A series of misadventures have kept me from attending Blazer games lately, so I was pretty excited to be back at the Rose Garden for Tuesday night’s game against the Orlando Magic Miami Heat. I needed this game. I needed to sit in the stands and watch something that would take me out of my regular life for a few hours. I needed to cheer for something.
I was also looking forward to this game because my boyfriend has acquired a pair of auto-focusing binoculars which are far superior to our old set of binoculars. I can see the player’s faces pretty clearly now, clear enough to read their lips from all the way up in the 300 level. And the field of vision is a little bit wider, so I can also see more of the action. Unfortunately, while these binoculars are pretty amazing, they do not contribute to my understanding of the game. I’m still not able to identify a pick and roll when I see one. Many people have tried to explain the pick and roll to me. There have been diagrams and exasperated eye rolls, but I still just don’t get it.
The Blazers lost Tuesday’s game. It wasn’t a blow-out, but it was their third loss in a row. There is a pretty lengthy discussion over at Blazersedge about who is to blame for the losing streak. I’ve had a few people ask me why the Blazers have been losing, but I really don’t have a clue. Maybe it has something to do with this nefarious pick and roll everyone keeps talking about. Maybe it has something to do with “points in the paint” but I doubt it because for some reason at the Rose Garden the section they refer to as “the paint” is paintless hardwood.
Usually, when it’s painfully obvious that the Blazers are going to lose, the fans either get quiet or go home. This was not the case on Tuesday night as the crowd remained fairly enthusiastic right up to the final buzzer. One particular fan, sitting a couple of rows behind me, was cheering loudly non-stop for the last five minutes of the game. Sure, he was fairly intoxicated and might have taken either too much or too little Ritalin – but still. He not only chanted “Defense! Defense!” along with the crowd, but he also chanted “Offense! Offense!” when the Blazers had the ball. He had a variety of cheers for time-outs, free throws and other game delays as well. In fact the usher came up at one point and asked the rest of our section if the man was bothering us. We all said no. (The ushers can be real kill-joys – but that is a post for another day.)
Here’s the deal: setbacks are to be expected in life. While it isn’t a bad idea to learn from mistakes, there is nothing to be gained from speculative nay saying. People need space to grow and learn and figure things out for themselves. I think it’s very likely that there is something going on behind the scenes in the Blazer organization that has temporarily thrown off the team’s chemistry. I’m sure in due time it will work itself out.
Personally, I wouldn’t mind it if the next time I fell flat on my face there would be someone standing there cheering me on as if the face plant never happened. I think we all could use someone like that.
But what do I know? I still can’t identify the pick and roll.
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I acannot tell you what a pick and roll is although I am a lifelong ACC b-ball fan from a family of lifelong ACC fans. It’s shameful I know. Doesn’t mean I still don’t enjoy the game. Although the last few Blazers games have been hard to enjoy. Love to hear that people are still supporting the team even during this rough patch. Let’s hope it’s just a patch….
Before grappling with the intricacies of the pick and roll (which really isn’t that complicated) you might want to start by identifying who the Blazers are playing. Last Tuesday, it was the Miami Heat, not the Orlando Magic. Their first game against Orlando is Dec. 19.
I’d be happy to try to explain the P&R if you want but there’s probably someone here who can do it better, and it’s really easier to understand if you see it happening rather than explaining via words alone.
Is the “pick and roll” similar to the “duck and cover” technique I learned in elementary school in training for California’s earthquakes? Because that had a little sing song that went along with it that made it much easier to remember.
Brett: Gah! My bad. Thanks for the correction.
So this is probably a good time to admit that to me, a lot of the teams are sorta interchangeable. I’m always getting Denver and Utah confused as well. At least I had the right state. Your advice is sound. Next time we DVR the game – I will have my boyfriend pause and then show me the pick and roll as it happens. I do want to understand this.
Lelo: “Duck and cover” was my strategy when forced to play basketball in Jr. High PE class.
LJ: It’s comforting to know I am not alone in this
Here, this might help – a very informative Pick and Roll video. Now you just need to learn Chinese. No problem. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CwyULA0R-6w
I really just want to know what the brand/model of the auto focus binoculars are. My hubbie has nose-bleed season tix for Blazers and it seems like a great Christmas present idea. (He might be the fan you referenced–though he was with our 13-yr old daughter who would have been mortified if he opened his mouth loudly enough to be noticed by the ushers) Thanks!
I think it would be lovely to have someone clap and cheer regardless of setback. That’s a true fan!
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