The more straightforward story is that the Timbers schedule was softer in the first half (1.26 PPG opp avg) than in the second (1.45 PPG opp avg), and that they did well against bad teams (1.9 PPG v opps <1.2 PPG) and horrifically against playoff-caliber teams (0.69 PPG v opps >1.5 PPG). #RCTID

Look, when something hasn’t really worked five times the obvious thing to do is try a sixth. #RCTID

The Thorns have flown under the radar with national media this year. In what was supposed to be a step-back year with a barrage of major injuries piled on top, they finished third and are now in the semis. One nomination is a bit light. Coffey a big miss. Rob Gale is aggrieved here, too. #BAONPDX

We’re cooked. #RCTID

The worst thing about this is that is would be in-character for Timbers leadership to use the four playoff games as a fig leaf to avoid having to make hard changes in the offseason. On balance, 1.29 PPG in the regular season and 1.0 PPG in the postseason is mediocre at best. #RCTID

Strong Matías Almeyda San Jose Earthquakes vibes early on here. #RCTID

On paper adding a player in midfield can give you a little more flexibility in building out—which could be useful against San Diego press. In practice, the Timbers have usually been a mess in this setup. So one of those things that works on the chalkboard but has largely failed on the field. #RCTID

Neville’s periodic uses of a 3 have been mostly poor-to-disastrous. We’ll see how this actually shapes, but a big roll of the dice if that’s the move here. #RCTID

Tordin coming on totally changed this game. She’s done phenomenally well to stretch the field and open up more spaces for Liv and company to operate. Completely tilted the field. #BAONPDX

The Thorns probably have to make some changes on the wings. Without a source for an outlet—and none of Turner, Castellanos, or Spaanstra provided one—Portland was far too squeezable and got eaten up by San Diego’s counterpress. Turner up top was a marginal improvement, but need much more. #BAONPDX

So the ref correctly stopped play for the head injuries even though the Thorns had 3v3 going at goal, and then restarts with a drop ball in which he allows San Diego to keep possession. I had some questions. #BAONPDX

The thing that’s annoying about today is that San Diego is among the less hate-able cities in the country. I hope you experience a small bit of adversity today in your otherwise pleasant existence, San Diegans. #RCTID #BAONPDX

Remarkable how institutions and the powerful have almost uniformly caved to Trump while the people have almost uniformly stood up to him.

Well that’s intriguing. #BAONPDX

Incredible moment for Gage Guerra tonight. Holy cow. Really good from the Timbers not letting that game get away from them at 2-1 down. They certainly left it late, but survive for another day. #RCTID

Truly the most USSF scandal ever was when its largely successful USMNT coach got absolutely crushed for virtually every imaginable corner for imprudently telling the truth about one of his players.

Wait what did Chris Penso do? #RCTID

A much better performance than it looked like they’d put in during that first half hour. But indiscipline from Fory killed any opportunity to steal a result. Velde lucky not to see red late, though. Given the way he played today that would’ve been a tough loss for next week. #RCTID

Playoff games are dictated by game states. And in this matchup, this is a very dangerous game state for the Timbers. Having to come out and play in search of an equalizer puts the Timbers in an even more vulnerable position against this San Diego team. #RCTID

Them: AI is so great and so smart and it’s going to replace all you dumb laptop workers. Me: Why does it keep trying to autofill my name to “Christmas” when I sign an email?

Democrats: We’re going to shut down the government because it’s the only leverage we have to make sure you don’t raise health insurance premiums on millions of Americans. Trump: Well then I’m going to call billionaires and have them donate money to fund the government! Democrats: I’m listening…

Blazers fans yesterday: It’s going to be fun to finally have a normal season in which we can just root for our team to win games! Blazers fans this morning:

Rwan Cruz has been the Timbers’ best player in this second half by miles. A savior since he came on. #RCTID

Timbers’ press looked better in that first half since, well, basically ever. RSL was brutal in possession and basically set their line of confrontation at their own byline. Frustrating to let them back in the game on a set piece when RSL probably should’ve been put to the sword early. #RCTID

I say this writing from home, so maybe I’m part of the problem—or, perhaps more accurately, a symptom of the problem: The number of empty seats at Providence Park is shocking. Yet I fear the reaction from the club will be anger at the fans that aren’t there instead of self-reflection. #RCTID

A judicial assessment that the government is likely to prevail on its claim that conditions in Portland present a risk of “rebellion” is an exercise in unreality that violates Article III’s case and controversy requirement. Courts have to adjudicate real cases—not fantasies in the name of deference.

All in all this is a 90th+ percentile outcome for the Thorns. No matter what happens from here, it’s been a year of huge progress on a backline that was in the woods, for Moultrie becoming a star, for Fleming becoming a box-to-box force, and for new contributors to make their claim. #BAONPDX

LOL “brown liquid.” The benefit of the often nonexistent doubt that he gets is truly endless.

Look on the bright side Phil Neville’s playoff record is 0-2-0 with eight goals against and none for. #RCTID

The moment this man looks at one of the officers arresting him and asks “Are you Haitian?” should send chills down the spine of every person of good moral character in this country. That attitude comes from the same place as countless horrors of the past. We can’t let it stand here.

I’m curious when teams are going to learn that forcing people to take down critical or unwanted signs just amplifies the message. Genuinely wild to see the exact same mistake repeated over and over and over and over. If they just leave the sign there, Ryan’s probably not writing about it.

Ow. #RCTID

The Timbers are pretty firmly in the Bad Place. They’ve settled into a consistent pattern of mediocrity—each of the last four seasons they’ve finished with 43-47 points—in which they’re not competitive for anything but there’s little pressure on the front office to make meaningful changes. #RCTID

It’s actually even worse than he’s saying. Just this past Wednesday a whole bunch of store owners just put up tents in a park by my office and were selling things there. I bought some flowers for my wife and some green mole enchiladas. It was awful. Delicious and really pleasant, but awful.

Today’s dispatch from the front lines. Stay safe out there, Comrades.

Future historians are going to have a hell of a time explaining that time Texas tried to invade Oregon because Texas believed an internet hoax.

Trump is either lying repeatedly and shamelessly to justify an attempt to militarily occupy an American city or he’s completely lost touch with reality. It seems like a worthwhile journalistic endeavor to figure out which and inform the American people.

Just cooked to perfection. 👩‍🍳💋 #BAONPDX

They Liv’d, it turns out. This Thorns team isn’t great. They’re plugging holes with duct tape and bubble gum. But they’ve got two bona fide match winners in Moultrie and Coffey, and they’re bought in from top to bottom. A legit accomplishment to be in the playoff hunt. #BAONPDX

Man. Nobody on the Timbers reacting to that really bad tackle from Rusnak is not good. They’ve quit. #RCTID

It’s Liv or die for the Thorns attack right now. Genuinely impressive that they’ve made it this far given the plague of injuries, but I think the camel’s back is officially broken. #BAONPDX

Extreme Sonny Corleone vibes from Rob Gale tonight. #BAONPDX

Model journalism that exposes the lies the Trump Administration is using as pretext to occupy PDX. I’ve been so impressed by Portlanders’ response to date. Firm, unequivocal, and characteristically whimsical without giving in to Trump’s desire to manufacture violence. Keep it up and we’ll win this.

Let me see if I have this right. During a government shutdown, the administration can find the money to fly multiple helicopters and airplanes over the locus of Trump’s lies about Portland but not to hit “Send” on the already prepared monthly jobs report?

Trump’s lies about Portland have really driven home that the information environment is even worse that I thought. Trump’s lies are just that—pure fantasy. They’re not misleading or exaggerated or anything like that. Yet his tweets are still just neutrally reported like “This is a thing he said.”

If you’re an aspiring filmmaker in Portland it’s your civic duty to make a Ken Burns-style documentary about the heroism and sacrifice of Trump’s invasion. Yorktown Gettysburg Normandy Guadalcanal Elephant’s Delicatessen

I agree with the sentiment here. Trump’s invasion of Portland creates a paradox: Justifiably protest these nakedly authoritarian abuses and give the administration the pretext they want for state violence or stay silent and lend a patina of normalcy to Trump’s fouling of our democracy?

Things Portland is currently ravaged by: Pizza Temperate, sunny weather Coffee Middling soccer Sunsets Farmer’s markets Apples Hiking trails Thai food Fresh hops Harvest-ready vineyards Things Portland is not ravaged by: War Thank you for your attention to this matter.

We need to be honest about what this is. It’s a transparent attempt to use the military to incite protests that the administration will then use state violence against. Portland is not “war ravaged” or anything remotely close to it. And those who repeat this lie without correcting it are complicit.