For the Blazers, Game 6 sucks

Game 6 is the enemy for Portland Trail Blazers fans. The Blazers’ last two postseasons ended during the sixth contest of the first round, and excuses abound from fans as to why.

Portland had never lost Game 6 of a first-round series at home until last week, going 5-0 all time. The Blazers have now lost six straight playoff series, currently the NBA’s longest such streak—they haven’t won a series since the 2000 postseason.

Last year’s series loss was blamed on the refs. Fans decried officials for calling Portland on fouls that other playoff squads enjoyed lenience over, and for whistling a slew of iffy travels and turnovers that busted up their rhythm during crucial stretches.

That argument has some merit, though officiating wasn’t responsible for the scant 28 points scored by anyone not named Brandon Roy or LaMarcus Aldridge during Game 6 in Houston. Those two shot 20 for 38, compared to 10 of 33 shooting from the rest of the team. Moreover, weak defense let Houston outscore Portland 31-18 in the second quarter. Ouch.

Blame the refs if you want, but the agonizing truth is that Portland was simply outplayed. I stand convinced that Luis Scola is to blame: His ugly mug and oily, floppy hair just plain distracted Roy, Aldridge and Joel Przybilla from focusing well enough to advance past the first round.

This year, injuries hindered the Blazers with limited post presence and inconsistent performances from perimeter players. Furthermore, starters and bench players were shifted around quite a bit, and there wasn’t much cohesion or communication between the five Blazers on the floor at any given time. Double ouch.

Blame injuries if you want, but the agonizing truth is that Portland was, again, simply outplayed. I stand convinced that Nate McMillan is to blame: His poor play design and rapid-fire roster jostling just plain disoriented the team and effectively ended the series.

The cohesion, trust and familiarity that existed between the Blazers on their path to 54 victories last season was strained by injury this season. However, they persevered to the tune of 50 wins by knuckling down and exploiting opponents’ assumptions that a deteriorated roster meant they were weak. 

Other teams would find a groove, a certain cruise control to operate on, and then one or two Blazers would explode and catch fire long enough to secure surprising upsets against better, healthier squads. Andre Miller and Aldridge both dropped 31 points in Games 1 and 4, respectively, but no other Blazer took the helm against the Suns firmly enough to survive the series.

Dante Cunningham may have been the most consistent Blazer this series, scoring 23 points on 9 of 15 shooting while grabbing five steals and committing just three turnovers in 42 minutes. With Przybilla and Greg Oden gone, McMillan should have established a consistent big-man rotation of Aldridge and Camby as starters, with Juwan Howard and Cunningham coming off the bench, instead of just shuffling the first three according to foul trouble.

The ugliest rumor since last week’s Game 6 loss is that Rudy Fernández may leave Portland next year. Granted, his sophomore campaign was shoddy in comparison to his stellar rookie season, but he’s still a force behind the arc and his defensive presence is only going to continue getting better. If any player should be on the chopping block, it’s Oden: He’s a lumbering injury magnet, and it’s time for Portland to accept that he isn’t the wunderkind we saw at Ohio State.

All things considered, this summer will inevitably bring about some difficult changes and require lots of development. Here’s for hoping the Blazers earn a third consecutive 50-win season and step out of their playoff rut, staying healthy while they do it. 

Even if that means winning in Game 6 of the first round.