What started as a promising campaign has turned into the same old, some old. ‘SSS’ has taken hold…again.
Well! Here we are, nearly one-fourth of the way into the 2018-19 season, and the Blazers are 13-10 and they just got shellacked by the Spurs.
At one point Portland was 13-8 and on course to win 50+ games. I (‘Old Man Numbers,’ that is) was the only sports prognosticator in the nation (again) to pick the team to win as many as 52 games. And it looked like the Blazers were on the way, too.
What started as a delightfully entertaining and well-played beginning, has turned into a predictable pattern that has become the storyline for so many seasons. ‘SSS’ emerged. I’ll explain what that means in a minute.
What’s interesting, too, is that I posted my prediction (with numerically guided comments) back in August–before the team had practiced and had made final roster moves. My mantra was this: Get out of the rigid adherence to the nine-man rotation and play your talent. Let the new guys participate and gain valuable experience alongside the regulars. And, yes: play the rookies.
Terry Stotts (photo, SI.com)
What happened? They did those things and were on top of the Western Conference! But, then, ‘SSS’ (Stotts Sphincter Syndrome) set in. The team got caught up in worrying about defending their prominence and began to play not to lose, rather than to win. The game became flawed. They no longer played like they were having fun. They played tight like the sphincter.
It was back to depending upon the starters with a small rotation, playing long and tiring minutes, valiantly losing at the end. Over time, you have a drained core, loss of imagination, and variety in the game. And by season’s end, you have an emotionally and energetically drained nucleus.
With all fairness to Terry Stotts, this syndrome did not start with him. It’s not limited to his team, either. You see it in all sports at some time or another. Kudos to the Blazers’ players for showing grit. But any time a team has SSS, it will lose close and draining games. That outcome takes a toll on a team’s psyche and energy.
It has been a Blazers’ pattern for years, and it preceded Terry Stotts reign. Some believe it goes back to Paul Allen’s tight control of the team. But he’s gone now. So will it continue?
One has to wonder what could have been had the Blazers continued playing the way they started the year?
I think of the wise words of Tom Selleck in Mr. Baseball: “It’s just a game! Turn ’em loose and let them have fun!” They were doing that at the beginning of the year. And they were winning, too!
As I like to say: “The numbers do not lie!” It just might have been helpful to the team and organization if they had considered ‘Old Man Numbers’ insight.
Heck! It’s never too late for that.
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Editor’s Note: Follow Lynn at his website.
