http://www.oregonlive.com/sports/ore...g_bullies.html
An ejection won't do it. A suspension doesn't cut it. It isn't enough, either, that the Trail Blazers whipped the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday night in a convincing statement at the Rose Garden Arena.
This can only end with justice.
So where does Rudy Fernandez get his?
Hold that thought.
The Blazers beat the Lakers 111-94 on Monday. Fernandez left the game immobilized, and ended up in a local hospital, complaining of chest discomfort after being clobbered from behind by Trevor Ariza in a disgusting play by a frustrated and beaten opponent. And none of us should ever forget what it felt like to see Fernandez carried off, or what it means.
Make no mistake, this Blazers-Lakers rivalry is on again.
Even those watching from home on television could tell you there was something extra in Brandon Roy's fourth-quarter dunks. And there was an extra dash of e in LaMarcus Aldridge's rebounds. Late in the fourth quarter there was a little extra "Ooooooh baaaab-bieee, you've been posterized!" sprinkled on the voice of Blazers radio play-by-play announcer Brian Wheeler, too.
What happened on Monday becomes a sick piece of rivalry lore, and God willing, Fernandez has a quick recovery and gets back in time to stick a dagger in the Lakers' hearts when they meet April 10, same place. Blazers fans will not forget this, the players won't forget it.
The Blazers have won seven consecutive games against the Lakers at the Rose Garden. The 17-point margin of victory was the biggest loss of the season for Phil Jackson's team. And one Laker tossed a ball into the crowd out of frustration after committing a foul, and there was jaw flapping, too, and lots of chest puffing, but in the end, is this what Lakers basketball is about?
Stay classy, Lakers.
Blazers guard Brandon Roy told reporters after the game that he was tempted to break from the game, run over to Fernandez and make sure he was OK. Teammate Steve Blake told anyone who would listen that he and his teammates love each other. "If it came to blows, we'd be all be there for each other," Blake announced. And anyone who has been in the locker room, or seen this team practice, or frankly, watched a game understands that this is a team in the truest sense.
They're in it together. And I'm thinking they're more galvanized than ever now.
I suppose that's the gift the Lakers provided Portland on Monday.
Blazers fans went to sleep elated about the victory, but also, ready to drive across the city, light a candle, and stand outside the emergency room, waiting for word from Fernandez. You've suffered with this franchise through tough times, and tough losses. It's why so many got so nervous on Monday when the Lakers cut the lead from 30 to 20 in the fourth quarter. As if this was that Western Conference Finals nightmare all over again.
This rivalry has had tense moments, and epic finishes. There have been amazing plays, and deep personalities on both sides. We've had meltdowns, and comebacks, and Monday felt like a playoff game, didn't it?
The Lakers are bullies. They've made a season of puffing up their chests, jawing, slapping, shoving and intimidating. They're drunk with arrogance. For too long I've seen the Blazers back down, or sulk away when the Lakers come strong.
Maybe that's what was encouraging about Monday. Because even as the Fernandez injury left some flat, even as it was difficult to get going again, even as you worried the Lakers would somehow roar back, Portland was not intimidated.
The Blazers put the Lakers away.
Justice?
Yeah. It's out there somewhere for Fernandez and his teammates. The Blazers are too classy to retaliate with a cheap foul, on the next trip down the floor, or in the next meeting. So the hope here is that the young players in the Blazers locker room remember forever what it felt like to stand tall, clench a fist and sock the bully in the kisser.
They knocked the Lakers out on Monday.
Wait for a suspension. Listen for an apology. Hope the league handles this act seriously. But while you're waiting, consider that the Blazers (wins over Boston, San Antonio and Lakers) can beat anyone, anytime, as long as the game is at the Rose Garden.
Fernandez was having a terrific game before he got injured. So was Joel Przybilla, who had 18 rebounds. After the injury, and the delay while Fernandez was taken to the hospital, the Blazers felt cold and out of rhythm.
I suppose in that moment the Lakers got exactly what they wanted.
Now, let's hope they keep getting what they deserve.
if you read my post before the game started i said the lakers were most likely going to loose because of the Rose Garden, Lakers always play down agaisnt weaker teams, they tought that the Blazers were weak because the laker had killed them the last matches so they took them lightly, but in the playoffs it will be a different story trust me
What rivalry?
for posterity
Lakers should be gold. I don't like the purple on my name.
This is what the Lakers do & the NBA is a better place for it…They fill the empty arenas... Add excitement to boring teams and give hope to the mediocrity…
Mediocrities everywhere... We absolve you…
Take what? You beat us at home in a regular season game with us virtually locked into the number 1 seed. OK. We win in Portland when we need to win in Portland. (see 2000, 2001) biatch.
Blazers are one of the softest teams in the league.
Blazers got a good win last night, but they can't win a seven game series against the Lakers. They're too young and too soft and play like sissies.
To fully grasp what LA fans think about this thread..i considered a scenario in which a suns fan created a similar thread (after a regular season win) en led "take that Spurs."
Stop ing or you'll get pinked.
This is why the Blazers won't amount to anything this season.It was the Lakers. And we beat the (snot) out of them. And you can print that. In bold. And big letters.
Dumbass team places way too much importance on the regular season. In the playoffs the slate gets wiped clean, other than seeding and HCA it does not matter what you've done all season long. They will learn though.
The Lakers may not win in the Rose Garden in the regular season, but they sure as beat the "snot" out of POR when it counts.
Not any more Doc. These kids haven't played LA in the playoffs. You better take care of your HCA this postseason, because you won't have HCA next year.
These kids haven't PLAYED IN THE PLAYOFFS.
Temper your expectations, you're in for a rude awakening.
It doesn't matter if these kids have played in the playoffs or not. There is magic at the Rose Garden this year.
is this what they did a couple yrs back when they couldn't sniff the 2nd round?
Do you know what rebuilding is?
You'll be praying to God the Spurs can rebuild as quickly as the Lakers did after Shaq left. It's downright hilarious to see you talk about it because you have no idea what you're in for when Duncan and Pop retire.
The current Spurs will STILL have morethan the current Lakers when that happens.
I know it's going to be when they leave..but they're here now. And we'll still have Tony, who can be a franchise player...ask Dallas and Portland. You lose one player and you have to rebuild? Come on..most of the people in LA thought they were going to be BETTER without Shaq because of the arguments.
Notice how you have to keep redefining your smack talk?The current Spurs will STILL have more
You have to suspend time and imagine the NBA started a mere 10 years ago for any of your garbage smack talk to work. Face the facts, your franchise is not worthy to even sniff the Laker's nutsack.
14 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 4.
Best winning % of all time of any franchise in the NBA.
But yet you still don't have the most les. You can't talk smack about history if a team has more rings than you..that's just ignorant. If you're talking about present, the Spurs have more rings...oh..and we're undefeated in the Finals..how about you?
You really don't want to go there since these laker fans will start countingThe current Spurs will STILL have more
their les... even the one's in 'sota.
Presently the Lakers are better than the Spurs. Presently the Lakers have more les than the Spurs. Its funny how you cant talk smack about history if a team has more rings than you yet here you are talking smack about a team who has more rings than you and its not even close.
I never understood this logic. The Lakers won 5 les in Sota. The Lakers have won 9 les in LA. Therefore the Lakers have won 14 les, where is the misunderstanding?You really don't want to go there since these laker fans will start counting
their les... even the one's in 'sota.
Its easy to quickly rebuild in L.A. when the L.A. franchise is gifted top talent via bogus trades.
At least we don't tank seasons.Its easy to quickly rebuild in L.A. when the L.A. franchise is gifted top talent via bogus trades.
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