Game 32 Recap: Blazers 107, Nuggets 96
by Dave on Dec 25, 2009 11:16 PM PST
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PrintLet's make this short and sweet, heavy on the "sweet". It was another amazing win. These were the Nuggets. They were nearly healthy. They still had that bruising frontcourt. How did the Blazers manage to come away with a healthy-sized victory?
1. Brandon Roy dominated. ‘Melo looked good. Roy looked all-universe. He did damage from everywhere you could wish and put such pressure on the Denver defense that almost everybody else on the Portland side got comfortable playing their offensive game. It was a scoring symphony.
2. Everyone else did what they had to in order to support him. The big guys--Aldridge, Howard, even Pendergraph--rebounded on both ends. They didn't bend the game with their glasswork but with Denver already reeling they cut the legs out from under them. Blake and Webster both hit threes. They didn't take over the game with them but with Denver already reeling plus on shaky legs they provided the smashing blow to the mouth that sent them over. Miller and Bayless dished the ball to all of the above plus provided a little driving pressure. Only 8 guys played and every one of them contributed to this win.
The game was nip and tuck through three quarters but Portland poured it on to the tune of 33 points in the fourth. The Nuggets had several chances to take over the game had they rebounded, worked for better shots, or played less gimmicky defenses a little harder. But they didn't take over the game at any point. It was like the Blazers said, "OK...you won't? We will." And they did. Roy and Blake were the key guys but everybody else who stepped on the floor in the period outside of Pendergraph put points on the board. For the Nuggets it was Anthony and J.R. Smith and that was about it. Five beat two, end of story.
The Blazers shot over 52% from the field and the three-point arc both, drew and hit almost as many foul shots as Denver, and limited the Nuggets to 4 fast break points and 14 assists, meaning the offense came solo and hard for them. The Blazers covered for each other well, hustling for the good of teammates instead of watching plays. It's like everyone realized all at once that there's no margin to screw around with and, now executing like they should, they find that there's a bigger margin than they thought. One can only imagine what life would be like had everyone been selling out like this earlier in the season. But that's water under the bridge. This is the fourth straight win against a tough opponent and that's what matters.
Individual Observations
Brandon Roy: 41 points, 50% shooting from the arc, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 turnovers...every bit as big of a superstar as he's ever been. He looked light on his feet, energized...he was beautiful.
LaMarcus only got 10 shots but he hit 5 of them, scored 10, and better yet grabbed 12 defensive rebounds and 13 overall to lead the team by a mile. Credit him as much with the win as Brandon. He could have wilted when the offense wasn't going through him. Instead he stepped up where we needed help.
Juwan Howard had 8 rebounds and 3 assists himself in 31 minutes. We're getting more out of him than we have a right to. The guy's on a one-year contract and could well have been disgruntled for not getting any kind of look early in the season. Instead he's playing for the team and looks every bit as much of a Blazer as anyone on the court. Another huge nod of respect, sir.
Martell didn't exactly explode but he did have a mini-eruption in the third quarter to distract the defense and keep the momentum going. He was 3-5 from the arc, 4-7 overall, and had 11 points in 25 minutes. He only had 2 rebounds and 3 turnovers. In his defense he was watching Carmelo and thus was a little distracted. (Not that he could stop ‘Melo. Or even slow him.) Not a perfect night, but I'll mention again how much easier the offense flows when he can hit a shot.
With the exception of a couple of those "never get above the rim" jumpers Andre Miller had a pretty-near flawless night. He had 8 assists and kept everybody in rhythm when the offense threatened to bog down. His passes were zippy and his offense was decisive and confident. 5-9, 14 points.
Ditto everything I said about Martell Webster and apply it to Steve Blake, except his mini-explosion was in the fourth, he went 5-7 from the arc and 6-8 overall for 17 points, and he had 2 rebounds and 1 assist. Underline the "easier when he can hit a shot" line though. This was maybe the best contribution Steve has made all season.
Jeff Pendergraph hustled his butt off and collected 5 rebounds, 3 offensive, in 20 minutes. It's not so much the production those boards led to but the fact that even the last guy off the bench was working for it and Denver had to account for that, and him. He ripped a couple of those boards down too. I liked his approach.
Jerryd Bayless was the only guy who had anything near trouble tonight. He went 2-10 from the field for 8 points in 30 minutes. Denver had heard he was coming, though, and started giving him the Roy treatment. They doubled teamed him on the perimeter when he received the ball. They lay in wait for his drives to erase them with the block. (Bayless probably will mount Chris Anderson's picture on his dart board tonight.) The jumper just wasn't falling so he had no recourse. Therefore the 2-10 wasn't nearly as bad as it looked. At least he was drawing that attention. He was able to dish 8 assists while doing so, which was phenomenal. It seems the smaller lineup with more screens and more motion helps his court sense, if nothing else by opening up more opportunities for those passes. Props to him for contributing on a night when his individual offense came harder.
The increased defensive pressure is something Jerryd is going to have to deal with. Everybody who tries to break out in this league faces it eventually. His statement in San Antonio brought it sooner to him than for most. Also the Blazers only have a couple other guys who need serious defending right now. The line between potential and legit NBA player is crossed with performances like Jerryd had the other night. But the line between NBA player and NBA scoring star isn't crossed until this kind of pressure is overcome. It's the kind of thing that Brandon Roy has to cope with every night, which is part of what makes performances like the one he had tonight so special.
Final Thoughts
This was a game I thought we'd have trouble with even before the road trip and Joel going down. The fact that we were able pull it out in style makes me giddy. Serious respect for what the Blazers are pulling off right now. They need to keep that "us against the world" underdog-hustle-"everything you've got" mentality. It serves them well.
See what the Nuggets folks have to say at DenverStiffs.
Check out your Jersey Contest score here and enter the Philly game here.
--Dave (blazersub@yahoo.com)
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The Denver Stiffs game thread is in full meltdown mode as I type. Nice to see some one else
eating their own young for a change.
Of course, they had Billups injury to overcome, ya know.
Yeah
I think that Billups being out was what made their offense so difficult in the second half.
The Blazers […] limited the Nuggets to 4 fast break points and 14 assists, meaning the offense came solo and hard for them.
Their offense was not moving the ball well without Billups and thus they were easier to defend, which explains their relatively low field goal percentage (by Blazers standards) and their lack of easy buckets.
Portland > Tacoma
by CaptainSexyJacob on Dec 26, 2009 1:25 PM PST up reply actions
for all the talk of Melo for MVP
the Nugs are practically brainless without Billups. George Karl can just “wind ’em up and watch ’em go” when Chauncey’s running the show
When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
Merry X-mas Bedgers!
A great game, a great win!
Roy has got to be an All-Star and even MVP candidate with what he is doing.
Let's do it for the big men!...and Rudy!....and Nic!...and, uh, Trout, Patty, Mo, Mr. Allen, and Nate!
Rehab With Us
Jerryd, I just saw the 4th quarter so I saw him at his best tonight
but I think he handled that star pressure well, made all the correct passes to break down denver. The thought of him getting that attention from the other team is so exciting cause of the possibilities it opens up for brandon.
yup
Land Rondo.
"He needs to realize that he can't stop every shot, especially from a smaller and offensively potent player. Get your hands up, make him shoot it over you, but let him shoot every once in a while. They score a little but you stay in the game a lot. And when you stay in the game...smashy smashy!" Dave on Greg Oden
by loyal_blazer on Dec 25, 2009 11:35 PM PST up reply actions
went to the game tonight, it was a great win
Nice to see Blake hit some 3’s for a change, and Roy was obviously magnificent. Fun game to see with the fam.
I was at the game so I missed it
What was Mike Rice saying to Kenyon Martin after the flagrant foul on Bayless, and could you hear it on the TV broadcast?
He was telling Kenyon to check out the replay on the monitor
as it was pretty clear it was a bad foul. Apparently Kenyon said “reputation call!” and laughed it off..
possibly
but it’s in line with the flagrants we’ve seen elsewhere in the league this year; not to mention the D-Wade “flagrant” and that other one called on LaMarcus in Dallas. I think the rulebook says “Dangerous or Reckless” which definitely means when you’re not going for the ball but doesn’t preclude flagrants when you actually get the ball. Was it intentional? basically no, it was just overzealous and put Bayless in a dangerous situation. A flagrant foul is only “worth” 1 possession, so it’s basically no different than an offensive foul.
M, period. Fresh, comma.
Intent
I think it was actually “intent” that got him. He started to go for Jerryd down low, around the waist, then nailed him on the head. I think the initial action showed an intent to take him down, and if it hadn’t been for that, he might not have been called for the flagrant.
But it wasn’t bad enough for a flagrant two.
#52
the intent
the intent was to wrap him up, not take him out. I think he changed his mind midstream, because there’s no great reason he couldn’t have completed the wrap-up.
M, period. Fresh, comma.
I don't think there was intent to injure
But I do think there was intent to commit a hard foul, but then he changed his mind, perhaps thinking he could get the block cleanly, and ended up committing a hard foul anyway.
You are right that the intent was to wrap him up, but that isn’t playing the ball, is it? And I suspect because the refs saw that on the replay, they will have looked at it and not been prepared to believe he was “just playing the ball”. He obviously was doing more than just playing the ball at first — so by the time he got Jerryd on the head, he’d created good grounds to suspect his intent.
#52
the play reminded me of Ariza-Fernandez
Afterwards, everyone said that Trevor should’ve just “wrapped Rudy up” to prevent the breakaway dunk, but he swung hard at the ball and clipped Fernandez’ head with his follow-through. Bayless wasn’t as “vulnerable” as Rudy, but the result was the same
When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
A couple differences
Ariza-Fernandez was in the open court, Jerryd was driving into the heart of the defence. Hard fouls happen inadvertently in the latter situation, not in the former.
Second difference: this was a close, hard-fought game, when you expect every shot to be contested — it matters. That was a 28 point blowout, in which there is absolutely no excuse for making a dangerous play, even if there is no intent.
#52
When I saw that
My reaction was, “What would Lucas do?” Seriously
by Hermistonmelons on Dec 26, 2009 7:24 AM PST up reply actions
Do other team's color commentator's try to take such an active role in the game?
I remember specifically the ATL game where he was trying SO hard to get the refs to look at the angle he’d just found of LMA getting elbowed. It honestly kind of embarrassed me to see him going after the officials so hard and forgetting entirely he was on tv
somebody has got to do it...
we get almost nothing from the coaches in this respect…
Let's do it for the big men!...and Rudy!....and Nic!...and, uh, Trout, Patty, Mo, Mr. Allen, and Nate!
Rehab With Us
Mike Rice, new Blazer's assistant?
We gain a coach who’s not afraid to speak his mind, he gains credibility with the officials by not being an announcer anymore, and we get a color commentator with fresh insight! Sounds like a win-win-win to me
I think Mike Rice is the only commentator to be ejected by a ref
Blazers game in the mid-90s, Steve Javie gave him the boot after a dispute over a non-call. No love for Javie here, but Rice is consistently out of hand and even gets on my (a pdx fan) nerves more games than not.
Oh yeah
But I love the guy. He’s our homer, but he also knows so much about the game.
"Good evening Blazer fans, wherever you may be!"-Bill Schonely
I get that. Don't share the love, myself, though. He embarrasses me as a Blazer fan more often than not.
I grew up on the decidedly non-homer Vin Scully, though, so I kind of lament that old-school effort to stay neutral. Seems like that attitude’s gone for good though.
Agreed
I really wish he was more objective… Makes you feel like everyone is out to get you every game
"At 49, I can say something I never would have said when I was a player, that I'm a better person because of my failures and disgraces." -- Bill Walton
by MischiefPortland on Dec 26, 2009 2:45 AM PST up reply actions
yep
it’s all fine and good when it’s just local, but as our boys blow up and turn into legit contenders, it’s going to look bush-league…tired, old small-market victim complex stuff.
He does know the game, though, so he’s not dead weight at all. Just bugs me, sorry to vent.
Knows so much?
Lol he is always saying the wrong thing and the other Mike has to correct him and let him know what the actual situation entails. His basketball IQ on game situation is seriously lacking.
That is indeed a one of a kind record
I’ve always liked Rice…that other Mike though…I haven’t seen a game in which he hasn’t convinced me that he isn’t watching the game.
Does anyone have a video/audio link to Mike Rice getting kicked out?
I really want to see it :p
"Rudy is not everyday a shooter," Fernandez said. "He's defense. He's passes. He's assists."
Dave, heads up there's a typo in the recap
The first Bayless paragraph ends with the partial sentence: “Props to him for contributing on a night when his offense”
Obligatory comment related to the game:
Woo hoo!
I think it was clear that even when Bayless was getting blocked and his shot wasn't
falling, he was drawing attention and they were clogging the lane to keep him out. He gets a lot of credit for the wide open threes Blake was hitting.
Wither Dante Cunningham?
We’re short on bigs and Dante’s getting no love? I thought he did nicely with what he was getting earlier, and I’d sure like to see Howard not having to play 30 minutes a game on 36-year old knees. I feel pretty good saying that the increase in Joel’s minutes probably helped facilitate his injury.
What did Dante do to get benched? Just not rebounding hard enough?
M, period. Fresh, comma.
Not sure
But usually with rookies who look good otherwise, it’s a lack of understanding of team defense. Not that you can fault him, he’s young and our whole team has had problems with that until very recently
I don't think he matches up well against the size of the Nuggets.
Nene, Martin, and Birdman. Blazers don’t really need his offense anyways with the way Bayless is scoring the ball. Howard is playing some great basketball.
"I'm at the thingamajig talking the yakety-yak" - Kenny Smith
I agree with this.
He’s a much smaller body than Pendergraph for defense and rebounding.
You can measure skill and talent with your eyes, but productivity is shown through statistics.
right
Cunningham isn’t playing because Portland has no center for him to play alongside. Dante can’t defend SFs on the perimeter, yet, and Portland needs Pendergraph’s bulk alongside Howard or LMA
There will be teams that play a smaller/running lineups that will “call” for Nate to play DC instead of JP, but I’ve been impressed with how well Pendergraph has looked, considering he missed fall camp and hasn’t had a lot of practice time with his veteran teammates
When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
Changed your opinion?
You said Cunningham > Pendergraph.
They are different players, and we obviously need what Jeff brings right now more than we need what Cunningham brings, especially against teams like Denver. But even so, I’m not persuaded that Dante really is a better player.
Time will tell. Both of these guys look like decent role players for us, although admittedly it is much too early to say.
#52
no, but I'm definitely warming up to JP02
he’s the kind of scrapper that the Blazers have needed for awhile, so how can I not like him?
But as far as upside goes, I’ll stick with Dante. The scouts at Grg’s camp back in August projected DC as an NBA starter in 2 years, that’s not likely to happen in Portland, but it speaks volumes of his skills and growth curve. Pend is the kind of guy you can stick in there instead of Greg/Joel (and alongside LMA) Cunn is a better guy to play alongside Oden/Przy (spreads the floor, etc)
When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
watch him on the defensive end
i dont think he has those sets down yet. sometimes he looks lost on defense. sometimes he definitely is lost out there.
but whatever, i’d also like to see some more of him. his last few jumpers haven’t been falling (back when he played), but give him some more looks and he’ll start stroking again.
as far as bigs go, dante is a 3-4 tweener. jeff is bigger as a PF-C tweener
I don't think it is a punishment
IMO, the reason Dante is not playing is because Nate is playing the 3 guard line-up to give JBay playing time and keep BRoy in the game. The both of them has been a scoring duo, therefore I wouldn’t look for a change soon.
I would like to see JBay and BRoy play together without the 3 guard line up to see how that would work out. Dante could play the three then.
hg
I don't think it is punishment
IMO, the reason Dante is not playing is because Nate is playing the 3 guard line-up to give JBay playing time and keep BRoy in the game. The both of them has been a scoring duo, therefore I wouldn’t look for a change soon.
I would like to see JBay and BRoy play together without the 3 guard line up to see how that would work out. Dante could play the three then.
hg
Great team effort
I liked that every time it looked like we were going flat a different Blazer picked it up and kept us in it. I remember specifically Martell’s 3s and block in the 3rd and Blake’s 3s down the stretch. Bayless’ desire to have the ball for icing FTs makes me happy. Good to see Andre play well, even if he still takes one or 2 perplexing jumpers every game. And of course… Brandon Roy. Brandon Roy. Brandon Roy. Wow. Not sure I’ve ever seen him look to score that often and successfully in the first half. Not many people outscore Carmelo, especially not efficiently. SO happy for the Blazers, I’d rather have our short handed team playing this hard and together than our full strength team going through the motions. Merry Christmas BEdge!
Dear Brandon Roy,
I love you.
- All of Blazer Fandom
Keep the faith.
by fajunga on Dec 25, 2009 11:39 PM PST reply actions 10 recs
Amazing win for us!
That was incredibly fun, start to finish. It had everything you could want in a game—drama, relevance, stars being stars, and developing players showing growth!
by Biddy77 on Dec 25, 2009 11:40 PM PST via mobile reply actions
Amazing defensive effort in the 4th quarter.
I can’t believe how well the Blazers rotated and helped on defense. In fact, the last few games, they have done a great job of forcing players baseline and making the player with the ball pass over the defense to the weak side. Carmelo and JR Smith had to hit some really tough shots over the outstretched arms of Blazer defenders.
Roy did an adequate job of making Carmelo work for every point in the 4th quarter. Big applause for LMA stepping up and rebounding in the 2nd half. Blake made his open shots tonight, this is exactly what we need him to do. He was willing to give up the ball to Bayless when he didn’t have an open shot. I’m impressed with Pendergraph helping with the pick and roll. Webster and Miller were great in the 3rd quarter. A complete team effort on Christmas.
Go Blazers!
"I'm at the thingamajig talking the yakety-yak" - Kenny Smith
Blazers are working the 13-game-win-streak swagger right now...
Don't believe the hype.
by Artie Fufkin on Dec 25, 2009 11:51 PM PST via mobile reply actions 1 recs
I took it as a major compliment that
they chose to leave Roy open and double Bayless. Combine those two at full speed and its trouble for all other teams.
The only reason i shoot 3's is cuz there ain't no such thing as 4's.
by cpt.morgan.ahoy! on Dec 25, 2009 11:57 PM PST reply actions
That's what won us the game
When they doubled J-Bay and he passed to Roy for the corner 3s.
"Good evening Blazer fans, wherever you may be!"-Bill Schonely
Yep.
Once JB gets confident in his offense while being double teamed, the pair of them are gonna be unstoppable. I think that talk about it being like Mo and LeBron is pretty spot on. Mix in LA and a real center….MmmMmmMmm.
by ShannyMcShanShan on Dec 26, 2009 12:10 AM PST up reply actions
I would disagree with that assessment
Mo choked big time in the playoffs last year.
Go Rockets/Nets[CDR]/Bucks[Jennings]!
I was never a fan of them or anyone else comparing themselves to other players. They are Brandon Roy and Jerryd Bayless. That’s who they are.
by Chadillac5000 on Dec 26, 2009 12:32 AM PST up reply actions
I couldn't have asked for a better Christmas present from the Blazers.
Thank you and Merry Christmas. I loved it. I don’t need a receipt, I am going to keep this one for quite some time.
"We Believe" - Rudy Fernandez
I think the "reply" function is off-line
Maybe someone’s on the naughty list. With respect to Dante I suspect he’s got stars in his eyes. He just isn’t ready for the fast footwork of the big stage. The rotation though is paying crazy good. Gimme some Rudy soon, then Batum. Go man go!
Roy to the world
I AM THE MAN:
"Good evening Blazer fans, wherever you may be!"-Bill Schonely
by skywaker9 on Dec 26, 2009 12:00 AM PST reply actions 1 recs
Bayless says you block me
BLOCK THIS:
"Good evening Blazer fans, wherever you may be!"-Bill Schonely
by skywaker9 on Dec 26, 2009 12:02 AM PST reply actions 1 recs
and don't forget
King Kong
When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
That felt like a playoff game
And the team played like it.
"Good evening Blazer fans, wherever you may be!"-Bill Schonely
Interesting numbers
Bayless had 30 minutes, Miller 26, and Blake 21. Bayless was also on the floor in crunch time despite poor shooting, I take this as a sign that the coaches are either beginning to trust him or feeling the need (or being told) to test him. Considering how conservative they usually are and how much they value experience and caution I think it could become a major storyline going forward. If Bayless can play those kind of minutes and share the floor with Roy in crunch time might we see him starting at the 1 by the end of the year?
Howard is playing lights out and Pendergraph looks like the bench enforcer we are really going to need down the road. I hope he is learning from Howard and Pryzbilla, he has the right attitude and skill set to fill a crucial role. Not every guy on the roster is going to post 20 / 10 or be an all star, somebody has to rebound and foul and protect our skinny guards.
I still like Miller starting, even if Bayless is the better crunch-time option
He makes a concerted effort to get the whole team involved in the offense early, which leads to good player movement, easy baskets, and putting the D on its heels. I like Bayless as scoring punch off the bench when our offense starts to stagnate a bit. I also like Bayless finishing games alongside Roy because it makes us almost impossible to defend.
Yeah.
We aren’t digging ourselves out of holes anymore to start games.
by Nick Van Excellent on Dec 26, 2009 7:43 AM PST up reply actions
Concerning Nate's Rotation
For the first time in a while I didn’t have one bad thing to say about it. Maybe it had to do with everyone doing what they were supposed to do though.
It's Brandon Roy's world and we're only renting space We don’t like him—we’re only on his side so he doesn’t dunk on us in front of our co-workers, wives, girlfriends, mistresses and children.
-Correction It’s B Rex’s world and Brandon’s just keeping it warm until The Coming
by OhOhOden
by SandyTrailBlazer on Dec 26, 2009 10:03 AM PST up reply actions
That move Howard put on Nene was amazing
I think of anyone, he is the guy who has stepped up his game the most, and destroyed the most expectations.
Oh yeah, absolutely.
I have been so impressed with Howard lately. That move was what you expect from a scorer in his prime, and he was pulling down boards like crazy too! Plus his passing.
Basically what you said.
You can measure skill and talent with your eyes, but productivity is shown through statistics.
Howard's becoming a fan favorite
I always get a kick out of his game. And when he got a technical, I was dying laughing. He probably has been playing in the NBA since that ref was officiating middle school games.
It's Brandon Roy's world and we're only renting space We don’t like him—we’re only on his side so he doesn’t dunk on us in front of our co-workers, wives, girlfriends, mistresses and children.
-Correction It’s B Rex’s world and Brandon’s just keeping it warm until The Coming
by OhOhOden
by SandyTrailBlazer on Dec 26, 2009 10:05 AM PST up reply actions
I would have really liked to have heard what he said to that ref
he was walking off the court ….then turned around and walked back to him and said…..I don’t know…but it musta been good
" Welcome to the Bedge....where good, is never good enough"…Rudiculous
by 92wastheyear on Dec 26, 2009 10:43 AM PST up reply actions
The ESPN announcers kind of missed what had happened
but Howard had been pushed in the back by Birdman on the previous rebound, and he tried to get the ref’s attention then. So when Birdman was harrassing him on the offensive end, he got fed up and started pushing him away, and got called for that. He was irritated at the no-call on one end and the call on the other end.
As for his exact words, I can only imagine.
I saw the same thing
it’s like unsportsmalike conduct penalties in the NFL, the guy who retaliates usually gets hit with the flag
Juwan Howard’s stellar play…yet another reason to lament AK1984 being banned
(Bayless is the other)
When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
Yeah, I've been missing him
Is it a permanent ban? Anyone know?
#52
AK1984 is banned
and the Blazers go on a winning streak. Coincidence? – Elgin
OK...so girls in movies where guys wear hockey masks have a better survival rate than the average Blazer player. - Dave
Brandon Roy. Oh Boy!
Simply magnificent and on national TV to boot. I actually watched the game first on KGW, then watched the ESPN telecast which I had DVR’d. The national guys gave way, way more props to Roy than did our local telecast……mostly because Rice was so intent on building up Bayless that he went out of his way to give him the credit for most everything Roy was doing. I got pretty sick of it. Sure some of it was helped when they’d send two guys at Bayless, but through his great talent, Roy scored every which way all through the game. And of course it helped that his shot was dead on tonight.
Great, great team win. One that I didn’t expect. Visions of Brandon will be dancing in my head as I fall asleep tonight, as will the sounds of Martell’s and Blake’s 3 balls swishing through the net.
Also, excellent recap Dave.
If this Blazer team doesn't light your fire, then your wood is wet!
Also, Roy is Roy
Those of us who watch him all the time know that while this was a particularly awesome game, its nothing he hasn’t done before.
The national audience doesn’t know BR as well.
"Good evening Blazer fans, wherever you may be!"-Bill Schonely
Maybe its an old-fashioned concept
but why didn’t they run some plays to involve Melo on some defensive switches / drives when karl left him in with 4 fouls at the end of the third period. One more foul and he has to change his play. Couldn’t even run a couple of plays switching Roy / Webster / Bayless?
I don’t get the oversight. Seems so basic. Press the advantage.
Anyone else notice that?
I’m guessing Nate didn’t hear me screaming at the TV…
That was like a poem
It was beautiful, man.
#52 by Mortimer on Dec 17, 2009 10:35 PM PST
They mentioned on ESPN
and showed Martell running ‘Melo ragged on one possession, and ’Melo trying his best to stay and front and deny so he couldn’t pick up another foul. They gave Martell props for his hustle and joked it was probably the hardest Anthony had worked on off the ball defense all year. Only one play, but we tried a little at least.
PS I really enjoyed the ESPN broadcast. While they were impartial they were also highly complimentary of the Blazers and were in tune with the pulse of the game
Running isolation plays
strangely usually doesn’t work to get fouls.
Movement and attacking, which made me think of Roy and Bayless.
And, being vocal at games does matter; last game there was a clearly audible “3 seconds” yell, just before the ref blew the whistle and called 3 seconds on a Blazer.
What A Great Game!
That was like a poem
It was beautiful, man.
#52 by Mortimer on Dec 17, 2009 10:35 PM PST
Yeah, a lot more falls are called when a defender is giving help and reaching in
I didn’t expect Melo to get another foul called on him, regardless. Unless he took someone’s head off…it’s better to just run your sets and make him work on defense
BTW, someone should give props for the way Brandon (and his teammates) played D on Anthony during the 4th quarter…guess that “someone” will be yours truly
When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
Yeah, why did we do that just once?
Martell had been heating up, they had to deny him, and Melo was running ragged, as you say. We should have done that for about three more possessions.
#52
Glad to hear
I think anytime you play an All Star, the best way to defend him is to make him work hard on defense. Run through Screens and such. Make him switch, make him be active physically and mentally on defense..
by Hermistonmelons on Dec 26, 2009 7:34 AM PST up reply actions
I really like that Bayless now can contribute even when his shot is not falling
He still gets trips to the line, he plays with much more poise than last year, and he sees open players for good passes.
by Norsktroll on Dec 26, 2009 12:46 AM PST reply actions 2 recs
Sat in a suite for the very first time at this game. First of all, suites are AMAZING. If you ever get a chance, do it. It’s such a difference to watch a game live in total comfort. Now, the game itself. Wow, what else can you say. These Blazers are playing out of their minds right now. I don’t wanna go too overboard. The bubble will burst at some point. But if they bottle up this effort level, our team will make the playoffs this season. The brand of basketball they’ve been playing for the last 6 games overall has been stunning.
I was really impressed with Brandon not just on offense. But wow, it’s really something to score AND defend the league’s scoring champion in the 4th quarter. I think Roy is all dusted off now and we can look forward to more 30+ efforts going forward. Blake finally found his marbles and made 3’s again. I think we can rely on some offense from him if he continues getting his feet set and takes his time. Juwan Howard has been such a great addition for this team. Behind the scenes his affect on Pendergraph has been noticable. He’s such an experienced, battle-tested guy. This team needs mental toughness. Howard brings that.
"Sometimes that light at the end of the tunnel is a train."
-- Charles Barkley
Maybe we should sit Brandon a game every now and then?
Especailly when Rex can pick up the slack….
by Hermistonmelons on Dec 26, 2009 7:35 AM PST up reply actions
I'm an advocate of this
I don’t want to see Roy and LMA “run into the ground” by playing them 40+ mpg over the final 50 games…but it’s hard to deny a young team that’s 20-12 the opportunity to keep reaching higher
When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
This team is playing with so much heart right now.
It is simply an amazing time to be a part of the Blazer fan family right now— so much emotion.
Happy safe Holidays everybody! Great Win!
Daily Leaders from Yahoo sports:
1. B. Roy POR 41 pts
2. K. Bryant LAL 35 pts
3. C. Anthony DEN 32 pts
4. D. Wade MIA 30 pts
5. M. Williams CLE 28 pts
It would look even better with James at no. 5, but I’ll take it (and the win).
Any day that our man outscores Kobe
is a good day.
Brandon Roy - The Savior Of Portland Basketball
by rise_stand_resist on Dec 26, 2009 10:20 AM PST up reply actions
not if we lose...
How did you guys win that?
"We scored enough points. We scored 107, they scored 105.
-Nate McMillan Postgame, 3/4/2009
Gotta give Brandon credit for going OFF tonight, and Bay for facillitating a lot of that simply by demanding the attention of the defense, but more importantly,
Only 8 guys played and every one of them contributed to this win.
Especially our “soft” bigs, outrebounding theirs without Greg or Joel.
All good teams have one or two guys that can punish you, one or two guys that demand a double team. Great teams find out how to get something from everybody. Our play lately has been inspiring. It would be even if we hadn’t lost half of our roster, including three starters and two key bench scorers. In the face of all the heartache of this season, in the face of all the doubt and the naysaying, our team has found away to play together and to do so with heart. Keep it up.
My favorites:
—Martell’s block on JR Smith
—Juwan’s move on Nene (lol!)
—Bayless to Juwan to Roy for the 3
—Miller oop to Aldrige
—Miller and Bay combining for 15 ast
—Confident Blake daggers
—We seemed to be playing some TENACIOUS D
Of course, we all know it was a Brandon Roy masterpiece from start to finish. Symphony is a nice word for that, by the way. It evokes so much.
Also, it was my first time in the building this season, and it got LOUD. I love that.
sorry, that Martell block was on Anthony Carter.
by Chadillac5000 on Dec 26, 2009 2:05 PM PST up reply actions
Miller to Howard to Aldridge for dunk was sweet, too.
Let's do it for the big men!...and Rudy!....and Nic!...and, uh, Trout, Patty, Mo, Mr. Allen, and Nate!
Rehab With Us
I love it that our 4 guards are meshing really really well now.
Miller still looks like he isn’t given enough freedom to do his things but he’s getting better at what he’s allowed to do.
Blake is playing relaxed now that he is not “forced” to start with better PGs behind him and is not overused anymore. It’s not a coincidence his shots have started falling once he was moved to bench.
Bayless’ role keeps increasing and so does his contribution. I really like how his decision-making has been improving.
Most importantly Roy has started playing very well and seemed to have no problems playing with any other guards.
Now I am wondering how interruptive it will be when Rudy comes back. Personally I hope most of the minutes he takes away will be from Blake.
Even bigger interruption is when Oden comes back next year. Don’t know if they’re gonna struggle again meshing with him.
art of Millers look of "Lack of Freedom" is he doesn't have the weapons down low he had at the first of the year.
I think he excels with an isdie banger in the lineup. LA is more of an outside scorer. I think he will continue to grow someoffense through Juwan though. Two cagey Veterans. Once they get some little stuff worked to mesh woth this team, watch out! It is not enough that you have to guard Roy and LA, Miller figuring some little plays with juwan and Webster. Wowza!
by Hermistonmelons on Dec 26, 2009 7:40 AM PST up reply actions
Now I am wondering how interruptive it will be when Rudy comes back. Personally I hope most of the minutes he takes away will be from Blake.
I’m still thinking KP will have to make a “decision” on dealing either Miller or Blake at the deadline…otherwise, we could see even more 4 guard lineups from Nate in March-April
When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
How are the Blazers doing this? It really is amazing. I think the veteran signs KP made are paying off
huge by the way. Howard and Miller have been great, and under appreciated in this run. Go Blazers.
Every day I am more and more proud to say I’m a Blazer fan. This team is flat out incredible. The will to win the competitiveness is out of this world.
Keep winning boys!!!
Win it for #52 and #10!
Columbus til I die, Columbus til I die. I know I am, I swear I am, Columbus til I die!
FKA BLAZER_FAN_199. Now an author for the Jackets Cannon!
by Andrew Tolliver on Dec 26, 2009 6:07 AM PST reply actions
Thank you Dave and Ben
I just wanted to thank you both for all your hard work. Especially with all the games we have had in the past week and during Christmas. I know you both have families and many other obligations and just wanted you to know that we ALL really appreciate you guys
Thanks
On game day, I leave the turkey alone because it is some chemicals in that thing. Nate Mcmillian 11/26/09
by slim503 on Dec 26, 2009 7:34 AM PST reply actions 3 recs
What about the Guts Lamarcus is Playing with??? I tip my Hat to him
I keep thinking about this. The “Soft” Label and some of it is earned. But when he has to…. 13 Boards. On really painful ankles no less. It is a lot of work to Board. It does take away from some of his offense, but it is guts and sacrifice for the team IMO
by Hermistonmelons on Dec 26, 2009 7:42 AM PST reply actions
not to mention he's played the entire 2nd half in 3 straight games.
he’s manning up out there and doing what the team/coaches need him to. While he isn’t scoring big numbers, he isn’t take a ton of shots either, and he’s hitting a decent percentage on the ones he does take.
How did you guys win that?
"We scored enough points. We scored 107, they scored 105.
-Nate McMillan Postgame, 3/4/2009
yeah, i think some people are failing to recognize his playing time as of late...
Let's do it for the big men!...and Rudy!....and Nic!...and, uh, Trout, Patty, Mo, Mr. Allen, and Nate!
Rehab With Us
It did feel like a playoff game
Yes Brandon was All-World, but credit to Steve. This was a coming out game for him. Those 5 threes were daggers in the Nuggets gut. I have been a big critic, but now we see why the team stuck with him through this slump. If he can come of the bench and hit thress like that…wow!
Also….as the clock was running out did you see Brandon clapping for the fans and the team?
This trial by fire through these injuries is looking like a major turning point for the team. We will look back and say this defined the team;s character.
GREAT win!
Blake has been out of sync all year
This is what we should have been seeing from him — I hope it means he’s coming out of a slump. He sure is a great weapon when he’s on.
I agree
he’s been playing better the last couple of games. I don’t need five threes every night, but I need him to hit them at a decent clip. This is EXACTLY why the blazers haven’t let him go. It looks like they’ve all found a rhythm now. Hopefully the Blake is back.
"Fernandez, to my eyes, is the Blazer who walks that walk most comfortably. A lot of Portland's fans (egged on, dare I say, by their local broadcasters) lament things like how Ron Artest or Yao Ming get to hit Brandon Roy's arms.
But I suspect Fernandez sees all that and thinks: We get to hit arms! Cool!"
http://myespn.go.com/blogs/truehoop/0-39-135/On-Playoff-Experience.html
"I told Pau the Lakers never win here in Portland; I think it's great." -- Rudy Fernandez
Blake has been great since he went to the bench
in the 7 games since then, he’s shooting 50%, 57% on threes, and has 17 assists and only 6 turnovers. he’s been very effective playing the minutes he should have been playing all year.
How did you guys win that?
"We scored enough points. We scored 107, they scored 105.
-Nate McMillan Postgame, 3/4/2009
My postive post (dumped the negative in ben's post)
HECK YEAH!!!
Huge improvement over the Griz game. Amazing win!!! Roy looked good and made some nice moves with the ball. Bayless looked good even if he wasn’t scoring. Miller’s shot still looks like you could use it to draw a straight line. I already mostly covered aldridge, but I want to give props to him on the rebounding.
It was also WONDERFUL to watch blake hit those threes. That is my blake of old!
"Fernandez, to my eyes, is the Blazer who walks that walk most comfortably. A lot of Portland's fans (egged on, dare I say, by their local broadcasters) lament things like how Ron Artest or Yao Ming get to hit Brandon Roy's arms.
But I suspect Fernandez sees all that and thinks: We get to hit arms! Cool!"
http://myespn.go.com/blogs/truehoop/0-39-135/On-Playoff-Experience.html
"I told Pau the Lakers never win here in Portland; I think it's great." -- Rudy Fernandez
Hat's off to BRoy.
We are all in love with BRoy’s scoring stats. 41 points was terrific.
What we are not mentioning is the Defense he played on Marshmallow in the 4th quarter. That shut marshmallow all but down and was probably a bigger factor then his 41 points. That just makes this a more of a complete game for BRoy and to me it was worth mentioning.
hg
I made the same comment, above
and I obviously hadn’t read this far down to see that you had made it, first. After the first Denver game where Melo went off for 41, it was good to see Roy and his teammates put the clamps on Anthony
but never underestimate the “no-Billups” factor. A healthy Chauncey would’ve made “guarding Melo” much more difficult
When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
Last night's iso's.
I think last night’s game was the first game in a long time wherein I was impressed with Nate’s simplistic iso sets. It seemed like Brandon handled the double teams amazingly well as exemplified by the dribble step to split the two defenders for a layup. I don’t know, the flow seemed right as the other players scrambled into the right places for a decent shot when Roy couldn’t get his.
I was impressed with Bayless’ reads of the double teams. That one play where he took the the double way out at halfcourt and found Juwan for the pass in which he preceded to pass off to a cutting Aldridge. That was such a veteran move by Bayless, and credit goes to Howard’s (underrated?) passing skills and Aldridge’s off-ball movement. I think we can play the iso game if that’s how everyone moves. To add, it makes Brandon’s offensive game a lot easier by having another player who can break down the defense.
Lastly, let’s hope Blake’s shooting wasn’t a fluke. I do believe that’s how he’s really of any use and if he’s not making his, I’d rather have Miller or better, Rudy in.
I dont think it is to be honest.
Lately Blake’s been playing some terrific defense. He has made some dumb decisions and bad passes but his one-on-one D has been excellent. And his shot is starting to finally fall because of that, he looks a lot more…I guess comfortable out there.
Brandon Roy - The Savior Of Portland Basketball
by rise_stand_resist on Dec 26, 2009 10:22 AM PST up reply actions
He also seems to grab a couple of rebounds too
when the bigs (?) box out well
" Welcome to the Bedge....where good, is never good enough"…Rudiculous
by 92wastheyear on Dec 26, 2009 10:44 AM PST up reply actions
I noticed that too
There was a play where Juwan Howard muscled the Birdman all the way off the court and Blake was left open to grab the rebound. It was nice.
I see that pretty often
I really remember it when we were starting with the 3 guard lineup
" Welcome to the Bedge....where good, is never good enough"…Rudiculous
by 92wastheyear on Dec 26, 2009 12:18 PM PST up reply actions
Howard’s (underrated?) passing skills
They shouldn’t be underrated, Juwan has long been considered one of the premier passing big men in the NBA. He was dishing the ball “underneath” to Greg during camp and preseason, unfortunately, the two of them didn’t play that much together once the season started.
I also remember the first day in camp, Howard was guarding Oden and imploring the other team to keep feeding Greg while he was on a roll…even though it meant that Juwan would be taking the brunt of GO’s “smashes”
When reached 40 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
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