You did call it. Reading through the thread you thought LA might get going after that one hoop (he did have some big baskets) and you thought the Blazers would take over in the 4th (they did). Way to stay positive.
I think it was the Blazer defense. Everyone keeps talking about the offense, it is the defense in 4th that has won the last two games.
Ya, our zone confused them. Kinda surprising considering the guy who developed our zone (Dean Demopolous) was on the Clipper bench.
You can't just say "but it was the Clippers." You just can't. That team is pretty fucking talented, and at no moment would I be surprised if they made the playoffs this season.
Utah gets blown out. Houston is 0-2 losing to Golden State. NO won but still a great night of NBA action with the Blazers going 2-0. Two days of rest then a NY team that beat Toronto on Toronto's opening night.
Plus it was the clippers at their home on opening night and a physical game where the Blazers have to travel on the second night of a back to back. This was not a gimmie for the Blazers. Celtcs went down to Clevland in a similar situation tonight.
8 minutes left in the 4th, down by 4, 4 starters returned to join Miller. The run was immediate. They were fresh. Now they have to solve the end of the 3rd and beginning of the 4th issue. That was not pretty. The end of third they had no PG. They need to go back to AJ even if he struggles. The first 4 minutes of the 4th they had a decent line up. They just didn't play well together. (Miller, Rudy, and Wes ) I think they should stick with that a little longer.
For the people dogging Aldridge, his shot has looked kind of bad (OK, really bad) but aren't we at least somewhat encouraged by the back to back strong rebounding efforts, and it does seem like he's challenging shots a little more and holding his ground ... I guess we'll get a better look in New York when he goes against Amare', but I'm actually encouraged.
Granted it was a back-to-back, but it really kills me that this group of young players play like a bunch aging 15-year veterans. They don't move particularly fast, mainly Brandon Roy. People love to blame it on McMillan but whenever Roy gets the ball in the backcourt he immediately slows the game down to a snails pace. Get up and down and run a little bit man, come on. The Blazers can be a little boring to watch at times.
The Clipper's problem is Barron Davis. He is a shell of himself. Either that or he just doesn't give a shit anymore.
I noticed the same thing, but personally I don't think the Blazers win if they push the ball. It's might be boring, but slowing the game down and playing a half court game on both sides played right into the Blazers strength. I did love how the one time the Blazers pushed the ball (in the last half of the 4th) they found Nic for an easy basket. But in general I was happy to see both Roy and Miller slow down the pace of the game. Blazers dominated the last half of the 4th playing at that pace. Looks like Houston tried to run with GS all night . . . and lost.
The bench was terrible tonight. Look at the stats. That said, winning by 10 on the road is not "boring" to me.
