I still hate Kenny Smith for this game.
I even wrote a term paper in high school about how Kenny let me down.

As a lifelong Blazer fan, I’m disappointed, but that will fade. I agree with the post above, I wanted to hate the Rockets, but couldn’t. You guys are better than I thought you were. So now, as you are about to face the L*kers, you’ve become my favorite team left in the playoffs. Go Rockets! Beat LA!!!!!!!!!

It has been a fun series. Good luck to everyone. Your offseason begins sometime next week.

This site is so busy I’m never sure where to post, clearly a testament to the enthusiasm and knowledge of Blazer fans.

I think I’m speaking for most (if not all) the posters at The Dream Shake in saying that I’ve really enjoyed our encounter with Portland and its fans. You guys are (almost without exception) the most thoughtful, fair and high-minded fans around. You clearly love your Blazers, but aren’t jerks about it. You seem willing to give credit where credit is due, and as a fan of a team that has had a lot of bad breaks (literally) in recent years, it is much appreciated.

Would you welcome some impressions of the Blazers from a Rockets fan? If not, just stop reading.

Roy is an elite player, whether the rest of the league knows it or not. He’s top 10, probably top 5. He could get better on D, though, so he can still improve, which is amazing.

Maybe it’s the matchup, but Aldridge (and I say this as a Longhorn) seems kind of an odd player (not that its bad Nowitski and Artest are other oddballs, for example). He has one of the best midrange jumpers in the league. Incredibly soft, and accurate. Unfortunately, soft describes another aspect of his game, and that’s inside play, and D. I don’t think you’re going to be able to change that, and his best role is probably as a help, or weakside defender. He needs a mauler with an offensive game in the middle.

Is that Oden? I can’t say for sure. I’ve seen flashes of an elite player, but to me its equally possible he (sadly) left most of his promise on the operating table. The fouls shouldn’t be a problem. Portland needs to commit to playing him until he fouls out, and eventually he’ll learn NOT to foul out. I watched it with Hakeem, who was almost as raw at first, but to be fair, a far more fluid player. Oden will never become an NBA center in 12 minutes a night.

General criticism – Portland oozes talent and athleticism, but the problem I see is – to what point? It’s wonderful to have fast tall athletic players in droves, but where are the guys who fill other roles? There is no defensive stopper, and only two players strike me as good defensively. Yes, the much hated Przybilla, who was given a very tough task in Yao, and mostly did it. I didn’t like the method, but its hardly his fault. Second, Roy is good. After that, most of Portland is negative defensively. (This may be overreaction from me, as our team places a premium on D.)

I’d say Portland has plenty of scorers, but who’s the stopper? Batum? He’s not if he can’t stay on the court against us. He may be good against certain guys, but he’ll need to be at least decent against everyone.

Portland needs some strong, tough players to go with all the show ponies and greyhounds. It also needs guys who flourish in a role beyond #1 or #2 scorer. Most of the bench strike me as #1b, #2B scorer types, and that won’t work, because you already have 1A, 2A in Roy and Aldridge. That, is, those other guys need looks that should go to Roy or Aldridge for their game to work, and that makes little sense, because Roy and Aldridge are better. They don’t seem to be able to feast on crumbs, like, for example, Scola.

Anyhow, you may totally disagree with this post, but please take it in the spirit it is meant, which is not to criticize or belittle what is a very good team, one that may have it in it to take the next step.

As someone who has spent a lot of time in the NW, I love the city and the region. I look forward to meeting you guys again, and Portland is now my #2 team, after the Rockets, of course.

Send good thoughts that we might defeat the evil empire that is LA.

You know, I’m over the tough loss and I’m trying to prepare for the Lakers-Rox series, but it’s impossible to stomach their idiocy.

The treat NBA fans like we’re a bunch of idiotic 12 year olds who just want to buy t-shits and bobbleheads.

NBA.com’s “preparation” for the series is a highlight reel showing a bunch of dunks and 3-pointers… this totally misses the point of BASKETBALL AS A TEAM SPORT… which is how the blazers and rockets play — when they play well, at least.

So keep up the coverage, because the corporate equivalent just makes me puke.

Long live team-oriented franchises without marketing superstar players (well, Yao is a marketing superstar in China, but you get my point).

Beat the l*kers Houston!

Beat the Lakers black and blue…and if you could whisper just once, “This one’s for Rudy” right before kneeing Trevor Ariza in the balls, our fanbase will love you forever.

Seriously, you guys have a great squad full of guys whose playing styles I respect. I’ve gained a whole new appreciation for Yao’s ability, that’s for sure. They say that rivalries are formed in the playoffs and maybe that’s true. But I’ll be rooting for the Rockets from here on out whenever they’re not playing Portland: a bunch of guys who play the game the right way and a chill fan base to match.

Good luck, guys.