by Xavier Thompson
What a difference a few years of turmoil and unproductive seasons make.
Portland, which for 21 consecutive seasons, from 1983 to 2003, made the playoffs (second-longest streak in NBA history), had their fall from grace begin in the 2003 – 2004 season when that streak was halted. This was only the beginning, however, of a string of bad seasons as for the following two seasons they slumped to one of the NBA’s worst teams, “accomplishing” the feat of worst record in the league in the 2005 – 2006 season.
In the past two seasons, however, they have managed to get back on track, recording a .500 record for the first time in four years, last season (a season which included a 13-game winning streak) and set to finish with an over .600 record this season.
The playoffs are in sight and the Blazers are looking to create an upset or at least cause uproar.
Why are they back on track?
From even in times of prominence, the Blazers were known for their ‘bad boys’.
First was original bad boy, Rasheed Wallace, in the late 90s to early 00s whose love for technical fouls found him leading the league in the category for several seasons. As uncontrollable as he may have seemed at times and the fact that he was not the best teammate to play with (I’m sure Arvydas still remembers the towel Wallace threw in his face), his bad boy attitude and tenacity helped to propel Portland and keep them afloat.
‘Sheed’s departure, after the 2003 – 2004 season, did not take the “bad boy” out of Portland but this “bad boy” persona started to be channeled in completely negative ways. The next couple of years brought about the worst period of behavioral problems for the Blazers which led to their subsequent downfall.
Sure every franchise has their period of struggles and rebuilding, but this is usually due to young players still learning the tricks of the trade, NOT because of players who refused to manage their behaviors appropriately.
Where to start?
Qyntel Woods possessed more marijuana than actual basketball skill and know-ho.
Bonzi Wells was a child trapped in a man’s body, temperamental and nagging.
Sebastian Telfair’s IQ was apparently lower than his age as the terrorist-in-training brought a gun on the team plane (could it be that the Middle East isn’t the only place that harbors terrorists?).
Darius “I wish I was white” Miles was the pot that called the kettle (coach Maurice Cheeks) “nigger” (no wonder they wanted back their 10 million).
Ruben Patterson a.k.a. Mr. Cop-A-Feel was a registered sex offender.
Zach Randolph, who seemingly had a problem with this, decided to send a strong message of “No funny business” by all but breaking Ruben’s eye socket. Maybe it was that wanting glare in Ruben’s eyes or a little wink here and there that sent Randolph over the edge (this, of course, is merely speculation on my part).
These instances of bad behavior led to several years of bad luck.
Slowly, but surely, however, the Blazers rid themselves of one bad apple after another with Zach Randolph being the last to go and apparently bringing his selfish ball hogging playing style (which would have certainly continued to stifle Brandon Roy’s development) and hopefully playoff jinx with him.
I will admit that I questioned the Blazers move to trade Z-Bo and take Oden first instead of keeping Mr. Sock-it-to-you and taking Durant to fill their SF void. Looking at their roster, record and overall play now, I see why.
This brings me to the new era of Blazer basketball. Gone are the “bad boys” off-court and chokers when it really matters, on court and in are players who take their “anger issues” out on opponents instead of on each other (ye that was a cheap shot at you Mr. Randolph).
If you look at the Portland team now, they’ve got a ‘tude (attitude for those with Telfair-like IQs), a swagger, a silent aggressive nature that big opponents take likely and usually pay for, especially in the Garden of Rose (Rose Garden Arena).
Case in point, this year Portland has beaten some of the NBAs best, CONVINCLY, at the Rose.
One commonality in almost all the wins, aside from a sound a-whooping, was confrontation.
From The Big Ticket, KG, and Aldridge (vs. Celtics) to Ariza and Roy {dirty fool Trevor, dirty!} (vs. Lakers) and Shaq/Shaqovic/The Big Aristotle/The Big Cactus/Diesel (can’t remember any more nick names but I think I covered about half the list) and Carlos “C-Boo” Boozer vs. Przybilla (vs. Suns and Jazz, respectively), experienced teams are learning that this young team aren’t the pushovers they thought.
The latest incident, on March 31, in the rout of the Jazz, saw Boozer and Przybilla tossed for offsetting Double Techincals, going to show you that even the best of the best are being sucked in by the Blazers tenacity and even audacity – how dare such a young team, with absolutely no playoff experience, stand up to these experienced Juggernauts.
Easy, by doing just that and guess what it’s paying off - big time.
Dare I say the Hornets of this year? .... Let me not get carried away.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TO READ FULL STORY GO HERE:
http://diphoenix.wordpress.com/2009/04/07/portland-trail-blazers-bad-boys-on-the-court/
No comments:
Post a Comment