Media Row Report -- Blazers: A Lot, Heat: Not Nearly Enough

During my season preview I stated that our number one team strength was our depth. But depth can be tricky to quantify... in a star-driven league it can be hard to pinpoint how many wins are the product of the bench guys.  Tonight, for example, we ran out to a huge lead. One could argue that the game was over before our bench even entered the game; after all, it was 18 to 4 with 5:52 left to go in the first quarter.  Poor Eric Spoelstra had already used like 17 timeouts at that point. 

So it's difficult to argue flat out that "depth won this game" for us.  But we can say this for certain: our depth killed the Heat's hopes of making this a real, legitimate game.  Pick a violent metaphor: that's what our bench did to their bench.  In fact, I think it's fair to say that not a single member of the Heat's bench (Anthony, Quinn, Cook, Blount, Banks, and Livingston) could crack our active roster.  When our 10th (11th? 12?) guy is better than your 6th guy, it's going to make life difficult.  It's going to turn the day before Thanksgiving into Bloody Wednesday.

106 to 68 if you want to be precise.

Rudy had 13, Channing had 17 (he couldn't miss), Travis had 15, Joel had 4 points, 9 boards and 4 blocks.  Sergio had 11 freaking dimes. 

Tonight, Sergio :: Quinn as Nash :: Sergio. 

There were so many things to like about this game.  LaMarcus came back with a vengeance with 16 and 7 in 25 minutes.  He was putting in some serious work pregame...

Battling with Coach Caleb And The Arm Pads paid dividends early and often.  LMA hit jumpers, he hit the glass, he did what we wanted.  Mike Beasley, welcome to the league.

Do not overlook a nice night from Greg.  There's still no doubt we play better with Joel in the game.  But Greg did a lot of nice things.  4 of 6 from the field (showing some of the offensive polish that I saw during Tuesday's practice) and 10 boards (4 offensive).  This game was tailor-made for him to do work -- and he did.

By the way, I haven't even mentioned yet that Nic Batum just had the game of his life (15 points on 6 of 9, 3 of 4 from distance, 6 boards, locking D Wade down to 12 points in 30 minutes).  Did the entirety of Mike Born's scouting report come to fruition or what?  The best sequence: early in the game, Nic stole the ball off D Wade by smartly playing the passing lane, hustled to retrieve the loose ball, quickly turned it over to Brandon, then hauled down court to get the pass back for a difficult gliding layup that he made look easy.  You know Martell was watching all of that.  So was Nate.  Be sure to read Nate's lengthy comments on Nic tonight below. 

Nate's Postgame Thoughts

Nate on nailbiters vs. blowouts: "It was the other extreme [from a nailbiter]. I thought the guys did a great job tonight. I thought we played beautiful basketball. We had a few minutes where we turned the ball over. But on both ends of the floor, the defense, to try to keep Wade out of the paint, our bigs, our guards, everybody was in sync tonight, offensively we had the ball movement, i just really respected the way they played tonight."

Nate on Batum: "Defensively he knew he had the assignment on Wade and he basically has been the guy we put on the best wing and allow him to use his energy. He's knocking down his shots. He's not taking a lot of shots but he's shooting a high percentage. I think he was four for four in the first half. He really gave us some momentum. He's done a nice job, a solid job." 

Nate on whether he had doubts about Batum on Wade: "No. He's long, his defense is ahead of his offensive game. He has good feet. He does a good job. He's made adjustments as far as guarding guys like Wade. A lot of times they draw him into quick fouls. He's learned to give certain guys cushions and just keep them in front and make them work to get the ball."

More Nate on Batum (asked at the end of the session and bumped up here so you can read all the Nic stuff together): "He did a nice job. If you're getting scoring from Nic then I think that's a bonus. Because he's doing a job of playing off of the guys in the lineup.  He had wide open looks and there have been games where teams have double-teamed and left him open.  He's been knocking those shots down. He's shooting a good percentage from the 3 and tonight early it fell for him.  Defensively he's solid.  He's played good d since playing him in that lineup. And that's the reason for having him there. We can pretty much put him on a Wade and put Brandon on the guy who is spreading.  Take advantage of Nic's ability to defend.  You can contain Wade but you can't stop him. But I thought we did a good job as a team of keeping him out of the paint and off of the free throw line. I think offensively he's still trying to learn the offensive game, spreading the floor, playing off of the guys out there. Defensively, guarding the ball, getting over screens, he's long, he's quick on his feet, he can block shots, he can go to the boards and rebound, that part of his game is ahead of most rookies that come into this league."

Nate on coming out strong: "I thought we were good tonight. One of the things we talked about was we know how it feels to travel across the country and play that first game. It's a tough game to play and we didn't want to give them any confidence really. The start was really important tonight. Not to allow them to get a rhythym or any type of confidence. Just try to play solid for 48 minutes."

Nate on the overall performance: "I really respect the way we played tonight. I thought we came out and it was good basketball. What they did out on the floor was fun to watch them play that way. Unselfish basketball, defensively Wade has really been able to put up numbers against us. And tonight we were able to keep him out of the paint and really play our schemes. Offensively we got movement, our spacing was good, we dominated the boards, all the things we've talked about doing this game I thought we executed."

Nate on whether this game was a sign they can play well without Brandon: "Again, it's one of those nights. I wouldn't go too far. It was a good night. We didn't really need Brandon to have a big night. I thought he played off of our guys and some other guys had some things going.  He allowed that. I think he's been doing a good job of picking his moment to be aggressive when he sees that things are a little stagnant.  When the game is on the line, he asks for the ball. It was a night where other guys had it going and it was unselfish play."

Nate on Sergio: "We're getting into that up tempo style, the defense that they run, on the pick and rolls they hard show, we do a nice job against that.  Guys were making shots tonight. Sergio has been doing a nice job of creating opportunies and we haven't shot the ball well in some of those oppportunies. Tonight Frye had his j going, LaMarcus had his shot going, Rudy, all of our guys had their shots going. When the shots are falling like that, the assists can add up."

Nate on Lamarcus: "He was making shots. He had very similar shots that didn't fall for him on Monday, tonight he made those shots. His confidence, he was able to keep that rhythym. I thought he played pretty much the same game [as Monday]. He got something in the paint, he got a dunk in early, and then made his jump shot. A lot of times, especially with young guys, when they see the ball go in the basket, they feel good about themselves.  Tonight that shot fell for him.  And he played a nice game."

Nate on coming back after Monday's game: "We talked about going out and improving. I didn't like what we did in our last game. We won the game but we felt like we could play better. I thought tonight they responded and came out to play better. As we get into the season, everyone else is going to get better, and we need to also."

Random Game Notes

• The team had shootaround this morning so there were not a ton of players out working before the game.  One guy that was out there was Sergio.  He was in a light mood, heaving up shots from long, long distance.  Monty, on his way to an interview, in his best "Older Brother" voice, said "Game Shots, Sergio. Game shots."  Sergio smiled sheepishly and scooted in a bit.
• I tried to talk to Michael Beasley pregame.  He was entranced listening to some rap music VERY LOUDLY.  15 feet away hear every word through the headphones LOUD.  Oh well.  14 and 4 in 30 minutes.  2 guard height playing the 4 without much conscience when it comes to shot selection and not much heart when it comes to pounding glass.  Not sure how that will work out for him.
• The pregame music was selected by LaMarcus.  "Get a Lot" by Young Jeezy.  Sample lyric: "I stay iced out, get my cool on// Best be cool homes, get my goon on."
• Channing had a pregame message for the crowd.  He took the mic to say, "Be safe, eat some Turkey and let's have a good game."
• Pregame that boy Shaun Livingston flat out couldn't miss his jumpers.  Something like 8 for 10, all net every make.  He looked sharp for going through what he's been through.
• At what point was this game officially over?  18 to 4 with 5:52 left, 28 to 8 with 3:40 left, 37 to 17 at the end of the first quarter.  I guess take your pick. The crowd rewarded the team with a standing ovation at the end of the first quarter.  That's not something you see every night.  It was 100 percent deserved.  Great basketball.
• On the scoreboard they did some Thanksgiving themed questions like "What's your favorite food?"  Bayless said mashed potatoes.  You know at his house he's in charge of mashing them too.  His mom is just like, "Jerryd, honey, can you look at these potatoes, please?" Twenty seconds of Bayless Face later those taters are ready for gravy.
• FYI: Monty's wife makes an "unbelievable stuffing."  And Nate's favorite Thanksgiving food is Sweet Potatoe Pie.
• Michael Beasley famously picked on Jerryd Bayless by pantsing him in that movie "Gunnin' for the #1 spot."  Well, MBeasy, you got yours tonight. LMA gave it to you pretty much every way it can be given.
• B Roy was the first guy off the bench during the timeouts, eager to cheer on his teammates.  He's taking a step forward as a leader.  He's doing what it takes to make the playoffs.
• Oh my goodness, so many good signs tonight.  Let's see... "Where Blazermania Happens", "Pritchard for Prez," "Ruukie of the Year," Go Blazers! Yes, We Can," and the hilarious "I came all the way from Mongolia to see you, Mr. Wade."  That last one was serious as far as I can tell.
• Channing Frye shot a technical foul shot in the second half.  The other options were Bayless, Sergio, Greg and Travis.   Random.
• With the team up nearly forty, the coaching staff was practically motionless during the 4th quarter.  It was a sight to behold. I've never seen them back off THAT far ever.
• Greg made a beeline for the training room postgame so as to avoid taking questions from the media.  I thought that was a shame.  He had a lot that he could have talked positively about tonight.  Wish he would have done so.
• Paul Allen rolled through with his security and had a handshake for Bill Schonely.  Big smile on his face.  The #1 Blazer fan is feeling the same way you are tonight.
• Here's a nice little something something for you Sergio fans.  Not sure if this came through on TV.  With 4:12 left in the game the Blazers had a very long possession that included a few offensive rebounds, which ended up with a Sergio pass to Outlaw for a dunk.  Earlier in the possession, however, Bayless had been wide open for a 3 and Sergio had not swung the ball to him.  Bayless had just checked in the game and, knowing him, you know he was itching to get that pass.  After Outlaw dunked it, Sergio made a point to seek out Bayless as they got back on d, offering a high five and a "I saw you, my bad, I'll get you next time" signal that all you pickup ballers are familiar with.  On one possession, not only did Sergio make the right pass for an easy bucket but he showed a very mature consideration for his teammate.  Given the fact that Alien and Predator go one on one, hard, every practice, I thought that was really something.  

CLICK THROUGH FOR PICTURES!

 -- Ben (benjamin.golliver@gmail.com)

Images

Sergio's kicks. 

It physically hurt me just to stand that close to Shaun's knee.  Dope, dope shoes though.

-- Ben (benjamin.golliver@gmail.com)