Jazz Sink Blazers in Fourth
posted: 11/06/2008 at 12:21 AM
We’ve seen this before, and it never gets easier. When you think you’ve got the Utah Jazz beaten, at home, they grind out a victory. In Wednesday night’s game, it took Utah shooting 53 percent from the field, and 96 percent from behind the free-throw line, and a big fourth-quarter rally to beat the Trail Blazers 103-96.
The game was tied after the first quarter, 23-23. The Blazers led by seven at the half, by four after three, but then were outscored 29-18 in the fourth quarter. Portland didn’t get its first field goal of the fourth for almost six minutes, and that’s the wrong time to hit a cold spell, especially in that building. Some of this is on the Blazers, but most of it is just the Jazz being the Jazz. They tightened the screws defensively, got extremely physical, and did what they do best- get to the foul line.
Free-throw shooting is always one of the keys to the game when you’re playing the Jazz, especially in Utah, and through three quarters, the Blazers had the advantage. Utah was 5 for 5 at the line in the first three quarters, and then 16 for 17 in the fourth quarter. Keep in mind, they entered this game shooting just 74 percent at the line in their first three games. The Blazers certainly didn’t lose the game with their free-throw shooting, as they were 22 for 27.
The Blazers were led by Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge, who both had 18. Steve Blake, who played very well in the first half, had 16 points. The Blazers ended the first half on a 10-2 run, and Blake had 8 of those points.
Joel Przybilla was also a beast inside, grabbing 16 rebounds, and scoring 7 points. It does look though, to me at least, like the rest of the team expects him to get every rebound, and relaxes a bit when he’s on the floor. Aldridge and Channing Frye had just two rebounds between them. That has to change.
Rudy Fernandez played very well, once again, but took the loss hard. He had a wide-open look at a three pointer in the final minute that would have tied the game at 99, but missed it. The play was called in the time out, and had Brandon Roy drive down the left side of the lane. As hoped, Ronnie Brewer completely left Rudy to help on Roy, and that left Fernandez wide open. It seemed everyone expected it to go down, but it rimmed off. Rudy ended with 14 points, 3 assists, and 3 rebounds.
Nicolas Batum got the start at the small-forward spot and was very effective. He was a big reason why Portland was able to hang tough in the first quarter, and take a lead to the locker room at halftime. He ended with 5 points and 6 rebounds, but that doesn’t begin to tell the story about his game. In the second half, McMillan chose to go with experience over youth, and Batum didn’t see much action, other than starting the half.
The Blazers, once again, allowed an opponent to shoot a high percentage from the field. The Lakers shot 47 percent in the first game, but after that San Antonio shot 56 percent, Phoenix shot 55 percent, and Utah shot 53 percent. This, obviously, is a big concern.
The Blazers, meanwhile, shot 44 percent from the field, but were very good from behind the arc. They shot 10 for 19 overall, but were 9 for 16 in the first three quarters.
Things don’t get easier (I’m getting tired of saying that) on Thursday night, as the Blazers host the Houston Rockets at the Rose Garden, a game that will be broadcast on TNT. This is not a good matchup for Portland, especially in the second of a back to back. The Rockets had their way with the Blazers last year, holding them to 80, 79, 83, and 86 points in the four games. That was before the arrival of Ron Artest. Sorry, just the facts.
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Nate was just flat out wrong to take Batum out. Outlaw had a careless turn over at the end of the 3rd quarter that cost them. He also tried to force a shot that got swatted by AK47. Batum is the smarter player and gets the ball to the scorers, then he crashes the boards.
If the Blazers want to beat Houston they need to leave in Batum. Someone needs to slow down Artest or McGrady, and also help on the boards because Aldridge is just being lazy on the glass.
I'm encouraged by the Blazers play though. You can see great things to come, just got to play for 48 minutes.
After 4 games +/- total for guards:
Batum +20 in 60 min = +0.33/min
Fernandez -12 in 108 = -0.11/min
Roy -35 in 145 = - 0.24/min
Blake -35 in 122 = -0.28/min
Outlaw - 42 in 127 = -0.33
I don't say we have to start Batum Fernandez and Roy but numbers does...
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MB,
Wish I could've seen/heard you and the Wild One last night, but alas, the Blazers & Comcast don't care enough about me as a season ticket holder to allow me to watch the road games. Greed stinks. This is going to get old very quick. Despite the tough loss at the end, sounds like it would've been a fun game to watch.
How did Travis handle his new-found bench status? I bet you guys were pumped to see Rudy get a wide open look at the 3 at the end - gotta think that goes down more often than not!
3 assists in more than 30 minutes. That's a PG? Will McMillan ever see that Blake has not the skill to play in this team?
And Roy... mmm... he's the best in the team, but i simply don't like what he's doing. I think he will play better anyway.
Mike,
Over the last year and a half I think the zone has started to hurt us rather then help. In watching last nights game and the game against the Suns specifically it looked to me that if the Jazz did not turn it over they got a wide open shot against the zone. The Suns absolutely destroyed us because they don’t miss those wide open shots. Are there stats somewhere that tell you how well opposing teams perform against our zone?
Also, it may just be my imagination but I think we give up more offensive rebounds when we are in the zone too.
Mike,
With respect to Nate, who gets paid to coach and is far more qualified than I to do so, I find it tough to swallow that Batum couldn't have provided a lift in the 4th quarter.
His energy carried the Blazers in the first half, flying around both ends of the court, tipping balls, grabbing offensive rebounds, etc. What I saw in the 4th quarter was a return to the low points of last season, when the team looks like they're just slogging through molasses.
What I saw was two different teams. One who plays intense, fly around the court defense, which produces occasional fast breaks but who can also slow it down, pound it into the middle and get a good shot. The other team I saw was the try to stand their ground against the tempo and game that Utah wanted to play. No energy, stalled offense. And ultimately a loss.
I've been caught off guard as much as anyone by how valuable Batum can be to this team, but the skills he brings to the table can't be utilized from the bench.
Am I missing something here?
Of course everyone automatically annoints LaMarcus to "Big 3 status," and offensively he has been fairly good; but 2 rebounds against the Jazz? I know Joel was gobbling up a lot of them, but that is ridiculous. LaMarcus needs to learn that if he wants more notoriety, he is going to need to rebound the basketball.
Also, when will Travis Outlaw learn to block out instead of go for the rebound?
We need to find more shots for Rudy Fernandez. He makes his free-throws and creates plays. The only guy on the team I would rather see shoot at this point is Brandon.
I agree with first post, that the Blazers played much better with Batum in the line up rather than Outlaw. Travis just looked lost out there, where Batum just seems to have a higher hoops IQ and can anticipate things quickly especially on defense.
I would like to see Aldrige start his moves earlier, as he seemed to just wait for the double team to come but was having difficulty passing out of it. To his credit, he has been much more aggressive this year.
MB,
Not gonna lie, I'm disappointed. I tried to ask you on your last blog post if there was a Duck Tribute planned for tonights game. I didn't get an answer, although you did respond with an answer to another fan's question. And now, the morning of, the Blazers finally give notice to this occasion.
Maybe in the future, the Blazers could give a little more notice about something like this?
My good friend, whom Kevin was literally a father figure to, asked me to keep my ears open as to when this season he could expect a tribute night. With anything more than 10 hours notice, he was going to try and make it into town for the "special" event.
I feel like Larry Miller and the gang really dropped the ball on this one. For anyone who has been around this team for more than a couple years, knows how much the Big Duck meant to this city and state. This is more than a "bobblehead night," this means something to people, and it should've been handled with a little more respect and therefore, notice.
-From a lifelong fan, Jailblazer era survivor, and young season ticket holder who doesn't have his tickets tonight!!!!
We should start calling Batum Mr. 4th quarter, because if he was out there we would have won. I think it is about time we put youth in over experience if the youth is the better player. You need to try and get your best players out on the floor when it counts and sorry Outlaw, but you not one of our top 5 players. There is a reason teams are shooting a high percentage on us and it is Outlaws defense, it hasn't changed from last year. McMillan... More Batum please!
The game was indicative of the Blazers last year. I saw signs of what's to come yet they still look lost.
I really enjoyed Batum in the starting lineup. The starters need someone that is unselfish and will provide energy. It's becoming more and more apparent to me that we have a few pieces that just don't fit like I thought they did. Nate also needs to emphasize rebounding for everyone and I truly think that Roy and Aldridge need to lead by example with this instead of running to the other end as quickly as possible.
I still see a lot of potential yet the structure isn't there. I'm looking to Nate to step up and set this straight. The players look confused, especially in that horribly lazy zone.
You can see the potential there and I'm encouraged and excited by this team.
Did I miss something? Where was Bayless? Why did he sit all night? Help me out here guys.
That was a tough lost especially since we were up by 10 in the 3rd and looking so good.
Like almost everyone else, I observed that Batum brings energy and ups the tempo of our game. It prevents defenses from setting up and lets us shoot the ball in rhythm.
Roy has gotta be more assertive and make more noise to the refs. He can't just sit back and take the abuse. Squeaky wheel gets the grease.
Something doesn't seem right with Roy. He doesn't hustle on both ends of the floor. He seems to be waiting for the game to come to him. I wonder if he's out of shape or hesitant to play a bigger role on offense. I was hoping he'd be over that by now.
Batum is the real deal. He and Fernandez really bring it.
Pryz is the man. We'd be so screwed without him.
We can win tonight if we put it together.
Go Blazers!
hopefully this comment adds some emphasis to what has already been said. we were +12 with nic in the game, and he didn't see any 4th quarter action. it may have been the jazz being the jazz, but if nic had had the chance to be nic we might have had a few more "hustle" plays go our way.
i'd give that ball on that play to rudy at the end of the game anytime. sometimes you miss...
team rebounding and "midseason" effort is what we are all looking for from our team. i know that they will get there. also, it would have been hard to know in the preseason that they should have been running a starting line-up that includes two rookies not named greg. coach will find a way and time to integrate nic and rudy, but it might not be something that happens today. that is understandable.
ok, BRoy and LA and TLaw are not playing to the level they should or could on both ends of the floor. I think Joel deserves a MAJOR prop for getting out there and really earning his salary. The guy is a real warrior. Sure Greg gets all the press and all the kvetching from the Fans, but it's a 5 man game so some guys have to really step it up. And my hats off to Joel who is playing his heart out!! Go Blazers!
Nice review of the game Mike. I share many of the frustrations as others on here. I really thought we had a chance last night holding onto a lead going into the 4th Q, but knowing it was on the road against the Jazz, I was skeptical. We just plainly got beaten in the last quarter. The team lost it's composure and poise. They look confused and tentative on offense and Utah was the aggressor. The refs usually reward the more aggressive team - thus the 17 free throw attempts. It's not a good sign. Batum should have been in there. His energy and defensive efforts could have altered some shots. Roy played well, but the defense was able to pick him apart late in the game. He needs to make his plays quicker and get it to the open man as soon as he's doubled. Rudy catching and shooting from the wing is a good strategy. I'd like to see them run him off more screens to get open looks. He can be a real weapon for this team if they know how to work it. He should be the third option at all times.
It will be tough against the Rockets tonight. We just need to stay out of foul trouble and control the pace of the game to get a chance. I don't like the Artest/Roy match up. Blazers will need other guys to step up and spread the wealth in scoring utilizing a balance attack. Bayless might help in a game like this since he takes the ball to the rim aggressively. We shall see.
Go Blazers! Anyone know Oden's progress??
If Batum plays 5-8 minutes in that 4th quarter the Blazers win that game. The guy is playing All NBA type defense right now. I don't care if he's a 19 year old rookie and he hasn't been in the league long enough to earn time in the 4th quarter. The guy is a ball magnet. As soon as Outlaw started running into crowds of people and jacking up off balance shots he should have been pulled and replaced. The Blazers are a much better team with Batum on the floor.
Brandon also seems a bit off right now. He knows it too and I think he's overthinking everything now because of it. He just needs to relax and play his game with instinct. He is un-stoppable when he does that.
Great shot at the end of the game by Rudy. He's not gonna miss that one very often. That mini alley oop pass to Aldridge was a thing of beauty also.
It's gonna take about a 1/4 season for this team to really get into their groove I think but when they do it's going to be amazing!
What I would like to do is heap some praise on the young man Batum. He's always around the ball, he plays with passion, and he's a freakin AWESOME passer. That's one dimension of his game I never even knew of.
Personally, I think he should keep his starting spot even when Martell returns. Webster had amazing chemistry with Rudy in his only game this year, and would bring even more firepower to our explosive second unit. Outlaw's minutes would decrease by half or more, so this will never happen, but it's still the sensible thing to do if you want to win games.
Sean Ferris, you have every right to be mad. I'll be there tonight, and I'll cheer twice as loud for Duck on your behalf.
What's a Duck worth?
EVERYTHING.
I agree that Batum should have played much of the fourth quarter. He and Rudy are outstanding on the boards. Steve Blake is doing his job at point. His job is to get the ball to Roy or Aldrige, etc. He is deadly at the three point range. Many times he has to do this with only seconds left as the other players have run out of options. Roy needs to up his game. He appears sluggish and unfocused. Aldrige needs to be more aggressive on the boards and take care of the ball.
We have a great team. They need to always play as if they were on their home court. Energy + intelligent play = win.
Go Blazers!
I agree with majority of comments, especially first post.
I couldnt figure out in fourth why Batum was sitting. Joel was the only one going for rebounds.
When Batum was in, he was rebounding, getting second chance efforts (even tho they wouldnt go in) and steals. he was giving blazers more chances to score. he also did a great job of passing and getting the ball to guys in the right spot. He played extremely well. Then he was kept out by the coach.
I thought a lineup of Roy at point, Rudy at other gaurd, Batum, Aldridge and Przy in the 4th would have given them both offensive firepower and rebounding they so greatly needed as well as good defense. I like Nate, but sometimes i think he gets a bit retarded during the games.
I am not at all impressed with
As to Blake with only having 3 assists, if you pass the ball to a wide open player for a layup and he misses it you don't get an assist.
How many games are you going to win when your all-star gaurd shoots 6/16, your power forward gets 2 rebounds, and your team shoots consistently 10% less than the opponent and is outrebounded every game? Pretty simple isn't it?
As to players doing what they are supposed to howabout Joel? Is he the only one who has heard of hard work?
Mike: thanks for the update.
I am in the hospital in Bend. I did get to listen to the game. I thought it was a good game.
I think we should have listened to both sides and realize that Blazers has another year or two to be were they want us to be.
This game and the Phoenix game tells me we are getting closer. I think we will beat both teams on our own floor. It is rough getting so close and not getting the win.
I hope the team doesn't feel like the bloggers. That we are not the team they thought we were and they sound like they are going to jump off the wagon.
I feel we are young and still growing. We stayed nose to nose in three of our first four games against high Escalon teams. That is exciting to me.
Everybody knows how hard it is to win on the road. Therefore I don't understand the anger. From what I understand, you stay in the game and give yourself a chance at the end to win. The Blazers did that in the last two losses.
Looking forward to tonight’s game. I am still in the hospital but get to watch the game on TNT.
hg
hg,
Hope you're doing okay my friend. Thanks for taking the time to still read and comment. If we were doing the game on TV tonight I'd give you a shout. Keep us updated.
MB
Disappointment.
I know the Jazz are tough at home. But to let Price, Brewer, and Knight school our guards like that was embarassing. They didnt even have their best player! Blake shot it well, but just doesnt make very many plays for a PG. Outlaw is confused and damn near useless except for some decent shooting here and there. We need to package him, Raef's contract and Blake for a good PG. But who? We aint gettin Paul or D Will, I know that. Rodriguez is a bum too. They should start Bayless and maybe he will develop.
Roy doesnt look aggressive, but I think he will come around soon. He does need to step it up though. LA looks alright sans the sloppy fouls.
Far and away the best lineup had Batum in it. He crashes the boards and gives everyone around him energy. I was dead wrong about him coming out of summer league.
Could be ugly tonight. Hopefully we dont get bashed too bad. This month will be a cruel reminder of how far we must go to get to a championship. And Oden has even further to go to be better than Eric Dampier.
All of that said.... GO BLAZERS!! Beat Houston on TNT!
Oh, and bye the way.
When is Roy going to start getting some calls?? Isnt he an all-star? Isnt this his 3rd year? Refs are treating him like a rook.
Bavetta is a bum. NBA officiating is the worst. Probably tied with Pac-10 football.
OK..Roy needs to be more agressive and realize that yes you are a all star and a leader of this team..so hes got to man up and take over more often. Aldridge needs to rebound more period..cmon now 6'11 and grabbing 2 boards isnt gonna win games..weve seen him grab 14-15 rebounds in couple previous games so we know he can. Create more Shots for Rudy..boy is he exciting to watch. Travis can continue off the bench..he plays better that way. Blake can shoot the 3 and hes useful on offence..but he cant play very good D and hes not a playmaker.Joel..just keep on doing what your doing and try to knock down more of those free throws...guess that sums it up...My starting lineup- Roy pg,Rudy sg,Batum sf,Aldridge pf,joel c....just need to keep thier head up and dont let that 4 quarter presure them. GO BLAZERS!!
I dont know why Nate and Kevin keep Outlaw? I remember at least two games last year and the preseason were he scored in double digets, only after going scoreless until the forth quarter when they had thown in the towel and put in the hole bench! To me that is just selfish ball! Outlaw just wants to pad his stats not improve the team and is to inconsistant. I for one say he is worth more at the trade table than on the court.
sergio is not a bum. he's worked his butt off to try and contribute this year.
i'll take greg oden over dampier anytime, especially if we have him in combination with joel.
outlaw should not be traded (his contract is at the right level), but played as a back-up three or four depending on the match-up.
we need more positivity on this blog. our team is awesome. i'm about to head out for tonight's game, and am so happy that i'm not going to watch darius, qyntel and zee-bo. we would have no chance at a win with those fellas.
I agree with comments about Nic Batum needing to be in there more. The team is scoring well but giving up a league worst shooting percentage! Defense guys -- defense wins games and starts fast breaks! When the half-court offense isn't cutting it, you gotta run, and that starts with defense!
Re: Nate. He seems to be experimenting with lineups that haven't had much on-court time together, mixing black and white unit players quite a lot lately. I thought that was what practice is for, not games. Several mistakes seem to be have been a direct result of guys not being used to each other in those situations...
Re: Comments about Travis Outlaw. KP will need to make a trade eventually, he's got several guys with overlapping skills.
When Martell Webster comes back, who plays at the three? Between Martell, Batum, and sometimes Rudy, that position is loaded. So that puts Travis back to backing up at the four, which cuts into Frey's minutes (assuming that Greg Oden is healthy by then) and leaves nothing at all for Ike Diogu.
I think Travis will the one to be traded. It's pretty clear by now that Batum has more upside than Outlaw. Travis just hasn't been able to put it all together in his 5 years. It's dangerous, because Travis can win games -- but he can also lose them. So, KP, trade him to an Eastern team, please.
Of course, as soon as I post that about Travis, he has a monster game tonight ;-)
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