Blazer's Edge - Blazers vs. Nets: Complete CoverageThe ultimate coverage and analysis of the Portland Trail Blazershttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/47543/blazersedge-fave.png2012-11-25T16:10:35-08:00http://www.blazersedge.com/rss/stream/34530432012-11-25T16:10:35-08:002012-11-25T16:10:35-08:00Analysis: Depth, Defense Doom Blazers vs. Nets
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<figcaption>Bruce Bennett</figcaption>
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<p>The Portland Trail Blazers give a mighty effort in the absence of star forward LaMarcus Aldridge but end up folding in the second half to Brooklyn's star power and depth.</p> <p>The Blazers fell convincingly to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.netsdaily.com/">Brooklyn Nets</a> this afternoon, 98-85. You can read Timmay's quarter-by-quarter recap <a target="_blank" href="http://www.blazersedge.com/2012/11/25/3689506/final-nets-punish-the-blazers-98-85">here</a>. </p>
<p>Even though the Nets shrugged off the Blazers in the fourth quarter this was one of those games where objects in the mirror were closer than they appeared. The Blazers stayed close through the first half even though <span>LaMarcus Aldridge</span> sat out this game with back spasms. Portland kept a lid on <span>Brook Lopez</span>, fronting him with <span>Meyers Leonard</span>. This is one of the things I appreciate about this incarnation of the Blazers. The McMillan philosophy was to make other teams adjust to his squad. That's a valid--actually the correct--approach when your team is talented and capable of winning every game. But as Portland's talent dwindled watching them get killed night after night while making few adjustments got old. <span>Terry Stotts</span> has these guys coming out with plans tailored for the opponent and their skills. Eventually they're going to have to learn the other way, establishing themselves instead of playing to the opposition. In the meantime it was more fun watching Leonard use his mobility and energy to deny Lopez the ball than it would have been watching him try to play behind Lopez and get killed ever play (which is exactly what happened when Brook caught in the paint). </p>
<p>In any case, denying Lopez helped curb the Nets' scoring for a while. <span>Deron Williams</span> either passed or missed shots. Portland rebounded well and moved the ball themselves. They also hit some improbable threes which never hurts. The only hitch in the program was <span>Joe Johnson</span>. He scored on <span>Nicolas Batum</span> and <span>Wesley Matthews</span> alike. Still, this was a manageable leak. The Blazers led 50-46 at the half.</p>
<p>The game started to fall apart in the third quarter as Deron Williams, evidently not getting enough for dessert on Thanksgiving, made mincemeat of <span>Damian Lillard</span>. The veteran All-Star blew by the hot rookie repeatedly. He didn't score himself as much as set up wide-open teammates as Portland's defense frantically collapsed. After getting sliced and diced, Lillard picked up his fourth foul and went to the bench. The offense struggled thereafter. </p>
<p>Portland's bench players didn't notch their first point until the 9:49 mark of the fourth period. Starters who had been springy and spry in the first half started to slow down under heavy minutes. Rebounds disappeared and turnovers abounded as the combination of fatigue and lack of talent took its toll. All of a sudden Brooklyn was scoring <i>real </i>easy and the Blazers had no answer. What were they going to give, though? You'd like to say, "If only this or that happened..." but realistically the Blazers might not have had the horses to finish this game even had Aldridge played. Without him it was a lost cause. Still, the Blazers played with courage and confidence, ran plays, and had some good defensive stands. It wasn't a bad game to watch. The loss was more than fair.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><b>Individual Notes</b></p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Damian Lillard had moments and <i>moments</i> tonight. His three-point shot was sweet. He banked his first one and ended the evening 3-5 from the arc. 7 assists and 6 rebounds attested that he worked hard. He shot 4-12 overall, let Williams drive him into some precarious situations and turnovers, and D-Wilted under the onslaught in the third period. But that's life in the big city, a learning experience. Until Williams turned it on Lillard looked just as good as his famed counterpart. The lesson here is that the great ones have another level that Lillard doesn't even know how to get to yet. Someday...</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Nicolas Batum went 5-13, 1-5 from the arc for 12 points. He had some nice moments but it wasn't a great game from him. For all his ability he still makes silly technical mistakes...a bad closeout here, continental-level drift on his jump shot there. They're little things but they add up to him shaking his head and wondering what's going wrong. If he could just tighten it up...(sigh)</p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span>J.J. Hickson</span> started in place of Aldridge, played 33 minutes, and scored 19 with 10 rebounds. The defense wasn't spectacular. Kris Humprhies went gonzo there for a while. But really you couldn't ask more from the guy.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Meyers Leonard kept his composure against one of the best centers in the NBA. He never gave up on the game plan and he managed to keep the fouls to a reasonable level. He looked plenty confident on offense, shooting 6-10 from various ranges for 12 points. He got out-muscled and collected only 3 rebounds. But again, what more could you ask from the guy, knowing that he's not a great individual defender yet and that he's played a month in the league? I was impressed by what he was able to do.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Wesley Matthews had the jumper stuck on automatic for a while. He scored a team-high 20 on 8-18 shooting, 3-7 from distance. He looked good defensively as long as he wasn't on Johnson. But somebody needs to get him some Tarn-X for the finish the rim. Those attempts were pretty rough today even though he got past his man repeatedly.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">You don't want to hear about the Blazers' bench in this one. They got outscored 29-9 by their counterparts, managed 7 rebounds, committed 8 turnovers and 10 personal fouls. 9 points, 7 rebounds, 8 turnovers, and 10 fouls would be a semi-disturbing line for a guy playing 22 minutes in Summer League. As an aggregate for 7 players in a combined 73 minutes of real NBA time...well, let's just say the Red Cross showed up with doughnuts and blankets every time Portland's reserves took the floor.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">The Blazers play Detroit tomorrow, certainly a lesser team but not without problematic wrinkles. If Portland puts in the energy and execution they showed today it should be a good contest. Momentum is a fiendish and fickle influence on young teams, though. Let's hope they don't throw a bad loss after a good one.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">The <a target="_blank" href="http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=400277913">boxscore</a> for this game.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.netsdaily.com/">NetsDaily</a> is your Brooklyn hook-up.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Your <a href="http://blazersedge.urbanishment.com/scoreboard.php" target="_blank">Jersey Contest Scoreboard</a> and the <a href="http://blazersedge.urbanishment.com/gameform.php" target="_blank">form for tomorrow's game</a>.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.tiqiq.com/nba/portland-trail-blazers-tickets?pubid=1011040" target="_blank">Portland Trail Blazer tickets</a> for all games are available from Blazer's Edge sponsor TiqIQ.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">--Dave (blazersub@gmail.com)</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">P.S. Somebody needs to tell J.J. Hickson that Portland's colors are black and crimson and/or scarlet. He's running around in what appear to be fuchsia slippers. Somebody needs new kicks for Christmas. </p>
https://www.blazersedge.com/2012/11/25/3690436/portland-trail-blazers-vs-brooklyn-nets-2012Dave Deckard2012-11-25T14:22:17-08:002012-11-25T14:22:17-08:00Final: Nets Punish the Blazers, 98-85
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<figcaption>Bruce Bennett</figcaption>
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<p>In a closely-fought matinee game, the Brooklyn Nets held on late to defeat the LaMarcus Aldridge-less Portland Trail Blazers. The Blazers, starting a 7 game road trip, ran out of steam down the stretch, making the score look unrepresentative of the overall game.</p> <p>The Blazers ended with fairly balanced scoring across their starters. Wesley Matthews (20 points), JJ Hickson (19 points, 10 rebounds), Damian Lillard (13 points, 7 assists, 6 rebounds, 2 steals, 2 blocks while in constant foul trouble), Nicolas Batum (12 points, 5 rebounds), and Meyers Leonard (12 points) led the team, while the bench scored 4 points before garbage time. Aldridge sat tonight after suffering from back spasms.</p>
<p><b>First quarter:</b> The absence of Aldridge was noticed immediately, as the Nets took advantage of the rooks for early fouls. On offense, the Blazers looked confused and unfamiliar with their lineup. That led to 12 straight Nets points and a 9 point lead. However, with some interesting lineups, the Blazers fought back, with Matthews tying the game with a jumper. Four late points from Leonard gave the Blazers an unexpected two-point lead after the first.</p>
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<p>I did not expect a 2 point lead at the end of 1Q.<br>by <b>CaptainSexyJacob </b></p>
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<p><b>Second quarter:</b> Leonard and Matthews helped the Blazers expand their lead to 7, but the Nets starters came in and closed the gap quickly. Most of the quarter was your classic back-and-forth fare with no team gaining a significant advantage. The Blazers held a four-point lead at halftime.</p>
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<p>Hey guys! I'm here at Barclays center. This place is so quiet, we are the loudest fans here. <br>by <b>bustabucket</b></p>
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<p><b>Third quarter:</b> Every shot that swished in the first half rimmed-out to start the second, as the Nets took the lead after four minutes. The Blazers kept things close, and two miracle three's (from Batum and Matthews) gave them back the lead with 4 minutes left. As the lead reached 5, Deron Williams targeted Lillard on every drive, eventually getting enough calls to force the dominating Lillard to the bench. Within seconds, the Nets tied the game, which is how the quarter ended.</p>
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<p>Where's the foul? Williams superstar call. Just yell and you get the whistle.<br>by <b>BRoyInThe4th</b></p>
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<p><b>Fourth quarter:</b> Both teams started slow, unable to score early in the quarter. Joel Freeland continued his run of missed shots and poor luck, as he continued to be at the wrong place at the wrong time. Despite this, the Blazers kept the game close while the starters rested. They returned, trailing by three, but promptly turned over the inbound pass. Then Lillard couldn't buy a call on a drive. Nor could any other Blazer, as the physical play continued with no calls. Before long, the Nets bumped the lead to 9 and started running away with the game. When former Blazer Crash Wallace hit a layup, the lead was 11 with four minutes left. The Blazers called timeout, but it was too late. It was time to make plans for tomorrow.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" style="color: #d80000;" href="http://espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=400277913">Box Score</a> | <a target="_blank" style="color: #d80000;" href="http://www.tiqiq.com/nba/portland-trail-blazers-tickets?pubid=1011040">Portland Trail Blazers Tickets</a> via our sponsor, TiqIQ.</p>
<p>The next game is tomorrow afternoon, a 4:30pm game in Detroit. Stay tuned later for Dave's analysis! -- Tim</p>
https://www.blazersedge.com/2012/11/25/3689506/final-nets-punish-the-blazers-98-85Timmay!2012-11-25T10:00:34-08:002012-11-25T10:00:34-08:00No LMA! Chat here about today's game!
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<figcaption>Craig Mitchelldyer-US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
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<p>Chat here about today's Noon tip-off between the Portland Trail Blazers and the Brooklyn Nets!</p> <p><b>Tip-off: Noon! Don't say I didn't warn you! I even posted this an extra hour early.</b></p>
<p><b>UPDATE: </b>LaMarcus Aldridge is out today with back spasms.</p>
<p><u>How to watch</u><br> Portland: <b>Comcast Sportsnet Northwest, </b>or <a href="http://www.nba.com/blazers/stream-games-live" style="color: #d80000;" target="_blank">Blazers streaming</a> if CSN is unavailable to you.<br> National: <b>League Pass</b>, <a href="https://account.nba.com/leaguepass/broadband" style="color: #d80000;" target="_blank">League Pass Broadband</a>.</p>
<p><u>How to listen</u><br> Portland: <b>KEX </b>(1190 AM and 102.3 FM; 1190kex.com does not stream the game)<b><br></b>Everywhere: <a style="color: #d80000;" target="_blank" href="http://www.nba.com/broadband/alp_schedule.html">NBA Audio League Pass</a><a target="_blank" href="http://www.nba.com/broadband/alp_schedule.html"> </a></p>
<p>The usual rules apply:</p>
<p>1. Please don't discuss non-sanctioned game streaming<br> 2. No swearing or pictures<br> 3. Please be cool to each other and don't be "that guy"!</p>
<p>Hang out and enjoy the game! -- Tim (blazer.timmay@gmail.com)</p>
<p><a href="http://www.tiqiq.com/nba/portland-trail-blazers-tickets?pubid=1011040" style="color: #d80000;" target="_blank">Portland Trail Blazers tickets</a><br><a style="color: #d80000;" target="_blank" href="http://www.blazersedge.com/2012-coverage">View complete season game coverage</a><br><a style="color: #d80000;" target="_blank" href="http://www.blazersedge.com/gameday-threads-2">View previous Gameday Threads<br></a></p>
https://www.blazersedge.com/2012/11/25/3686392/gameday-thread-blazers-vs-netsTimmay!2012-11-24T15:31:17-08:002012-11-24T15:31:17-08:00Lopez, Williams Could Create Problems for Blazers
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<figcaption>Bruce Bennett</figcaption>
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<p>The Blazers face plenty of strengths at their positions of weakness as they face the Brooklyn Nets on the road.</p> <p>The Portland Trail Blazers kick off their first serious road trip of the season Sunday, facing the Brooklyn Nets at noon, Pacific time. The game will be televised on CSNNW.</p>
<p>At first glace the Nets' 7-4 record makes them look intimidating to the 6-6 Blazers. In actuality 5 of those 7 wins have come against teams not expected to be good this season. Insert your own joke here about the Blazers' expectations, but every time the Blazers have come up against a decent-record team that's feasted on bad teams and struggled against good the Blazers have emerged victorious. Somehow in those contests the Blazers decide to play like a good team or the opponent takes them lightly or <i>something </i>funky happens. This kind of game has been the difference between Portland being 6-6 and 3-9. We'll give the Blazers the benefit of the doubt and not put too much weight on records.</p>
<p>Blazers scholars will immediately identify the Nets as intimidating for a whole other reason, however. Trail Blazers 101 says that Portland struggles defending centers and point guards. They can scheme to stop one or the other upon occasion (usually the point guard) but the slant allows other players to run free, putting up devastating numbers.</p>
<p>Say hello to Deron Williams and Brook Lopez.</p>
<p>Brooklyn's point guard-center tandem leads them in scoring with Williams averaging 17 a game and Lopez 19.5. Williams is actually struggling in the shooting department, typical of his performance since he left Utah. He's shooting an acceptable 42% in Brooklyn wins but under 39% in their losses. His three-point percentage is in the sewer and his attempts from range are far too frequent. He's still plenty dangerous with the pass, though, averaging over 8 assists per game. Lopez is hitting at a 55.5% clip from the field, averaging 2.5 blocks, and adding a couple of offensive rebounds. He's going to be a headache for the Blazers no matter which way you slice it.</p>
<p>If Lopez is the lion of Brooklyn's three-headed chimera and Williams is the wily serpent, then Joe Johnson is turning out to be the goat. He's shooting only 39% from the field, though his is at 38% from the three-point arc, his saving grace. He's averaging a little above 15 points per game and his per-minute numbers are down across the board...way down in field goal attempts and scoring. Johnson has been a Blazer-killer in the past, though. The main question for Portland tonight might be which is more reliable early in the season, Portland's inability to guard the 1 and 5 or Johnson's poor shooting? I'd bet on Johnson shooting better before I'd bet on Portland being able to handle both Williams and Lopez.</p>
<p>Small forward Gerald Wallace is working his way through an ankle injury but has played 4 games so far. He's a little slow on the floor. He's not getting shots or rebounds right now but he is on his way to recovery. Kris Humphries starts at power forward and provides the rebounding that Wallace and Lopez lack right now.</p>
<p>The main guys off the Brooklyn bench are guards C.J. Watson and Keith Bogans plus forwards Andre Blatche and Reggie Evans. Watson and Bogans are eating minutes while the starters rest. They're not great at anything but they won't lose you the game. Evans is the rebound-aholic that he's always been. Blatche is recovering from the chaos of Washington and is actually doing a credible job translating his athletic ability into percentage shots and rebounds. He's a guy to watch. If the Nets can succeed in this little reclamation project they all of a sudden become semi-deep. That depth may be added to by wildcard shooting guard MarShon Brooks. Like Wallace he's lost time to an ankle injury but he's been shooting the lights out (63% from the field) when not in street clothes.</p>
<p>Despite the shooting woes of a couple stars the Nets are quite efficient in their offense. They're not a big fast break team. They like to set up percentage shots in the halfcourt, looking to Lopez first but not afraid to fire a jumper if he draws extra attention. They can be devastating from mid-range but they're not great from distance, a handicap which the Blazers may be able to exploit as they sag towards the star center on defense.</p>
<p>The Blazers have faced a murderer's row of offensive rebounding teams lately and the Nets are no exception. The wrinkle here is that the Nets are a poor defensive rebounding team. Even if they score second chance points the Blazers may be able to get them back in similar fashion. Really, though, Portland has handled offensive rebounders pretty well this season. If that continues tonight the Blazers may be able to carve an advantage out of their own second chances.</p>
<p>The Nets don't allow fast break points and--Williams aside--they don't commit many turnovers. That may hamper Portland's easy scoring. They are quite permissive in the paint, which brings up the tree-in-forest philosophical conundrum, "If the paint is undefended but there's nobody there to shoot it, are any points scored?" According to the rulebook the answer would be, "No". The Blazers would do well to find some penetrating power tonight. That may not be LaMarcus Aldridge post up against their front line as much as Damian Lillard and Nicolas Batum trying to blow by more veteran (read in this case: slow) defenders. The Blazers should really test the fleetness of Johnson's feet too. The problem, of course, will be getting into the lane with enough ball control to finish. (Sidelong glance here at every penetrating Portland guard and forward except for Will Barton.) If the penetration is straight or soft Lopez will shift over and swat those layup attempts to kingdom come.</p>
<p>Shuffle it all together and this will be a difficult game for the Blazers. They'll need to flex muscles they haven't flexed, contain positions they haven't contained, and deal with a team that can match them strength for strength outside of three-point shooting. No matter how much their mommas love them there's no clear blueprint as they face off against Brooklyn's Finest, just a million and one questions. They'll just have to say "Come and Get Me", try not to dig a hole early, give Damian Lillard the green light, let him say, "Who Gon Stop Me?" then hope the bounce goes their way and they can steal this game like '03 Bonnie and Clyde and not end up D.O.A. in da graveyard.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.netsdaily.com/">NetsDaily</a> will talk to you about <strike>New Jersey</strike> Brooklyn.</p>
<p>Your<a href="http://blazersedge.urbanishment.com/gameform.php" target="_blank"> Jersey Contest Form </a>for this game. Remember the early start. Get your forms in before tip-off.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><a target="_blank" href="http://www.tiqiq.com/nba/portland-trail-blazers-tickets?pubid=1011040">Portland Trail Blazer tickets</a> for all games are available from Blazer's Edge sponsor TiqIQ.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">--Dave (blazersub@gmail.com)</p>
https://www.blazersedge.com/2012/11/24/3686608/portland-trail-blazers-vs-brooklyn-netsDave Deckard