Roy rekindles lost motivation

On the NBA

By kerry eggers

The Portland Tribune, Apr 15, 2008, Updated Oct 30, 2009

KATIE HARTLEY / TRIBUNE PHOTO

Brandon Roy says the Blazers are more tired than frustrated.

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The quotes were startling, especially coming from the Trail Blazers’ All-Star guard, captain and team leader.

After Portland’s listless 103-86 loss at Sacramento last Friday night, Brandon Roy’s comments in the daily’s game story read this way:

“It’s just tough to get up for games that don’t mean anything. … Our season was over after we were eliminated (from playoff contention). It’s tough to get up and play with all that attitude when you really aren’t playing for anything. But it’s my job to get the guys ready to go, and to find something to play for.”

Interesting, in that coach Nate McMillan and General Manager Kevin Pritchard have in recent weeks stressed the importance of finishing at .500, or with a winning record, to accentuate the progress made since going an NBA-worst 21-61 just two years ago.

Roy had appeared particularly unmotivated through the first half against Sacramento, in which he didn’t score a point and didn’t even attempt a field goal. He was better in the second half (12 points, four assists), but his lack of passion seemed out of character.

Saturday night, the fire was back as Roy scored 23 points and led Portland to a spirited home victory over Dallas.

Before the game, McMillan gently reminded his star that the Blazers indeed have something left to play for.

“Brandon was frustrated with what was going on and how he had played,” McMillan says. “The frustration kind of took over. That happens. But (against Dallas), he was ready to go. He showed up and played well. The main thing was, he responded.”

Roy says his comments “may have been taken the wrong way,” but implied they weren’t made entirely out of frustration.

“Every team is tired right now,” Roy says. “The teams that earn the right to be in the playoffs, it rejuvenates them. We don’t have that to look forward to. So we have to do the best we can to keep pushing out, even though we’re tired.

“Our guys are a little fatigued, not only physically, but mentally. I don’t mean for it to sound like an excuse, but we’re a young team, and there’s no postseason to look forward to.”

Finishing with a winning record “is a great goal to have,” he says, “but we’re still going to end the season at the same time as the Sonics, and they’ll have lost (nearly) 65 games. I play for the postseason. Hopefully at the end of my career, I’ll look back and say I had only one losing season, and it was my rookie year.

“I think everybody in this locker room understands exactly what I meant. I’m going to come out and play the best I can every night.”

For a franchise that hit rock bottom two years ago, a winning record is a tangible goal. Not anything crucial, but something to shoot for.

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