Thoughts on Rockets 89 - Trailblazers 90

by Xiane on Dec 6, 2009 12:15 AM CST Comment 27 comments

More photos » Greg Wahl-Stephens - AP

A sight that is sadly all-too-familiar in Portland, Ore., Saturday, Dec. 5, 2009. (AP Photo/Greg Wahl-Stephens)

First, my sympathies go out to Greg Oden, the Trailblazers and their fans. I happened to change over briefly from the UT v Nebraska game, just in time to see Oden hurt his knee in a particularly grisly way. In my preview I had made jokes about Oden/Odin and how he was starting to become a basketball god.

I feel a bit bad about that now, but it was well meant. It looked like Oden had gotten his feet under him, and was starting to fulfill his potential. Sadly that is not to be for another season at least.

In my preview I also said: "Unless a raven whispers something in our ear...it is not given for us to know what may transpire." So I guess the moral is don't ever name-check Norse gods unless you want something weird, tragic and painful to happen.

Some people compare Oden to Yao, but I'd point out that Yao has played literally hundreds more pro basketball games.

The Rockets lost the game on yet another Brandon Roy last second miracle shot. Does he do this to anyone else or just save it for the Rockets? The Blazers, on the other hand, lost Greg Oden for the year. I'd say the Blazer's loss was worse.

Houston got beaten by one, on the road in one of the toughest places to play, by a team rallying around its superstar after a terrible event. Let's not make a meal of this one. I honestly think we win this one if Oden doesn't get hurt.

Andre Miller did what he can often do - fool you into thinking he's a great player. He's not, but he saved Portland's bacon in the 3^rd when the Rockets looked like running away with the game.

Brandon Roy apparently woke up and realized he's a top 3 SG, and edged Carl Landry in a duel for the 4^th quarter and the game. I'm curious as to whether or not Roy can do that on the road, away from the amazing Rose Garden crowd.

It's a shame that such an amazing effort from Scola and Landry was wasted tonight. Despite the terrible events in Portland, we need every win we can get, and this was a winnable game.

Well, a couple of nights off, then we meet LeBron and the Bronettes in Houston.

PS - What the hell was going on at the end of UT v Nebraska? Anyone?

Bittersweet sentiments at Blazer's Edge.

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Lack of a closer again. The only reason we stayed close was Landry’s ridiculous offensive rebounding

by VBG on Dec 6, 2009 12:47 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Well, if McGrady can come back as an above average SG, that would be enough.

by Xiane on Dec 6, 2009 12:57 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I don't think I would blame this on a lack of a closer

I think the blame would go to either our defense or Brandon Roy first.

by jack_ on Dec 6, 2009 1:00 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Well, Brandon Roy is always gonna be Brandon. Every good team has someone like him

by VBG on Dec 6, 2009 1:29 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

And how many guys at his position would you take over him?

1? 2?

I’d say even most good teams don’t have someone like him.

by Xiane on Dec 6, 2009 1:40 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

2-guards better than Roy:

Wade, Kobe, and that’s really it.

by Only_A_Lad on Dec 6, 2009 4:10 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Even the best closers miss those kinds of shots at least as often as they hit them

Brandon Roy seems like he’s been perfect against us in those situations, but generally he misses some of those game winning shots.

by jack_ on Dec 6, 2009 2:26 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Let’s see

Atlanta- Joe Johnson
Orlando- Vince Carter
Boston- Paul Pierce/Ray Allen
Cleveland- Lebron James
Mavs- Nowitzki
Spurs- Ginobli/Parker
Lakers- Kobe
Nuggets- Carmelo
Miami- Wade
OKC- Durant

Every playoff team has a finisher

by VBG on Dec 6, 2009 4:47 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

So a finisher is just the team's most talented wing player?

I wasn’t suggesting that good teams don’t have good players. No, the Rockets don’t have any stars this year. We’re all aware of that. That doesn’t mean we lose close games by default. We didn’t have any great wings last year, either (offensively speaking), yet we seemed to do fairly well.

My point was that even players who have reputations for being great finishers miss a lot of shots late in close games. When a player like Brandon Roy hits two tough shots in a row to win the game, it’s indicative of either poor defense or bad luck (as was the case in this game). When we play good defense, those shots are not always going to go in, no matter how Roy makes it seem.

by jack_ on Dec 6, 2009 6:15 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

So any of those players AREN’T finishers?

I would trust any of those players with the ball at the end of games

by VBG on Dec 6, 2009 7:14 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

There's an interesting article on 82games.com

That tracks offensive stats for last second possessions. What’s obvious is that last second shots rarely go in, even for great wing players. (Carmelo Anthony is either an aberration or an exception).

82games also tracks “clutch stats” (stats in the last 5 minutes of close games) in which your closers generally come out much better. However, if we aren’t just talking about last second shots, then we have to give due consideration to Landry as a closer. Team offense also becomes much more relevant when we have the full shot clock to move the ball.

by jack_ on Dec 6, 2009 7:09 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Yes T-Mac's great, but is he the closer???

I think many ppl beg the different.

don't bully me, i am from the D(etroit)!!!

by wanderboy on Dec 6, 2009 1:01 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

It could be Landry, but it's hard to feed your PF with 2 seconds left.

by Xiane on Dec 6, 2009 1:39 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

It's hard to get anyone a good shot with 2 seconds left

by jack_ on Dec 6, 2009 2:30 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

It was over 3 seconds, and I would have liked if we had a shot, not run into the paint and hope to be fouled

by VBG on Dec 6, 2009 6:14 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I didn't like the shot we got at the end either...

but I wouldn’t have liked a long contested jumper any better.

by jack_ on Dec 6, 2009 6:17 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Well he clearly got hammer by Blake

And that’s always our strategy, I don’t think I’ve ever seen our team in recent history take a jump shot with the game on the line. We always get into the paint and try to make some ridiculous shot with defenders all around.

At least Ariza didn’t run in the paint and flail his arms around trying to get a call and barely even attempt a shot.

by RedRowdy420 on Dec 7, 2009 2:52 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

wait a minute

didn’t Brooks pull up for a jumper to beat Golden State in the previous game? (he was fouled and made the shots)

you can’t ask for a better outcome than to get all the way to the basket with a reasonably clean look.

and you can’t expect Brooks to put the shot in when he gets hammered like that. If they’re not going to blow the whistle on that, we’re not going to win. Brooks is undersized and teams know he can knock down the jumper. If they’re going to crowd him to take away the jumper in that situation, he needs to drive it.

by Metalate on Dec 7, 2009 3:41 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Just realized it was the Rockets Trainer Keith Jones who rushed to Oden's aid. Good sportsmanship!

by airchina23 on Dec 6, 2009 7:24 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Thanks from a blazer fan

I just wanted to say thanks to Houston Rockets trainer Keith Jones is the one who ran onto the floor immediately to be by gregs side. I just thought it was a real touch of class for him to do that and to also cover gregs eyes when he was in severe pain. The Rockets organization is very lucky to have him on their staff. Thank you Keith

On game day, I leave the turkey alone because it is some chemicals in that thing. Nate Mcmillian 11/26/09

by slim503 on Dec 6, 2009 11:18 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Yes, what great class and sportmanship, hats off!!

by kmbrly429 on Dec 6, 2009 2:42 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

What has happened to........

ARIZA, WHERE R U?? Did you forget that you were playing in the NBA?? Heeeeelllllllloooooo???

by kmbrly429 on Dec 6, 2009 2:43 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

forgot he was guarding brandon roy! Must have run out of gas, fourth game in a grueling road trip, with him playing the most minutes. No fan but no “hater” (hate that word) of trevor, he definitely takes too many shots in proprotion to what he converts. Still, it doesn’t seem like a me first person, i’d rather think that he’s just following coach’es instructions. Anyway, i’d take the 3-4 record.

by raong on Dec 6, 2009 3:48 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

i don't disagree

but it looks to me like Trevor is giving us absolutely nothing on offense right now.

by Metalate on Dec 7, 2009 3:43 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

PS – What the hell was going on at the end of UT v Nebraska? Anyone?

After Colt pulled a similar trick at the end of the first half, I was really surprised Mack Brown fucked around with giving him the opportunity to run out the clock.

by Only_A_Lad on Dec 6, 2009 4:42 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Yes, definitely. It was a shocker. I was screaming "CALL THE TIMEOUT DAMNIT!!!!!" at the TV.

It obviously helped less than usual.

by Xiane on Dec 6, 2009 7:39 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I just know...

I was at Fox & Hound watching the game and I looked down for what I swear was no more than 30 seconds, looked back up and the game is over with Texas losing 12-10. I couldn’t believe it. We all know what happened next, but I was just amazed that they allowed the clock to get that close to 0:00. That was either incredibly brilliant or incredibly stupid or incredibly lucky. I’ll go with stupid and lucky.

by jasonmicron on Dec 7, 2009 9:46 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs