Game 65 Recap: Blazers 103, Wolves 96
I'm thinking this game goes in the "wasn't great, wasn't bad, glad we won" file. We seemed to play with just enough effort to get by for the first three quarters, never dominating and never falling too far behind. About 3 minutes into the fourth I found myself thinking, "Why in the world are we playing this close to the Timberwolves?" Apparently the Blazers thought that way too, as they started to clamp down on defense and choked out Minnesota in the last half of the fourth.
The Timberwolves actually shot far better than we did from the field and the three-point line. They also outscored us 52-34 in points in the paint. How did we win? Simple: free throws. We shot 26 of them, they shot 9. This is living proof that the more aggressive interior team doesn't always get the calls. The last couple of years we complained mightily when Zach never drew foul shots in the post. Tonight it was Al Jefferson's turn. I feel safe saying that just about any game Minnesota is -14 in free throw points they're going to lose. And somewhere out there on a Timberwolves blog somebody is complaining about it.
The other stat that stood out was that we obliterated them in points off of turnovers, 20-7, even though we committed 7 and they only committed 12. We stayed ahead in offensive rebounds and our rebounding overall was good tonight. That sure helped. I was not pleased at all with the defensive effort up until the fourth quarter, but I guess you could argue we only expended the energy we needed to. A win is a win, and that's what matters most.
Individual Notes
--Brandon Roy drew 9 of those foul shots as the `Wolves had no answer for him. He scored 27 with 9 assists and 5 rebounds. Making the inevitable comparison Randy Foye scored 9 with 8 assists and 7 rebounds. I suspect we came out a little ahead there.
--We did not force-feed Lamarcus in the post tonight but he still managed a few moves and a few jumpers. He ended up with 20 points on 9-16 shooting which was plenty impressive. This is his third straight 20-point game in a row. He and Joel and their little helpers also did a reasonable job on Al Jefferson. Al ended up getting his points late but it was difficult.
--Joel Przybilla gave us his usual 10 rebounds even though he didn't start the second half. The Minnesota broadcast never said what the issue was. It couldn't have been personal fouls, as for the first time I can remember he had none. He got 29 minutes anyway, which was fine. I suspect many would prefer Joel playing the bulk of his minutes in the 4th instead of the 3rd anyway.
I will mention this. I love what Joel is giving us but every time I see him somewhat open and not passed to--and even more when I see him passed to and him not able to handle or finish strong--I can't help but envision Greg Oden in there with those big mitts and awesome hops of his. Defenses are able to slack off a little deep on us, leaving cracks in the paint. I sincerely hope they try that strategy next year. Your jaw is going to be on the floor. I also hope Joel is still on the team and still able to grab 7-10 rebounds in 15-20 minutes.
--Steve Blake was steady and scored 11. Nothing wrong there.
--I'm going to lump Martell Webster and James Jones together because they both scored 13, they both gave a little something-something in the other areas (Martell 3 rebs and 3 assists, James 5 rebs) and they both missed some WIDE open threes again. Mind you, I completely understand that everybody misses. It's not as easy as they make it look from that distance. But between them they had 3-4 WIDE open bombs and still couldn't connect. Any NBA shooter with 2-3 seconds pressure-free should be able to hit at least 2-4. This seems to be a continuing theme with Martell especially. I very much want them both to be complete players--in fact they have to be in order to see minutes. But even with those other good things seeing them missing wide open threes is like watching a stripper who really can dance. OK, that's nice, but you know what we paid for...
--Channing Frye was a rebounding machine and actually had a couple of good defensive plays inside! He got 7 rebounds in 19 minutes. I like that Channing just fine.
--Travis Outlaw was not a rebounding machine (1 reb in 15 minutes) but he at least shot 4-9 tonight for 8 points. That's about three more shots than he has been hitting this week.
--But that's OK, because Jarrett Jack made up for Travis' lack of misses by hoisting 7 of his own in 8 shots taken. And I mean these weren't even close. You know that scene in Robocop where he has Lewis hold the baby food so he can adjust his targeting visor and shoot it accurately? Jarrett needs to get himself a screwdriver. However he did have 6 rebounds and 4 assists in 20 minutes.
--Sergio saw the floor tonight! He made a buzzer-beater at the end of the first and scored 2 points with 1 assist in 7 minutes.
One-Sentence Game Summary:
We couldn't afford the name-brand win but the generic substitute was pretty much as good.
--Dave (blazersub@yahoo.com)
0 recs |
30 comments
Comments
dave
by Jones for 3 on Mar 11, 2008 10:21 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
League Pass
--Dave
by Dave on Mar 11, 2008 10:27 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
internet feed
by The Graduate on Mar 12, 2008 1:05 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I 've been going there, but last night
Dheepan gave me another site:
by timg56 on Mar 12, 2008 6:38 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
same feed last nite
by The Graduate on Mar 12, 2008 10:35 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
That Wolf Howl
But twice a year I think, ooh, I wish we were Wolves.
by Section323 on Mar 11, 2008 10:40 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I agree
by jamon51 on Mar 11, 2008 11:28 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Like the Bucks, I guess and their zombie deer
So if we were the Wolves, and I were in charge, I'd get us a really cool wolf.
by Section323 on Mar 11, 2008 11:31 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Sergio had a great game
i was nervous when he came out since he had to be feeling some pressure after having been benched for a half-dozen games, but i was very pleased with his performance, and Nate even called him out as a important factor in the game in the post-game interview (of course he also said 'Sergio hasn't been getting a lot of minutes lately' as if he wasn't the one who took away his minutes).
by sergioFTW on Mar 11, 2008 10:47 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Just my uneducated opinion
Pryz, LMA, JJ33, BRoy and Blake followed up by GO, Frye, Trout, Martell/Rudy and Sergio. Until GO and Rudy learn the ropes, then switch Centers. The stuff NBA Dreams are made of :-).
by coastrider on Mar 11, 2008 11:46 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Thank you for pointing this out! Correctamundo!
by LaMarvelous on Mar 11, 2008 11:23 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Well, what do you know about that?
If Nate thought his contribution was so important why were his minutes so limited? If my point isn't obvious enough yet let me be less subtle - Nate! Give Sergio some more minutes, Please! Otherwise we will never know what kind of a 2007-2008 season he had, because he wont have had one.
Keep up the good fight, sergioFTW!
by LaMarvelous on Mar 11, 2008 11:38 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Agreed.
For that reason, I wouldn't lose too much sleep over a loss or three in the near furture.
by TwoDeep on Mar 12, 2008 9:29 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Perhaps he didn't get more minutes
by EnglandDan on Mar 12, 2008 10:34 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Joel turned his ankle
by go52 on Mar 12, 2008 12:00 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Fun note
Learning to win on the road. If Portland can manage a .500 record on the road next season and continue their exceptional play at Home, they will be a 50+ win team with ease.
by damir on Mar 12, 2008 12:55 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
BTW, I see that as a sign as progress
by damir on Mar 12, 2008 12:56 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
We have made a lot of progress
--Dave
by Dave on Mar 12, 2008 2:05 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yup
If only...
by damir on Mar 12, 2008 2:33 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
KP, GET ON THE PHONE
I hope our lottery pick, Travis, and the rights to Rudy Fernandez plus cash is enough to swing the deal...
Mortimer
by Mortimer on Mar 12, 2008 2:40 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
The Minnesota broadcast team also mentioned
I consider that to be a positive indicator. It tells me these guys can play under pressure. It also tells me that many of the issues we have to resolve relate more to inexperience rather than lack of talent. Our guys have the ability, they just need to show it consistently. Consistency tends to come with experience.
by timg56 on Mar 12, 2008 6:46 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Not to be mean
MY FAVORITE PLAY OF THE GAME: Late in the 4th, we were up two, inbounds play after a timeout. The pass comes into Blake instead of Roy, and Roy runs across the key acting like he wants the pass, playing the decoy role. The Wolves focus totally on Roy, leaving James Jones wide open. He gets the pass, and swishes the three, giving us an insurmountable 5 point cushion. It was a genius call by Nate.
The Wolves defense was bad in the 4th, and should be bad all night. Roy coulda' scored 50 just penetrating all night, but oh well. He doesn't like to show off.
Boy howdy, we got 34 wins with a lot of games left. We got a winning season in our sights! Me? I'll be happy with 40 wins. Adding Oden to a 40 win team isn't even fair.
The Wolves need a strong defensive center to help out Al Jefferson. I'm really curious to see who they draft...
Mortimer
by Mortimer on Mar 12, 2008 2:32 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Strong defensive center
I really think we need to lose a few games like this one. Otherwise, my start of season prediction that we would win 39 will be wrong.
This team needs to remember what's important. The important thing is that what I said comes to pass. It is good that we have the Internet so I can remind people, because they seem to forget so easily what is really important.
by jscot on Mar 12, 2008 5:56 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Joel was born in Monticello
I'm not sure, but I thought I read somewhere that he and his wife bought a home here in Portland and are going to make Oregon their home. I know Steve Blake has done so.
One of the reasons I like both of these guys is they want to be here. They like living in Portland and I have to believe they are really loving the work situation, playing with this group of guys. I know that I love Portland. It will be 20 years next month since I moved out here and as much as I'd like to see more of my family back east, I have no intention of leaving. Even as nice as Washington and Seatle are, I've kept my Portland home and wish I could spend more time there than I do.
by timg56 on Mar 12, 2008 6:55 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Great final five minutes
I've finally realized the secret of why James Jones is so important to this team. It's not so much his shooting, it's the fact that he gives the team another player besides Brandon Roy who will show some poise when the going gets tough.
by leeroyjenkins on Mar 12, 2008 9:46 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Blackout range around Portland ?
The BLACKOUT range extends waaaaayyy
beyond Portland. All of Oregon and Southern
Washington outside of Portland and the Willamette
Valley is BLACKED OUT. If Coincast cable isn't
offered in your area (all but Ashland), you
don't get the privlige of even paying for the
games. The rumor is that you live in Boise, so
therefore outside of Oregon and not sattelite
blocked.
Funny they never mentioned the 600,000
households being BLACKED OUT during Kommisar
Stern's visit. I guess BIG CABLE COMPANY
MONOPOLY'S aren't on the discussion paper. He
did mention how great the TV revenues were
for the year. HMMMMMMM ?
by walkoff41 on Mar 12, 2008 11:51 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

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