Game 40 Recap: Blazers 94, Magic 100
by Dave on Jan 19, 2008 8:39 PM PST
in News
Email
PrintWell...this game was the worst we've played since the beginning of the season. I'm not that excited or worried about that fact. This team has shown that they're capable of bouncing back from sub-par efforts before. This was just a little more "sub" than usual.
Team Observations
How did we lose this game? Let me count the ways.
--From the outset Orlando made a concerted effort to score in the paint. This wasn't only Howard getting deep position, this was guys like Lewis and Turkoglu (!) choosing to put the ball on the floor rather than shoot over the top. We, on the other hand, made a concerted effort not to stop them. Technically speaking this is the elephant in the Blazers' corner: we are not a very good interior defensive team. You can talk about Joel but Joel isn't capable of doing it on his own. He's good but he's not the kind of guy who will bend a game to his own will. In the rush of the regular season teams have been more than willing to engage in jumper duels with us but as the playoffs approach and every game matters you may expect that more and more teams will take the Utah (when they're good) and Orlando approach and try to beat us inside. I wonder what our response will be. The upshot this game was the Magic firing at a 50% clip. They had 40 points in the paint to our 26.
--We missed a ton of shots ourselves. In fact I saw more really bad Blazer shots in the first half than I had seen in a long time. It actually shocked me and certainly hearkened back to the start of the season. The only thing we shot besides jumpers were well-covered and far-too-distant turn-arounds in the post. When you get 11 more attempts than your opponent and they still outscore you by 7 something is wrong with your offense.
--More salt in the wounds: 14-2 advantage for Orlando in fast break points.
--We didn't move our feet for squat, leading to the Magic more than doubling us in free throw attempts.
--With the disparity in misses it's no surprise they outrebounded us as well.
--With the exception of a couple runs everything looked out of synch, strained, and just plain slow. Whether it was fatigue or just lack of focus it killed us.
--I'd say we did a good job on Dwight Howard, holding him to 10 points on 7 shots, but I suspect it was as much a matter of Orlando not needing him to score big tonight as it was us shutting him down. Plus he got 14 rebounds.
Individual Observations
--Brandon Roy looked like the only guy who came to play on offense. He was his usual unflappable self with 25 points and 7 assists (plus 5 rebounds and 3 steals). The Blazers aren't at their best when they have to rely on him so heavily though.
--The team didn't plan to rely on Brandon so much. They actually came out trying to feature Lamarcus. He took 21 shots on the evening. The problem was they were all shorter than your ex-wife's temper. He hit only six and drew ZERO free throws (which tells you all you need to know about where and how he was taking them) and ended up with only 12 points to show for those 21 shots. 7 rebounds was fine, but the help defense could have been better for all of our interior players.
--The other guy Portland tried to feature early was Martell Webster. He ended up scoring some later in the game but overall his 4-10 shooting was unimpressive. We wanted to ride him and just couldn't. 6 rebounds is a good night for him.
--Joel had his usual 8 rebounds in 20 minutes but once again he was just killing the offense with his inability to catch passes and score. The rim might as well be 18 feet high for all he can do with it in there. He got a dunk attempt blocked by Rashard Lewis...from behind. I know he doesn't want to bulk up per se but it would really help him to add a little strength.
--Steve Blake had 5 assists but seemed flat once again. The whole backcourt had problems defending (even Roy) and he was no exception.
--Jarrett Jack, despite only scoring 6 points, was one of the guys who actually looked like he came to play. He had 6 assists and a fair amount of energy.
--Travis Outlaw scored 22 points on 20 shots and also had 6 rebounds. He scored a bunch late when the Blazers needed someone to pull them back in it. He and Roy were definitely the dependable offensive players tonight.
--James Jones found his three point stroke again, hitting 3-6.
--Sergio and Channing have regressed some. I think it's a chicken and egg problem with the rest of the team. If the guys around them are playing well these two also find opportunities. If the team sucks they can't find a way out of it.
--If the individual analysis seems short tonight it's for two reasons:
- Nobody should really get a ton of credit from a game like this.
- Games like this should be forgotten as soon as possible. Erase! Erase! Erase!
Yuck.
--Dave (blazersub@yahoo.com)
53 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
good recap
Agreed
Fire Nate?
by jayseyfield on Jan 19, 2008 9:25 PM PST reply actions
Yeah, I think we should...
Come on jayseyfield, that joke isn't funny anymore.
*I* was amused
by BlazersOrBust on Jan 20, 2008 4:43 PM PST up reply actions
On League Audio Pass
Their radio announcers were more impressed with the Blazers tonight than you evidently were Dave.
In the 4th quarter after LMA had a huge block, the play by play guy (Dennis I believe) said to his partner Richie, "can you imagine Aldridge playing next to Oden next year?" Richie replied "Oh my gosh".
Then, very late in the 4th, these two guys were paying big verbal respect to the Blazers and they were both fretting that their 12 point lead might not be enough against "this team". Then when Roy was bringing the ball up to set the offense, Dennis nervously uttered "you need an army to stop this guy!" (Turned out to be kind of funny though 'cuz right after that came out of his mouth Dwight blocked Roy's shot.)
Remember right at the end of the game when Brandon dribbled up court as though he was going to drive, stopped elevated and hit that long three? These guys really oo'ed and ah'ed (how do you spell oo'ed and ah'e?) over that one. Dennis said "he's so deceptive, he looked down as though he was going to drive, which got Bogens to look down too, and then Roy just raised up and shot a three!" They were very impressed with that one.
Isn't this stange? The Blazers are stiking some fear into the rest of the league. Who would have thunk it?
"oohed and aahed"
by BlazersOrBust on Jan 20, 2008 4:46 PM PST up reply actions
Fatigue
Bad Night at the Office...
Once again, the lack of a 4/5 presence was obvious. Pryzbilla is semi-okay filling up the lane, but not a scorer. LMA plays the 4 with a little too much finesse for my taste, but he's young and will get stronger and wiser... Frye is a non-starter as far as I'm concerned, I'm hoping Pritchard fines a nice home for him elsewhere...
Oden will help immensely next year, but the Blazers NEED ANOTHER GUY THIS YEAR. The so-called elite teams of the west are within reach even without Oden. Another 4/5 this year puts them into reachable range. Oden plus one other 4/5 guy puts the Blazers over the top...
I'd like to see KP move heaven and earth to get Jefferson from Minnesota. I'm sure they regard him as untradeable, and rightfully so, but they're so far in the cellar that they might listen to some wild and crazy offer that provides them with insane value in players and picks. Blazers have a first and three second rounders in the next draft and I'd toss another first their way and then see if you can tag on enough guys to get the deal done (thinking of Sergio and Green for starters...).
Oden is NOT going to be a 35 minute guy, he is going to be foul prone (witness the 10 foul game in summer league). Blazers need to plan for this eventuality, which seems more like a mathematical certainty to me. They very clearly need one more legitimate 4/5 guy in addition to Pryzbilla and LMA, not Frye, and the sooner the better. This is the one last major rabbit that Pritchard needs to pull from his hat... Ordinarily one might draft for that, or chase a free agent, but I reckon that the timetable has moved up.
t
no Jefferson
He's a beast, to be sure, but he's a complete black hole.
That trade makes no sense
Also I'm so sick of these unrealistic trade proposals where the trade is dependant on the other GM being a complete moron.
by jayseyfield on Jan 19, 2008 10:36 PM PST up reply actions
Rebuilding
If McMillan and Pritchard are willing to be patient with Aldridge (looked horrible tonight on both ends), then I will be too.
I agree that Oden will be foul prone and probably not that great in his first year, but we certainly don't have the extra minutes for another go to 4/5. That's why Frye and Przybilla are such a great luxury for us right now.
by MavetheGreat on Jan 20, 2008 12:28 AM PST up reply actions
Back to back
by theanomaly777 on Jan 19, 2008 10:10 PM PST reply actions
3-4/2-5
3-4 isn't going to be the end of the world. The Hawks can be beat, but they're young like the Blazers and that gives me pause.
t
LaMarcus
I agree though that we have to throw this one out. If we get two more efforts like this one in ATL and NO, then we may want to re-think things a bit...Go Blazers!
by nedzadrules on Jan 19, 2008 10:33 PM PST reply actions
To put things in perspective
And for the record, Blazer fans may be getting a bit spoiled. I agree that the Blazers could be doing better, especially in games they lost, but you have to admit, you can say that with practically every NBA team, like when Detriot gets blown off by Chicago today or Wizards kill Boston twice in a row about a week ago. Those teams could've been doing better, too. And those are experienced veterans. The Blazers are young, inexperienced and still learning.
There's no reason to be too disappointed with tonight. I have to admit some things that I saw were questionably "ugh," but to see the Orlando reporters be more impressed than the fans kinda makes me see how expectations have soared for this team, especially this season. In my opinion, it shouldn't be that way. Next season, the expectations should soar, but not this season.
Regardless, let this game be forgotten.
Just watched the game
Every win is great, and every loss is a learning experience. We are completely in a WIN/WIN scenario no matter what happens the rest of the season.
As a side note, I realize I said I now didn't need to post and still went and posted.
Mortimer
Roy says it nicely
Perfect, thank you fou posting that.
by LaMarvelous on Jan 20, 2008 10:13 AM PST up reply actions
Dave, how did you know my ex-wife had a bad
by jferg on Jan 20, 2008 12:11 AM PST reply actions
Joel
I disagree with your comments on Joel. On defense, I think he is our only tough interior defender. He's the only big guy we have willing to push back to the bullies of the league. He is a great off the ball shot-blocker, and he is the ONLY Blazer (outside maybe Raef and Roy) that is as eager to grab the rebound as Joel. In my mind this makes his presence on the court worthwhile.
On offense, I think that it is ok to have a guy that can't create his own offense. Roy, Webster, Aldridge, and Blake can score, why not have a guy great at picks, and can grab an offensive rebounds. I would love to see the point differential when Przybilla is in, compared to when he is on the bench...even despite our recent success.
Your comments really only reflect his offense, but as I said, I don't think Joel needs to score to be helpful to our offensive flow.
Two Comments:
- Your analysis of Joel's defense relies heavily on the relative modifier on the Blazers. Joel has unique qualities compared to the rest of the people on this team, but that doesn't make him unique, or even that brilliant, compared to the rest of the league.
- It may be OK to have one guy who isn't a great scorer, but in the list you gave you've named several. Martell can't get his own shot very well. Steve Blake can't create his own shot at all. Joel just plain can't score. Put it all together and that doesn't add up. It's too much pressure on Lamarcus and Brandon. That's a big part of the reason why Joel has been the odd man out in the rotation and at various points Travis and Channing have been inserted instead.
Agree with the first
- I agree with your first point, for the most part. Joel probably is an above average defender in the league, but not exceptional.
- I would argue that Joel, despite being a non-scorer, is a guy who can help Blake and Webster get shots (both get many of their shots in games off screens).
I also think that while Aldridge is clearly better than Joel offensively, he is showing us lately that his skills are limited or predictable. (You even mentioned where his shots were being taken)
David
by MavetheGreat on Jan 20, 2008 9:52 AM PST up reply actions
Joel
Joel is the anchor on the team. Can you imagine how bad a record if Joel wasnt on the team? What needs to happen tho is the other guys need to starting working as hard as Joel does on defense. I havent seen the crippling zone D since Toronto.
Future Don't Forget
Future Don't Forget
Yes, we need to give the blazers more credit.
by theanomaly777 on Jan 20, 2008 8:50 AM PST reply actions
Your Ref Rant would have made a great diary.
by LaMarvelous on Jan 20, 2008 10:46 AM PST up reply actions
No kidding.
by rockingharder on Jan 20, 2008 2:03 PM PST up reply actions
A Joel in the rough...
But #1, he does help, and #2, I have seen his effort become an inspiration to others. A few rebounds, blocks and shot altering intimidations and suddenly it seems to rub off on Aldridge and Outlaw.
I hate to criticize Decembers Coach of The Month, and a coach that I think has done an excellent job bringing this team along but sometimes I do wonder why Joel isn't used more.
Oh how things have changed
But when I read all the comments this morning I had to laugh. It seems that now Dave is the one being advised to have patience. At least he isn't advocating any trades yet!
Since I seldom read comments in other blogs I don't know if it is simply the sensible, highly intelligent posters in BE or if most of Blazer fandom is shrugging off last night's game, but I'm greatful for it. Thank you.
refs.
I dont agree
by headwound on Jan 20, 2008 10:07 AM PST reply actions
Try this
means
"the worst we've played since the stretch we had at the beginning of the season when we went 5-12."
just in fewer words.
So we're saying the same thing.
It's also generally more kosher to make your point without asking people if they've watched games or telling them to "give it a rest". That doesn't really add anything to your argument. Nobody has a problem with anybody disagreeing or debating, but assume some level of kindness and intellegence on the part of the people you're speaking to so that they can do the same.
--Dave
To be fair
But I absolutely agree with you on level of discourse.
Blazers not quite a playoff team, yet
Dave kinda reinforced that point here:
The Blazers are good. They've laid a tremendous foundation and will be a force to be reckoned with in the years to come. But they're not quite there yet.
The Streak raised fan expectations for this team to rather unrealistic levels. But when you stop and think about it, much of it was due to the element of surprise. It's like a rookie pitching phenom who mows down hitters during his first go-round in the league. By the second time through, once the scouts, coaching staffs and hitters have become familiar with the pitcher's tendencies, he's not quite so unhittable anymore. Then, it's up to the pitcher to familiarize himself with his opponents' strengths and weaknesses if he wants to maintain or improve upon his intial success.
I think that's where the Blazers are now. The word is out around the Association: This team is squishy soft inside; that's how you attack them. As Dave pointed out, when a shrinking violet like Hedo Turkoglu feels he can drive the lane at will against you, something most definitely is up. Part of this can be masked by the zone, or through adjustments in some individual defense (i.e. reminding Aldridge to come out and meet the driver in the high post rather than simply hanging back and awaiting him in the low block where he inevitably gets beat and/or picks up a foul). But as many of this site have already noted, the problem is primarily one of personnel: not enough brick $#!?-houses roaming the paint to make a Turkoglu think twice about putting it on the floor.
I think when all the dust of the season settles, the Blazers will find themselves somewhere around .500. That's certainly a respectable number and far beyond what anyone expected of this club at the outset of the season. But a playoff team? Not in the West. Sorry.
Speaking as someone who has little vested interest in whether or not the Blazers make the playoffs, I'd remind you that win or lose, this team is a joy to watch. It's a lot of fun seeing them come into their own: Roy on the path to superstardom; Aldridge and Webster working out the different aspects of their game; Travis integrating his crazy athletic abilities within the role of a basketball player; etc. Try not to get too hung up on the whole playoff thing. Focus instead on individual and team growth as well as which player you'd like to snag in next year's lottery.
You got it right, mate...
Absolutely correct. There needs to be 3 count them 3 solid defending low post players on the roster, plus LMA. We currently have 1 and 1 on the bench in a suit. We are 2 short this year, and 1 short next year.
Fouls and injuries, people, fouls and injuries.
I for one am not going to pretend that this team is 4 years off and we should just shut up and be thankful that the Blazers aren't 10-30. The timetable has moved up -- the goal this year is no longer .500, it's making the playoffs and learning something from that experience.
LMA is a great talent en route to becoming a great player. But he doesn't have the strength to play low with the mashers -- and the mashers are gonna be coming to eat the Blazers each and every night (except for when they play Golden State!).
Now, there are two ways to approach this: either trade for a 4/5 or draft for a 4/5. I'm not saying one approach is the way to go vs. the other -- but I am saying that there is a clear and obvious deficiency at the 4/5 that needs to be corrected. This is no diss on Joel, but an observation that he's a 20-25 minute guy any needs help.
As for the statement by someone above that the Blazers' deficiency is at the 3. Ummm, Webster, Jones, Outlaw, and Miles coming back. That seems fully sufficient, plus one...
t
"This team is squishy soft inside"
Good Post
Good Post
SQUISHY SOFT...
so how does the team compensate for getting the lumber thrown at 'em night in night out? Thats the question as I see it. We certainly cannot nor would not employ the same strategy, because the team isnt built for it.
Neither Frye nor Alldridge has been able to muscle up to the real PF's in the NBA, and both are simply content to shoot jumpers and turn-arounds. That has to change. Lamarcus is closer than Frye, and should set the example by going harder to the hole more often. Let Frye bail out, but Lamarcus is the key to helping Joel establish some form of interior D.
I cant help but think how Oden is going to fill the interior defense next year, ... then what are teams going to do against our zone?
Oden
Oden will singlehandledly fix about 65% of the gaping hole in the Blazers' floor. But he goes for every block, and even if he can be coached into going for every OTHER block, he's gonna be picking up 6 fouls in 25 minutes, every night. (See comments others have made about NBA officiating above.) Watch video of him in HS, College, Summer League -- he's a swatter and the NBA refs are like Pavlov's dogs when they see people swinging their arms in the paint: tweet! tweet! tweet! We saw it with Ratliff and we see it every night with Joel. That's just the way it is.
So: it is a mistake to think that Oden is THE answer to the 4/5 problem. He is A MAJOR PART of the answer, to be sure, but there is going to have to be another player of similar capacity for filling the lane brought in. That's the piece of the puzzle to be obtained.
Channing Frye is probably a tradeable player, as would be Sergio (aka The Turnover Machine). And Pritchard has long ago stated a preference for players who are tall for their position, which makes me wonder how Green fits in. This doesn't mention the two big salaries that aren't producing anything at this point -- Miles and LaFrentz (the latter one of the worst contracts in the NBA, something like $12.3 million for this year and next).
There's plenty to work with for an active GM, and the Blazers have one. It's time to fix the 4/5 personnel gap NOW.
The mistake
--Dave
Maturity will help, but...
But no worries. As someone else posted awhile back, "KP + Tom Penn = smarter than us." I'm confident we'll see a big, active "bruiser off the bench" by next season. (Ideally, he'll replace LaFrenz, as this is the role Raef would be playing were he not over the hill.)
Mein Kampf
I want to clarify that I do not want any trades and I am happy go lucky if the Blazers miss the playoff this year, as long as they play hard every night. They are paid millions of dollars to give it their all every night. I know they are young and they are doing the best they can. I have trouble with people blowing off this season because there is so much promise in the future.
I married my wife knowing that she will probably never clean a bathroom, or stop tailgating the car in front of her while driving. I have learned to accept her for who she is and love her today. Looking forward to the future in hopes she will change, neglects her today. I realized that I have to give help defense and clean the bathrooms to make up for her housekeeping shortcomings. I also have to recognize that if I cannot handle her tailgating, then I need to make adjustments and sit in the backseat when I can. Thinking that a child or a roommate would change her tailgating habit or lack of desire to clean the bathroom is ridiculous.
I may have taken a huge tangent there and used a Hitler reference in my subject, but it is all relative (to another diary). Saying Oden or Rudy will fix everything next year is not dissimilar to a diary proposing a trade. It is still a "what if" and tomorrow when the team plays Atlanta, Rudy and Oden will not be there to help. If people are going to trash trade talk, then they should trash the Oden and Rudy talk. This team is special, can't we just live and rejoice in the now?
by tominhawaii on Jan 20, 2008 11:05 PM PST up reply actions
And here I'd been thinking
Oh
by tominhawaii on Jan 21, 2008 12:08 AM PST up reply actions
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
FanShots
Quick hits of video, photos, quotes, chats, links and lists that you find around the web.
Recommended FanShots
Recent FanShots
In Association With
Ball Don't Lie - NBA - Yahoo! Sport
- Days of NBA Lives: Wherein Roy Hibbert tap-dances to Maine
- Grizzlies Valentine’s Day cards are the key to love
- Kevin Love would like the NBA to take the MLB’s approach on All-Star games
- Kobe Bryant fires a few hilarious salvos at Jeremy Lin
- Brandon Jennings states the obvious regarding his 2014 free agency, everyone goes nuts
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
