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4th Quarter Magic: Good Omen or Playing With Fire?
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  1. DHawes22
    DHawes22
    Posts: 6481

    Posted 11/01/2010 10:40 AM

    Are The 4th Quarter Runs A Good Omen Or Is The Team Playing With Fire?
    Good Omen (16)
     64%
    Playing With Fire (9)
     36%



    After 3 games into the long, rugged NBA season, our Trail Blazers have already experienced more drama in the closing stages of games than an entire Law & Order marathon. Runs of 18-1, 15-0, and 17-3 have propelled us past our foes mid-way through the final period en route to three straight wins. So the question now becomes, "Is this a great sign for the rest of the season that we are able to turn it on down the stretch, or is it fools gold?"

    Personally, I feel its a mixture of both. I absolutely love the fact we have no quit and play the full 48 minutes to the bitter end and I know we have the depth to wear teams down. And there's the fact that it will come in handy come playoff time. This team definitely knows how to face adversity well. But, on the other hand, I think it will eventually drain us mentally if we are always having to make these huge runs down the stretch and I don't think it will work every time, especially if we are playing against more elite competition. To beat the Miami's and L.A.'s of the world, it will take a complete 48 minutes of basketball.

    Another aspect of these 4th quarter runs to keep your eye on; when and how are the runs occurring? In my opinion, I feel more comfortable if the game is close and we just end up pulling away like we did against Phoenix and L.A. I really don't want to get into the habit of getting down 8-10 points in the 4th and trying to turn it on just as we did last Saturday in MSG. If these runs keep continuing and they are because we start to get separation from a tight game, that's a great sign for the season. It would mean we are are more talented, deeper, and better conditioned than the opposition.
    I am a fan of
  1. Ike Graul
    Ike Graul
    Posts: 37

    Posted 11/01/2010 10:47 AM

    I take it as a good omen. Last year we couldn't seem to finish in the second half. Streak or not, I'll take it.
    I am a fan of THE TEAM WE HAVE; INCLUDING ANDRE MILLER AND HIS 632 CONSECUTIVE GAMES!
  1. I''m OUT!
    I''m OUT!
    Posts: 1059

    Posted 11/01/2010 11:05 AM

    I just can't get myself to admit going on these runs in the 4th is fools gold. The 4th is when you want to make sure you are doing things right and buckled down on offense and defense. I remember having a distinct problem at one point last year where we were losing the games in the 4th. The Jazz coming from 20 down in the fourth to beat us comes to mind. I think it shows how we are maturing before our eyes, and hopefully it will get even better the rest of the year.

    I also don't think it will drain us mentally unless we are down 20 every night and come back to win. And to beat the Miami's and the Laker's of the world, we need to build our confidence and chemistry by beating these lesser teams.

    The best thing to me though is it is a sign that we are a veteran team that is causing the other team to fold under pressure. I think that is a great sign
    I am a fan of comcast and the blazers making deals that keep screwing us over!! woot!
  1. daddylogan
    daddylogan
    Posts: 187

    Posted 11/01/2010 12:16 PM

    How can it be a bad thing at all? This is what we have been hoping for over the last few years...a team that has the stamina and experience to finish off an opponent when it counts the most, and that is the 4th quarter. I do understand your concern Dave about the Blazers getting into these tiny holes and as other teams adjust to our style of play we will see these huge runs chopped in half. But I must say in our first 3 games we played really good basketball for the whole game and then superior basketball in the 4th quarters. Leaving Batum in at crunch time is a new thing this year as well. He is earning his wings now as a GREAT defender which is causing missed shots, turnovers and broken plays! That alone has ALOT to do with jump-starting these runs. The good news so far is the Blazers have not really painted themselves into a huge hole yet this season like they have done early on in games of the past. Tonight will be another stepping stone as we play a "better" team then we have played so far. Chicago and Milwaukee will be alot tougher then the Clippers or the Knicks so if we can pull one or both of them out this boy will be very pleased with this seasons start. If it isn't broke, don't fix it...that is what I say! ;-) Rip City

    peace out,
    daddy
    I am a fan of THE LITTLE GIANT...DAMIAN LILLARD!!!
  1. Bertram
    Bertram
    Posts: 803

    Posted 11/01/2010 2:02 PM

    It's both for me. First off we shouldn't be in the position to have the need to make a come back in the 4th quarter if we had played defense in the other 3 quarters. However, it's always good to know your team can close out games. This will only help us, we just have to string together a full game.
    I am a fan of B-Roy and LaMonster!
  1. Tobyus Sanchezo
    Tobyus Sanchezo
    Posts: 1600

    Posted 11/01/2010 2:08 PM

    WE WILL!

    WE WILL!

    ROCK YOU! tss!

    dun dun tsss!

    I am a fan of playoffs in two zero one three
  1. Crim
    Crim
    Posts: 398

    Posted 11/01/2010 2:12 PM

    It's a chess match, it's all about how you set yourself up to finish, and execute in the fourth quarter. We are similar to the heat in the sense that our offense is struggling to find a rhythym at times, so we are out hustling and out rebounding at beating them with smothering defense once we figure out their gameplan. I know i'm biased, but it seems like excellent coaching to me.
    I am a fan of Not Feeding the Trolls.
  1. TayC
    TayC
    Posts: 1804

    Posted 11/01/2010 6:46 PM

    Posted By Bertram on 11/01/2010 2:02 PM
    It's both for me. First off we shouldn't be in the position to have the need to make a come back in the 4th quarter if we had played defense in the other 3 quarters. However, it's always good to know your team can close out games. This will only help us, we just have to string together a full game.

    yup, nailed it.... im surprised no one else said that.
    that answer the question while shutting the polls down at the same time. ha.

    But i mean, you guys hate on the Lakers soooooo much, do you guys even see the games. The 4th quarter, here in LA, is also commonly referred to as the Kobe Bryant show. Followed up by the Lake Lake Show. hahaha.
    But really, the Lakers are a top notch team, all around, but even they sometimes cant play lock down D like they hope too. But when it comes to the 4th quarters they all kind of , ease up, they know they got a guy out there, who has almost a refusal to lose. Now without a doubt that type of behavior is a bit contagious, but it hasn't spread out through the whole team, just a few key players who, when the 4th quarter comes, they know what must be done.
    Now the Blazers, a way more TEAM orientated offense/scoring, so if you got your 5 starters thinking that, or your whole team, WATCH out. But they have to be willing to, as most of you stated, last that entire 48 mins, even if it starts to hurt @ the start of the 4th, play through it.

    The thing that concerns me about this team, is its bench. I mean the 4th quarter win, is always spectacular, thats what people want to see. But when you win in the 4th because your bench cant produce, and your forced to throw the starters back in. That is a different story, and not a good one.
    Good teams, have decent bench players
    Great teams, dont have to play their starters in the 4th.
    Now i am almost positive that these 4th quarter wins, are due to our amazing starters, but if you had the bench in there would it be the same?

    My point is, similar to bertrams, the team shouldn't have to be on a run in the 4th to win.
    I am a fan of The Blazers ♂, the £-Train, and of course, The ¤ King. ™
  1. Tiki Kienle
    Tiki Kienle
    Posts: 283

    Posted 11/01/2010 6:52 PM

    Playing with fire:

    If Blazers can do it in the 4th, they need to do it all 4 quarters.
    I am a fan of Skype (BeLiKiN33), Heroes Of Newerth (DKTiki), NBA (Blazers), NFL (KC Chiefs), Japan, Education, Hermitting, Gaming and women.
  1. BDawg
    BDawg
    Posts: 1459

    Posted 11/01/2010 8:00 PM

    5 alarm
    I am a fan of players that play with PASSION and PRIDE
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