the superstar Detroit homers expected him to be. This team has been treading water since Iverson arrived and I don’t expect things will get much better as the season progresses.
November 30th, 2008 at 9:37 pm
caeubona says:
Brandon Roy is the man!! he definitely is… The Natural.
As for today’s game against the Pistons, didn’t you get the feeling that the Pistons just rolled over and died? It’s like they didn’t even wanna play.
November 30th, 2008 at 9:38 pm
Max says:
I’ve loved watching the Blazers this year, and they’ve taken it to another level the last two games. Today, Roy and Aldridge and Oden looked like the future of the league, and Sheed and AI looked like the past. Stuckey can drive and draw contact, but otherwise he’s a horrible point guard…the Pistons offense too often looked disjointed.
AI deal is starting to look more and more like a cap space move.
November 30th, 2008 at 9:39 pm
the rocket cat says:
I really think, of all the teams in the league, they’re in the best position, in terms of personnel and cap space, for 2010. The only question is, can they attract free agents to Portland?
November 30th, 2008 at 9:44 pm
JCARR says:
Blazers wont get far this year… but hopefully they keep their core of guys together and only take it one day at a time.
Should this even be considered a big win?!?!
What happen to AI today???? like 9 pts.
and, youngfed calling sheed a “future HOF”, had like 11 pts and 3 boards
November 30th, 2008 at 10:07 pm
jay says:
i did not know that 90-89 was a “deadlock”.. really?
November 30th, 2008 at 10:30 pm
Eduardo says:
man,devin harris is making a strong case for the mvp award haha..nah for real,that guy is taking the nets on his shoulders..impressive..
November 30th, 2008 at 10:48 pm
GoEasy says:
Yeah, how about “Devin Harris is for real”?
November 30th, 2008 at 11:55 pm
Vladamir Boskic says:
Jacem why you call Vladamir corny. I see other dawgs laying down first, and they marked as legends. Vladamir does is, and you label as corny?
I will speak my 2 euro’s, Portland is good, with alot of talent. They have alot of home players for me. Need to move Blake and put in my home dog Rudy Fernandez, Fudy will own your ass all over court.
December 1st, 2008 at 12:03 am
tim says:
yeah Pistons stunk it up, just like Michigan’s weather today…I’m gonna keep saying in 7 days when Dyess is back…it will help a lot of the players out in ways you can’t imagine…
December 1st, 2008 at 1:09 am
Mark says:
I’ve noticed DX is pretty subtly pissy on defense, which is peculiar to watch, since he doesn’t exemplify that character off court.
Blazers started off hot last year too, but certainly not like this. They might have a 07-08 Hornets-esque season (comparing both last this year’s season for each respective squad).
December 1st, 2008 at 1:21 am
j says:
Thanks for the article, from me, J, a die hard blazers fan. After this win this mornign I just had a feeling this week people were about to expload on how good Brandon Roy is. People just dont know, blazer fans do, but I like it how he is a little under the radar, keeps him hungry
December 1st, 2008 at 7:09 am
QQ says:
Blazers are definitely for real… Can’t understand how a team that features an ancient artifact called Shaq for a center (the Suns) are getting more attention than this young and talented squad? Well, people would sleep on the real winners, that always happens.
December 1st, 2008 at 7:36 am
Amar says:
Mich. weather wasn’t that bad . . . it’s the drivers who forget what snow is that’s bad.
December 1st, 2008 at 9:48 am
Brown says:
B-Roy is my favorite player, by far. I think the Blazers are built for success. Their GM should win the executive of the year award. I definitely think they’ll make the playoffs. There are a lot of teams out west on the decline.