Blazer's Edge - Blazers 125, Magic 119: Complete CoverageThe ultimate coverage and analysis of the Portland Trail Blazershttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/47543/blazersedge-fave.png2013-01-08T02:16:49-08:00http://www.blazersedge.com/rss/stream/36128852013-01-08T02:16:49-08:002013-01-08T02:16:49-08:00Media Row Report: Blazers 125, Magic 119 (OT)
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<p>The Portland Trail Blazers defeated the Orlando Magic, 125-119, at the Rose Garden on Monday night, improving their record to 19-15 on the season.
</p> <p>The Portland Trail Blazers defeated the Orlando Magic, 125-119, in overtime at the Rose Garden on Monday night, improving their record to 19-15 on the season.</p>
<p>Overtime is a strange brew and not one that I can remember tackling in too much detail over the years. There are so many ways to get there, and to not get there. You can leap into overtime and you can back into overtime. One more free throw, one fewer free throw, one clutch jumper, or one dumb turnover and it never has the chance to materialize.</p>
<p>Just as getting to overtime is subject to chance and fate, the extra period itself is just as unpredictable. The Blazers have won one overtime in a blowout (14-4 over the Houston Rockets on November 3), they've won two convincingly (17-11 against the Magic here and 16-10 against the Charlotte Bobcats on December 3), they've squeaked one out (8-6 against the Rockets on November 16) and they've tied one (against the Cleveland Cavaliers on December 1, forcing a second overtime period that they won 15-14 on a walk-off three-pointer).</p>
<p>Add up those results and the Blazers are 5-0 in overtime on the season. The Blazers' public relations department noted that this marks the first 5-0 start in overtimes for Portland since the 1986-87 season. Rather than solidify this team's place among the most clutch in franchise history, that fact just reinforces how late-game success is a product of good fortune, confidence and assertiveness converging. The Blazers aren't 5-0 if Batum's game-winner against the Cavaliers rims off. For that matter, they aren't 5-0 if Damian Lillard's potential game-winner at the end of regulation goes in on Monday night.</p>
<p>With the roles played by luck and circumstance duly noted, the Blazers were impressive throughout the second half, and particularly in the extra period, forced by a gorgeously set up Jameer Nelson game-tying three-pointer on the Magic's final offensive possession of regulation.</p>
<p>"For whatever reason, this team is built for overtimes," Blazers guard Wesley Matthews, who finished with 24 points, four assists and three rebounds, told Blazersedge. "I'd rather not go into [overtime], I'd rather finish it in regulation but we dug deep, we had it, Jameer Nelson hit a tough three, a clutch three. We buckled down, we didn't hang our heads, and we came out with a victory."</p>
<p>The Blazers lack many of the values you would expect a team that is undefeated in overtime to possess. Portland isn't deep, leaving it more exposed to fatigue and foul trouble. Portland's chief ball-handler, Lillard, isn't experienced, making the team theoretically more likely to be susceptible to late-game miscues. Portland's No. 1 scoring option, LaMarcus Aldridge, doesn't shoot an overwhelming number of foul shots and, of those, his confidence and proficiency seems to wane late in games. Portland is a below-average team defensively, meaning there should be holes for other teams to exploit when possessions are most highly valued.</p>
<p>Like Matthews, the Blazers, riding high on a three-game winning streak, couldn't care less about those assumptions.</p>
<p>"We play confident now in overtime because we know we are going to win it," Nicolas Batum told Blazersedge, after scoring 16 points, dishing 10 assists and grabbing four rebounds. "I don't know why but we feel like if it's overtime, maybe the game is over. You can't fall too much into that, like the game is going to be easy, but in overtime we stay focused, we talk, we stay together, we play our game, stay calm and make the plays."</p>
<p>Lillard, who scored four points and made a key steal in overtime after missing a deep three at the regulation buzzer that would have won the game, attributed his team's extra time success to some unexpected factors: the intensity of training camp and the upbringings of its key players.</p>
<p>"How tough our training camp was, the type of team we have, that's what we thrive in," he explained to Blazersedge. "We have a lot of guys that come from tough situations, have tough stories. When the [other] team comes back like that, it makes it a tough game. We love those situations."</p>
<p>Batum and Stotts pointed to another factor: the fact that Portland relies so heavily on its starters primes them for the "five on five and few, if any, substitutions" life of overtime.</p>
<p>"We know each other," Batum told Blazersedge. "No more [pressure]. 5-0. Run the plays, do what we've got to do, play good defense, grab some rebounds and run."</p>
<p>Lillard, Batum, Aldridge (27 points and 10 rebounds) and Hickson (20 points and 15 rebounds) all finished with double-doubles. All five starters played 42 or more minutes. All five starters scored in the overtime period.</p>
<p>Stotts said: "Five-minute game -- anybody can win a five-minute game. I would venture to say the five starters have played every minute of every overtime. They've played well together. I think there's confidence involved. We've talked about our resiliency before, when you have a game you think you should have won in regulation. To bounce back, bounce out of the timeout, come out of the gate well, is something to be proud of in different ways over the season."</p>
<p>The Rose Garden crowd seemed genuinely surprised when Lillard's three at the end of regulation drew back iron. Lillard told Blazersedge that he opted for the deep three over Magic guard Arron Afflalo rather than attacking off of the dribble after reading Orlando's defensive approach and concluding that there wouldn't be sufficient space to operate.</p>
<p>"I knew that they would be on the elbows and boxes, suck it in, so I knew I wouldn't be able to get in there," he said. "I just wanted to get [Afflalo] off balance and get a good look at the rim. Once I was about to go, I saw them sending somebody my way, I got him off balance, I got the shot off."</p>
<p>Stotts credited Afflalo's defense and Magic coach Jacque Vaughn with a good adjustment in switching Afflalo onto Lillard during the sequence. He also provided a sliver of distance between himself and the hero ball three-point attempt. While Stotts didn't outright criticize Lillard's shot-selection, which generated a relatively low-percentage look, he didn't completely co-sign it either.</p>
<p>"I couldn't tell how far out it was," Stotts said. "The main thing, tie score, I want to make sure we get the last shot. He can make them, he's made them, he missed that one, it is what it is. The main thing is I want to control the clock and control the shot... It was a tougher shot than I would have liked."</p>
<p>Lillard's miss made him zero-for-six on the game from deep and a combined 12-for-43 (27.9 percent) over the last seven games on three-pointers. There are definitely better looks to be found -- some of which these same Blazers generated in late-game situations earlier this season -- but it's the kind of shot you live with if you're as welcoming of overtime as this bunch seems to be.</p>
<p>"I've never let a missed shot take me out of the game," Lillard said. "There's so many other things I can do to affect the game. After I missed the shot in regulation, in overtime it's kind of like a whole different game. We've won every overtime game we've been in. Once that came, I just wanted to make as many plays as I could on both ends, go all out to win the game."</p>
<p>That's exactly what happened. The defining sequence came when Lillard scooped up a loose ball with 1:09 remaining and the Blazers leading by four, scooping it to Hickson for an uncontested dunk in transition. The Magic, who didn't fold up when Portland made a hard push in the third quarter, couldn't match Portland's intensity and energy during the final five minutes.</p>
<p>"With the recent streak we've been on, our record as of late, we've got a confidence and a swagger about us," Matthews said. "We're accustomed to winning, we're used to winning, we turned it up on defense."</p>
<p>There remains a sense that the other shoe must drop for these guys. So many minutes from so few players. Such small contributions from so many bench players. Such good injury luck, all things considered. So many recent breaks, whether it was Zach Randolph and Kevin Love missing games last week, or Amar'e Stoudemire coming back just in time. (Kidding on the last part. Not really though.) Such a favorable early schedule compared to what's coming.</p>
<p>Lillard used the same words as Matthews to summarize the difference in this overtime, a difference that could just as easily stand for Portland's play in going 11-3 over the last month.</p>
<p>"I think we turned it up," he said. "There's been some games where teams have turned it up on us [and] we ended up on the wrong end. Tonight we ended up [turning] it up [to] win the game."</p>
<p><b><u>Random Game Notes</u></b></p>
<ul>
<li>The announced attendance was 19,560. Short of a sell out. I was expecting far worse due to the time conflict with the BCS National Championship game, the fact that tickets were going extraordinarily cheap on Stubhub, and the volume of people who let me know in recent days they had been offered free tickets to the game in one form or another. </li>
<li>This was an excellent crowd. I joked on Twitter that the game turned when the arena played "Vengabus" in the second half but there was just an extra electrical element in this game that hasn't been there all that often this season, not even in the win-heavy stretch in December. Surely Portland's season-high 125 points helped the fun factor, but still. Quite engaged and loud in the late game situations.</li>
<li>Best wishes to <b>Abby Chin</b> who leaves <b>CSNNW</b> to head to <b>CSNNE</b>. A very talented broadcaster and a very nice person. Good luck!</li>
<li>During the second half, isolated sections of the 300 level began chanting "M-V-P" as Damian Lillard stood at the free throw line. He told me afterwards that he did hear the cheering. Here's his reaction: "I did hear that. That's just them being excited and them showing support. I know I'm not the MVP. It's great. I'm glad they would do something like that. I know I'm not the MVP. If I'm the MVP to them, that's a great thing to me. Just being here, I love that type of love from them. At the same time, I know I'm not the MVP."</li>
<li>Asked for his MVP vote, Lillard went first to his teammate. "I'd probably vote for L.A. If it's other players [outside Portland], if not L.A., I'd probably say LeBron [James] because of everything he brings to the table. I think he's the most dominant player in the league."</li>
<li>James and the Miami Heat come to town on Thursday for a nationally-televised showdown. Wesley Matthews excitedly said he was "hyped" while Lillard said it was a "big game" but one he would try to prepare for as normal, even though he's never faced James on a court in his life.</li>
<li>Lillard will receive his second Rookie of the Month trophy on Thursday.</li>
<li>Some boos for Magic forward Hedo Turkoglu. Still, all these years after the 2009 free agency boomerang.</li>
<li>LaMarcus Aldridge was played well by Nikola Vucevic, who is looking like the hidden prize of the four-team Dwight Howard deal, at least from Orlando's perspective. Vucevic finished with 17 points, 13 rebounds and one block and had a number of deflections on defense. He was fundamentally sound one-on-one and pest-like, a good combination against a versatile offensive player. Aldridge had somewhat generic praise: "He's a solid defender. He's good offensively too. I thought he was big for them offensively and defensively. He should be good."</li>
<li>Batum's push-ahead bounce pass that found Ronnie Price for a dunk in transition was pretty nice, even if Price needed a second bounce to catch up to it.</li>
<li>The Blazers are milking the weakside lob play to J.J. Hickson for all it's worth. The scouts will catch on soon enough.</li>
<li>The jumbotron flashed the final seconds of the BCS National Championship game while playing "Sweet Home Alabama." That drew some boos. </li>
<li>Sign of the night: "Oppa Lillard Style." Really didn't make any sense until the kid standing next to the sign did a modified version of the Gangnam Style dance that involved a step back shooting motion. Kids these days!</li>
<li>Nicolas Batum said that two recent losses helped set the mental tone prior to this game: "The Toronto game was a good thing for us. It was a wake up call. We've done a good job since then, in Memphis and Minnesota. [The] Sacramento game [in Portland] was a good one for us too. Now we know what we can do tonight. Maybe [this could have been] a trap game, Orlando played good, give them credit for that, but we got a win."</li>
<li>Matthews on chasing Magic guard J.J. Redick, who finished with a game-high 29 points on 11-for-17 shooting with six threes. "He's fast. Especially when he got it going. Whenever a guy in this league gets it going, especially a shooter, a scorer like that, it seems like they get an extra gear. I was trying to cool him down, make every touch difficult, make every shot difficult I feel like for the most part I did that in the second half." </li>
<li>Redick was seven-for-nine in the first three quarters and four-for-eight in the fourth quarter and overtime. He cooled from scorching to sizzling. He was huge in keeping Orlando in this one and is cruising towards a nice pay day in free agency next summer.</li>
<li>Stotts worked to avoid the "Lillard redeems himself after missed buzzer-beater to save the day" storyline by making sure his other four starters were not short-changed on their shares of the credit. See full quote below.</li>
<li> <a href="http://www.nba.com/dleague/games/20130107/IDATEX/gameinfo.html?ls=gt2hp2021200386" target="_blank">Here's the box score</a> from the Idaho Stampede's D-League game on Monday with Nolan Smith and Will Barton. The Stampede lost by 20. Smith finished with 28 points, six assists, three rebounds and two steals on 13-for-26 shooting. Barton had 14 points, eight rebounds and six assists on four-for-14 shooting. Smith made two three-pointers in the game, doubling his 2012-13 season total of one for the Blazers.</li>
<li>Let's not forget the Blazers spent the 2012 D-League Showcase shopping Armon Johnson with no success.</li>
<li> <b>Jason Quick</b> of <b>The Oregonian</b> <a href="http://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/index.ssf/2013/01/blazers_insider_another_car_accident_another_big_g.html" target="_blank">reports</a> that LaMarcus Aldridge got into another car crash on his way to the game. Memorable quote alert...</li>
<blockquote>
<p>Judging from his last accident, the Benz might have seen it's last ride to the Rose Garden. Aldridge said once his 2009 black Ferrari got back from the body shop, he sold it.</p>
<p>"It's like your girlfriend cheating on you,'' Aldridge said of his decision to sell the Ferrari. "After she cheats, you don't want her anymore. So I got rid of it.''</p>
</blockquote>
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<p><b><u>Terry Stotts' Post-Game Comments</u></b></p>
<p><b>Opening Comments</b></p>
<blockquote>
<p>I thought it was a great basketball game. Both teams played well. Orlando is a tough team. They've been very competitive their last few games despite their losses. Tonight they showed why. Their big guys compete. J.J. Redick had it going. Afflalo was tough. Nelson hit the three. For us, the first half was not what we wanted defensively. Second half and overtime was a fun game. I would like to have been a fan watching it.</p>
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<p><b>Adjustment on Redick</b></p>
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<p>There's no adjustment. We got loose with him in the first half. A lot of clean looks. He's a great shooter, always has been. He got a rhythm, we gave him too many clean looks. I thought Wes Matthews in particular but also Nic when he was on him, was really working him hard. He still made some shots, tough shots. He may have gotten a little fatigued at the end. There wasn't any adjustments besides playing harder and a little more attention to detail.</p>
</blockquote>
<p><b>Damian Lillard's final shot</b></p>
<blockquote>
<p>I couldn't tell how far out it was. The main thing, tie score, I want to make sure we get the last shot. He can make them, he's made them, he missed that one, it is what it is. The main thing is I want to control the clock and control the shot. It was tough, they put Afflalo on him. Affalo is a good defender. That was a good adjustment by Orlando. It was a tougher shot than I would have liked. Give them credit for playing good defense.</p>
</blockquote>
<p><b>Damian Lillard in overtime</b></p>
<blockquote>
<p>Everybody was good. Damian, defensively, I thought everybody was good. Damian did what he did. Wes did what he did. The starters played a lot of minutes. Nic made big shots, we rode L.A. in the post, J.J. did the boards. Go down the line, the five starters just carried us in the second half and overtime.</p>
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<p><b>Why so good in overtimes</b></p>
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<p>I don't know. In general terms, we've made shots and we've defended. We play with a lot of energy. Five-minute game -- anybody can win a five-minute game. I would venture to say the five starters have played every minute of every overtime. They've played well together. I think there's confidence involved. We've talked about our resiliency before, when you have a game you think you should have won in regulation. To bounce back, bounce out of the timeout, come out of the gate well, is something to be proud of in different ways over the season.</p>
</blockquote>
<p><b>L.A. doing the little things</b></p>
<blockquote>
<p>L.A. has been our most consistent player at both ends of the floor. Defensively, he doesn't make very many mistakes. He knows the coverages we're in, he helps defensively, he rebounds. He gets rebounds when he plays alongside a guy averaging double figure rebounding, he's still getting his rebounds. Offensively he's taking what the game gives him. We rode him early on the block. He's been a willing passer on the block.</p>
<p>That handback, we went to him on the block. For him to hand it back to Nic to nail a three, he's unselfish. I said this before the game, I think some people take for granted what he's done. He's been consistent throughout the years, he's been consistent this year, I would encourage everyone not to take that for granted because he works and he's a true pro.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>-- Ben Golliver | benjamin.golliver@gmail.com | <a href="http://www.twitter.com/blazersedge" target="_blank">Twitter</a></p>
https://www.blazersedge.com/2013/1/8/3848412/media-row-report-blazers-magicBen Golliver2013-01-07T23:08:27-08:002013-01-07T23:08:27-08:00Blazers Make Saving Throw vs Magic, Survive Game
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<p>Portland's wings play suspect defense but LaMarcus Aldridge's steady play and some late-game fireworks allow the Blazers to survive a generally flat contest against the Orlando Magic.</p> <p>The analysis of tonight's 125-119 Portland victory over the <a href="https://www.orlandopinstripedpost.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Orlando Magic</a> is largely a matter of which perspective you choose to take. (You can read Timmay's instant recap <a href="http://www.blazersedge.com/2013/1/7/3848862/final-magic-blazers" target="_blank">here</a> for one take.)</p>
<p>There was plenty NOT to like tonight. Whatever the opposite of inspired is, that's how the Blazers came out in this one. They celebrated their fantastic 3-1 road trip by checking into the Lazy "D" Ranch just as soon as they got home. They allowed the Magic to shoot over 50% in the first half, granting them 57 points at the break. Keep in mind the Magic average fewer than 95 points per game. Though Portland's technical errors subsided after halftime they never got Orlando's field goal percentage much below 50, as the Magic finished at 49.5% for the game. The best Blazers defenders, <span>Nicolas Batum</span> and <span>Wesley Matthews</span>, were the <i>chief culprits </i>in this debacle. <span>Damian Lillard</span> and <span>J.J. Hickson</span> played better defensively than Portland's wings did in the first half. Batum, especially, was mind-boggling-level bad on the defensive end.</p>
<p>Portland's offense was also suspect early. They turned the ball over, missing what should have been easy connections. It looked like they hadn't played together before. Worse, when passes did connect there was invariably a two second delay holding the ball before anything happened. That's not the Blazer way (at least not this year). The normally reliable Hickson was a step off on his cuts. Batum's offense was non-existent. Matthews got in a few shots but Damian Lillard took too many jumpers. The bench chipped in a little but it wasn't enough to equal the points Portland's defense was allowing. If it weren't for <span>LaMarcus Aldridge</span> the Blazers would have gone down 20 before the first half was over. Aldridge was steady in the post, hitting shot after shot and keeping the Blazers in the game.</p>
<p>The Blazers have always made good halftime adjustments this season and tonight was no exception. Everything to like about this game came in the final two quarters and overtime. Hickson started cutting and catching in the third period, dunking multiple times. This also alleviated the problem of too many contested outside shots for the smaller Portland players. Instead of shooting they hit Hickson for the flush. The attention Hickson drew in the lane allowed Lillard and Matthews more open looks, which they converted. Portland erased the 9-point halftime deficit by the end of the third and it was nip and tuck through the fourth. Aldridge again carried the Blazers and Nicolas Batum came alive with a couple threes in the final 3 minutes. With Orlando down 3 and 8 seconds to go, though, Lillard got stuck behind a pick and left <span>Jameer Nelson</span> open beyond the arc. Nelson converted the three-pointer and the game went to overtime.</p>
<p>The Magic had played their starters almost all of the fourth period and it showed in extra time. Their shots fell short. Portland kept scoring to keep the pressure on. The Blazers also rebounded well. Eventually the burden of converting one-and-dones to keep up wore on the Magic and the gap widened, never to close. All five Blazer starters scored in overtime, hitting the Magic wherever they weren't. And that was that.</p>
<p>For those looking for the Blazers to make a statement with this game, it had to be something of a disappointment. Outside of a six-minute stretch in the third period and the five minutes of overtime the only resounding statement made was, "BLAH." This wasn't taking the bull by the horns. This was barely dodging out of the way of the bull and watching it smack a wall and knock itself out, then claiming the victory.</p>
<p>On the other hand the Blazers won, which is all that matters. You're going to get games like this. The difference between pretty good and really good is whether you win them anyway. The Blazers did. They relied on their Aldridge bread and butter plays to keep them afloat and then goosed just enough out of everybody else to come away with the victory. Most nights they probably lose a game like this, but this wasn't most nights...it was just tonight. And tonight goes down as the "W" the Blazers needed.</p>
<p>That's enough to keep us from going nuclear over the effort...a result which surely (and appropriately) would have come after a loss. In fact that's more than enough to turn groans into applause. It also engenders hope that after this blasé effort, the Blazers might come up with true inspiration against Miami on Thursday. After all, this game was one you dread, facing a relatively unimportant opponent after a road trip, right before a day off, also right before facing the premier opponent in the league on National TV. Circumstances were stacked against a great performance tonight. Thank goodness the Blazers managed to overcome them.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><b>Individual Notes</b></p>
<p style="text-align: left;">LaMarcus Aldridge was the man, the savior, whatever you want to call him tonight. It wasn't a noisy night for him, just bloody efficient and timely. Every time his teammates threatened to get out of hand, Aldridge simply posted up, received the ball, and converted. Towards the end of the game some of the guys who hadn't had good offensive nights were calling for the ball, seemingly wanting to make up for it. Aldridge waved them off and posted up more. He was the only Blazer who had an unmitigated, unblemished great night. 12-22 shooting, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, 27 points.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">The closest guy on Aldridge's heels was the second-half version of J.J. Hickson. He was stymied in the first half, battling against bigger players who seemed to have a personal interest in shoving him around. Solution? Start at the top of the key, sound the klaxon, then dive to the rim. Whoop! Six alley-oops later and Hickson's night looked just fine. The Blazers scored 60 points in the paint tonight, an astounding number for them. Hickson was responsible for about a third of those. His rebounding also keyed Portland's second half performance. 9-14 shooting (and how efficient has this guy become lately anyway?), 20 points, 15 rebounds, and the bonus award for being the first guy to turn around his game and remind the Blazers that they were better than they were playing tonight.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Wesley Matthews deserves praise for being brutally efficient on the offensive end. Unless I'm mistaken at one point he had 20 points on, like, 8 shots. He finished the game with 24 on 7-11 shooting, 4-7 from distance (starting out a perfect 4-4 until he got excited about it), and 6-8 from the foul line. He also had 4 assists. Now, let's talk about his defense. I lauded Matthews and Batum highly in the latter stages of the recently-completed road trip because they carried Portland to victories, especially on the defensive end. I do not know WHAT the heck happened tonight, but every critic of either guy's defense will find plenty of ammo in this performance. When Matthews wasn't out of position he was reaching and fouling. <span>Arron Afflalo</span> and <span>J.J. Redick</span> destroyed him. Things got a little better in the second half but I couldn't tell you whether that was because Matthews knuckled down or the Orlando shooting guards just got tired.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Everything I just said about Matthews goes triple for Batum. He also took his turn on Afflalo and ended up embarrassed. I have no idea who we were watching in the first three quarters of this game but it looked like somebody else had taken over Batum's body. His offensive production was horrible and his defense was a nightmare. The one redeeming quality to his game tonight besides the late-game three-pointers hit was 10 assists. That and the late heroics leading to the eventual victory are enough to whitewash things, so we'll let it go at that. Personally, though, I cringe when I read things like, "<a href="http://www.blazersedge.com/2013/1/6/3843366/haynes-blazers-f-nicolas-batum-wanted-to-prove-worth-in-minnesota" target="_blank">I was really motivated to prove my worth in Minnesota</a>" and then see that great game followed up with a night like this. Still, he DID come up with those late threes.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Damian Lillard looked a little lost early in the game just like everybody else. The best way to put it is, he was pulling hard trying to straighten out the team but when it didn't happen and his own shot wasn't falling, he didn't have any more answers. The second-half solution was to set up teammates for a while and then blister the nets with a renewed offense, this time more under control and farther inside the three-point arc. That worked. All of a sudden he became the weapon that the Magic couldn't deal with and Portland's offense opened up.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span>Ronnie Price</span> had a GREAT tour in the first half, driving and making Orlando's defense look downright porous. Unfortunately he took it a little far as the game progressed and he ended up with a relatively mundane 3-7 shooting night with 8 points, 3 assists, and 2 rebounds in 14 minutes. Still, Price added value during the quarter in which nobody else prospered.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">There's a difference between aggressive and single-minded. <span>Luke Babbitt</span> got on the wrong side of that line tonight. His stats weren't bad: 2-5 shooting, 2-4 from distance, 6 points in 15 minutes. But that nice three-point percentage belies the way he busted up the offensive flow most every time he touched the ball and covers up the general lack of supporting stats (1 rebound, 1 steal, 1 turnover).</p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span>Joel Freeland</span> had 5 rebounds in 7 minutes. He's turning into a rebounding machine.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span>Victor Claver</span> went 2-3 in 14 minutes for 4 points but wasn't as noticeable on the defensive end tonight.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Miami comes up on Thursday. The Blazers have plenty of time to think about this one. As mentioned above, the circumstances will certainly be more favorable heading into this game than they were tonight. If they're hungry for national attention and confirmation that something legit could be happening here, a victory over the World Champs would certainly provide both. Stay tuned...</p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=400278230" target="_blank">The Boxscore</a></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.orlandopinstripedpost.com/">Orlando Pinstriped Post</a> will rightfully be frustrated by the outcome of this game. The difference between a good road win and 9 straight losses was razor thin tonight. That's the story of their season, though.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Your <a target="_blank" href="http://blazersedge.urbanishment.com/scoreboard.php">Jersey Contest Scoreboard</a> and the <a target="_blank" href="http://blazersedge.urbanishment.com/gameform.php">form for Miami</a>.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><a target="_blank" href="http://www.tiqiq.com/nba/portland-trail-blazers-tickets?pubid=1011040">Portland Trail Blazers tickets</a></p>
https://www.blazersedge.com/2013/1/7/3849880/Portland-Trail-Blazers-vs-Orlando-Magic-2012-2013Dave Deckard2013-01-07T21:34:53-08:002013-01-07T21:34:53-08:00Final: Blazers Vanish the Magic in OT, 125-119
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<figcaption>Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>In a closely-fought game, the Orlando Magic gave the Portland Trail Blazers all they could handle, but ran out of steam in overtime. The Blazers won another home game and moved to four games over .500.</p> <p>The Blazers won this game due to monster nights from all the starters. Four players had double-doubles: LaMarcus Aldridge (27 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists), Nicolas Batum (16 points, 10 assists), Damian Lillard (18 points, 10 assists) and JJ Hickson (20 points, 15 rebounds). Never one to slack, Wesley Matthews added 24 points and 4 assists. Ronnie Price (8 points,3 assists) had a nice game off the bench, and Luke Babbitt hit a few nice three's for 6 points.</p>
<p><b>First Quarter:</b> Rough start for the Blazers, as the Magic jumped to an early 7 point lead. Aldridge was on fire, scoring 12 of the Blazers' first 21 points. That brought Portland right back into the game, with Joel Freeland and Victor Claver pushing them into a one point lead at the end of the quarter.</p>
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<p>Do they know they got MIAMI on Thurs? Neeeeeed to get this game!<br>by <b>jenstcy </b><br><br>Our plan is to get blown out here, then take a 20 point lead over Miami and pull out a 4 point win after a big Miami comeback.<br>by <b>permaswoon</b></p>
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<p><b>Second Quarter:</b> The "other" JJ, Redick, scored 9 quick outside points to give Orlando a five point lead again. Portland called timeout to regroup, and to perhaps start guarding him. Happily, they did, though somehow former Blazer Josh McRoberts burned them from three instead. Price led the bench back to the lead nonetheless, but the Blazers couldn't stop Orlando's insanely hot shooting. Looking nothing like a team that has lost 8 straight games, the Magic were unconscious, nailing shots from all over the court. They ended the court on a 14-2 run, and took a 9 point lead into the locker room.</p>
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<p>"Price was gonna try to pack that". Never thought I’d hear that<br>by <b>Chuck Nevitt</b><br><br>I thought it would be about his suitcase after being released.<br>by <b>permaswoon</b> (who was on a roll)</p>
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<p><b>Third Quarter:</b> Orlando pushed the lead to 11, but then the Blazer starters got to work. The defense ramped up, and by the 6 minute mark, the lead was gone. However, they couldn't gain a lead, as Redick reappeared and immediately nailed more three-pointers, to the groans of the crowd. Some great Blazer D prevented yet another three at the buzzer, and the game was tied headed to the fourth quarter.</p>
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<p>Somebody threw a lot of chairs during halftime :-)<br>by <b>LaMarvelous</b></p>
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<p><b>Fourth Quarter:</b> Redick again turns into the Blazer-killer, hitting multiple three's and, amazingly, taking the ball to the hole and scoring over Aldridge's outstretched arm. The Blazers called timeout, down 5 again. When an a nice Matthews pass led to an Aldridge dunk, the game was tied and Orlando needed a timeout. They regained the lead, but a Matthews three put the Blazers ahead with 4 minutes left. After the Magic missed, Batum launched a three. Brick. But Aldridge grabbed the rebound and gave Nic another chance. Swish. Orlando needed a timeout, suddenly down by 4. The Magic wouldn't fade, closing to within 2 with 90 seconds left. But Aldridge gives it to Batum who again nails a three-pointer for a 5 point lead. After Orlando free throws, Aldridge missed, and the Magic had a chance to tie with 30 seconds left. They cut the lead to one with a jumper, but now the shot clock was off. After the automatic foul, Batum went to the line, and swished them both. With one last chance to tie, Orlando gave the ball to Jameer Nelson, who nailed a three with 9 seconds left to tie the game. The Blazers, with a chance to win the game, gave the ball to Lillard, who launched an ISO jumper. It bricked, so let's go to overtime.</p>
<p><b>Overtime:</b> The Blazers took a one point lead on a Matthews free throw, but it was followed by a beautiful no-look pass from Batum to Aldridge for a three-point play. Suddenly the lead was 4, but not for long. Orlando tied it with a layup at the two minute mark. Lillard swished a jumper to take the lead again, and followed it up with a very lucky floater for a 4 point lead with 1:15 left. At the other end, Lillard (sensing a pattern here?) stole the ball, passing it up court for an easy Hickson dunk. Suddenly there was 1:07 left, and a 6 point Blazer lead, all on Lillard. Orlando started launching the three-pointers they made all night, but the Magic was no longer there. When Matthews nailed a fast-break dunk with 48 seconds left, the game was over, and the Blazers pulled off another overtime victory.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" style="color: #d80000;" href="http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=400278230">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 TiqIQ</p>
<p>Stay tuned for more analysis from Blazer’s Edge later tonight. In the meantime, check out the <a target="_blank" style="color: #d80000;" href="https://www.blazersedge.com/#schedule_tab">upcoming Blazers schedule</a>. -- Tim [<a target="_blank" style="color: #d80000;" href="mailto:blazer.timmay@gmail.com">blazer.timmay@gmail.com</a>]</p>
https://www.blazersedge.com/2013/1/7/3848862/final-magic-blazersTimmay!2013-01-07T18:00:05-08:002013-01-07T18:00:05-08:00Blazers down 9 at halftime, chat here!
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<figcaption>Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Hang out here for tonight's game between the Orlando Magic and Portland Trail Blazers.</p> <p>Details for tonight’s game:</p>
<p> </p>
<p><b>Tip-off: 7:10pm</b></p>
<p><u>How to watch</u><br> Portland: <b>Comcast Sportsnet Northwest, </b>or <a target="_blank" style="color: #d80000;" href="http://www.nba.com/blazers/stream-games-live">Blazers streaming</a> if CSN is unavailable to you.<br> National: <b>League Pass</b>, <a target="_blank" style="color: #d80000;" href="https://account.nba.com/leaguepass/broadband">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 air the game)<b><br></b>National: <a href="http://www.nba.com/broadband/alp_schedule.html" target="_blank" style="color: #d80000;">NBA Audio League Pass</a><a href="http://www.nba.com/broadband/alp_schedule.html" target="_blank"> </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 target="_blank" style="color: #d80000;" href="http://www.tiqiq.com/nba/portland-trail-blazers-tickets?pubid=1011040">Portland Trail Blazers tickets</a><br><a href="http://www.blazersedge.com/2012-coverage" target="_blank" style="color: #d80000;">View complete season game coverage</a><br><a href="http://www.blazersedge.com/gameday-threads-2" target="_blank" style="color: #d80000;">View previous Gameday Threads<br></a></p>
https://www.blazersedge.com/2013/1/7/3848658/gameday-thread-magic-vs-blazersTimmay!2013-01-06T20:45:04-08:002013-01-06T20:45:04-08:00Blazers Have Plenty To Prove vs Magic
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<figcaption>John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Momentum and more sits on the line tonight as the Blazers return to the Rose Garden to begin a homestand which could ultimately prove crucial to any playoff designs.</p> <p>The Blazers charge back into the Rose Garden tonight for a game against the 12-21 Orlando Magic the game tips at 7:00 p.m. and will be televised on CSNNW.</p>
<p>12-21 is hardly the worst record in the league right now. The Orlando Magic are hardly the worst team in the league right now. They're just the team on the league's worst losing jag. They've dropped 8 straight. If losses were double shots of espresso they'd be Starbucks. This has been the story of their season. They get a little hot, find a favorable niche in the schedule, and they rattle off a couple wins. Then they lose for two weeks straight. Lather, rinse, repeat. They've lost close ones. They've lost big. They've lost in the 90's and in the 110's. No matter how well they play in a given quarter, they still find ways to make sure their opponent ends up ahead.</p>
<p>Part of this is lack of core leadership. Arron Afflalo was considered a tantalizing role player in Denver, a guy that basketball insiders nodded at sagely. Now thrust into a high option spot in Orlando's offense, bereft of help from his teammates, his production hasn't kept pace with his usage rate. He's not doing poorly; he just functions better as the role player that insiders favor than he does with a team on his back. Ditto Glen Davis. He wanted to be a bigger cog in the Boston operation. Now in Orlando he's got as many touches as he can handle and he's...average-ish. Jameer Nelson hasn't been more than average for years. J.J. Redick is approximately a billion points off of last year's three-point shooting percentage, which is about the only thing he does well. The bench is pedestrian on good nights. You're starting to get the picture.</p>
<p>The one guy the Magic can point to as an unmitigated success story so far (understanding that the other guys, particularly Afflalo, aren't failures by any means) is Nikola Vucevic. He's shooting efficiently, grabbing tons of rebounds, and as Blazers fans well know, true centers can be pains in the rear for Portland. But even Vucevic still falls into the "tantalizing, sagely-winked-at role player" category right now when the Magic need pillars and stars.</p>
<p>The Magic have a pretty average defense and a below-average offense. We could break it down, but that's not the point. Whether you call it <a target="_blank" href="http://www.blazersedge.com/2013/1/6/3843312/freeman-lamarcus-aldridge-says-blazers-grew-up-on-3-1-trip">"growing up"</a> or simply heightened expectations brought on by a 3-1 road trip, the Blazers are in a different place right now than they were a month ago. It's likely that this is as close as the team will get to serious playoff aspirations all season. Nevertheless, they've staked their claim to being in that discussion. It's still an incredibly early stage, but it's there.</p>
<p>That progression, even if it's temporary, brings these games into a slightly difference focus. To normal eyes this is just an average mid-season game between two not-so-exciting opponents. As long as the Blazers are thinking about a playoff seed they have to understand that games like this can make the difference between seeds or between getting in the playoffs and missing out. This is a game the Blazers should win. Given expectations, recent performances, and momentum that translates to, "This is a game the Blazers can't afford to lose." It's 1 of 82 contests, but sometimes the message is more important than the math. Losing tonight would be tantamount to announcing, "Don't believe in our capacity to make a playoff run. We're going to win some but we'll give it all right back." It's likely the "no playoff run" will come to fruition anyway, but you want to see the Blazers fighting against that every step of the way. You make opponents and the schedule rip that aspiration from you. You don't give it up willingly by losing games like this. In other words, it shouldn't matter what Orlando does or doesn't do. The Blazers should be motivated, focused, and talented enough to take this game anyway.</p>
<p>How often have we dared to say that about this team in 2012-13? If they want it repeated, they better live up to it.</p>
<p>Even if the Blazers do win tonight, the playoff-bound mindset requires familiarity with the concept of <b>necessary, but not sufficient</b>. Young teams, teams not going much of anywhere, get pats on the back for every win. The victory in itself is sufficient to fulfill their goal for the evening. The more important the victory, the more fulfilled they are. If the Blazers are serious about a playoff run the response tonight needs to be, "Yup. We won. And what's next?" This is the mindset that allows a team to, say, win a first round matchup and immediately turn around to demolish their second-round foe. The Blazers aren't anywhere close to that level yet, but this is good practice. How do you go all-out, execute masterfully, win a game, and then nod and march on to the next one instead of expecting a cookie? How do you celebrate a win, or even a 4 of 5 winning stretch, without thinking that you've done everything you set out to do...realizing that the job just got bigger and harder, not smaller? This is a tough lesson for a young team to learn.</p>
<p>Fortunately the Blazers are stocked with the kind of personalities that should make this easier. They're more likely to lack focus than they are to overplay their hand. But they need to marry all the important concepts now: crisp and professional attention to detail, passion to win the game, commitment to use this win to build onto the next. Do everything necessary without thinking that your job is finished when you've done so.</p>
<p>Will we see the Blazers do everything necessary tonight? Will this be the beginning of a transforming homestand or will it be the last win versus an easy opponent for a while followed by a predictable regression? We know the Blazers are skilled, occasionally gritty, often inspired, and becoming ever more proficient as a unit. The question remains: can they be professional in the same way the really good teams are? Even if the aggregate talent level isn't quite there yet, that kind of development would be a great sign. The first step to demonstrating that quality is a win tonight.</p>
<p>It may be a mundane game to most eyes, but the Blazers have plenty of questions to answer tonight.</p>
<p>--Dave (blazersub@gmail.com)</p>
https://www.blazersedge.com/2013/1/6/3844642/portland-trail-blazers-vs-orlando-magic-2012-2013Dave Deckard