Blazer's Edge - Complete Coverage: Trail Blazers 108, Timberwolves 97The ultimate coverage and analysis of the Portland Trail Blazershttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/47543/blazersedge-fave.png2014-02-24T01:29:29-08:00http://www.blazersedge.com/rss/stream/52041412014-02-24T01:29:29-08:002014-02-24T01:29:29-08:00Media Row Report: Blazers 108, Timberwolves 97
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<figcaption>Jaime Valdez-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Portland Trail Blazers defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves, 108-97, at the Moda Center on Sunday night, improving their record to 38-18.</p> <p>The Portland Trail Blazers defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves, 108-97, at the Moda Center on Sunday night, improving their record to 38-18.</p>
<p>You don't see too many sky-scraping, at-the-rim blocks begin with two guys playing footsie on the floor 90 feet away.</p>
<p>Telling the story of Thomas Robinson's transition demolition of Corey Brewer requires a quick rewinding of the tape. After trailing by as many as 18 points in the second quarter, the Blazers handily won the third quarter to take a four-point lead into the fourth. A Damian Lillard layup a few minutes into the period extended Portland's advantage to seven points, and it upped the desperation factor for a short-handed Minnesota team playing without starters Nikola Pekovic and Kevin Martin on the second night of a back-to-back.</p>
<p>That desperation coagulated into the type of polarizing play that has kept Brewer cashing paychecks for years. Timberwolves fans might see it as heady gamesmanship; Blazers fans might see it as cheap bull. As Lillard fell to the floor after hitting his basket, he found himself entangled with Brewer. As if personifying a horrible shoelace knot, Lillard couldn't free himself after one shake, and a second shake didn't produce any progress either. Brewer initially appeared stuck as well, although he seemed perhaps less inclined to free himself as his teammates proceeded with a four-on-four situation going the other way.</p>
<p>"After I laid the ball up, [Brewer] kind of fell on top of me," Lillard recalled. "Once I fell to the ground, I felt like he dropped on me on purpose. He fell on me on purpose. I was going to let it slide, then when he got up, he tightened both of his legs around my legs, so I couldn't move. I was going to let that slide too. When I got up, he kept doing it."</p>
<p>Enough was enough by that point, but Lillard faced a no-win scenario. The layup had given him a game-high 29 points but he also had four fouls. Reacting would cost him a fifth foul and send him to the bench; not reacting could be seen as backing down, an approach that could potentially open up a slippery slope for further shenanigans down the stretch. Brewer was goading him, Lillard seemed fully aware that he was being goaded, but sometimes pride kicks in.</p>
<p>"It got to the point where I was like, 'Come on, man, get off me'," Lillard continued. "I'm not going to let nobody just play with me like that. He had to get off me."</p>
<p>Lillard shoved Brewer and the two players predictably drew double fouls, sending Lillard immediately out of the game. Brewer proceeded to take up position in the right corner on Minnesota's next possession, chirping with the Blazers' bench for an extended sequence. Lillard's refusal to be punked forced him to watch from the sidelines for the next four minutes, but it also clearly put Brewer's head on the chopping block. Exception had been taken -- by Lillard, by his teammates and by the home crowd -- and Brewer was now the bleeping dot on the center of the building's collective radar.</p>
<p>Less than a minute later, Brewer found himself with the ball in the open court, even with Robinson, the last defender hustling back in transition. In theory, he had choices: he could pull the ball up, he could attack the hoop in search of a pump-fake basket or a foul, he could try to draw defenders and dump it back to a trailer, he could finesse up a twisting layup, or he could go for broke. Having just been involved in the game of testosterone tug-of-war, though, Brewer only had one choice in reality: go for broke. What other choice was there following his tangle with Lillard and the subsequent yapping? It was time to put up.</p>
<p>Brewer picked up his dribble just inside the free-throw line on the left wing in preparation for a right-handed slam; Robinson raced back, angling so that he could make a play on the ball without sending the skinny Brewer flying with in-air contact to the body. To the naked eye in real time, Brewer's dunk attempt looked dead on arrival, as Robinson had simply timed things perfectly and achieved superior lift. In slow motion, and with the benefit of multiple angles, Brewer's dunk attempt was deader than a doornail, and the detectives from "Grimm" came out during the next stoppage in play to affix yellow crime scene tape around the key.</p>
<p>"I seen [Brewer] on the break, sized him up, and went to go get it," Robinson said. "It was a rush. I don't know how to explain it. Adrenaline shot through me. I was hype. I probably said a bunch of stuff I don't remember."</p>
<p>Perhaps, then, this should be remembered as Robinson's blackout block.</p>
<p>Just as Brewer approached the front of the rim, Robinson spiked the attempt cleanly back from whence it came, the ball bouncing harmlessly to the court near the free-throw line as Robinson screamed and Portland's bench erupted. Lillard appeared to flex, Robin Lopez bounced up and down so hard that his wig almost fell off, and the crowd immediately jumped to its feet.</p>
<p>"So you want to punk Lillard?" the block seemed to be saying to Brewer. "Punk this."</p>
<p>The play was only half done, though, as Victor Claver retrieved the ricochet and passed forward to Wesley Matthews, who pushed the ball back against a stunned Timberwolves defense. Sucking in the final defender, Matthews tossed a high lob to Will Barton, who was cruising down the left wing all by himself. Barton left no mistake with a two-handed catch, a one-handed finish, and a one-footed court stomp for emphasis.</p>
<p>"That's just a big momentum swing," Barton said. "They had numbers, Brewer went up, he gets up pretty high. T-Rob met him at the rim, blocked it. I looked up, took off and Wes found me."</p>
<p>That basket led immediately to a technical foul on Robinson, who clearly didn't know how to process what had just happened in anything approaching a civil or orderly manner.</p>
<p>"I went crazier after that," Robinson said of Barton's dunk. "I was already snapping. After that, it just made the play ever better."</p>
<p><iframe frameborder="0" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/821_JyTnDNA?rel=0" height="281" width="500"></iframe></p>
<p>Minnesota's late-game struggles have been well-chronicled: They are just 5-17 (.227) in games that were within three points either way in the final three minutes, and they fell apart in the final period against the Blazers in Portland <a href="http://www.blazersedge.com/2014/1/26/5346096/media-row-report-blazers-115-timberwolves-104">back in January</a>. A Timberwolves team that folds under the force of a birthday candle blow-out stood no chance against Robinson's hurricane block and Barton's tornado slam.</p>
<p>"It was big time," Lillard said of Robinson's block. "That lit something up under us. A little bit of tension out there, some attitude, some frustration. [Brewer] goes and tries to dunk on T-Rob and T-Rob sent it back the other way. It went straight into a lob. It was another energy play, him hustling back to get that block."</p>
<p>The sequence put away the game and capped Robinson's best performance with the Blazers: He finished with 14 points (on 6-for-13 shooting), a career-high 18 rebounds, two assists and two blocks.</p>
<p>Kevin Love got going early as LaMarcus Aldridge remained out with a groin injury, forcing Blazers coach Terry Stotts to scrap the smaller Dorell Wright in favor of Robinson and Victor Claver, who scored five points (his first points of the year) while logging a season-high 24 minutes. Robinson, in particular, seemed to relish the match-up with an All-Star, peskily pressuring Love near mid-court, forcing him into a traveling call along the baseline, getting his hands on multiple deflections, and battling for boards possession after possession.</p>
<p>"We were joking when we got back in the locker room, calling him Thomas Aldridge," said Lillard, after finishing with a game-high 32 points (on 11-for-17 shooting) and five assists. "He got a lot of rebounds that were outside of his box, he got a lot of them. Had tough finishes, ran the floor, protected the paint, big-time plays that we needed. It came at the perfect time."</p>
<p>This was a hyperactive performance from Robinson in the best sense, and a lottery pick who has consistently struggled to make a mark over the course of his two-year career finished with a game-high +19 in a career-high 33 minutes.</p>
<p>"It looked like he was back at Kansas," said Wesley Matthews, who finished with 17 points (on 4-for-14 shooting) and two assists.</p>
<p>Indeed, at one point Robinson was tugging his shorts up his thighs as he approached a defensive assignment on the perimeter. Had the game gone into overtime, he surely would have been smacking the hardwood with both palms while applying full-court pressure. Afterwards, Robinson called this "one of [the] best performances" of his career, even though he was the first to admit that Love, who finished with a team-high 31 points (on 11-for-21 shooting) and 10 rebounds, was only slowed and not stopped by his effort and energy.</p>
<p>"You can't let up when you've got someone like Kevin Love," Robinson said. "Even a couple of plays when he did score on me, I gave him an inch and he scored off of it. I knew I had to be in tune, stay down and ready, you never know what he's got in his bag. ... Coach told me to stay solid with [Love]. I can't cheat or gamble with him, because anything you slip up on, he scores off. I was being really solid, being physical with him, letting him know I was there. He still went for 30-plus. I tried my best though."</p>
<p>While this wasn't total domination from Robinson, it was timely domination. Portland's defense was insanely porous early and Robinson stepped in to help break up Minnesota's rhythm. Portland had to contend with one of the league's elite rebounders in Love, and Robinson had nearly doubled Love's output on the boards by the end of the night. Portland needed to hold Minnesota at bay while Lillard sat with foul trouble, and Robinson instead lowered the boom. Perhaps most importantly, Portland needed to show that it could handle tense moments in Aldridge's absence, and Robinson ... well... Robinson rampaged.</p>
<p>When you watch SportsCenter's No. 1 highlight of the night back another 100 or 200 times, just remember that the play actually began with Lillard in a leg lock, and not when Brewer unwisely decided to lift off. Starting the tape too late makes Robinson's block look like an outstanding individual effort; in the fuller context, it was the ultimate "I've got your back" team play. Letting the tape run a little longer afterwards only furthers that point: Robinson got the technical for screaming, but he had a bench full of guys shrieking right along with him.</p>
<p><b><u>Random Game Notes</u></b></p>
<ul>
<li>The attendance was announced at 19.458 (not a sellout). Fair.</li>
<li> <a href="http://youtu.be/p6-3yWlExlI" target="_blank">Here are the game highlights</a> via YouTube user <b>NBAshowtimeHD8</b>.</li>
<li>
<a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516590&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fsoundcloud.com%2Frichp-2%2Fwheels-call-of-t-robs-block&referrer=sbnation.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.blazersedge.com%2F2014%2F2%2F24%2F5440908%2Fmedia-row-report-blazers-108-timberwolves-97" target="_blank" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener">Here's audio</a> of <b>Brian Wheeler's</b> call of Thomas Robinson's block. He was excited, as you can probably imagine.</li>
<li>Here's a good look at the <a href="http://imgick.oregonlive.com/home/olive-media/pgmain/img/oregonian/photo/2014/02/-962d850cbb419bd3.JPG" target="_blank">moment of impact</a> on the block via <b>Jamie Francis</b> of <b>The Oregonian</b>. A full gallery of images from the play can be <a href="http://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/index.ssf/2014/02/thomas_robinsons_epic_block_of_corey_brewer_the_se.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter" target="_blank">found here</a>.</li>
<li>Old buddy <a href="http://www.twitter.com/cjzero" target="_blank">@CJZero</a> has a GIF of one of <a href="http://cjzero.com/gifs/RobinLopezGoesNutsWolves.gif" target="_blank">Robin Lopez's excited bench reactions</a>.</li>
<li>Blazers coach Terry Stotts was also amped up by one defensive sequence that saw both Wesley Matthews and Damian Lillard go sliding head first after a loose ball. The two Blazers guards definitely took home the gold medal in synchronized belly-flopping. <a href="http://cjzero.com/gifs/WesMatthewsDamianLillardWaterSlide.gif" target="_blank">Here's a GIF of that play</a>, again via <a href="http://www.twitter.com/cjzero" target="_blank">@CJZero</a>.</li>
<li>Stotts' reaction to the play: "It's been a long time since I've seen two guys dive on a ball in the backcourt. That really impressed me. There were a lot of impressive energy plays. I thought Wes diving, then Dame diving, kind of typified what we did in the second half."<br>
</li>
<li>Lillard on that play: "[[Matthews] almost had the strip, he dove for the ball, I was already running towards the play so I felt like I had a chance to track it down and tip it back into play. I wasn't able to get to it."</li>
<li>Robinson on his career-high rebounding night: "Just me going after the boards, continuous effort, attacking the glass. We're small with the bigs and short with a couple of bigs [out] so I've got to help Robin out. That's all that was."<br>
</li>
<li>I asked Robinson if there is a trick to finding a way to tap into this type of energy level and impact play on a night-to-night basis: "I don't think it's a trick. [Just] forgetting this game happened. It's over. I have to move on to the next game no matter what the role is."</li>
<li>Asked whether the coaches get on him about his inconsistency, Robinson replied: "Not at all. I don't play 30 minutes every night so you have to put that into a factor." </li>
<li>Told of the "Thomas Aldridge" talk, Robinson said: "Let's not get too wild."</li>
<li>Robinson let us in on what sounded like a talking point from the coaching staff. When asked about how Portland was making due without LaMarcus Aldridge, he said that the Blazers are comparing themselves to the Spurs, Bulls and Clippers, among other teams who have been forced to deal with injuries to key players this season. "They all had a player missing and they all had a winning record when their player was gone," Robinson said. "If we want to be up in that category, we have to be able to do everything in every scenario." </li>
<li>Robin Lopez on Robinson: "His energy was huge. That's just fun basketball to watch. I was on the sideline the whole fourth [quarter] and I couldn't have been happier. I was having a great time watching that."</li>
<li>Will Barton on Portland's reserves making the most of their opportunity for playing time this week: "We all work hard in practice but there's nothing like game simulation. You need that game time experience to help you down the road. We're a team that's trying to make a playoff push, we're going to need our bench [when we are] getting into the playoffs to win some games."</li>
<li>You aren't going to win many games with Shabazz Muhammad and Robbie Hummel playing crunch time minutes.</li>
<li>Timberwolves coach Rick Adelman on his team's second-half collapse: "I thought we got tired in the third quarter. Playing a back-to-back and [an] early game today, it's just one of those things you have to live with in this league."</li>
<li>Finally, someone scouted Portland's sideline inbounds lob play. The Blazers looked for Wesley Matthews and came up empty.</li>
<li>The halftime show featured a dance-off between a bunch of mascots and the BlazerDancers and concluded with the Spurs' mascot taking off of his "clothes" (not his actual mascot suit) and running after the BlazerDancers, who scurried in "fear." As ridiculous as that sounds, it was surprisingly popular. Who knew disrobing mascots would draw such a popular response?</li>
<li>Signs: "Sink the Love boat," "Ridgefield loves the Blazers," "Beyond Ordinary" (with a silhouette of Nicolas Batum's long arms), "Rock 'em Robin," "The Great French Eagle," "The people behind me can't see," "I wanna be like Batum," "Leonard, you rolled your ankle falling for us" (two young women hel this sign), "Ironman 2: Heart and Hustle," "No love for the T-Wolves," "My O My," "Can't blow down this house" (with a Wolf picture), "0 is our hero," and "Minnesota: land of 10,000 bricks."</li>
<li>One young lady had the sign of the night: "Dame is my Bae." Here's your <a href="http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Bae" target="_blank">UrbanDictionary.com definition</a> if you need to step your slang game up. </li>
<li>Will Barton's totally unnecessary no-look pass to Victor Claver for a dunk was fun. </li>
<li>Another underrated hustle play from the fourth quarter: Claver staying with the play after Matthews threw a botched alley-oop pass, digging out the ball and setting up Matthews for a second-chance three-pointer on the kick out. Claver had some rough moments throughout but that was nice.</li>
<li>Lost in the bench craziness and Lillard's big scoring night was a solid overall bounce-back game from Nicolas Batum (22 points on 9-for-15 shooting), 10 rebounds and four assists). <b>Erik Gundersen</b> of <b>The Columbian</b> had <a href="http://www.columbian.com/news/2014/feb/23/blazers-rally-defeat-timberwolves-108-97/" target="_blank">a few good quotes from Batum</a>.</li>
<li>
<b>Jason Quick </b>of <b>The Oregonian </b>writes that <a href="http://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/index.ssf/2014/02/quick_trail_blazers_guard_wesley_matthews_plays_ha.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter" target="_blank">Wesley Matthews recently lost his father figure</a>.</li>
<li>
<b>Chris Haynes</b> of <b>CSNNW.com</b> <a href="http://www.csnnw.com/blazers/sources-lillard-opt-out-adidas-shoe-deal-detonating-bidding-war-rivals" target="_blank">reports</a> that Damian Lillard will opt out of his contract with Adidas next summer and that Nike is among the companies that might compete for his services.</li>
<li>Congrats to <b>Henry Abbott,</b> who has been promoted to <a href="http://frontrow.espn.go.com/2014/02/truehoop-founder-to-take-over-as-nba-deputy-editor-on-espn-com/" target="_blank">deputy editor</a> of <b>ESPN.com's</b> NBA coverage. Started from the bloggin' now he's here.</li>
<li> <b>Dane Carbaugh</b> did a great job following up on the Blazers' defensive struggles against the San Antonio Spurs last week. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.blazersedge.com/2014/2/23/5439730/playbook-breakdown-blazers-have-trouble-keeping-opponents-out-of-the">This video brings to life their post-game self-criticisms</a>.</li>
<li>Minnesota beat Portland by two on the glass but the Blazers are still collectively out-rebounding their opponents during LaMarcus Aldridge's absence. They caught three breaks in a row with no Tim Duncan, Derrick Favors or Nikola Pekovic, but still.</li>
<li>Nets center Jason Collins <a href="http://nba.si.com/2014/02/23/jason-collins-gay-nba-player-nets-lakers/" target="_blank">became the first openly gay NBA player to take the court</a> when he played 11 minutes against the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday. Collins and the Nets will be in Portland on Wednesday. Remember, the Blazers became the first NBA team to come out in favor of same-sex marriage <a href="http://www.blazersedge.com/2013/10/12/4831838/theriault-blazers-endorse-same-sex-marriage-ballot-initiative" target="_blank">back in October</a>.</li>
<li>Nothing new on Chalupas/McMuffins.</li>
<li>There was never a question that <b>Joe Swide's</b> game recap at <b>Portland Roundball Society</b> would be <a href="http://www.portlandroundballsociety.com/trail-blazers-108-timberwolves-97-you-cant-imagine-how-much-fun-were-having/" target="_blank">written in all capital letters</a>: "THOMAS ROBINSON TONIGHT WAS SO AWESOME AND EXCITING IT WAS LIKE EATING SPICY CHEETOS WHILE LISTENING TO ALL OF THOSE EARLY MILLENIUM ROC-A-FELLA BANGERS WITH LOTS OF BEANIE SIGEL EVERYWHERE..."</li>
<li>"I sit alone in my four-cornered room staring at hammers, ready to go bananas!"</li>
</ul>
<p><b><u>Terry Stotts' Post-Game Comments</u></b></p>
<p><b>Opening comments</b></p>
<blockquote>
<p>The second half was really exciting. I loved the energy that we played with. Defensively, it was a very good defensive second half. Obviously the play of Thomas Robinson made a difference for us. Our attitude, demeanor after halftime is what made the difference.</p>
</blockquote>
<p><b>This game make you more comfortable mixing and matching lineups?</b></p>
<blockquote>
<p>No. That's the short answer. No, it was another night where we weren't undersized, the match-ups actually worked out really well for us. We were able to compete. We got off to a poor start with our communication and our mindset was not what it needed to be in the first half. We turned that around. Nothing is set in stone as far as things are going. The guys who were out there did what we needed them to do.</p>
</blockquote>
<p><b>Thomas Robinson</b></p>
<blockquote>
<p>A little bit of everything. His toughness with Kevin Love. I thought it started in the first half, we were down whatever we were down with two or three minutes left in the first half, we made a nice run. I thought his physicalness in the paint was important for us. It's easy to look at the stats -- he was getting rebounds in a crowd, but I thought the way we finished the first half really set the table for the second half, and Thomas had a lot to do with that.</p>
</blockquote>
<p><b>Finding consistency from Thomas Robinson</b></p>
<blockquote>
<p>Look, everybody is human. Everybody has good days and bad days. It's not about bottling it up. That's how we need him to play and he knows that.</p>
</blockquote>
<p><b>Nicolas Batum</b></p>
<blockquote>
<p>I thought he had a good all-around game. I thought he was aggressive going to the basket, glad he made some threes. He's worked hard the last few days, getting threes up and shooting them with confidence. He did a little bit of everything. It was good to see him shoot the ball well.</p>
</blockquote>
<p><b>Will Barton and Victor Claver</b></p>
<blockquote>
<p>They were playing small, we were playing small. I thought Victor and Thomas complemented each other well. Victor is a smart player and sees the game well on both ends of the court. His size helped us. Will -- he gives us energy. He loves being out there and you can feel his energy when he's on the court.</p>
</blockquote>
<p><b>Wesley Matthews and Damian Lillard double belly-flop</b></p>
<blockquote>
<p>It's been a long time since I've seen two guys dive on a ball in the backcourt. That really impressed me. There were a lot of impressive energy plays. I thought Wes diving, then Dame diving, kind of typified what we did in the second half.</p>
</blockquote>
<p><b>Halftime speech</b></p>
<blockquote>
<p>Well, in the first half, about our communication and our mindset or attitude, whatever you want to call it. Build on how we finished the half defensively.</p>
</blockquote>
<p><b>Damian Lillard stepping up offensively</b></p>
<blockquote>
<p>He scores 32 points on 17 shots -- they are going to be games where he might take 25 shots, and games where he might take 17. I liked how efficient he was, looked like he was in a really good rhythm with his perimeter shot. He knows it's important, he'll get his shots, he had a good overall floor game. Fighting foul trouble, it's easy to be taken out of your rhythm and I don't think he ever lost his rhythm.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>-- Ben Golliver | benjamin.golliver@gmail.com | <a target="_blank" href="http://www.twitter.com/bengolliver">Twitter</a></p>
https://www.blazersedge.com/2014/2/24/5440908/media-row-report-blazers-108-timberwolves-97Ben Golliver2014-02-23T22:15:58-08:002014-02-23T22:15:58-08:00Here's To You, Mr. Robinson!
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<figcaption>Steve Dykes-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Thomas Robinson keys a striking second-half comeback as the Portland Trail Blazers defeat the Minnesota Timberwolves 108-97.</p> <p>The <a href="https://www.blazersedge.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Portland Trail Blazers</a> played the first half of tonight's game against the <a href="https://www.canishoopus.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Minnesota Timberwolves</a> as if they expected to lose. Perhaps they had an excuse or two in mind. <span>LaMarcus Aldridge</span> remained sidelined. The 'Wolves looked motivated. <span>Kevin Love</span> and <span>J.J. Barea</span> were on fire, approaching unstoppable. Aside from a couple nice plays and a whole bunch of bilge bailing from <span>Damian Lillard</span>, the Blazers left nothing in their wake to recommend their chances. Then Coach Terry Stotts turned to the press table and saw a big, red Easy Button sitting right in front of him. It was labeled "<span>Thomas Robinson</span>". Stotts shrugged, hit it, and 24 minutes later the Blazers waltzed off the court with a 108-97 victory.</p>
<p>There's no mystery to Portland's struggles through most of the first two periods. They did a few things well. Threes fell. Lillard was a maestro on offense, scoring off the drive and from range. The Blazers hit all the foul shots they were granted. These strong points kept the game from being a blowout. That's not facetious. Portland drifted down by 14 points in the first half but it felt more like 40. No matter how much the Blazers scored they were plagued by demons in triplicate. They turned over the ball incessantly. They showed little familiarity with Minnesota's plays and even less willingness to cover jump shooters (nearly the only thing the 'Wolves are good at, absent <span>Nikola Pekovic</span>). And most of all the Blazers could...not...rebound. They could not rebound in a box. They could not rebound with a fox. They could not rebound here or there. They could not rebound anywhere. Not only did this leave the Blazers one-and-done on every possession, offensive rebounds provided the Timberwolves their only non-break interior scoring of the game. And they got plenty of it. Minnesota led after one, 34-26. They maintained their edge through most of the second period, holding a 60-46 advantage with 1:30 remaining in the second period.</p>
<p>That's when Robinson gave the Timberwolves and Blazer fans a foretaste of the feast to come, converting back-to-back offensive rebound buckets for 4 quick points. A <span>Nicolas Batum</span> dunk would pull the Blazers within 8, 60-52, at the half.</p>
<p>Robinson's singular status as the only Blazer expending energy on anything but his own shot attempts earned him the nod as the third period commenced, replacing starter <span>Dorell Wright</span>. Robinson paid dividends in two critical ways.</p>
<p>1. Kevin Love had been bullying Wright down low, forcing the Blazers to mix coverage on him. They tried <span>Robin Lopez</span>. They tried Batum. They tried switching everything and doubling him. Nothing worked. Love took bigger guys outside and shot over them. He scored around help defense or the 'Wolves found the open shooter. Robinson started the second half guarding Love straight up. His energy bothered the All-Star. Also Love and the 'Wolves engaged in Stupid NBA Trick #6. Taking advantage of a mismatch is smart. But throwing the ball to your advantaged player and standing around watching him trying to take advantage is usually a bad idea. This is doubly true when that player scores from the outside. You might be able to post <span>Dwight Howard</span> against <span>Joel Freeland</span> 92 times in a row because dunks are hard to miss. But Robinson bodied up Love, forcing him to the jump shot. Instead of moving the ball, Love just went at T-Rob. Covered jumpers are still covered jumpers even if the guy guarding you is deemed a lesser talent. Open shots morphed into contested ones. The 'Wolves began to miss.</p>
<p>2. Robinson erased Portland's biggest first-half issue, the lack of rebounds. Minnesota got a couple early in the second half. Then the well dried up. Now the 'Wolves were one-and-done. And again, that was the major source of interior scoring for them. Missed jumper followed missed jumper. The Blazers vacuumed up those misses and the comeback door swung wide open.</p>
<p>Given the opportunity, Lillard and Batum made sure the Blazers could capitalize. Lillard fought foul trouble but still managed to drain 5 of 8 triples en route to an 11-17 night and 32 points in 30 minutes of play. Batum reversed his recent trend, looking for his shot early and often, hitting 9-15 for 22 points. When those two weren't making hay the Blazers were threshing the Timberwolves on the break. Turnovers and rebounds with quick outlets prompted a Portland blitz that the 'Wolves weren't prepared for. The Blazers would end up with 19 points on the run, the most spectacular of which came when Robinson judo-chopped a <span>Corey Brewer</span> dunk attempt into the hands of <span>Victor Claver</span> who sent a laser pass to <span>Wesley Matthews</span> who then found <span>Will Barton</span> for a huge alley-oop slam. If you missed it, don't worry. This play will adorn Trail Blazer video montages for the foreseeable future. Robin Lopez drew an entire comic book about it during Portland's next timeout huddle. That block dialed Chuck Norris collect to call him a weak poser and Chuck agreed.</p>
<p>Portland kept up the defense through the fourth period. Minnesota had little interest in guarding the Blazers in the first place. They prospered in the first half through Portland's defensive indifference more than their own prowess. "Little interest" became "no interest" as the Blazers streaked ahead. The Timberwolves folded as the Blazers converted open looks, never making a serious run at the victory they once thought was theirs. The Blazers pocketed the 108-97 win and more than a dash of inspiration.</p>
<p>How gruesome was the rebounding situation tonight? The Timberwolves grabbed 21 offensive boards. 21. And that was without Pekovic. The Blazers ended up with 12, most of those in the second half. Fortunately Portland found other advantages. Three-point shooting returned. The Blazers hit 13 of 28, a 46% clip. The Timberwolves managed only 9 of 28. The Blazers shot 48% overall to Minnesota's 40%. Portland won the battle of the paint 44-38 and the transition battle 19-3. The Blazers also had 7 blocked shots on tight interior defense. Aside from the three-point advantage this was the most un-Portland win of the season. Losing the offensive rebound advantage, gaining no advantage on free throws, and firing 11 fewer attempts than the opponent...none of those are Blazer hallmarks. Obliterating the opponent on the break, playing good interior defense, and scoring more in the paint aren't exactly classic 2013-14 Trail Blazer traits either. Sometimes energy and heart make odd things happen. Tonight was certainly one of those nights.</p>
<p><b>Individual Notes</b></p>
<p>Thomas Robinson finished the game with 14 points, 18 rebounds, 2 blocks, 2 assists and 0 turnovers in 33 minutes. It was the biggest game of his NBA career. His performance had his teammates alternating between chortling in glee and jumping out of their seats. He wasn't the only contributor tonight but he was the guy who made other people's contributions matter instead of just becoming footnotes in a tough loss.</p>
<p>We have an unconfirmed rumor that as the 30,000 streamers fell from the Moda Center ceiling following Portland's win Robinson ran around rebounding and swatting away every single one before it hit the floor. Lillard and LaMarcus Aldridge dragged Robinson from the court, saying, "Save it for the next game, T-Rob."</p>
<p>Speaking of Damian Lillard, his magnificent and efficient 32-point performance would have been the talk of the town on any other night. When the Blazers needed him, he delivered. And they needed him all night.</p>
<p>As mentioned above, we had a Nicolas Batum sighting tonight! He began the evening with a nifty, aggressive pull-up jumper and never really quit. Whenever he had the open look or an open lane he took advantage. That's not out of character for him against the Timberwolves but it's still good to see. He shot 9-15, 3-6 from the arc, scored 22, had 10 rebounds, dished 4 assists, and blocked 3 shots.</p>
<p>Robin Lopez didn't have anybody to guard in this game. The 'Wolves were all mobile and their bigs could shoot. No matter who Lopez got switched onto they pulled him out of the lane. Plus the Blazers didn't put him down low on offense. This accounted for the massive dearth of rebounds in the first half...a trend that lasted until Robinson provided at least a temporary answer to the eternal question, "If Lopez doesn't do this stuff, who will?" It's worth mentioning that Portland's paint defense was ultra-pathetic in that first half as well. They're so used to Robin being back there that they couldn't cope without him. They righted that ship in the second half as well. Lopez's shift was shorter then. He finished the game with 5 rebounds, 6 points, and a block in 28 minutes.</p>
<p>Dorell Wright started but played only 7 minutes. I'm beginning to suspect he might not be a true power forward. I'm also beginning to suspect the sky is blue.</p>
<p><span>Mo Williams</span> played 28 minutes, partially due to Lillard's foul trouble. He shot 2-7 but made up for it with 5 rebounds and 5 assists.</p>
<p>Victor Claver pulled 24 minutes in this game, most in the second half. His defense was solid and he pitched in 5 rebounds in 24 minutes. They should add an event on All-Star Weekend for Claver and Minnesota's Ricky Rubio: the Non-Shooting Contest. They can each line up on opposite sides of the court with a rack of balls in front of them and look for someone else to pass to. "I think there's a popcorn vendor open in section 204! Heads up, Barney!" Whomever passes up the most shots in 1 minute is declared the winner.</p>
<p>Will Barton stole C.J. McCollum's minutes and hit a three along with his alley-oop finish. Barton and Barea must be some kind of weird vampires, sucking the will to shoot out of Claver and Rubio and feasting on it themselves.</p>
<p>McCollum had 4 non-distinguished minutes. <span>Allen Crabbe</span> and <span>Earl Watson</span> trillioned this game. #blowoutminute</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=400489713">Boxscore</a></p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.blazersedge.com/2014/2/23/5440010/final-blazers-dominate-the-wolves-108-97">Timmay's Instant Recap and Gameday Thread Review</a> If you want to scroll through the Gameday Thread t's easy to find the Robinson Block. JUST LOOK FOR ALL THE CAPS LIKE THIS! OMG THOMAS ROBINSON BEAST MODE WHAT DID I JUST SEE?!?!?</p>
<p><a href="http://www.canishoopus.com/">Canis Hoopus</a> cannot be a pleasant place to hang out after that.</p>
<p>Your Jersey Contest results and the form for the next game are <a target="_blank" href="http://blazersedge.aglimmeringwreck.com/">HERE</a>. Tonight's Answers: Portland won the game, four times over. TBone won tonight's game with a score of 98 out of 100. Thankyouforblaze leads the month with 501 points in 8 games, a 62.6 average.</p>
<p>Follow Dave on Twitter <a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/DaveDeckard">@DaveDeckard</a> and follow the site as a whole <a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/blazersedge">@Blazersedge</a></p>
<p>--Dave (blazersub@gmail.com)</p>
https://www.blazersedge.com/2014/2/23/5441322/portland-trail-blazers-vs-minnesota-timberwolves-thomas-robinsonDave Deckard2014-02-23T20:23:29-08:002014-02-23T20:23:29-08:00Final: Blazers Dominate the Wolves, 108-97
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/RN451BfUatw8lCjQEhqH1gyE0js=/0x111:4000x2778/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/29083255/20140223_mje_ae6_322.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Jaime Valdez-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Down 18 points, and with Lillard in foul trouble, every member of the Portland Trail Blazers roster came together and completely dominated the Minnesota Timberwolves for what might be remembered as a turning point in the season.</p> <p>The Blazers were led by Damian Lillard (32 points, 5 assists in 29 minutes), Thomas Robinson (14 points, career-high 18 rebounds, 2 huge blocks), and Nicolas Batum (22 points and 10 rebounds), with support from Wesley Matthews (17 points). But if any win was a team win, it's this one; nearly every Blazer made a contribution in the second half.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/playbyplay?gameId=400489713">Box Score</a></p>
<p><b>First Half: </b>Terrible. Terrible. Terrible. The only description for the Blazers' performance for most of the half. They looked discombobulated at both ends of the court, giving up easy three's to the Wolves, and if the three missed, would also give up the offensive rebound. Along the way, the Wolves were hitting shots that they normally missed. Meanwhile:</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p>Blazers are a mess on both ends right now. Stotts having to yell instructions to players on where to be on that last possession.</p>
— Erik Gundersen (@blazerbanter) <a href="https://twitter.com/blazerbanter/statuses/437784611909664769">February 24, 2014</a>
</blockquote>
<p>
<script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>Put it all together, and the Wolves took an 18 point lead in the second quarter, while Lillard (the only reliable scorer for the Blazers) headed to the bench with his third touch foul. Somehow, the Blazers made a run though, and outscored the Wolves by 10 down the stretch to somehow pull within 8 points at halftime.</p>
<p><b>Minnesota 60, Portland 52</b></p>
<blockquote>
<p>Hangin' tough [with this game]. Mostly because I do not want to watch Nancy / Tonya.<br>by <b>occassia</b></p>
</blockquote>
<p><b>Third Quarter: </b>Portland finally went on a run to close within one point on a Lillard three-pointer, but Minnesota took control again, building a six point lead. Portland turned the tide again though, and when Lillard hit another three, the game was finally tied and Minnesota called timeout. A lucky bounce for a Batum three-pointer gave the Blazers the first lead since early, but the Wolves fought back for a 4 point lead. Portland had their chances, but handed the ball back with turnover after turnover. Another Batum three gave Blazers back the lead, and they held onto it during a bonkers back-and-forth sequence where neither team could take advantage of fast breaks.</p>
<p><b>Portland 84, Minnesota 80</b></p>
<blockquote>
<p>We're about to loose this one you can just tell unless Minnesota just hands it to us.<br>Plus or minus Batum scores 14? I say minus lol<br>by <b>RoseCityFinest </b></p>
</blockquote>
<p><b>Fourth Quarter: </b>Say hello to Thomas Robinson. In a game where he'd been doing dirty work all night, he took control at both ends and the Blazers jumped to an 8 point lead on a Victor Claver dunk on the break. The red-hot JJ Barea hit another three to close the gap, but Portland, the team and crowd, came alive. With Lillard back on the bench, the Blazers had one of those indelible moments in a season like this: Robinson erases a sure fast-break dunk for Corey Brewer, leading to an alley-oop Barton dunk on the break at the other end:</p>
<p align="center"><iframe src="//www.youtube.com/embed/821_JyTnDNA" frameborder="0" height="315" width="560"></iframe></p>
<p>At this point, the whole stadium (and Gameday Thread) is bananas. Robinson hit a huge three-point play on a tip-in for a 9 point lead, then after another Blazer defensive stand, Claver saved a broken play, to Matthews for an open three... Swish. The crowd was on their feet, and Minnesota called timeout, down 12. Batum returns and promptly hit a layup for a 14 point lead at the halfway point.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p>I've basically been over here going OMG OMG OMG OMG for the last 15 minutes straight.</p>
— Timmay @ Blazersedge (@BedgeTimmay) <a href="https://twitter.com/BedgeTimmay/statuses/437800094520193025">February 24, 2014</a>
</blockquote>
<p>
<script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>Minnesota settled down, and scored 4 straight points to cut the lead to 10, and Blazers Coach Terry Stotts quickly called timeout. The Blazers were re-energized, and looking to break on every opportunity. And thanks to their defense, the opportunities were presenting themselves. And at this point, Minnesota decided to slack off of Lillard behind the three-point line. He wrote a note to their parents in the form of a long three. Swish. After a timeout, Wolves Coach Rick Adelman pulled Kevin Love for the final four minutes.</p>
<p><b>What's Next:</b></p>
<p>Another day of rest for the Blazers, which they'll need as they head to the Mile High City to play the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.denverstiffs.com/">Denver Nuggets</a> Tuesday night.</p>
<p>In the meantime, stay tuned for more from Dave and Ben tonight.</p>
<p><b>Gameday Thread Comments of the Night:</b></p>
<p>Thanks to everyone who participated in tonight's Gameday Thread! As always, here are the most popular comments, based on the number of Rec's from their fellow fans:</p>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="1">
<thead><tr>
<th width="60"># Recs</th> <th>Commenter</th> <th>Comment Link</th>
</tr></thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>10</td>
<td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/colbymac">colbymac</a></td>
<td><a href="http://www.blazersedge.com/2014/2/23/5439986/gameday-thread-wolves-vs-blazers-second-half/in/5204141#217059935">Are the refs prego, because they missed 2 periods!</a></td>
</tr>
<tr class="alt">
<td>9</td>
<td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/thankyouforblaze">thankyouforblaze</a></td>
<td><a href="http://www.blazersedge.com/2014/2/23/5439962/gameday-thread-timberwolves-vs-trail-blazers/in/5204141#217034215">YOU'RE ASKING A BIASED CROWD!!!! :) !!!!!</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>8</td>
<td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/KingWes">KingWes</a></td>
<td><a href="http://www.blazersedge.com/2014/2/23/5439962/gameday-thread-timberwolves-vs-trail-blazers/in/5204141#217038695">A dyslexic man walks into a bra.</a></td>
</tr>
<tr class="alt">
<td>5</td>
<td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/thankyouforblaze">thankyouforblaze</a></td>
<td><a href="http://www.blazersedge.com/2014/2/23/5439986/gameday-thread-wolves-vs-blazers-second-half/in/5204141#217070179">THOMAS ROBINSON >>>>> Thomas Jefferson >>>>>>>> Benedict Arnold >>>>>> Kevin Love</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>4</td>
<td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/MiledAnimal">MiledAnimal</a></td>
<td><a href="http://www.blazersedge.com/2014/2/23/5439962/gameday-thread-timberwolves-vs-trail-blazers/in/5204141#217035577">Caption time.</a></td>
</tr>
<tr class="alt">
<td>4</td>
<td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Timmay!">Timmay!</a></td>
<td><a href="http://www.blazersedge.com/2014/2/23/5439962/gameday-thread-timberwolves-vs-trail-blazers/in/5204141#217041169">That's usually best done in private!</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>4</td>
<td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/occassia">occassia</a></td>
<td><a href="http://www.blazersedge.com/2014/2/23/5439986/gameday-thread-wolves-vs-blazers-second-half/in/5204141#217071729">[no title]</a></td>
</tr>
<tr class="alt">
<td>3</td>
<td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Idog1976">Idog1976</a></td>
<td><a href="http://www.blazersedge.com/2014/2/23/5439962/gameday-thread-timberwolves-vs-trail-blazers/in/5204141#217035323">No, look above</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>3</td>
<td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/blazermaniac32">blazermaniac32</a></td>
<td><a href="http://www.blazersedge.com/2014/2/23/5439986/gameday-thread-wolves-vs-blazers-second-half/in/5204141#217067133">I so want trob to succeed</a></td>
</tr>
<tr class="alt">
<td>3</td>
<td><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/thankyouforblaze">thankyouforblaze</a></td>
<td><a href="http://www.blazersedge.com/2014/2/23/5439962/gameday-thread-timberwolves-vs-trail-blazers/in/5204141#217037959">it's actually spelled Dywyaynye Wyaydye</a></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
https://www.blazersedge.com/2014/2/23/5440010/final-blazers-dominate-the-wolves-108-97Timmay!2014-02-23T19:09:07-08:002014-02-23T19:09:07-08:00CHAT: Awful Blazers Still Close to Wolves!
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<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/UYhkU8xSYfRPIMWdk5O503nDOG8=/0x403:2571x2117/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/29066853/20140125_jla_ax3_157.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Craig Mitchelldyer-USA TODAY Spo</figcaption>
</figure>
<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. Expect some disagreements, and a fair amount of changing emotions. But we'll get through it together.</p>
<div class="read-more">Watch: <b>CSN NW</b> | <b>NBA League Pass</b><br> Listen: <a href="http://www.nba.com/broadband/alp_schedule.html" target="_blank">NBA Audio League Pass</a> <b>620am</b><br> Links: <a target="new" href="http://www.nba.com/gamenotes/blazers.pdf">Media Notes</a> <a target="new" href="http://www.blazersedge.com/2013/10/29/5044302/the-2013-guide-to-watching-the-blazers-on-tv-and-online">Viewing Guide</a> <a target="new" href="https://twitter.com/blazersedge">Updates on Twitter</a>
</div>
<p>-----------------</p>
<p><b>Injuries:</b> LaMarcus Aldridge, Joel Freeland, and Meyers Leonard are still out for the Blazers.</p>
<p>-----------------</p>
<p>The usual Gameday Thread rules apply:</p>
<p>1. No swearing<br>2. No pictures<br>3. No discussion of unlicensed Internet streaming<br>4. Be cool to each other!</p>
<p>Hang out and enjoy the game! -- Tim</p>
https://www.blazersedge.com/2014/2/23/5439986/gameday-thread-wolves-vs-blazers-second-halfTimmay!2014-02-23T16:30:02-08:002014-02-23T16:30:02-08:00CHAT: Red Alert, Short-Handed Blazers vs. Wolves!
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/7KRTVTEBlp0TObSdozQNX7TaS2E=/0x413:2571x2127/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/29066641/20140125_jla_sx3_088.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Craig Mitchelldyer-USA TODAY Spo</figcaption>
</figure>
<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. Expect some disagreements, and a fair amount of changing emotions. But we'll get through it together.</p>
<div class="read-more">Game Time: <b>6:00 pm</b><br> Watch: <b>CSN NW</b> | <b>NBA League Pass</b><br> Listen: <a href="http://www.nba.com/broadband/alp_schedule.html" target="_blank">NBA Audio League Pass</a> <b>620am</b><br> Links: <a target="new" href="http://www.nba.com/gamenotes/blazers.pdf">Media Notes</a> <a target="new" href="http://www.blazersedge.com/2013/10/29/5044302/the-2013-guide-to-watching-the-blazers-on-tv-and-online">Viewing Guide</a> <a target="new" href="https://twitter.com/blazersedge">Updates on Twitter</a>
</div>
<p>-----------------</p>
<p><b>Injuries:</b> LaMarcus Aldridge, Joel Freeland, and Meyers Leonard are still out for the Blazers. Nicolas Batum is recovering from illness and expected to play.</p>
<p>For the Wolves, Kevin Martin and Nikola Pekovic will miss the game.</p>
<p>-----------------</p>
<p>The usual Gameday Thread rules apply:</p>
<p>1. No swearing<br>2. No pictures<br>3. No discussion of unlicensed Internet streaming<br>4. Be cool to each other!</p>
<p>Hang out and enjoy the game! -- Tim</p>
https://www.blazersedge.com/2014/2/23/5439962/gameday-thread-timberwolves-vs-trail-blazersTimmay!