FINAL: Phoenix Suns 102, Portland Trail Blazers 77
by Timmay! on Jan 6, 2012 10:06 PM PST
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PrintOn a night where they looked a step slow from the opening tip, the Portland Trail Blazers were utterly demolished on national TV by the Phoenix Suns 102-77. This is a game where you would previously burn the tape. But now, take that DVR hard drive and find a super-magnet.
The Blazers had no leaders tonight, as every rotation player struggled. Gerald Wallace finished with 1 point, 2 rebounds and 4 turnovers, Wesley Matthews added an invisible 8 points, and LaMarcus Aldridge scored 14 with 7 rebounds.
In the first quarter, the Blazers seemed to forget they were playing professional basketball. Random fumbles, missed layups, non-existent defense. Steve Nash absolutely torched the Blazers, looking young and spry. It added up to an awful quarter and an 11 point deficit.
Things didn't get any better as the second quarter, as the Blazers found a way to fall behind further: No offensive rebounding, slipping on the break, leaving Suns players wide open. It was a recipe for disaster, and the Blazers cooked it up in a microwave. A Jamal Crawford technical foul led to a 15 point Phoenix lead as the Blazers scored 34 points in the first half. The city of Portland suddenly wished this game was being televised on TNT, with the first game in triple overtime.
The Blazers come out of halftime pushing for a comeback, and the Suns were happy to oblige, turning the ball over 4 times in 2 minutes. But the Blazers only sliced the lead to 12. After a few good plays by Phoenix, the lead was 20. Then 24. The Blazer starters had nothing in the tank, and looked slow at both ends. Desperate for energy, Nate brought in Nolan Smith, to no effect. By the end of the third, the game was essentially over.
The fourth quarter started with a Crawford travel, then an offensive foul, which did not bode well. With 10 minutes left, Elliot Williams checked in. Soon after, the rest of the bench joined him, and that was all she wrote. This is one night the Blazers will strive to forget. Until Nate shows them the video.
The box score is here, if you like horror stories. The Blazers will head home for a couple nights in their own beds, and will be back in action Sunday, against Cleveland. -- Tim
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Blow the team up, and start frea
by solid_soup on Jan 6, 2012 10:09 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
Heard the team traveled last night instead of during the day.
Apparently they traveled during the day in previous years and didn’t do well on the road LAST year (they did very well the year before on back to backs). So Nate decided to change things up.
THIS IS NOT AN EXCUSE…but maybe the Blazers should consider going back to play A. Especially after an emotional win.
It may help if they can sleep in their own beds. This way, they may actually SLEEP the night before, rather than during the next day’s game.
They did look really bad. And I agree SO MUCH about the LMA statement!!!!
He needs to start in the freaking paint.
Elliot did look pretty good out there.
Nolan Smith…did not.
Kurt Thomas looked great compared to the rest of them.
Batum missed more free throws than he ever has.
Something is going on with him.
So bad, stopped watching halfway through the 4th. Sorry Blazers.
But this was not so for Brandon Roy who listened to teammate Nicolas Batum, "You're an All-Star, a 3-time All-Star. Take the ball. They can't stop you. You just have to believe in yourself."
by speakers92blazers on Jan 6, 2012 10:08 PM PST reply actions
Yes, one of the worst Blazer efforts ever.
"You're not too smart, are you? I like that in a man." - Matty Walker in Body Heat (1981)
by BlazerFanSince1970 on Jan 6, 2012 10:18 PM PST up reply actions
We have proven in the past
That really bad teams occasionally play amazing games,
That really good teams plays really bad.
I think this game was a combination of both.
Well not amazing on Phoenix side but better than normal
the Blazers just played lousy.
hg
by BBK on Jan 7, 2012 9:48 AM PST up reply actions
Going on the road for back-to-backs is hard on athletes.
Portland’s fast start was aided in part to its games being spaced out well. Unfortunately, that won’t continue as this lockout-shortened season progresses. Rough road trips with back-to-backs — as well as the rare back-to-back-to-back set — will be a chore.
"I Am Mine"
If they were that dead with one of the easiest schedules in the league, just wait for next week.
"You're not too smart, are you? I like that in a man." - Matty Walker in Body Heat (1981)
by BlazerFanSince1970 on Jan 6, 2012 10:22 PM PST up reply actions
Aww.
Sometimes I wish you’d lie a little. You know, just for kicks.
/s
by Hipster Olympic Team! on Jan 6, 2012 10:27 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
what game? I have no clue what you're talking about?
i remember a bodacious win over the fakers!
#52
I dont mind losing, but hate losing like this, esp to a struggling team.
by 01B5S4 on Jan 6, 2012 10:11 PM PST via mobile reply actions
But, if you are going to lose then why put in an effort?
Just go through the motions like a rehearsal
hg
by BBK on Jan 7, 2012 9:52 AM PST up reply actions
wow that was one ugly game
Blazers are lucky you can only be charged with one loss no matter how badly you stink up the place.
And at least we got to see a little of Elliot Williams. I figured we might get to see him in a blowout but I expected the Blazers to be the blower rather than the blowee.
Id rather not see any more Elliot Williams
or any other scrub. The starters stunk the joint up. Nate should gave left them in so they could finish taking the dump they started in the first half.
/s
by Hipster Olympic Team! on Jan 6, 2012 10:15 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
Tonight was a big deal.
The Blazers obviously did not respect other NBA players by failing to double Nash and close out on shooters. Disgusting effort.
I expect this team to have bad shooting nights, but tonight they showed no determination to work for foul shots. They stunk.
/s
by Hipster Olympic Team! on Jan 6, 2012 10:13 PM PST via mobile reply actions
I just don’t understand why they don’t pound the ball inside when there outside shots don’t fall.
by 01B5S4 on Jan 6, 2012 10:15 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
No inside game, really.
Still, too many TO’s and lazy threes. Matthews really put the rest of the team behind the 8 ball with his morbidly horrific first quarter. Then Crawford came in and outdid him. Amazingly horrible 2 guard play tonight. Just horrible.
/s
by Hipster Olympic Team! on Jan 6, 2012 10:20 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
about that one loss thing
The only consolation is that the Blazers would still have lost even if they had played a lot better. Phoenix was just knocking down shot after shot.
well that happens when the opposing team plays no defense.
It was like the All star game..only with the all stars playing against a team of Babbitts out there disguised as…(insert other Blazer players’ names here)
Except for Kurt Thomas and C. Smith and Elliot Williams.
Got vertical on that block. Saw cj got couple t
OSU '06
GForce Crash Wallace FTW!
by TyboOSU on Jan 6, 2012 10:17 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
Watching
it on league pass which is a bit delayed I can read here what will happen. It less painful then.
seems weird
The oddest thing is how bipolar the Blazers have been. On a bad night they are dreadful. On a good night they are phenomenal. There hasn’t been a lot of in between.
by lsjogren on Jan 6, 2012 10:17 PM PST reply actions 1 recs
On a serious note it's not often that the Blazers lose a game and I go away thinking they did the best they could.
It’s one game, and one off night. I think Nate knows that which is why you saw him waive the white flag so early. Our bench could be deeper so our guys could get longer rests. That isn’t something we are going to see change this year though.
One needs also to remember
that with this amount of games we would still be in preseason. Thus the preseason ups and downs. Last post lockout was the same.
Nights like these remind me I need other hobbies/priorities...
Anticipation…..and massive letdown im poor and very picky with what actually entertains me….:(
OSU '06
GForce Crash Wallace FTW!
by TyboOSU on Jan 6, 2012 10:19 PM PST via mobile reply actions
Got to say I'm a little concerned with our conditioning at this point
Going to be a long season if the guys come out dead on their feet every second and third game. Here’s hoping this was just “one of those nights”
I'm more worried for the guy who does the touchup paint on the rim.
Nights like these are going to give that poor soul carpal tunnel syndrome.
/s
by Hipster Olympic Team! on Jan 6, 2012 10:23 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
Here’s hoping this was just "one of those nights"
You saw this one coming from the start…blazers definitely looked flat, but some cred to my boys, they looked pretty smooth for an old team that should suck.
Enough Bitchin' lets do this
credit your guys for stepping up
they did look pretty terrible still though even though the Blazers looked orders of magnitude worse. Nash really has his work cut out for him this season.
ya
but look at it this way last year they went through major roster changes before the season started then again half way through…and with NO all stars, he still lead the league in assist. I mean, how much worse could it be this year.
Enough Bitchin' lets do this
Nash is inhuman
They should name the HOF after him. I hate seeing him have less and less to work with every season though. I kind of wish the Suns FO had done more last season to give him something to work with and build for the future.
Still…seeing the Suns jump on the Blazers tonight and run us out of Phoenix…impressive.
I hate seeing him have less and less to work with every season though
preaching to the choir
But Nash has made it public he has no desire to chase a ring. Suns have no intent of letting him go. so there you have it. I think the blazers look great this year, add Nash to that roster and you’d be money. but add LMA to our roster and we’re back. but if those moves could’ve happened they would have by now. Nash is soft spoken and humble, but he aint commin off the bench, same with Hill. it’s not arrogance on their part, it just won’t work.
I’ll say this, if he did leave he could do mutch worse then the blazers.
Enough Bitchin' lets do this
yes..but he would also probably be out for the season with injuries
The Suns’ fitness/training staff’ is just a little bit better than Bobby Medina.
Anyone else rather see Nolan play back up PG?
That travel/charge sequence from jamaal kinda sealed it for me.
Nolan
still needs time to me. Having someone like Patty Mills here wouldn’t be the worst idea.
energizer Patty could be great to wake things up
with Elliot. But using the bench more may be necessary with this condensed schedule.
Somewhere Michael Jordan is smiling at Gerald Wallace Blazer highlights.
Crawford is alot more crafty with the ball, a better handler, and a better shooter. and he’s also a veteran. so no i’d rather not see nolan smith running the point, unless we have to.
by Jeremy Pearson on Jan 6, 2012 11:01 PM PST up reply actions
I once happened across a show in mexico
featuring a woman and a mule….the Blazers in this case looked very much like the woman
by blazerblaze on Jan 6, 2012 10:20 PM PST reply actions 1 recs
Well...
That wasn’t even close to entertaining. Regardless of the loss it was just desperately boring basketball for a Blazers fan.
Get used to this-
I am afraid this is our lot this year. Without a good half court offense we are doomed to some ugly brickfests where absolutely nothing works.
Can't wait for Sunday.
5-2 is still very solid for this team. They’ve been resilient despite terrible performances in both losses. I really love this team.
Go Blazers!
/s
by Hipster Olympic Team! on Jan 6, 2012 10:25 PM PST via mobile reply actions
Quit it with your optimism!
Theres no room for that here
blazers
After the Clipper game I was figuring, well I guess the Blazers are a dud after all. Then they had some good games.
So after this stinker I’m not as concerned. On a good day they are an excellent team.
I would rather watch Oprah take a poop!
At least she would hit the rim. And show us some dribbling skills
man we expected you in the first quarter
that’s about when we should’ve started the post game thread lol
For a while they were shooting 28%, so I have to admit I'm not surprised assists were low
You could pass to a wide open player, and they’d still be lucky to hit the rim for a while.
hard to get an assist when no one can make a shot
65-1 baby
by thomasikehara on Jan 6, 2012 11:02 PM PST via iPhone app up reply actions
Hope they learn.
Blazers aren’t good enough to win when they don’t bring it. At least Elliot Williams got to make a splash.
Poor Pheonix fans
I would want a refund for this game if I was a Suns ticket holder.
well that sucked
65-1 baby
by thomasikehara on Jan 6, 2012 11:01 PM PST via iPhone app reply actions
the suns obviously had a good defensive game plan for us. they shut down wallace and lamarcus and let everyone else beat us, and noone could hit a shot so they just kept clogging the middle daring everyone to shoot and noone could make a basket, so that is how we lost the game.
yeah, shooting is pretty handy
I hope they can figure out how to perform on a back to back.
Somewhere Michael Jordan is smiling at Gerald Wallace Blazer highlights.
sup guys
so not a good showing from the blazers. I know a lot of people think the suns suck, and there are valid points to support that. But I disagree, we’ve looked bad to open the season cuz shots we usually make wouldn’t fall. that allowed opponents to pack the paint and slip the skreen on the PnR, which meant Nash couldn’t do his thing. tonight our shots fell forcing the blazers to spread and cover the whole floor on the tail end of a BtB. the Suns are like most western conference teams… dangerous on any given night.
Enough Bitchin' lets do this
oh
and remember how i was saying about the floor being slippery? did you guys all the times players slipped onto their butts?
Enough Bitchin' lets do this
it makes me extra nervous
Hill is one of our best players (hands down one the best defenders in the league) he seems to slip and fall the most. we are thin on talent, and really! cant afford to lose him to injury.
Enough Bitchin' lets do this
that was crazy
I wonder wth they clean the floor with. Seems a little dangerous.
I don't know whats up but they need to fix soon
it’s a big liability, and even bigger to our guys.
Enough Bitchin' lets do this
And nobody saw this coming?........come on.
That’s all I have to say about that.
We must endeavor to persevere.
Get used to it!
Road wins for all teams will be fewer and further between this year…..
What I saw last night (before I changed channels)
1. Back to Back games are tough (wait for B2B2B)
2. While the Blazers are trying to be an uptempo team they can not hang with an uptempo team, especially on the road B2B
3. Poor shooting usually is a legs thing and being B2B (and early season) and trying to keep the “Suns Tempo” failed
4. Nates short rotation will be expolited in these B2B games
Summary….I expect the Blazers to play about 33% ball when on B2B…..Hence beating OKC in the 4th when OKC was on B2B. This condensed scheduling is going to be brutal on all teams, Home records will be better than ever this year and road records will be worse than ever. All Western Conf teams are 9-36 on the road (20%), The entire league is 38-51 on the road. Throw out Bulls (5-1) and Miami (4-0) and it’s 29-50 (37%)
_________________________________________
If "It's Only a Game", then why do we keep score?
What I saw last night.
Nate is apparently asking the Blazers to switch on all screens. To my reckoning this simply plays into the hands of Nash. Nash is then able to get a big in front of him and get his own shot all game plus he can dump the ball down to the phoenix big with the smaller Blazer player on him all game long.
Why not stay on screens and take away the continuous mismatch? It is good to have position flexibility and players who believe they can match up on larger or smaller players but LA is not going to be able to stay with Nash and the Blazer guards are simply going to have a hard time defending a 6’ 10 + on the block.
Time for a change in approach?
by 1977 Blazer fan on Jan 7, 2012 10:28 AM PST reply actions
Can we just play every game in the Rose Garden
for the rest of the season? Perhaps that will solve everything.
by ICanCheerLouder on Jan 7, 2012 11:38 AM PST reply actions
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