I was pretty disappointed in the Blazers performance tonight.  Not because they lost.  Not because they couldn't close out on shooters, and not because they played Roy when they shouldn't have.

I was disappointed because they got imposed upon.

When Dallas set a moving pick, Portland continued to go around the pick over and over again.  A difficult task against a moving pick to be sure.  Nobody tried to go through the pick.  Nobody wanted to send a message to the screener that some pain will be felt for setting a moving pick.  

No Blazers seemed interested in impeding the path of an offensive player until they had nearly established position or received the ball.  Again, no message sent about traveling freely through the offense. 

Dallas did what they wanted.  Over and over again.  Portland did their best to stop them in the most passive way they could. 

Even after the game had gotten a little out of hand; no muscle, no push, no toughness.

Dallas is not that tough of an opponent.   Not an opponent that muscles their way to victory.  They are muscling their way over the Blazers right now.   I didn't see that coming at the beginning of this series. 

Portland needs to find some toughness soon or this season isn't going to last very much longer.  I thought they would impose their will more effectively this year.  At this point, I was wrong.