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Where TLONG happens....
http://blog.oregonlive.com/behindbla...yback_aga.html
BOSTON -- They only played twice, but no team last season got under the skin of the Trail Blazers more than the Boston Celtics.
Kevin Garnett talked trash incessantly. The Celtics' vaunted defense grabbed, held, elbowed and pushed the Blazers around. And in both games, the Blazers felt like they had the Celtics right where they wanted them, only to come away empty handed.
Tonight on national television, the teams meet again, and for the second consecutive season, the first matchup comes at a time when both are streaking. The Celtics (18-2) have won 10 in a row. The Blazers (14-6) have won six consecutive and eight of nine.
Nothing outside of a victory over the Lakers would make the Blazers happier than to unseat these Celtics, for which they share equal parts respect and dislike.
"The Celtics, they irritate everybody," Blazers power forward Channing Frye said. "At the same time, they are the best. They won a championship last year. We want to be the best. And the way they beat us -- we took a lot of things from those games and put them into our own play. Their help-side defense, their intensity, their enthusiasm for each other, and their ability to have three superstars play together ... those are all things we are now trying to do."
Tonight's first matchup has some similarities to last season's first meeting. At that time, on Jan.16, Boston was an NBA-best 30-6, while the Blazers had won 18 of their past 20 games. In that game, the Blazers held a nine-point lead in the second quarter, a two-point halftime lead and a seven-point lead in the third quarter before losing 100-90.
In the second meeting, Feb.24 at the Rose Garden, the Blazers built a 17-point lead in the second quarter only to see it turn into a 19-point deficit that ended in a 112-102 loss.
"It was like being at a club and being with baddest chick in there," Frye said. "Then you turn your head and she's gone. It's like, 'Dang, I should have had that! I should have done this or done that.' Because we had them. But I think everybody feels that way. That's why they are the world champs."
Blazers center Joel Przybilla remembers a video session the day after the Rose Garden defeat. In those meetings, coach Nate McMillan usually highlights certain plays throughout the game, pausing to teach and explain why plays worked or broke down. But in that session, McMillan made the team watch the entire second half, every play of it.
"It was almost like they were the big brother and we were the little brother, and they started beating us up on the basketball court," Przybilla said. "I remember specifically watching the film the next day and how they were beating us up, being physical with us. And I remember Coach saying if we wanted to get to the next level, that is how we have to play."
Both losses left the team angry and irritated. Brandon Roy said he felt the Celtics "punked" the Blazers. LaMarcus Aldridge said he endured game-long taunts and intimidation from Garnett in both meetings.
This time, Aldridge said he will draw on his experience and ignore Garnett's tough-guy act.
"I'm just going to let him do what he does -- talk trash or whatever, and just smile at it," said Aldridge, who averaged 15.0points and 5.5rebounds in two games against Boston last season. "I can't get caught up in that. That's what motivates him, but I can't get caught up in talking back."
In fact, one of the main points McMillan made to the team at its practice at Emerson College in downtown Boston on Thursday was to block all outside factors and focus on themselves and their game plan.
"We can't expect any calls, we can't show any emotion toward the officials, we just have to go in there and play the game," McMillan said. "If you maintain composure and play through it you've got a shot. But a lot of times you feel they are getting away with things and you get frustrated, either with them or the officials. But the bottom line is they are the champions, and you are trying to get there. So you have to play that game and beat them at their game."
The only blemishes on the Celtics' season are a 16-point loss at Indiana in their third game, and a nine-point home loss to Denver on Nov.14. They are the NBA's top-ranked defense in points allowed (90.3) and field goal percentage (.410). Small forward Paul Pierce, the NBA Finals most valuable player, is the leading scorer at 18.6points, followed closely by sharp-shooting guard Ray Allen (18.4).
But McMillan said the two biggest keys to the Celtics are Garnett and point guard Rajon Rondo. Garnett (16.5points, 8.8rebounds) sets the tone for the defense, McMillan said, and Rondo is "a great defender" who is coming off his first career triple double Wednesday when he had 16 points, 17 assists and 13 rebounds in a 114-96 win over Indiana.
Aldridge said he thinks the team is handling tonight's game like any other matchup, but he might be the only one who feels that way. There are too many memories from last season, and too much of an opportunity to earn respect for this to be any other game. In fact, McMillan openly wondered whether his team would put too much emphasis on the game. The last time the Blazers played a game of this magnitude, it was opening night, on national television against the Lakers. They lost by 20 while looking like star-struck teenagers.
"This is a great opportunity, a great stage," Roy said. "We didn't play so great against the Lakers on that stage, but now we are getting into our groove. Don't get me wrong, we aren't going to make or break ourselves with this game, but it's big because we are going to measure up against the best."
New game...New thread...
Where TLONG happens....
Why do the Blazers act like they're supposed to win this game?
for once i agree with SD, blazers will get ed
Last edited by sook; 12-05-2008 at 04:57 PM.
LOL the Blazers start out the season well and they think they're the next champs.
Rofl .
At the end of the season, Blazers will atleast get the 5-8 seed.
I would usually go for a shalaking of the Celtics but in this case i have to be rooting for Boston to favor our western standings in the West.
If Blazers have nothing more then a 5 point lead they can't win. They need at least a 15 point lead to hold them off.
Tlong!
I spoke with KG and he's pissed. The blazers actually caused him to get off the bench and thus breaking a sweat causing him to have to shower. This resulted in him losing 10 minutes of 'ho' time afterwards.
Blazers, disappointed me once again.
You will never hold preponderance in this league.
Blake hit a big 3 today with 8 seconds to go and the Blazers won at Toronto 98-97. HUGE WIN! I'll take a 4-1 road trip anytime.
Beating the Raps is not a huge win
It is at the end of a 5-game road trip after getting whipped by Boston. Absolutely a HUGE WIN.
Last edited by tlongII; 12-07-2008 at 08:15 PM.
these young fools should shut their pie holes and let their play do their talking
nothing like trying to get everyone extra motivated to play even better against these young punks
blazers will be one and done anyway come april. All this "HHUUGE" road trip nonsense is irrellevent.
Dream on.
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