Blazer's Edge - Blazers 100, Pacers 80: Complete CoverageThe ultimate coverage and analysis of the Portland Trail Blazershttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/47543/blazersedge-fave.png2013-01-24T00:37:20-08:00http://www.blazersedge.com/rss/stream/36728492013-01-24T00:37:20-08:002013-01-24T00:37:20-08:00Media Row Report: Blazers 100, Pacers 80
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/6zB7Tj8Lf3tHdCTRYL8DCWCa1w0=/0x470:2576x2187/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/7036607/20130123_mje_ad3_156.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>USA TODAY Sports Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The Portland Trail Blazers defeated the Indiana Pacers, 100-80, at the Rose Garden on Wednesday night, improving their record to 21-21.</p> <p>The Portland Trail Blazers defeated the Indiana Pacers, 100-80, at the Rose Garden on Wednesday night, improving their record to 21-21.</p>
<p>This was such a thorough jump to buzzer victory for the Blazers that it left little room for criticism. A cataloging of superlatives would be more appropriate. Most commanding performance against a quality opponent of the season. Best shooting performance (56.4 percent) of the season. Biggest positive energy differential of the season. Most effective play from J.J. Hickson against a tough match-up in weeks. Best dribble penetration and defense-reading of the season from Damian Lillard. Prettiest shooting stretch in as long as one can remember from LaMarcus Aldridge. Most positive collective impact from the bench in a long time. Least dramatic ending to a home game in more than five weeks. And, according to Lillard, the best start-to-finish team defensive effort this year.</p>
<p>"We've probably had better defensive stretches but I think we put together our best full game tonight," he said.</p>
<p>"The way we played defense was great," Nicolas Batum said. "We played as a team. It wasn't one-on-one, it was five-on-five."</p>
<p>The Pacers, ranked second to last in offensive efficiency and first in the league in defensive efficiency, played to their ranking on offense and fell far short on defense.</p>
<p>"I think we were a little flat," Pacers coach Frank Vogel said. "We didn't just lay an egg, but we weren't as sharp as we've been."</p>
<p>Coach-speak translation: We just laid an egg.</p>
<p>Smarting after a <a href="http://www.blazersedge.com/2013/1/22/3901142/media-row-report-blazers-wizards" target="_blank">pride bruising home loss</a> to the Washington Wizards on Monday night, Portland succeeded in areas where they have struggled regularly in recent weeks. They dominated the paint, winning the rebounding margin by eight (42-34) and winning the points in the paint by 16 (50-34). They started strong in the first quarter and extended the lead in the second. Their bench out-scored the Pacers' bench 19-15 and every reserve finished with a positive +/-. They avoided mental lapses and didn't concede any major runs.</p>
<p>"That was a good one," Blazers coach Terry Stotts said. "Arguably one of our more solid wins of the season. It was a good defensive effort. We were efficient offensively against the best defensive team in the league. We did a lot of good things. We almost won every quarter. From start to finish, it was an effort that we needed."</p>
<p>Indiana's massive center, Roy Hibbert, finished with just nine points and was a non-factor after the first quarter. Paul George, a budding All-Star caliber talent, was bottled up by Portland's wings all night, scoring 12 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter with the game already in the Blazers' grasp. David West was the Pacers' most consistent offensive weapon, but he was forced to work hard for most of his 21 points.</p>
<p>"Coach Stotts and the coaching staff did a great job at our defensive scheme," Hickson, who finished with 14 points and 13 rebounds, said. "I don't think their bigs really did too much damage in the paint. All of our bigs did a great job at fronting the post and making their shots tough."</p>
<p>Lillard gave Indiana's guards fits off the dribble, finishing with 20 points, eight assists and zero turnovers in 38 minutes. He played essentially the entire second half but had the stamina to up his aggressiveness when it mattered, knifing to the hoop and contorting his body past large defenders without compromising his ability to release an on-balance attempt.</p>
<p>"It's just reading the defense," he explained. "To start the game I was coming off of ball screens, the bigs were playing back, I had the pull-up jumper and I made a few and then they started coming up higher. Once they came up higher I was able to use my speed to get around them."</p>
<p>Going into the teeth of Indiana's defense can be a recipe for turnovers but Lillard showed a good understanding of spacing around the basket and he seemed to ride a confidence high as he burst past his perimeter defenders.</p>
<p>"It's tough because [the bigs] cover so much ground," he said. "You've got to get past them and then beat them to the rim. they're seven feet tall, they take one step and they're already at the rim. It's something you've got to work on."</p>
<p>Aldridge's shooting helped create some of the operating space. He finished with 27 points and six rebounds and shot 10-for-12 during the second and third quarters.</p>
<p>"I made one or two and my teammates said to keep shooting it," Aldridge said. "Coach started drawing up plays for me to take jump shots and I just kept making them."</p>
<p>Stotts added: "LaMarcus was in a groove. His shot was going. He had a few good post-ups. His mid-range was on."</p>
<p>For the second game in a row, Lillard played the entire first and third quarters and the stabilizing presence that you might expect to have with that substitution pattern revealed itself more thoroughly than it did against the Wizards. He played much better at the outset than he did on Monday, for one, and Ronnie Price did very well in his second quarter stretch to help open up the Blazers' lead. In his shift, Price took a charge, registered a steal and had two assists, including one to Will Barton in a rare transition opportunity. Portland opened up a double-digit lead and never looked back.</p>
<p>"I wouldn't say relief," Lillard explained, when asked to judge the takeaway feeling after snapping a six-game losing streak. "It's about time. It's more a feeling of, we got a win, let's try to get a winning streak."</p>
<p>That said, they sure looked and sounded relieved, and who could blame them?</p>
<p><b><u>Random Game Notes</u></b></p>
<ul>
<li>The crowd was announced at 18,934. They had plenty to cheer for here, including Chalupas, and did so.</li>
<li>LaMarcus Aldridge said that he doesn't believe he will make the All-Star team as a reserve. "I don't think so. I don't think so, but anything's possible. I thought last year our record was better and this year it's not as good. It doesn't bother me. That first one was hard. If I don't get in, I'm not going to worry about it."</li>
<li> <b>Jason Quick</b> of <b>The Oregonian</b> has <a target="_blank" href="http://t.co/f6BX5FKC">a longer piece</a> on Aldridge's less intense approach to the selection process this year.</li>
<li>Damian Lillard's "it's about time" line above showed through in one of his second half drives to the hoop, when he capped an and-one finish with a fist pump. A little celebratory frustration release there.</li>
<li>Will Barton played 20 minutes, no small accomplishment for a Blazers reserve. His first half was better than his second half but he wound up doing more good than harm. As Kobe Bryant said recently regarding his 81-point night, Barton wouldn't pass a kidney stone at points during this game. When playing alongside Price, that's not necessarily the worst thing in the world.</li>
<li>Speaking of Barton, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.blazersedge.com/2013/1/22/3905458/will-barton-accomplished-one-of-the-rarest-feats-in-nba-history-vs">great catch</a> by <b>ZiggyTheBeagle</b> regarding his 11 trillion against the Wizards. </li>
<li>The Blazers took advantage of the Pacers' tight defense numerous times, beating them backdoor for a lob to Hickson and on an inbounds play to Wesley Matthews. Portland looked very prepared.</li>
<li>The final box score didn't do justice to Nicolas Batum's performance (10 points, eight assists, five rebounds, one block, one steal) relative to Paul George's (22 points, seven rebounds, two assists, two steals). I've been on the George bandwagon hard this year but there wasn't much separating them in this one and through three quarters, when the game was decided, they were basically even. </li>
<li>Were you nervous when Nolan Smith entered the game with a 14-point lead and more than a minute remaining?</li>
<li>Lillard on finally winning a game with some breathing room after so many close games: "I don't think you really ever have breathing room unless it's 25 points. We've come back from 18 with four minutes left."</li>
<li>Lillard seemed happy to register zero turnovers in 38+ minutes, saying, "Every game that's the first thing I look at, how many turnovers did I have? That's something I have to continue to improve on. Hopefully I will."</li>
<li>Lillard sat out Tuesday's practice with a sore hamstring. It was a non-factor. "It felt fine. It didn't bother me at all."</li>
<li>One final superlative: More hustle plays -- diving for loose balls, etc. -- than I can remember from this team in awhile. They played throughout like this was a must-win. They passed this particular mental test with flying colors. </li>
</ul>
<p><b><u>Terry Stotts' Post-Game Comments</u></b></p>
<p><b>Opening comments</b></p>
<blockquote>
<p>That was a good one. Arguably one of our more solid wins of the season. It was a good defensive effort. We were efficient offensively against the best defensive team in the league. We did a lot of good things. We almost won every quarter. From start to finish it was an effort that we needed.</p>
</blockquote>
<p><b>Defense an emphasis?</b></p>
<blockquote>
<p>Defensive is always an emphasis, believe it or not. It is always emphasized.</p>
</blockquote>
<p><b>Solid defensive effort</b></p>
<blockquote>
<p>It was a solid defensive effort. Indiana wins their games with their defense. We did a solid defensive job but shooting as well as we did and executing as well as we did offensively against them was every bit as important as our defense.</p>
</blockquote>
<p><b>Pace pushed like you wanted it to?</b></p>
<blockquote>
<p>I didn't see the final numbers on the pace, we tried to push it. We did have opportunities in the open court and I thought we made a concerted effort to do that. Fast break points probably doesn't say what the pace was but we made a concerted effort to do it.</p>
</blockquote>
<p><b>Damian Lillard driving more</b></p>
<blockquote>
<p>Damian reads the game. We knew with some of their pick and rolls coverages we would be able to set good screens on them in pick and rolls and he'd be able to attack. He's very explosive getting to the basket.</p>
</blockquote>
<p><b>Not a close game for the first time in awhile</b></p>
<blockquote>
<p>It was refreshing since we were on the good side of it. That 10 game streak of last minute games, that was fun basketball but it was tough. To be honest, when you're up 15 with three minutes to go, you still don't think you quite have it. We needed a win like that. We haven't had a lot of wins like that. To have it at this stage was pretty refreshing.</p>
</blockquote>
<p><b>LaMarcus Aldridge's hot shooting</b></p>
<blockquote>
<p>LaMarcus was in a groove. His shot was going. He had a few good post-ups. His mid-range was on.</p>
</blockquote>
<p><b>Attacking the rim against a good interior defense</b></p>
<blockquote>
<p>It starts with the screen. When they drop, setting a good screen creates an opportunity for a ball-handler. After that, it's just making the right plays. I don't know if it's anything we did differently, but we took advantages of the gaps that were.</p>
</blockquote>
<p><b>Damian Lillard using screens versus not using screens</b></p>
<blockquote>
<p>We only did the one-four flat one time at the end of the third quarter, and really I didn't even want it then. There was miscommunication, I put Wes in and I had three three-point shooters and I wanted Jared to set a ball screen so he could attack the rim again. That was the only time we really isolated him up top.</p>
</blockquote>
<p><b>LaMarcus Aldridge as All-Star</b></p>
<blockquote>
<p>Your guess is as good as mine. I'm anxious to find out. He should make it and I hope that he does.</p>
</blockquote>
<p><b>Damian Lillard and Nic Batum sitting longer in the second quarter</b></p>
<blockquote>
<p>The group out there was playing well. I thought our bench was very good tonight. That allowed Damian to play the whole second half. That stretch, Ronnie did a terrific job of running the show, and those minutes were very valuable and very effective. When things are going well, guys deserve to stay on the floor.</p>
</blockquote>
<p><b>Jared Jeffries playing early</b></p>
<blockquote>
<p>I liked Jared's experience against a guy like David West. Indiana is a veteran team, strong, I liked his veteran leadership and presence, especially alongside Meyers.</p>
</blockquote>
<p><b>Conversation with Meyers Leonard</b></p>
<blockquote>
<p>I don't know. I was yelling at him most of the night. You would have to pick a time. You've got to be more specific.</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/2013/1/24/3909986/media-row-report-blazers-100-pacers-80Ben Golliver2013-01-23T23:41:03-08:002013-01-23T23:41:03-08:00Energetic Blazers Outpace Indiana for Huge Victory
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Q-ENy4en5V91FtoOcUSzDxUhKi0=/680x136:2106x1087/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/7036281/20130123_pjc_ad3_256.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>USA TODAY Sports Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The Blazers play a near-perfect offensive game, close the interior on defense, and use superior mobility to foil the best defensive team in the league, coming away with an impressive 100-80 victory. Damian Lillard, LaMarcus Aldridge, and J.J. Hickson lead the march.</p> <p>If you just look at the schedule of wins and losses, tonight's victory by the Portland Trail Blazers over the Indiana Pacers was a total mystery. Wasn't this the team that just lost to Cleveland and Washington at home, dropping 6 straight? Weren't they playing the best defensive team in basketball, a team on a 7 of 9 winning run?</p>
<p>If you understand <i>how </i>the Blazers lost their last half-dozen games the mystery was not so big. Portland's losing recipe was simple. Stand around in the halfcourt. Go one-on-one. Rely on talent over teamwork, individual heroics over execution. Don't communicate or help on defense. Let transition buckets slide. Throw in a few turnovers, the season-long crippling lack of scoring in the paint, opponents getting the upper hand in 50-50 situations, and pathetic bench scoring and winning becomes a near impossibility. Sure the final scores looked close, but anybody who watched the Blazers get down by 20 night after night and then put 14 minutes of actual work into a 48 minute game knew the real score.</p>
<p>Not so tonight. The Blazers came out in the very first quarter setting nice screens, moving without the ball, and hitting each other with passes for easy buckets at the rim. Indiana's bigs were bigger that Portland's. Had the Blazers gone against that wall one-on-one forced shots and opponent rebounds would have been the story. Move those bigs laterally, however, and all of a sudden larger looks slower. Plus you can't rebound a made shot.</p>
<p>Portland also forced turnovers from the Pacers...not a ton, 13 for the game. But instead of letting the pickpocket attack the defense alone for a tortured layup attempt in traffic, multiple Blazers ran out when the ball changed hands unexpectedly. All of a sudden those turnovers started generating precious easy shots.</p>
<p>Not being fools, the Pacers decided to clog up the inside and prevent those nifty paint passes. Pressure then shifted to Portland's perimeter players. On a normal night that would mean plenty of three-pointers lofted. The Blazers attempted but 11 threes tonight, making only 2. Instead of going crazy for the long-range jumpers, the Blazers made the extra pass, watched for the Pacers to close, and blew right past them when they got into no-man's land. Pull up jumpers and halfcourt layups abounded. By the end of the game the Blazers had amassed 50 points in the paint.</p>
<p>Even Portland's bench was appropriately aggressive tonight, picking up on the tone set by the starters. They didn't take a ton of shots, nor did they score a ton of points. Between them they hit 8 of 14 attempts (57%) for 19 points. They also added 15 rebounds and only 3 turnovers.</p>
<p>Indiana's only chance of keeping up was returning the favor inside on their end. They started the game going through Roy Hibbert and found success. But as the game progressed, energy flagged, and Portland started doubling down and trying to swat the ball away from the Pacers bigs, Indiana just gave up. They got into a perimeter shooting contest with Portland on a night when the Blazers weren't shooting on the perimeter. The Pacers don't score much under the best of circumstances. This route was an unmitigated disaster for them. Portland's bigger defenders picked up occasional fouls on their counterparts, but outside of those rare opportunities Indy's scoring just dried up. They shot 37.5% from the field, scored only 34 in the paint, totaled 80.</p>
<p>Portland's final percentage from the floor? 56.4%. Against Indiana.</p>
<p>Watching the Blazers lately can be compared to going on safari among roaming rhinoceroses. You sit in your blind and wait...and wait...and wait. You think more should be happening, but they're just standing there doing their rhinoceros stuff hour after hour. Then just when you give up on anything exciting happening and think you've made a mistake coming out here... Look, honey! Grab the camera and come quick! They're doing it! They're doing it!</p>
<p>Observers got lucky. The Blazers did it tonight and it was a sight to behold.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><b>Individual Notes</b></p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Both LaMarcus Aldridge and J.J. Hickson played steady all night with the exception of the opening minutes on defense. Aldridge kept the Pacers honest with his face-up looks. Hickson made them look foolish with his dives to the bucket and later his posterizing step-back jumpers. 12-17 for 27 points for Aldridge, 7-10 for 14 points for Hickson. J.J. also led all rebounders by a mile with 13 total. 12 of those were defensive on a night when holding Indiana to one shot paid huge dividends.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Both Nicolas Batum and Wesley Matthews had quiet shooting nights as Batum went 4-10 (2-5 from distance) and Matthews 4-11 (0-3 from distance). That amounted to 10 points each. But underline the assists totals of 8 for Batum and 5 for Matthews. Assists can sometimes get overrated, but these counted. Whenever the Pacers assumed another outside shot was coming Batum and Matthews would find somebody cutting and bam...2 more paint points instead.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">The king of paint scoring among the guards, though, was Damian Lillard. He just <i>torched </i>Indiana's defenders, visibly drooling a couple times when D.J. Augustin came up against him. Lillard converted 9 of 16 shots for 20 points and matched Batum with a game-high 8 assists, including some beauts off of the drive and dish. Lillard committed 0 turnovers and had a couple of nice individual defensive stands as well. It was one of his best all-around games this year.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Will Barton got the bench scoring rolling in the first half, probing inside and out. In typical fashion, this caused him to lose his mind in the second half and Coach Stotts pulled him again. It's the story of his season. Most nights begin with applause and end with a yank. In this case, though, not before he scored 8 points on 3-7 shooting with 4 rebounds. Good night.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Meyers Leonard had an up-and-down defensive night. (If you don't believe me check out his defensive stand on the final play of the first quarter versus the corresponding stand on the final play of the second.) But he played mostly to the good, grabbed 5 rebounds, and produced 8 points in 18 minutes. Since the entire bench has been producing 8 points in 55 combined minutes most games, that qualifies as an astonishingly good outing. It's nice to have this guy back.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Jared Jeffries played an understated but important 10 minutes, bringing as much enthusiasm as we've seen in a month or so. He made the right defensive plays, grabbed 4 rebounds, made a shot, and went to the line for a couple of foul shots. These reserves need to see someone making 8-10 minutes of playing time count. It'd be nice if Jeffries could lead them in that direction.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Ronnie Price did OK in 8 minutes with a couple of assists and a rebound.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">So...at least the Blazers face the 2 game weekend series against the mighty Clippers with a win under their belts. It wouldn't have been much fun facing one of the best teams in the league while nursing a 7-game losing streak. Hopefully this outing will restore the team's confidence. At the very least it'll give them some video evidence of the right way to play.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><a target="_blank" href="http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=400278347">The awesome boxscore.</a></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><a target="_blank" href="http://www.blazersedge.com/2013/1/23/3909822/final-blazers-drive-past-the-pacers-100-80">Timmay's instant recap.</a></p>
<p style="text-align: left;">The guys at <a href="http://www.indycornrows.com/">Indy Cornrows</a> will not be happy but will likely consider this an aberration. They'll also be campaigning for Damian Lillard as rookie of the year.</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 the first Clippers 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 Blazers tickets</a></p>
<p style="text-align: left;">--Dave (blazersub@gmail.com)</p>
https://www.blazersedge.com/2013/1/23/3910400/portland-trail-blazers-vs-indiana-pacers-2012-2013Dave Deckard2013-01-23T21:17:18-08:002013-01-23T21:17:18-08:00Final: Blazers Drive Past the Pacers, 100-80
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/HLWgslxyPCDCYNdkmYFATLQ3HG0=/0x239:2190x1699/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/7033203/20130123_kdl_ad3_120.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>USA TODAY Sports Images</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The Portland Trail Blazers ended their 6-game losing streak in style, bringing energy and drive against a stumped Indiana Pacer team.</p> <p>The Blazers were led by the always-great LaMarcus Aldridge (27 points on 17 shots) and an amazing 20 point, 8 assist, 0 turnover night by Damian Lillard . JJ Hickson (14 points, 13 rebounds, 3 assists) had one of his best games as a Blazer, and Nicolas Batum (10 points, 8 assists) continued his passing frenzy. The entire team had a solid night, including some nice contributions from the bench.</p>
<p><b>First Quarter: </b>Finally, a game that did not start with a Blazer meltdown. Indiana saw an inspired Portland team show up, including an early appearance by Lillard, who kept the defense honest with a few jumpers. The Blazer defense kept Indiana from making a surge, and the Blazers held a 3 point lead after one.As a bonus, Aldridge got a nice rest while the Blazers maintained the lead.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Mike Rice says JJ is worth his weight in gold. $5.95 mil, sounds good to me.<br>by <b>permaswoon </b></p>
</blockquote>
<p><b>Second Quarter:</b> The lead was gone in seconds, thanks to an Indy three-pointer. However, they didn't prepare for... Will Barton. After a rough previous game, Barton helped spark a Blazer run to take a 10 point lead. Ronnie Price added a few nice plays, Aldridge was his usual self, scoring 8 straight to push the lead to 16. However, the sloppy play reappeared (9 Blazer turnovers in the first half), and Indiana closed to within 12 by the horn. However, the Blazers held them to 32 points in the half.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Lillard's not going to know what to do. They are going to have a bigger lead when he comes back in then when he sat.<br>by <b>Jeremy Wonderly </b></p>
</blockquote>
<p><b>Third Quarter: </b>Rough start to the third, as Indy quickly cut the lead to single digits. The Blazers blew multiple possessions, and the Pacers went inside to test Portland's interior defense. It worked for a while, but the Blazers doubled down on defense, and stayed focused on offense (including a wonderful breakaway dunk for Aldridge). The Pacers took a timeout, down by 13. And the timeout worked, as they hit consecutive three-pointers, including a foul, for 7 points in 30 seconds. The Blazers would bend but not break, as they kept the lead above 5 through the quarter, thanks to some heads-up plays at both ends, and some solid contributions from the bench. Lillard shined, with two amazing drives for three-point plays. Thanks to that late run, the Blazer lead was still 11 headed into the fourth.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Who knew Damian Lillard was getting engaged? He went to Jared.<br>by <b>tevisthe4th</b> [Insert rimshot here]</p>
</blockquote>
<p><b>Fourth Quarter:</b> Hello Blazers! The run continued to start the fourth, and the lead reached 17 within 2 minutes. They maintained it for a few, but Indiana got hot from three. Combined with a few "it's time to head to the bench" plays from Barton, and the lead was suddenly 11. The Blazers called timeout. Lillard continued to slice up the Indy D, bumping the lead to 15 with five minutes left. After that, the lead was never in doubt. The Pacers, normally a solid defensive team, simply could not stop the Blazers tonight, who clearly came out inspired to win. And win they did, in front of an excited Rose Garden crowd. Back to .500!</p>
<p><a target="_blank" style="color: #d80000;" href="http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=400278347">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/2013/1/23/3909822/final-blazers-drive-past-the-pacers-100-80Timmay!2013-01-23T18:00:04-08:002013-01-23T18:00:04-08:00Back to the Grind Tonight, Chat About Indy!
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/I0IllziHgSFbc8CJfHuaLyuGvFU=/0x172:3201x2306/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/7015641/20121205_pjc_bl4_035.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Pat Lovell-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Can the Blazers get back into the 'W' column?</p> <p>Welcome to the Gameday Open Thread at Blazer’s Edge! This is a place to hang out and enjoy tonight’s festivities with your fellow fans. Treat it as if you’re watching a game at the local watering hole, but hopefully without the language. Like any passionate fan base watching a game, expect some disagreements, and a fair amount of changing emotions. But with some fun and some mutual respect, we'll get through it together.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><i>Details for tonight’s game:</i></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>620AM KPOJ<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/2013/1/23/3908758/gameday-thread-pacers-vs-blazersTimmay!2013-01-22T21:43:28-08:002013-01-22T21:43:28-08:00Blazers Need to Get Hot to Avoid 7th Straight Loss
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/t6dPwVxXTAYsiYChWTk6JQiBPxw=/0x92:3202x2227/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/6977641/20130105_jla_bl4_957.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Pat Lovell-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The Blazers face an offensively-stunted but defensively-gifted opponent tonight as the Indiana Pacers come to town. The Pacers are big, tough, and downright miserly in offense allowed to the other team. Can the Blazers get hot and break through?</p> <p>I've got to tell you, it's <i>really </i>tempting to begin this preview with, "If you can't beat Cleveland and Washington at home, who can you beat?" and leave it at that. But you know, the Blazers are masters of the unexpected. From time immemorial they've looked awful for two weeks then brilliant for three, only to nosedive again. They're in free fall now, so why not come out of it with a rousing victory against the Pacers?</p>
<p>The game tonight starts at 7:00 p.m. Pacific and will be televised on CSNNW. And Portland viewers will get the chance to look at the guy their front office made a run at this summer, center Roy Hibbert. Early returns on Hibbert's brand-new, Blazer-inspired, $13.7 million contract have inspired a serious case of buyer's remorse. He's averaging under 10 points per game, shooting an unfathomable 41.5% from the field. This guy shot 50% last season, now all of a sudden the rim's the size of a doughnut hole for him. His free throw attempts and percentage are down and naturally PER and his advanced shooting percentages have tanked. He's doing two things well: blocking shots and grabbing offensive rebounds. Those aren't enough to make up for his deficiencies. Last year he was all-world, this year it's, "What in the world?!?"</p>
<p>Even worse, the Pacers still lack the services of scoring impresario Danny Granger. The 29-year old small forward has been down all season with a knee injury. It'll be interesting to see what happens when he returns, as the Pacers have been milking great performances out of 22-year-old Paul George, who also plays Granger's position. The veteran's $14 million expiring contract may be dangled as trade bait over the summer if he recovers enough to return to form this season. But none of that is happening tonight.</p>
<p>George will play this evening, of course. He's been feast-or-famine offensively, shooting 50% and scoring 30 or shooting 30% and scoring 15. The Pacers win nearly every game in which he scores big, so the Blazers should be invested in keeping him contained tonight.</p>
<p>David West is another concern at power forward. He's not at his New Orleans levels of production but he's had classic battles with LaMarcus Aldridge over the years. Hibbert's presence on one side and George on the other means the Blazers will have trouble switching around defenders. They don't have any big guys to spare. They'll have to choose between Aldridge on West and J.J. Hickson matched up against the much-bigger Hibbert or Hickson on West and Aldridge against the much bulkier Hibbert.</p>
<p>George Hill is a serviceable point guard, putting up the best numbers of his career. He's in the advanced journeyman category but he's a decent defender and won't lose the game for the Pacers on either end.</p>
<p>Beyond those four main players, Indiana goes with a lot of toughness and energy. Lance Stephenson is a jack of all trades at shooting guard, including the defensive trade. Tyler Hansbrough and Ian Mahinmi provide size, D.J. Augustin and Gerald Green provide experience and horrible shooting. But they don't get rattled and collectively this team defends well enough that their average-level offense provides plenty of wins. They're 26-16 at this point, having won 7 of their last 9. Most of those victories came at home but a team that's taken down the Grizzlies, Knicks, and Heat in the last couple weeks won't be intimidated by the Blazers, Rose Garden or no.</p>
<p>The Pacers don't score much and they don't score efficiently. Their shooting percentages are lousy, their pace plodding. They're grinders in every sense of the word. They rely on dominating the glass to control the game. Defensively they allow neither points in the paint nor fast breaks. They get back, swat everything that comes in the lane, force you to shoot over the top, then rebound your miss. They're 1st in the league at field goal percentage allowed, 4th in three point percentage allowed, allow the 4th fewest opponent free throws per game, and are second only to the Bucks in blocked shot percentage.</p>
<p>From Portland's perspective you can look at this impressive defense in two ways. Nobody scores on the Pacers, let alone a team as streaky as the Blazers. Indiana would seem to have every road to point production blocked. On the other hand, the Blazers score no fast break or paint points anyway. They never shoot close enough to get shots blocked unless they're pounding the offensive glass. The shots Indiana will allow--jumpers--are the exact shots the Blazers rely upon. If the Blazers can get hot from the perimeter Indiana's defense won't look nearly as good.</p>
<p>The critical issue for the Blazers tonight will be rebounding and physicality. They're out-sized on the front line. If the Pacers dominate the glass Portland will almost certainly lose. But it's hard to see where the Blazers will break through since the Pacers bring in a never-ending stream of rebounding bigs. Hibbert looks dangerous to Hickson or Aldridge. Nobody off the Blazer bench is going to make a difference. If Portland doesn't get serious rebounding help from the smaller positions they may be in trouble.</p>
<p>The Blazers also need a couple of heroes in the shooting department. Fortunately they have plenty of candidates there: Nicolas Batum, Wesley Mattews, Damian Lillard, Will Barton, even a guy like Luke Babbitt could make a big difference in this game. Remember that on most nights 92 points will beat the Pacers. Drop 12-13 three pointers and you'll probably get there. Hitting shots also eliminates that pesky rebounding issue. Relying on somebody to get super-hot isn't exactly the prescribed way to draw up a game plan, but at this point it may be the best shot the Blazers have.</p>
<p>In the meantime, go ahead and discuss this matchup. I'm particularly interested to hear your reflections on Hibbert's season so far. Do you still wish the Blazers had him at that price or do you think Portland dodged a 7'2", 280 lb, slow-moving bullet this summer? Weigh in below.</p>
<p>The venerable and vivacious <a target="_blank" href="http://www.indycornrows.com/">IndyCornRows</a> covers your Pacers perspective.</p>
<p>Your<a target="_blank" href="http://blazersedge.urbanishment.com/gameform.php"> Jersey Contest Form </a>for this game.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.tiqiq.com/nba/portland-trail-blazers-tickets?pubid=1011040" target="_blank">Portland Trail Blazers tickets</a></p>
<p style="text-align: left;">--Dave (blazersub@gmail.com)</p>
https://www.blazersedge.com/2013/1/22/3905264/portland-trail-blazers-vs-indiana-pacers-2012-2013Dave Deckard