FanPost

Game 9 at PHX: Gracious, on the whole

The Blazers finished their season series against the Suns in Phoenix last night, this time losing 82-102. It wasn't much of a game—two teams showed up and tipped off, but the entire proceeding threw a perfunctory vibe. Portland won the season series on Friday night, so the only thing to play for was the single W. Considering the clouds over Portland's wins, it seems just that the Suns still have their bragging rights.

Recaps

INT. EVENING: AN N.B.A. ARENA

Before attempting to deconstruct the game result, it helps one to consider the circumstances at tipoff:

  • Lottery team vs. conference finalist for the third time this season
  • Season series already won by the underdogs
  • Four starters already out between both teams
  • The previous win declared figuratively (NOT literally) null in retrospect after discovery of a traveling violation immediately prior to the gamewinning shot

Considering all of the ups-and-downs Suns fans have experienced over the past few years—dysfunction, repair, then revelations of owner misconduct—they're still a step behind on their quota of happy thoughts. If the Blazers had taken the third game thoughts in Phoenix would have been quite… ugly instead.

Discretion is the better part of valor, as they say.

Frustration

The Suns did their share of the work to get the victory, mostly by playing turnabout on Portland's approach to last night's game. Wherever a player had a spot, defenders were there to contest a shot. Whenever a miss, guys in the low post to collect it.

Wins may be owed to ability and hard work, but for this year's Blazers we can assign blame for most losses to inexperience—and what we saw tonight was a clinic on taking advantage of inexperienced players.

Secondary agendas

Since the Blazers clearly did not want to take any win that wasn't handed to them—a wise choice under the circumstances—a lot of clock was eaten up by lineups and plays that have been thus far infrequent. Count on the Blazers to absorb what they learned and come back with new surprises.

After nine years of Terry Stotts and one year of total chaos, this new approach to development is… exciting, really. It might lose a few games we'd prefer the Blazers won, but on the other hand the best lessons usually come from failures before successes.

What's going on right now looks like approximately-legal load management, but we should be glad for it. The young guys get some run, the vets get some rest, and done right this carries everybody into the playoffs better-prepared than leaning on the top half of the rotation night after night.

Besides, have you been watching these guys? Aren't they crazy fun?

The frontcourt continues to overperform

Jusuf Nurkic appears acutely aware of his status as the senior Blazer still standing, and he's doing a mostly-fantastic job of providing steady production in Dame's absence. His early-game shooting struggles in Phoenix have been hard to miss, but he's been engaged.

Drew Eubanks might have spent most of the past year adjusting to Billups' preferred pace of play, but he's arrived and he's doing a great job. Cap issues notwithstanding, it wouldn't be too shabby if he can be counted upon to stick around.

Tertiary to this discussion is the Flagrant 1 call on Eubanks last night. When players entangle their assignment like Lee did to Eubanks, do they really believe they can just up and get away with it? The answer is too often yes, but…

Eubanks put prospective defenders on notice that he doesn't screw around, he doesn't bluff, and his coaches support him. Maybe sometimes a guy needs to commit a momentum-killing flagrant foul to make absolutely sure that he's been clearly understood—a point made not to be sarcastic, but to underscore that there are bullies out there, and the best way to make them buzz off is to dish out consequences sooner rather than later.

Postscripts

  • Seriously, guys. Entangling your assignment in the low post isn't basketball, it's wrestling. Cut that crap out!
  • Trendon Watford's back! Also, Coach Billups spent time on John Butler in his postgame remarks. The team might not be able to do much right now about the state of their frontcourt, but they're doing everything they can.
  • When will Keon Johnson start to pick up his focus? We wait and we wonder…

The next stop is the road leg of the Blazers' season slate against Miami, where injuries might be giving the Blazers a ghost of a chance at a victory. The game broadcast starts at 5:30 p.m. PST Monday.