Great Way to Open Trip
posted: 11/10/2008 at 10:49 PM
Two years ago the Trail Blazers were a pretty solid road team, given they were still struggling to climb the hill to respectibility. Several long road trips were seen as successful, all things considered, and the one thing those trips had in common was, the Blazers won the first game on the trip. That's always seen as a big key, obviously.
Last season, the Blazers didn't win their first road game of the season until December 3rd, and didn't have much success against the Eastern Conference away from home. Before Monday night's game in Orlando, Nate McMillan told me that's one thing he's really stressed coming into this season- take care of business in the first game, and the confidence builds from there.
While the Orlando Magic were busy talking about a 4-game winning streak, and this being their shot at finishing off the first 5-0 homestand in franchise history, the Blazers were very focused, and very prepared.
Portland came out in the first quarter against the Magic and set the tone for the entire trip, shooting 61 percent, and scoring 36 points. Orlando had held its last two opponents to under 40 percent shooting, and allowed just 88, and 81 points, respectively.
The Blazers built up enough cushion in that first quarter, they were able to weather the storm in the second, in which Orlando went to work using Dwight Howard, and still held a one-point lead at the half.
It took until the end of the third quarter that Portland had finally equalled its point total from the first period alone, and the Magic carried the lead into the fourth. It would have been easy for the Blazers to show up in the fourth, keep it close, and fall the way they did so many times in the east last season.
But, Brandon Roy, Rudy Fernandez, Steve Blake, and Travis Outlaw, led a fourth quarter charge that totally put the Magic back on their heels, and they took control of the game, scoring 34 in the fourth, and winning the game 106-99.
It was the first Portland win in Orlando since November 24, 2004, and snapped a four-game losing skid, overall, to the Magic. Even with that four-game losing skid, the Blazers upped their record in the state of Florida, all time, to 26-14.
The Blazers led by as many as 12 points in the second half, and even though the Magic got to within 6 in the final minutes, weren't able to get any closer, and the Blazers headed for the airport with a very impressive win. We're now through the first 7 games of a difficult schedule, and the Blazers are 4-3. And, they've done it without two of their starters. Honestly, that's probably better than we had hoped for.
Roy was a total stud in this game, once again. He scored 27 points, and most of them were hard-earned again. His drives to the paint collapsed the Magic defense, and when that happened he fed his teammates on the perimeter and they continued to knock down big shot after big shot.
Outlaw is now an incredible 13 for 19 on the season from behind the three-point line. Before last season, this wasn't even seen as a strength of Travis' game.
Rudy was 4 of 6 from behind the arc, and hit several clutch shots in the fourth quarter to keep the Magic at arm's length. And, Blake, who had struggled from the field against Minnesota on Saturday, was 2 for 3 from long range, and ended with 20 points. As a team, the Blazers were 9 for 17 from behind the three-point line, and on this night also shot 84 percent from the free-throw line.
LaMarcus Aldridge, who was in a battle with Dwight Howard in the paint, scored 16 points, but grabbed 11 big rebounds. That backed up his 24-point, 13-rebound game on Saturday.
Howard, who had 23 points and 12 rebounds at halftime of this game, was held to just 6 points in the second half, after the Blazers changed the way they were dealing with the pick-and-roll play at halftime.
In the first half, the Blazers were jumping every pick, or "hedging" the pick, as the coaches say. This led to getting caught in a switch, which most often times led to Howard diving into the paint against a smaller man.
In the second half, the Blazers decided to just fight over the high picks, and to not switch on it. It was a very key adjustment by McMillan and his staff, and worked pefectly to slow down Howard, Orlando's number-one option on nearly every possession.
To listen to the post-game comments from McMillan,
click here. We recorded it for the TV post-game show, and thanks to Rich Patterson for the hustle, on the radio side, in getting the link to me.
The only negative to come out of the night was the fact that Roy, who had taken a beating once again, pulled up with back spasms late in the game. He told me after the game, on the plane, that he went to challenge a shot with 90 seconds to go, and landed on his heel, jamming his back. He said he was stiff, and would have to wait and see how it felt on Tuesday.
As you probably heard, Greg Oden practiced with the team on Sunday night, and ran better than expected. In fact, it's even the hope of the coaches that he'll be able to go through Tuesday's practice, and perhaps be ready to return to the lineup on Wednesday.
We're in Miami now, and the 40-minute flight after the game, was a good one. There wasn't any celebrating, as this team knows this was just the first of five tough games on this trip. They were satisfied with the win, and a quiet confidence was more the mood than total joy.
It was another big step in the right direction, and the Blazers are over the .500 mark for the first time this season. They'll go for their fourth-straight win on Wednesday against the Heat.
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MB,
Thanks for your hard work. Quality win for the Zers. Here's to many more...
wow, what a great team win. every player who played more than 32 minutes had at least 16 points. having five players score 16 or more is pretty impressive. also, the rotations and adjustments are looking very effective as you mentioned.
i hope that b-roy is not too banged up or injured. probably the most difficult part of the game was watching how many times he was knocked to the floor. a win like this only makes you hope that we are able to sustain these types of efforts.
it would be really great if we are able to see greg and brandon log some minutes together against the heat! there should be some interesting match-ups with them considering that they don't really have any centers. i would love to see lots of double teams and traps coming at wade. a former finals mvp definitely deserves an appropriate challenge. luckily we have a variety of wing defenders to throw at him.
attack the hoop, there will be no shot blocker!
GO BLAZERS!
Great game to watch. I just hope Roy will be okay.
If somebody out there knows the answer to the "Afleck Question- "Who was the first President to go to an NBA game?", I would greatly appeciate the answer. I always look forward to the Afleck Question and tonight I left the room for a minute and missed the answer. I've been stressing over it all evening so hopefully either Mike you can let me know the answer of if somebody else knows it I would love to know!!!!
Crazy how we look forward to every aspect of the Blazer games, even the trivia questions. LOL
Great game from everyone! Blake did a great job, hope he can continue in this level. And Sergio, at last, had important minutes... Even Roy seems to get his level... i'm happy, this wasn't an easy game and we won it! Yes, a "cry baby" from Spain is happy to say that McMillan did a great job yesterday.
Yes! The boys are delivering on the promise and expectations after a jittery start.
I wish the Blazers an injury-free season, although we've seen their ability to toughen up and play awesome sans key players.
I hope Brandon stays healthy, and that Greg will get to play real soon. Everything's on the up and up for our Blazers!
Let's go let 'er RIP!
Thanks again for the inside info, MB!
Ya Blazers! Let's GO NOW!
Mike:
Thanks for the update. The first road game win is quite exciting. I thought the game itself was lacking in excitemen, because we pretty much had to game under control the whole fourt quarter.
We got thee lets go for four.
hg.
Get ready to see the Thrilla have a huge game on wednesday! A rested Joel in sunny Miami beach is a scary thought. What is that tatoo on his left arm? hands and a sword?
Yersterday was a great victory.
For me, the key of the game was the end of the 3th quarter and the firts part of the 4th, with the bench players on court, Blazzers was better than Orlando!!
Great job of Blazzers Bench!!
Regards
This was team play at its best. There was good hustle and a determination to win. Even with Joel in foul trouble, our team members found ways to defend and steal. Keep up the good work! Remember, it is team play that will set us apart from our opponents who only rely on their "stars" to win for them. Don't worry about minutes played. When you play unselfishly and with intelligence, then it is much harder to lose.
I hope Brandon's back will heal quickly. It will be nice to see Greg play even if it is only for a few minutes off of the bench. There is no use in "rushing things".
Hey greeting form spain.
I wish to ask you guys. There's a few periodist whose coments are a little bit concerning abaut Blazers and i want to have more information from other parts of the wolrd. There's a general opinion in spain that put Oden in the way to be another Sam Bowie case. What dou you think about?
The other question it's Roy. there are some media here that are saying that Roy it's no very apreciate for the other guys of the team and they're saying that could be a little bit elititst. Are ths coments based in somthing real or it's just rumoring. Thanks
Hey greetings form spain.
I wish to ask you guys. There's a few periodist whose coments are a little bit concerning abaut Blazers and i want to have more information from other parts of the wolrd. There's a general opinion in spain that put Oden in the way to be another Sam Bowie case. What dou you think about?
The other question it's Roy. there are some media here that are saying that Roy it's no very apreciate for the other guys of the team and they're saying that could be a little bit elititst. Are ths coments based in somthing real or it's just rumoring. Thanks
I was looking at the NBA stats in USA Today and they have Travis as Bo Outlaw on the 3 point %. I thought people knew who Travis is now!!! Oh well, everyone will eventually get it right.
Hi
Good day. My name is Omar Pritchard. I would like to get in contact with Mr. Kevin Pritchard.
My email address is omarpritchard23@hotmail.com
We're starting to play with swagger and it's looking good! Way to shoot the lights out last night!
We're on a roll like a hunchback doing somersaults. Keep it going in Miami!
Mike,
You have a great blog, and you and Rice do an excellent job on TV. This is my first post here.
I strongly believe Hedo Turkoglu will be a Trail Blazer next season. He will be an unrestricted free-agent, and the Blazers should have plenty of cap-space to sign him.
From Hedo's perspective, what better place to cap off your career with one or more NBA Titles than with this stacked Portland team?
If we are able to add Hedo, I think the Blazers will have a spot in the Western Finals next year, and maybe more.
He would greatly improve our already solid three point shooting, and with his ability to operate as a "point-forward", he would effectively eliminate the much discussed need for a "veteran point guard".
I would love to hear your thoughts on this possibility (if you are allowed to discuss such personel matters.) If not just put in a word to KP for me (as if he's not already all over this.)
I enjoyed what I got to see of last nights game. Thanks to Al Gore and his creation...the Internet. ;^) I had been a little concerned watching this team through the first 5 or 6 games. At heart, I am a worrier, and what I was seeing was concerning me. I just had this feeling that there were 15 players that were getting togather as the Trailblazers. They didnt seem much like a team. I saw something a little different last night. They all seemed to gel together and play as a team. Each one playing to their strength, whether it be hitting a clutch 3 or driving and making a falling layup while being fouled, or simply putting your body on your man. I hope that this is the first step in that gelling process that we saw early in the year, last year, where players put aside their egos and play as a team. I have been a little frustrated watching them thus far, but the way they played last night gives me hope far into the future!
Has there been any discussion within the organization to bring Oden off the Bench this year. Keep Pryzbilla starting and bring Oden in with the 2nd unit. This would take the pressure off him to produce right away, and he can get his fitness back. Eventually, you might consider starting him, but wouldn't be so concerned with it this year. Let's just get him healthy, fit, and playing regularly so he can get up to speed.
With the substition patterns, he will likely play significant time with B. Roy and Lamarcus anyway. Any downsides to that?
Have the Blazers been discussing the potential to bring Oden off the bench rather than worry about starting him this year. This would take major pressure off him and you could gradually increase his minutes. Perhaps starting later in the year when his fitness and confidence improves.
I agree with the "cry baby" that it was great to see Sergio get some minutes. I think he could be sensational as a backup point. I see some tension between him and McMillan. It's right on the television screen. If it's that obvious to an onlooker, then it must be overwhelmingly tense in reality. Sergio missed some key shots and looked off at times. We're a young team and should expect errors to happen. It appears that other members of the team are allowed mistakes and continue to have time, but the minute Sergio makes a couple of errors he's pulled. How is he suppose to find his rhythm if he's not allowed to work through his mistakes?
The tension seems high in an uncomfortable situation. When a trade demand is floating through the blogosphere I could see Sergio and McMillan both fighting a war that need not be fought. Let the kid play his fast paced game without the necessity of pure perfection. If he grows and works with the team, he grows into an asset. If he's not NBA material, at least we'll know without reservations. It wont be because he had someone breathing down his neck, making it impossible for him to play to his natural ability.
No bad thoughts toward McMillan. Just thoughts.
GO BLAZERS!!!!!!
vic, I think the Answer to the Afflack ? was LBJ IN 1967.
The Aflac answer was President Ford in 74.
After reading this morning's column by Jason Quick, KP should get to work immediately on bringing Travis Outlaw's mom in as an assistant coach!
I'm sure she would have the same effect on all the guys as she did with her simple advice to Travis the day before his recent monster breakout game of the season: Don't just stand there in the corner waiting for the ball, go after some rebounds, get into the flow of the game, have some fun!
Well, duh! Isn't that what the game is all about?
I thought the trivia answer was Gerald Ford in 1974 at a blazers game. BTW Trout was Troutstanding last night!!!
A win in Miami would be huge! Miami is looking tough at home, just like Orlando was.
Pryzbilla getting a T and Frye mixing it up with Howard and Turkoglu says something about our team. It says we care a lot and we'll fight to win.
Wade is looking good, really good. I just hope we don't get frustrated and back down when he starts getting superstar calls for ticky tacky fouls. He will get those calls.
Rudy will get rookie of the year. Mark my words.
Go Blazers!
Hey Mike great work once again... I'll be at the game in Miami tomorrow, to cheer on my Blazers. I'm from Portland, but go to school in Miami, so hope to see you there... GO BLAZERS BABY!!!
Aflack answer was Gerald Ford in 1974, in Portland.
I heard Rudy called el magico (the magician in spanish last night)
I love it!
Lets Go Blazers !!!!
Hey Mike:
Great post as usual.
Now that it's after 4:20 in the east, how is Brandon's back? Think he'll play tomorrow night? I sure hope so. GO BLAZERS!
AWESOME WIN and great job, Mike!
A few quick notes about my own Comcast 'saga': I chose not to get comcast cable as it is $25 for me to set up and $33 per month extra. No thanks. I just figure I may as well go to a neighborhood bar and catch the games, plunking a little coin into the local economy in the process. So I walked up Hawthorne (upper) and found 4 bars with the game. However, all of em' were smoking (wha?). Seeing as my sweetheart is highly allergic to smoke, I returned home annoyed but determined to find the game. I love Wheels but this time I felt severely left out.
As it turns out, Nic's Coney Island has the games on! There are two huge tv's (although the aspect ratio of the picture is off, as my film school graduated best pal would point out---makes the guys look a little squished) and a great menu. Can you go wrong with dogs, fries, and beers? Most importantly: no smoking!
I think one positive from the Comcast heist is that many of us fans may very well find ourselves out more. You know---spreading some community spirit? I love the idea as this is a team to get excited about on and off the court. Good guys playing some great ball.
As far as the actual game, The Blazers have got to be excited about Travis' and Blake's long range shooting. CLUTCH. Rudy is money, as usual, and he and Travis' back-to-back bombs must have made Orlando cry. Also, you get the feeling Channing will get his touch back and when he does this team is going to be even more difficult to deal with. What a great roster! They can go big or 'small' but always maintain length at every spot.
@Oscar: Brandon is the man. Your sources sound like tabloids, bro.
Go Blazers!
I have come back to the fold as a Blazer fan after they got rid of all the bad apples a few years ago
Watching the games also is so much more enjoyable with the absence of Steve Jones and the addition to Mike Rice to the television broadcasts....You guys do a great job and Rice is great!
I have returned as a great Blazer fan after they got rid of all the bad apples a few years ago. Also, watching the telecasts is so much more enjoyable now with the absence Steve Jones and the addition of Mike Rice. You guys do a great job!
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