It wasn't pretty last night. Every time the Blazers would build a double digit lead, it wouldn't last a single possession and the Rockets would battle back and go on a run almost immediately after.
The game was tied going into the 4th and Houston would eventually score the 1st four points in the 4th and the Blazers didn't get their first points of the final quarter until the 8:30 mark. This game definitely felt like it was going to be the last of the season...
Somehow, a switch just went off and what quickly was a 4 point deficit (Houston's biggest lead of the game) became quickly a Blazer double digit lead again!! Talk about a seesaw battle!! Roy, who had been playing bad all night and had flu-like symptoms started to get it going w/drives and a very difficult 3 falling down w/Battier in his face to give the Blazers a nice nine point lead.
To my surprise Steve Blake was efficient tonight. The few times he penetrated to the hoop seemed to discombobulate Houston's defense (Where was that in the previous games Coach Muff??) and his huge fake and driving layup over Yao in the 4th sealed the deal.
Another surprise was seeing Rudy be the first man off the bench and he also started in the 2nd half. Rudy was instant offense when he came in. Rudy did everything tonight. He found the open man, grabbed 4 rebounds, 3 steals, and 2 blocks!! It only took Coach Muff 86 games to figure out that Rudy > Outlaw (Speaking of 86, Coach Muff should be 86'ed)!!
Speaking of Outlaw, Coach Muff continued to (over) play Outlaw in 27 minutes. Although he hit a huge three in the 4th, he put up another stinker. Please tell me why this clown is still playing a majority of minutes. He took 13 shots and only made 4 of them... I still can figure out Muff's rationale on this...
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Feel like Vomitting
First off, sorry for the delay. I was without a computer until tonight and was able to get back home to catch Game 4.
A sidenote before I start, if you haven't noticed by now, I have given Coach Nate McMillan's nickname a nickname from now on of Muff. It's not right to the (McDonald's) McMuffin. Personally, I love the fast food. Coach, on the other hand, I can't stand his coaching tactics. Nothing personal... AND, if football, "muff" is defined as dropping a punt/kickoff and in "Coach Muff's" case, he is dropping the ball as a coach...
Game 3 thoughts 1st... Steve Blake took a page out of Travis Outlaw's book in bonehead shooting in jacking up a Level 12 degree difficulty shot from a scale of 1 to 10 down by 3 IN TRANSITION without making a pass WITH a hand in his face WITH 13 seconds left!! The previous play before, my man Rudy hit a fade from the corner WITH a hand in his face and was really the main catalyst for the Blazers being in the game. Glad Jeff Van Gundy was on commentary as he called Blake's knucklehead play out (which probably Coach Muff did not as he only scrutinizes bench players)...
Oh, speaking of Muff, what's up with taking Rudy out in the 4th. If you were watching the game on ESPN, you saw a camera shot of Rudy exploding thinking to himself, "Fuck, we're going to lose this game because my coaching is a moron and just took out the hottest player on the team (in that game)". It took a Roy foul out to get him back in the offense...
On to Game 4: Muff leaves Blake in the 4th and produces a donuts across the board. And if you haven't learned by now, Blake is probably the worst transition PG in the game. A team under 25 that averages the least amount of fast break points?! That's unreal. Partially, that's on Muff too for not preaching it because if he did, then Bayless would be starting. When the Blazers had a chance to tie or lead in the 4th where Steve "Choker" Blake was running in transition, he pulls up and gets stripped unsurprisingly...
The Battle of two overrated coaches in Rick "I Always Collapse in the Playoffs" Adelman" vs. Coach Muff in who's coach is worse was epic (in Games 2 and 4), but in Muff's case, he makes Adelman look like Einstein (Did people not notice when the Rockets where up 2 with 41 seconds left that they should have shot the ball w/28 to 30 seconds left so they would get one last look in case the Blazers scored instead of shooting w/24 seconds left?!). Don't forget the Blazers down 3 with about 9 seconds left and Nate draws up a fade Outlaw 3 IMMEDIATELY: Shades of Steve Blake's beautiful disaster the previous game...
Alright there goes my stomach and my head, I can't type anymore, but I leave you with this: It's not to late to start getting long "The Notorious J.V.G. and JBAY next season and sell (short) Coach Muff and Blake!!
A sidenote before I start, if you haven't noticed by now, I have given Coach Nate McMillan's nickname a nickname from now on of Muff. It's not right to the (McDonald's) McMuffin. Personally, I love the fast food. Coach, on the other hand, I can't stand his coaching tactics. Nothing personal... AND, if football, "muff" is defined as dropping a punt/kickoff and in "Coach Muff's" case, he is dropping the ball as a coach...
Game 3 thoughts 1st... Steve Blake took a page out of Travis Outlaw's book in bonehead shooting in jacking up a Level 12 degree difficulty shot from a scale of 1 to 10 down by 3 IN TRANSITION without making a pass WITH a hand in his face WITH 13 seconds left!! The previous play before, my man Rudy hit a fade from the corner WITH a hand in his face and was really the main catalyst for the Blazers being in the game. Glad Jeff Van Gundy was on commentary as he called Blake's knucklehead play out (which probably Coach Muff did not as he only scrutinizes bench players)...
Oh, speaking of Muff, what's up with taking Rudy out in the 4th. If you were watching the game on ESPN, you saw a camera shot of Rudy exploding thinking to himself, "Fuck, we're going to lose this game because my coaching is a moron and just took out the hottest player on the team (in that game)". It took a Roy foul out to get him back in the offense...
On to Game 4: Muff leaves Blake in the 4th and produces a donuts across the board. And if you haven't learned by now, Blake is probably the worst transition PG in the game. A team under 25 that averages the least amount of fast break points?! That's unreal. Partially, that's on Muff too for not preaching it because if he did, then Bayless would be starting. When the Blazers had a chance to tie or lead in the 4th where Steve "Choker" Blake was running in transition, he pulls up and gets stripped unsurprisingly...
The Battle of two overrated coaches in Rick "I Always Collapse in the Playoffs" Adelman" vs. Coach Muff in who's coach is worse was epic (in Games 2 and 4), but in Muff's case, he makes Adelman look like Einstein (Did people not notice when the Rockets where up 2 with 41 seconds left that they should have shot the ball w/28 to 30 seconds left so they would get one last look in case the Blazers scored instead of shooting w/24 seconds left?!). Don't forget the Blazers down 3 with about 9 seconds left and Nate draws up a fade Outlaw 3 IMMEDIATELY: Shades of Steve Blake's beautiful disaster the previous game...
Alright there goes my stomach and my head, I can't type anymore, but I leave you with this: It's not to late to start getting long "The Notorious J.V.G. and JBAY next season and sell (short) Coach Muff and Blake!!
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
The Great Escape
Wow sort of a scary ending... Could have lost too w/Rudy getting bailed out and then Brooks would have probably hit another 3 to win (hit 2 in a row prior). McMuffin had two 20 second timeouts there and didn't use any... And I normally criticize him for using stupid early timeouts... This is a first... Mind-boggling isn't it?! This qualifies as "The Great Escape" but, we go into houston w/NO momentum.
It was a close game throughout and what I thought was a good momentum changer for the 'Zers in the 2nd quarter was Nate using The Twin Tower lineup of "The Vanilla Gorilla" Joel Przybilla and Greg Oden. I was actually going to give Coach Muff credit for making that move BUT Blazer sideline reporter Rebecca Haarlow reported that Nate accidentally found the lineup because some Blazers had foul trouble... I should have known!!
Off course, it wouldn't last long as Oden would either commit another knucklehead foul or Joel would get called for some bogus foul by Joey Crawford and his stooges...
Houston was able to catch up after this BUT then Portland started to "run 'n gun" and took control at the end of the 1st half to build some momentum into the 2nd half. It got us easy looks at the basket which was uncommon compared to all the easy and/or open looks Houston had. BUT I knew better this time. Mike Rice even made a remark that Houston was 30th in fast breaks and doesn't like to run... The 'Zers average age is under 25... Should McMuffin be running this team to death, especially Yao who has a bad footsy (What do you the readers think we should do and what did Nate do? See my post below about Game 1)? I even texted my friend James that I wouldn't be surprised if Muff abandoned the run 'n gun completely... Nate did and Houston was able to build a nice lead to start the 3rd but the game would be deadlocked at 72 going into the 4th...
Roy and Aldridge (minus LaMarcus' 3rd quarter) were spectacular and if they have to do this the rest of the series, I don't see Portland making it past the 6th game. I mean, Roy put up an incredible 42 vs. the normally stellar defense of Shane Battier and Ron Artest...
Although Outlaw hit a big shot and had a nice steal that led to a dunk in the 4th, I don't like Muff's decision of putting Travis in over Rudy and/or Batum. Prior to the 4th, Outlaw had shot 1-6 FG... Who in their right mind puts someone in clutch 4th quarter minutes who has played piss-poor on offense and lacks defense?! Oh, wait, that's Nate's MO... Yet somehow, no matter how abysmal and unfathomable the decision McMuffin makes, he is lucky enough with this deep and talented Blazer team to win just like Mike DUDleavy did... Ladies and Gentlemen, "The 2nd Coming of DUDleavy!"
It was a close game throughout and what I thought was a good momentum changer for the 'Zers in the 2nd quarter was Nate using The Twin Tower lineup of "The Vanilla Gorilla" Joel Przybilla and Greg Oden. I was actually going to give Coach Muff credit for making that move BUT Blazer sideline reporter Rebecca Haarlow reported that Nate accidentally found the lineup because some Blazers had foul trouble... I should have known!!
Off course, it wouldn't last long as Oden would either commit another knucklehead foul or Joel would get called for some bogus foul by Joey Crawford and his stooges...
Houston was able to catch up after this BUT then Portland started to "run 'n gun" and took control at the end of the 1st half to build some momentum into the 2nd half. It got us easy looks at the basket which was uncommon compared to all the easy and/or open looks Houston had. BUT I knew better this time. Mike Rice even made a remark that Houston was 30th in fast breaks and doesn't like to run... The 'Zers average age is under 25... Should McMuffin be running this team to death, especially Yao who has a bad footsy (What do you the readers think we should do and what did Nate do? See my post below about Game 1)? I even texted my friend James that I wouldn't be surprised if Muff abandoned the run 'n gun completely... Nate did and Houston was able to build a nice lead to start the 3rd but the game would be deadlocked at 72 going into the 4th...
Roy and Aldridge (minus LaMarcus' 3rd quarter) were spectacular and if they have to do this the rest of the series, I don't see Portland making it past the 6th game. I mean, Roy put up an incredible 42 vs. the normally stellar defense of Shane Battier and Ron Artest...
Although Outlaw hit a big shot and had a nice steal that led to a dunk in the 4th, I don't like Muff's decision of putting Travis in over Rudy and/or Batum. Prior to the 4th, Outlaw had shot 1-6 FG... Who in their right mind puts someone in clutch 4th quarter minutes who has played piss-poor on offense and lacks defense?! Oh, wait, that's Nate's MO... Yet somehow, no matter how abysmal and unfathomable the decision McMuffin makes, he is lucky enough with this deep and talented Blazer team to win just like Mike DUDleavy did... Ladies and Gentlemen, "The 2nd Coming of DUDleavy!"
Monday, April 20, 2009
Bingo Bango Bongo Van Gundy!!
Before Game 1 of the Blazers/Rockets series, DA MAN Jeff Van Gundy predicted that Houston would BLOW OUT the Blazers... Even I thought that was a bold statement as Portland was going into the playoffs on a nice winning streak and held a 34-7 record with those 7 loses being close and contested games...
Apparently, "The Notorious J.V.G." knew what I knew. The Blazers don't match up well with Houston as Houston won the season series 2-1 and the Portland one win was the miracle heave from 35 feet from Roy. The Blazers haven't won a game in Houston in decades and normally games at Houston are blowout dubya's for the Rockets while games at Portland, games are tighter.
AND then, there is my "x-factor" of coaching. McMuffin got it ALL wrong!! NOT Putting Bayless in (at all until garbage time) to try to stop Aaron Brooks was a ghastly mistake. I mean, Steve Blake was abused like Danny Bonaduce. I mean, Brooks ONLY finished with 27 points, 7 assists, and 4 rebounds in his first Playoff game start... Oh, and on a sidenote, I am glad ESPN commentary touched on the Oregon Alum Brooks destroying Steve Blake, which you wouldn't get from Blazer play-by-play suckup Mike Barrett (but I still love you Mike Rice!!).
Yao Ming was going into the playoffs with a ton of mileage on him and a bad foot, YET Coach Muff would not run him to death and let him have his way on offense. I mean, Yao went through the Olympic experience in his home country and played INJURED (Wait, didn't Coach Muff see this 1st hand from the U.S.A. bench?), AND then played 77 games this season which is like a blue moon because he is injury prone and misses at least 2 dozen games a season. Normally, Yao is pulling his shorts, gasping for air at the 8 minute mark in the 1st quarter, but Yao would rest his injury comfortably only playing 24 minutes. Oh, he ONLY scored 24 points on 9-9 FGs and grabbed 9 boards to go as well... Well done Coach McMuffin!!
Apparently, "The Notorious J.V.G." knew what I knew. The Blazers don't match up well with Houston as Houston won the season series 2-1 and the Portland one win was the miracle heave from 35 feet from Roy. The Blazers haven't won a game in Houston in decades and normally games at Houston are blowout dubya's for the Rockets while games at Portland, games are tighter.
AND then, there is my "x-factor" of coaching. McMuffin got it ALL wrong!! NOT Putting Bayless in (at all until garbage time) to try to stop Aaron Brooks was a ghastly mistake. I mean, Steve Blake was abused like Danny Bonaduce. I mean, Brooks ONLY finished with 27 points, 7 assists, and 4 rebounds in his first Playoff game start... Oh, and on a sidenote, I am glad ESPN commentary touched on the Oregon Alum Brooks destroying Steve Blake, which you wouldn't get from Blazer play-by-play suckup Mike Barrett (but I still love you Mike Rice!!).
Yao Ming was going into the playoffs with a ton of mileage on him and a bad foot, YET Coach Muff would not run him to death and let him have his way on offense. I mean, Yao went through the Olympic experience in his home country and played INJURED (Wait, didn't Coach Muff see this 1st hand from the U.S.A. bench?), AND then played 77 games this season which is like a blue moon because he is injury prone and misses at least 2 dozen games a season. Normally, Yao is pulling his shorts, gasping for air at the 8 minute mark in the 1st quarter, but Yao would rest his injury comfortably only playing 24 minutes. Oh, he ONLY scored 24 points on 9-9 FGs and grabbed 9 boards to go as well... Well done Coach McMuffin!!
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