Back to Back in Minny
posted: 3/11/2008 at 9:24 AM
We're in Minneapolis now, as this tour of the great white Midwest continues. There's not as much snow on the ground here as there was in Milwaukee or Cleveland, and it's not quite as cold. Just wanted to let you know because I know you're concerned. Game four of this five-game trip continues tonight as the Blazers take on the Minnesota Timberwolves, at the Target Center, which I could hit with a rock out my hotel window, if I was so inclined.
The news of the morning is that Nate McMillan held a shootaround this morning for the team, at the Target Center. Teams almost never have shootarounds on the second game of back to backs. We got into the hotel very late last night, and then the announcement was made about the morning practice.
It wasn't quite what you're thinking- it wasn't a punishment for letting a game get away in Cleveland last night. It was more to go over a few offensive sets, and to basically work on what to do against a double-teaming defense. That was lacking last night against the Cavs, and the double teams will be coming again tonight against the T-Wolves.
The Blazers fell to the Cavs last night 88-80, a game that wasn't decided until the final few minutes. Just like in the first meeting of the season between these two, the Blazers were in control most of the way, and grabbed a 13-point lead in the first half. With LaMarcus Aldridge of to a great start, the Cavs made adjustments at halftime, and that's when they started bringing the doubles. They ran two players at Aldridge, and also at Roy, and basically challenged anyone else to beat them. Unfortunately, the only two players scoring for the Blazers last night were Roy and Aldridge.
Give the Cavs credit for turning this game around. They held the Blazers to 35 percent shooting in the first meeting, and just 40 percent shooting last night. After the halftime adjustments were made by the Cavs, the Blazers were just 12 for 35 from the field. Game over, basically. Players other than Roy and Aldridge, were getting good shots in the second half, just nothing was going in. You can't survive on the road when that's the case. The Blazers did get away with wins in Milwaukee and New York, without much help from the bench, but you knew they wouldn't be able to survive against a team like Cleveland.
Now, to Minnesota. I don't care that they only have 14 wins. Forget about that. This won't be easy. The Timberwolves are suddenly playing pretty well, and are coming off two wins on the road. They beat the Clippers on Saturday in L.A., and on Friday beat the Kings in Sacramento. Of course, the Kings followed up that loss with a win over the Lakers in L.A. That just showed that the win in Sac should be considered a very impressive victory for Minnesota.
This is also one of those situations like we saw in New York. You're just not sure who will play, and what to expect. Randy Foye is back playing, and is playing very well. He had 26 in the win over the Clips, and has been shooting very well from behind the three-point line. Al Jefferson will also hurt the Blazers, and he's averaging a double-double.
The Blazers have beaten Minnesota twice already this season. They won 109-98 in Portland back on December 28th, and then won here in Minneapolis 90 to 79, on January 2nd. That was just two days after the Blazers 13-game winning streak was snapped in Utah.
After the game tonight, we'll fly to Sacramento, as this strange trip continues. I can't think of a trip in recent years where we've played in the east, and then travelled back west to finish the trip. It'll be a 5 o'clock tip, Pacific Time tonight.
Talk to you from Sacramento.
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Mike;
I don't think we let the game slip away, I think it was taken away.
With King James playing the way he is, He cruises for three qrters. and than gives it a burst and leaves you wondering what happened.
That is what Portland did when their shots were going in. After the game, I still felt like we won. I thought some calls late in the forth was bad or the lack of calls. but that is playing in someone else's house and against the best.
hg
Since I live on the coast I can't watch the games, and I can't get it on the radio,right on the coast, I follow the games on the internet. It tells you what happened not why. That is why I appreciate your analysis so much. Learning to deal with new defenses takes time and experience. That is reassuring because that can be done but can't be rushed. I'm glad Nate will step out of the routine to teach how to deal with these new challenges
The game was given away, and though no one wants to hear it, that loss goes to our All Star. Where was he in the 4th? Zero leadership down the stretch. None whatsoever, and that falls on Roy! Just like in Portland, Roy was visibly intimidated by Lebron. It was sad. He has to show up in the fourth quarter, and he didn't! From one who loves Roy, it's hard to say. But it was true last night in Cleveland.
So who can imagine Jack getting on a roll, having a really nice stretch of games, and then having Nate benching him in favor of Blake who is playing very poorly? Does anyone think that sounds a little backwards?
I would really like to hear Nate explain why Jack has always been entitled to more opportunities than others who work just as hard or play just as well or better. I'd also like to know why he suffers less consequences for his poor play than others do for their poor play.
The other night in NY, Jack was pulled for a horrible entry pass in a crucial point in the game. I was shocked. Usually Jack has to string together 3 or 4 consecutive TOs and play matador perimeter defense before Nate will even think about yanking him before his predetermined timetable says to.
I thought maybe a new leaf had been turned, until i watched Jack do another horrendous entry pass at a crucial point in the game, last night, for which there was no consequence. So, he decided to let it go. That's not exactly clear evidence of favoring Jack.
Ok, but what about when Jack goes 0-5, our guys are getting double-teamed and need someone to hit an outside shot and the guy with two 3-pointers on the night, 8 assists to 1 TO, and the hero of the two previous games is sitting on the bench the entire fourth with the game in the balance? I love Nate, but that's simply inexplicable, and what's worse is that it's just par for the course.
mrblazer,
You raise a fine point. I had to forward through most of the 4th last night so I don't have much vantage point. In Nate's defense, Jack has bailed us out on numerous occasions late in games with clutch foul shooting and penetration. Last night was not one of his better nights and if he played in favor of Blake anyway then it's a fine example of weakness in Nate's late-game substitution plan, or lack thereof.
My only possible conclusions are:
a) Nate has over-estimated Jarrett.
b) Nate has under-estimated Blake.
c) We need to showcase Jack to the rest of the league in order to ship him for a reasonable return in the off-season.
d) All of the above
I'd like to think there are more reasonable explanations, but I'm also at a loss. Maybe Mike can help here.
Nonetheless, I wouldn't allow this to be anything more than a nuisance at this point. Win or lose we are all but out of the playoffs and Nate has still done a superlative job of coaching this young team to a 33-31 record after 64 games.
Hopefully, however, he is humble enough to accept some criticism and re-consider any biases or favoritism he might have.
Fans bashed him for weeks for not playing Pryz in the 4th as much as he should and it took him almost a month to change. The result has been noticeably favorable, as our defense and rebounding have been far less atrocious down the stretch.
I think Nate's in a difficult position. If he responds quickly to fan criticism, he risks having the team think he is a puppet of opinion, and they need to think he's on their side, no matter what we say. If he stays with Jarrett or anyone else longer than we think makes sense, he hears the chorus on this side.
It ain't easy being a coach.
dskowinlg.... brandon can't do everything. he had a double team instanly when he touched the ball so did L-train. this means that someone else will have to score so they can't double team those two. This comes back to the jj argument. why was he out. I like blake he is a better shot but i think jj can pentrate better and make alot of clutch shots. L- train is an animal. he has been playing so well. he going to be an all star count on it. go blazers
hg: Why does every time anyone (including Mike Barrett himself!)has any criticism about the Blazers, you feel like you have to intercede and make excuses for them. Listen man: We had'em and we let them of the hook! you made the same excuse when we let golden state bully us out of rebounds. You still felt like we won? are you kidding me?
Mike: thank you so much for letting us express ourselves in this blog. it really is therapeutic.
Mr. Blazer:I also agree about Jack. his turnovers come at the worst of times and are momentum killers. unfortunately that is what people remember. but do you really think Blakey can handle the load? he usually gets worn down by the end of games because of his size and the minutes he has to play. he has to work extra hard to get his shot off so by the end of games he tends to fade. whether we need to play him in the 4th quarter or not, we are in definate need of a solid point guard right now. That being said, i'm with you on the turnovers. they really have killed us this season.
Also what about james jones? where has he gone too. B-roy looked disinterested last night and i don't understand why. are we allready thinking about next year? It really is tough when you don't know which player is going to show up night in night out. i love my blazers and i also love when there's effort and i'm just not seeing any sense of urgency.
Dskowinlg-
Totally have to disagree with you. That loss was on all the players with maybe one or two exceptions. This is a team game and putting blame on one player when clearly all had bad games is unfair.
You say BRoy was intimidated by Lebron, Can you show me when? Because I never saw BRoy backing away and saying (out loud for you to hear of course) I'm too intimidated, I'll just stand here and let him do his thing!
MB-
I'm loving the way LMA has been playing lately. It's so good to see. Also, his shots are so pretty! He makes it look so easy at times.
Let's get a win tonight!
Rip City baby!
Sudelander
I guess I do defend the team to much. I thought the game changed because Joel got in foul trouble.
I did notice that the defense slacked off after Joel left, but I don't know if they stepped up their offense or Frye isn't as good as Joel, inwhich I don't think that is a fault. Our outside shots wasn't going in the whole game and I thought The Cavs took away all the inside shooting.
I don't feel the team is without fault, I just feel they wasn't as good as the cavs the second half. They didn't lay down and give the game to the cavs and that was what I was talking about when I said it was taken from us.
I feel if the Blazers stay in the game and fight till the end they are winners.
hg
millertime & anna
I agree with much of what you say and love ya both for being here.
I know it's a team game. I know B Roy gets the double team. Still. It's leadership-which he usually shows-that was absent against the Cavs. If a double team is going to stop our star from LEADING in crunch time, we're screwed. Both games vs. Cleveland it happened. And Anna, he was intimidated.
In Portland. We're up by one, less than a minute, and Roy dribbles out the shot clock and takes a fall-away way-deep three missing it all. James drives around a double team and scores to win.
In Cleveland. Clutch time. We need a leader. And I agree, Jack would have done it. He would have gone to the rim and tried to get fouled. Where was Roy?
I know he's tired, beat up. SO IS EVERY OTHER ALL STAR. That's why you're an All Star. Just my opinion. I'm not a Roy hatter, but I was thoroughly disappointed in him both times against the Cavs.
Talk to you guys later.
dskowinlg I totally agree with what you said about Roy. I will say that its more of a team fault that we lost, but I dont know how I know it, but I feel that Roy is a bitt intimidated by LeBron. Its intuition or our submind picks up what the regular mind rejects. Our mind says that Roy cant be intimidated because we saw how he takes over the games, but our submind pick something we cant explain.
I was at the Blazer game in Cleveland and I was so excited to see them play in person. I listen to them nightly in Ohio and have listened/watched them since I was a little girl. I have to say that they played solid most of the game and they are an exciting team to watch. They all have great heads on their shoulders and this is only the beginning. We should be thankful for the team we have because when you're around the Cavs cockiness it makes you respect the Blazers team much more.
Just a side note, it does pay to play at home because the Cavs got all the calls or should I say Lebron got all the calls.
Thank you to Antonio Harvey and Brian Wheeler for doing an awesome job announcing every night...I love listening to them! Great blogs Mike, you have a great perspective on this team.
alexpukay, I can try to explain a bit why Roy seems intimidated by Lebron. Brandon Roy is insync( body, mind, and spirit) thats why we can feel the electricity in the air when Roy takes over, but Lebron seems more insync, because he figured out earlier than Roy how to take over games, not only with his talent, but his mind and spirit. So when Roy meets Lebron he cant figure out him as fast as other players, that play only with talent(but might have bad character),so Roy feels more like a little brother of Lebron that just a step behind. I see the same in Michael Jordan, he was together with his mind, body, and spirit. Thats why Players like Roy, Lebron, Jordan drive to the basket and never seem to get hurt, and they always find ways to finish inside, because not only their talent guids them inside to the rim, but their talent(body), mind(character) and spirit(intuition), help them be sucseceful.
mrblazer,
I could not have said it better regarding Jarrett Jack. Nate's loyalty to Jarrett throughout the course of the season has been perplexing to say the least. Jack has certainly had his good moments, but his pourous defense, timely turnovers, horrible fast break offense and at times lack of court vision on most nights onweigh his positives.
Blake should play more minutes, or Wafer should get a chance to show more of what he did against the Clippers.
It's always good to be loved :)
this is Abdulkareem from portland, anyone who wants to watch a game on the road dosent have comcast or even a TV, follow these steps
YEAH THERE LONG INSTRUCTIONS, BUT I WAS ACTUALLY NICE ENOUGH TO TYPE THIS UP, U GOTTA READ ALL OF IT, U'LL GET THE HANG OF IT................................
hey, ok so here is the site
www.myp2p.eu
here are the steps
1)have window media player open-
2)go to website ^^^
3)click forums on top left area
4)click "nba+basketball"
5)click the date, for today it would be" NBA Today march 11th"
6)always go to last page, most recent is the last page
7)make an account so u coud ask for games(u dont have to)
8)look for a link that has "boss" in it, there called boss links
for example someone might ask "blazers and kings please"-the moderator will then post a link that has "boss" on it
FOR BOSS LINKS
1)HIGHLIGHT AND COPY "LINK LOCATION" MAKE SURE NOT JUST COPY BUT COPY LINK LOCATION
2)GO TO WINDOWS MEDIA PLAYER-FILE AND OPEN URL or ctrl-u
PASTE IT INSIDE AND ENTER
WAIT LIKE 30 SECONDS
KEEP IN MIND THESE "BOSS" LINKS DO AND WILL EXPIRE AFTER LIKE 2 MINUTES SO U HAVE TO BE QUICK, BUT MANY OF THEM WILLL BE POSTED, IF YOU HAVE AN ACCOUNT U CAN ALWAYS ASK FOR FRESH ONES
if u paste a link down and it dosent work, chill out!-it means the link expired and that u need a new one, so look for a new one
THANKS
any questions, i'll check in 2days
Mike this is hg with a late blog
If my disagreement with you offends you, you have my deepest apology. Although I know it didn't I needed to clear the air about us not giving the game away that it was taken from us. My opinion of this came way back at the beginning of the season when I asked you how could the whole team get cold at the same time and your unquoted response was that many opponents do special defensive stunts on us to keep us on our heels and since we are still young we can't always figure those stunts out.
I feel The Cavs game was one of those times, The Cavs dominating defense in the paint Stifled the Blazers because we couldn't get the ball movement to get good perimeter shots. You said in your blog that you have to give The Cavs credit, and that is what I was meaning.
I measure winning by hard team play because we are still young. All Portland games are close in the end, that is the way we play for some unknown reason to me. So just because the last shot went in for the opponent and our didn't does not make us losers, we were in the game until the end.
I feel the Cavs are a better team than Portland (or more experienced) that isn't taking anything away from Portland.
I didn't get to see or hear the Minny game bowling again. but the scoring was just the opposite of the Cavs game. Did we take the game away from Minny or did they give it to us. From reading in the Oregonian, BRoy got in the mode much like King James did against us.
Blazercritic hit the nail on the head King James is like an older brother to Broy. That does not take any thing away from Broy or does not make Broy intimidated. Maybe he was mentally intimidated, who knows. But that is not why we lost. But Nate and he talked and apparently him not showing leadership did have something to do with it. But, when leadership is forced on you, sometimes you can't live up to the task. Is that a fault or being human.
Enough said, glad we will be better than 500 with this road trip.
hg
p.s. Menders; I agree with you home court advantage helps a lot, I agree with you about refs and King James.
Rashed-
Thanks for the info. I watched the game last night on Channelsurfing.net with the t-wolves announcers. If I watch it your way do I get to hear MB and MR instead? Thanks again.
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