Game 73 Recap

by Dave on Mar 31, 2007 9:45 PM PDT in News

Clippers 99 Blazers 86
Boxscore

This recap is going to be quick and dirty because the simple story is that we got steamrolled by a playoff-bound team. If you looked over at our bench to see Zach Randolph, Ime Udoka, and Joel Przybilla--our entire starting frontcourt for most of the year--all in nice looking suits you'll understand a large part of why. The offense was bad but the defense and continuity were horrible, and that's just not surprising. With the Clippers needing to win this game we didn't stand a chance, and rightfully so. Erase it from your Tivos and your minds and just go on.

A few things of note:

--Lamarcus Aldridge went to the hospital early in the game. The official explanation given was "dizziness" but the Mikes updated us saying Kevin Pritchard termed it "heart arrhythmia" while Maurice Lucas said, "It was something with the chest and he didn't look well." This is not uncommon for athletes but of course anything involving the ticker can be scary. We'll all watch for updates and keep Lamarcus in our thoughts and prayers.

--Brandon Roy had a heck of a game despite the Clippers keying on him continually. He shot 9-14 and was perfect from the line on the way to 23 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists. Nate played him a lot at point guard and he looked decent.

--Martell Webster shot 50% and tried to play some active defense but we probably didn't get him enough shots (8) for the minutes he played (31).

--With Lamarcus out Raef LaFrentz got some PT and ended up the team's second leading scorer with 15. Way to go, big man!

--Do you like Travis' 9-10 from the foul line or hate his 2-10 from the field? Take your pick.

--Minutes played for the non-Roy point guards:

Sergio 20
Dickau 15
Jack 10

This is the first time we've seen Nate do that to Jarrett. Sending a message?

--The Clippers' Sam Cassell, struggling with injuries coming into the game, went flat on the floor, apparently with back trouble, after only a couple minutes of play and never came back.

Those are really the only things of interest. I wouldn't make much more of the game than that. We'll try not to get drubbed on Wednesday against Utah.

--Dave (blazersub@yahoo.com)

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Hrmm

Don't understand how Outlaw managed to take more shots than Martell, eventhough Web was playing a whole better game from one end of the court to the next. Outlaw bricked most of his open shots -- I'm even surprised he hit two. People like to point and say that Martell has been 'passive,' probably a good take on his play for most of the year, but not tonight. Hell, not the entire last month or so. The team just didn't feed him or give him the ball in a position where he could score. He's not Brandon, someone who is asked to handle the ball and dribble it a lot up top of the key and make a play happen.

When Web gets stuck, he gets the ball in the corner with someone guarding him tightly. Not much you can do but pass it back around the perimeter or chuck a desperation three. When he did get the ball in a position to score, he was beautiful. He even went inside a couple of times and made some moves that made even Roy's moves to the basket pale. And he's been doing that for the past month consistently, which I like.

ROTUNDITYDOTNET

by damir on Mar 31, 2007 9:57 PM PDT reply actions

Yeah...

I'm impressed with Martell's athleticism...especially around the basket. That wasn't something he got too much credit for coming out of the draft...but the guy has some hops. If he ever puts it all together, and stays aggressive on both ends of the floor, he has a chance to be a special player.

by JasonT on Mar 31, 2007 10:50 PM PDT up reply actions

wouldn't you say that's partly his fault

for pretty much never moving without the ball

My Favorite Non-Blazers: Dwight Howard, Andre Iguodala, Allen Iverson, Andrei Kirilenko, Gilbert Arenas, Elton Brand, Jermaine O'neal, Chris Bosh

by darkhelmit54 on Apr 1, 2007 1:23 AM PDT up reply actions

See

He's not being told to. That's the thing. When Rip Hamilton moves around, his teammates set picks for him to get free. Nobody on the Blazers does that for Webster, and it would be a huge waste of energy to run around aimlessly if he cannot get rid of his man. That's where teamwork comes in.

It's part Webster, part rest of the team, and part coaching.

ROTUNDITYDOTNET

by damir on Apr 1, 2007 9:46 AM PDT up reply actions

i agree

it's not really martell's fault, he just fills his role in the offense, and from what i can tell, Nate's offensive doesn't really rely on a lot of movement. of course, i think maybe it could use a little more movement. but don't blame martell. if i were martell, i'd lobby strong for a lot more of sergio or roy at PG, as both of them penetrate defenses at will, which breaks down coverage, and sergio especially is good at getting the ball to him in the corner for good looks at the hoop.

by sergioFTW on Apr 1, 2007 11:20 AM PDT up reply actions

Webster

but he spends so much time just standing there... just standing in the corner... is that really what he's supposed to be doing in Nate's offense? because I really would have to take issue with the coaches' plan than with Martell's play if that is the case... because it seems like such a waste.

by madding on Apr 1, 2007 1:38 AM PDT up reply actions

Oh

And to those who say "why doesn't Martell run around like Rip Hamilton and frees himself open?"

That's because Rip's success is very dependant on the rest of the team. Rip doesn't just run around and get open, he runs around and makes the guy chasing him go through a series of screens set forth by his teammates. Those are all highly designed plays to capitalize on Rip's strengths. Portland never runs screen and rolls for Webster. His role this entire year has been predicated on being open on the wing and taking a long three -- those are the plays that are drawn up for him.

ROTUNDITYDOTNET

by damir on Mar 31, 2007 10:02 PM PDT reply actions

Lamarcus

was treated for dehydration at the hospital and has been released. Whew! I saw him going to the locker room and kept watching for his return, but he never did. I thought he was holding his nose and wondered if it had been reinjured but he was probably holding his head.

Sam Cassell was having back spasms and there is no word on him. He was so flat on the floor that I was concerned he was unconscious or worse. He was still hurting when he walked off the court (to a nice hand from the crowd.)

by jorga on Mar 31, 2007 10:43 PM PDT reply actions

I've read, and I forget where,

that hydration is not paid nearly as much attention to as it should in the league. On average, starting players lose ten pounds of water weight at the end of games, or something like that; the article's focus was how player so and so was having success because he paid attention, if I remember correctly.

Oh, Nancy! The Superpan is not magical, it will burn you.

by supremepuntiff on Apr 1, 2007 12:43 AM PDT up reply actions

You wouldn't think

the trainers would let them get away with that. But then we do see a lot of guys take the towel but shake off the Gatorade when the kids try and pass them some.

--Dave

by Dave on Apr 1, 2007 12:59 AM PDT up reply actions

I'm sure they get plenty of reminders

but the thing about dehydration, is that you need constant fluids, a little or more, depending, throughout the day, and there is no way they can monitor them that constantly. I think people (and thus players) tend to think you drink when you're dehydrated, but really, you should be drinking to keep from being dehydrated, as it takes a while to rehydrate, and is in no way immediate.

And if Caron Butler just figured out this year that replacing a bag of McDonald's food with fresh cooked food helps him play better (he attributes his career year to the move), imagine the misunderstanding about fluids that exists, even with trainers constantly reminding/ordering.

Dehydration can be sneaky; you don't always realize you are until you exert yourself.

Oh, Nancy! The Superpan is not magical, it will burn you.

by supremepuntiff on Apr 1, 2007 2:10 AM PDT up reply actions

No way

Not 10 lbs. That's Formula 1 and Fighter Jet realm. And those guys experience 3 to 5Gs forces of gravity on average during a flight or a 90minute F1 race. F1 drivers lose about 13lbs of weight per race.

For NBA players it's more like 3 to 5lbs, if that, especially since they are not in the game all the time.

Formula 1 drivers race for 90 minutes with the only rest being a 8-15 second pit stop once or twice per race.

ROTUNDITYDOTNET

by damir on Apr 1, 2007 9:48 AM PDT up reply actions

Oh

And F1 drivers have a tank of Gatorade being fed to them through a tube to their helmet. Before Gatorade and other sports drinks, F1 drivers used to pass out on the podium.

ROTUNDITYDOTNET

by damir on Apr 1, 2007 9:49 AM PDT up reply actions

I always wondered

How Jamal would respond to getting 40 min.
16 reb? 20 pts?............................thud.

by DropstepJ on Mar 31, 2007 10:56 PM PDT reply actions

It's hard to get a lot of rebs

when your opponent doesn't miss.

by howlingfantods on Apr 1, 2007 10:10 AM PDT up reply actions

True

true.

by drawingjeremy on Apr 1, 2007 3:46 PM PDT up reply actions

well

I'm gonna be watching these same teams play again in LA in just under 2 weeks.. hopefully not the same result though.

ROY for R.O.Y.

by junit3123 @ Blazer's Edge on Apr 1, 2007 1:04 AM PDT reply actions

nate should tell outlaw

that he is never allowed to shoot the ball from 19-21 feet--EVER! I'd say at least 75% of his shots come from this range and he shoots terribly from there, no way its more than 30% for the season--and a lot of them are clankers taken when the rebounders aren't in position, resulting in fast breaks for the other team. as far as i'm concerned, it's pure laziness, both mentally and physically--he gets the ball there and rather than figure out a way to get to the hop or make a play, he just shoots it, over and over again. it kills our offense. when outlaw slashes and goes towards the hoop, or takes jumpshots in the 15-10 foot range, he is a much better shooter. this has been a problem for him all season. i really feel like their are two outlaws, the one who takes those crappy shots (who i want to get rid of completely) and the outlaw that gets to the hoop and and plays a dynamic offense (who i think we should keep).

by sergioFTW on Apr 1, 2007 11:29 AM PDT reply actions

My impressions

Due to partaking in some urban golf, I missed the first quarter and arrived to find the Blazers down by 20 early in the second quarter. It seemed the entire game we were playing a squad of second and third teamers and at the time I didn't understand why. I still don't understand the Jack thing. I thought Roy was only partially effective in this game despite his points. He ran into triple teams multiple times and had problems kicking out. Sergio did a good job (I guess) of running around the big guys, but I didn't see it amount to much. Any word on the Jack minutes reasoning?

by homersolo on Apr 1, 2007 12:06 PM PDT reply actions

Hit the wall

This is just a guess, but I would say we have seen JJ fully hit the wall. The wall won. He has started every game he played in this year and he plays 150% of the minutes he did last year. Combine that with Nate's practices and thats a long season for a second year player. Probably won't happen again.

by TearsforDuckworth on Apr 1, 2007 12:57 PM PDT up reply actions