Friday
Jan082010
At Home, At Peace: Blazers Stomp Lakers. Again.
Andrew R Tonry | Friday, January 8, 2010 at 11:17PM
There's something rather sublime about watching Kobe Bryant struggle. And Friday night, there was a wealth of opportunities.
After missing a free throw to the crowd's raucous delight, Bryant wildly pressed Brandon Roy full court only to end up with a frustration foul. A few plays later he bobbled what should've been an easy catch out of bounds. Grown men in the crowd are hugging.
Indeed, Portland is under Kobe Bryant's skin.
It's become like clockwork--the Lakers cannot win at the Rose Garden. They haven't since the 2004-05 season, which feels like an entirely different age of American history.
Aside from watching Bryant flail and fail, tonight was--by far--the Trail Blazers most complete game this season. Every Single player excelled, from Brandon Roy's incredible efficiency (9 of 11 from the field and 13 of 14 from the line on his way to 32 points), to Martell Webster's wicked defense on Bryant (who made just 14 of a whopping 37 attempts), and all the way down the line from the rookies to the vets. It was nearly perfect, and on the heels of yesterday's blow-up between Andre Miller and coach McMillan--not to mention back-to-back losses to the Clippers and Grizzlies--Friday's win was a marvelous relief.
In his most generous post-game comments of the season, McMillan even cracked a rare joke (@ 1:20):
Fouls played a huge part in the Blazer win. The second quarter was a killer. The Lakers entered the penalty with some eight minutes to go, and by the six-minute mark they had racked up whistles. The Lakers found themselves in the penalty again in the fourth with 5:43 left to play. In the end, the Trail Blazers out-attempted the visiting team 39-to-10 from the charity stripe.
After the previous days' dust up, Andre Miller backed up his talk. He can indeed help this team win. And coach McMillan, who apologized publicly--for what I believe is the first of his Trail Blazer tenure--gave Andre a handful of meaninful fourth-quarter minutes. He made the most of them, and even proved he could make Brandon Roy's life easier as he found Roy on a backdoor for an easy layup that sealed the win. Roy talked about that play, and more:
Miller had a few comments of his own, and you'll see in his hushed tone, even in a win, that might be a major factor in fans misunderstanding the guy--he's just a quiet, introverted dude:
Jerryd Bayless had a phenomenal second-quarter, leading the charge where the Blazers broke open the game. During the stretch there was a incredibly strange sequence: Bayless made the four longest two-pointers humanly possible. Each of the shots looked like a three, but because of a toe, was worth only two. Bayless seemed to take the fourth attempt soley to knock down that elusive three. It was ballsy, but he made it, and held up three fingers in the air. But again, it was called a two. It was ridiculous--Bayless was four inches away from four points. (He also got to the line 12 times, making 10.)
Late in the fourth quarter we were again treated Kobe Bryant about two-seconds away from an anger-induced stroke. Down 15 with a few minutes left to play, Bryant's teammates seemed to be giving up, even though he wouldn't. All the Black Mamba could do was push in vain.
After the game it took Bryant an excruciating amount of time to emerge from his special changing room--he doesn't change out in a locker like the rest of the team--to make address the media. He was frustrated as all hell, and played it off in a strange way:
Hot damn. Nothing sweeter than a confounded Bryant and a stunning Blazer win on a Friday night. It might even wash away the rain.
After missing a free throw to the crowd's raucous delight, Bryant wildly pressed Brandon Roy full court only to end up with a frustration foul. A few plays later he bobbled what should've been an easy catch out of bounds. Grown men in the crowd are hugging.
Indeed, Portland is under Kobe Bryant's skin.
It's become like clockwork--the Lakers cannot win at the Rose Garden. They haven't since the 2004-05 season, which feels like an entirely different age of American history.
Aside from watching Bryant flail and fail, tonight was--by far--the Trail Blazers most complete game this season. Every Single player excelled, from Brandon Roy's incredible efficiency (9 of 11 from the field and 13 of 14 from the line on his way to 32 points), to Martell Webster's wicked defense on Bryant (who made just 14 of a whopping 37 attempts), and all the way down the line from the rookies to the vets. It was nearly perfect, and on the heels of yesterday's blow-up between Andre Miller and coach McMillan--not to mention back-to-back losses to the Clippers and Grizzlies--Friday's win was a marvelous relief.
In his most generous post-game comments of the season, McMillan even cracked a rare joke (@ 1:20):
Video removed after 72 hours in accordance with NBA Content Policy
Fouls played a huge part in the Blazer win. The second quarter was a killer. The Lakers entered the penalty with some eight minutes to go, and by the six-minute mark they had racked up whistles. The Lakers found themselves in the penalty again in the fourth with 5:43 left to play. In the end, the Trail Blazers out-attempted the visiting team 39-to-10 from the charity stripe.
After the previous days' dust up, Andre Miller backed up his talk. He can indeed help this team win. And coach McMillan, who apologized publicly--for what I believe is the first of his Trail Blazer tenure--gave Andre a handful of meaninful fourth-quarter minutes. He made the most of them, and even proved he could make Brandon Roy's life easier as he found Roy on a backdoor for an easy layup that sealed the win. Roy talked about that play, and more:
Video removed after 72 hours in accordance with NBA Content Policy
Miller had a few comments of his own, and you'll see in his hushed tone, even in a win, that might be a major factor in fans misunderstanding the guy--he's just a quiet, introverted dude:
Video removed after 72 hours in accordance with NBA Content Policy
Jerryd Bayless had a phenomenal second-quarter, leading the charge where the Blazers broke open the game. During the stretch there was a incredibly strange sequence: Bayless made the four longest two-pointers humanly possible. Each of the shots looked like a three, but because of a toe, was worth only two. Bayless seemed to take the fourth attempt soley to knock down that elusive three. It was ballsy, but he made it, and held up three fingers in the air. But again, it was called a two. It was ridiculous--Bayless was four inches away from four points. (He also got to the line 12 times, making 10.)
Late in the fourth quarter we were again treated Kobe Bryant about two-seconds away from an anger-induced stroke. Down 15 with a few minutes left to play, Bryant's teammates seemed to be giving up, even though he wouldn't. All the Black Mamba could do was push in vain.
After the game it took Bryant an excruciating amount of time to emerge from his special changing room--he doesn't change out in a locker like the rest of the team--to make address the media. He was frustrated as all hell, and played it off in a strange way:
Video removed after 72 hours in accordance with NBA Content Policy
Hot damn. Nothing sweeter than a confounded Bryant and a stunning Blazer win on a Friday night. It might even wash away the rain.
Reader Comments (12)
Great game. General thoughts:
-Jerryd was huge tonight in leading the second quarter charge. He does what Travis does, except the fire with which he plays better suits the sparkplug role.
-Andre was great tonight in orchestrating offensive flow.
-Dante. Cunningham. He is Odom-kryptonite.
-Nate coached a great game. Nice rotation.
-Marty did a fantastic job on Kobe. 37 shots and only 32 points? A+ effort.
There have been and will continue to be rough nights, but even still, this season has been full of great moments.
I really (really) hope that video of post-game interviews will be a regular thing on this blog.
I had to pause Andre's interview three times because his supreme awkwardness made me uncomfortable.
Enjoy the schadenfreude. The Blazers have provided plenty for the rest of the league. Go Oden!
I felt that this game marked of the Blazers coming around as a team.
Giving Andre Miller 4th Quarter run was huge. The calm and veteran experience was a big difference.
B Roy outshines Kobe by scoring 32 points on 11 shots, vs. Kobe taking 37 shots to get his 32. http://protectthepaint.com/2010/01/04/brandon-roy-superstar-elite/
Further proving my argument that Roy is one of the games elite!
Regardless of who returns from injuries, Bayless should be in the rotation more. The kid brings a ton of energy, and can flat out play. Sure he wil make mistakes, but the reward is worth it
.
And how the worm countinues to turn.... The win last night was the equivalent to waking up from a mangled drunk with the eerie sickening knowledge of the bastardly deeds committed the night before, only to pull back the covers revealing a passed out beauty drooling quietly on the sheets....
And why not? Even the worst of circumstances can sometimes spawn something amazing, which really sums up the season thus far for the Blazers.
Loose half the roster? No sweat, just plug the bottom half in and let the young men rumble. Watch your centers crumble as if the ghost of John Gotti returned looking for his money, no worries. Hell, just dust off the last remnant of the 'Fab Five', (and the first 'max-contract' if I recall correctly) and the undersized and too often under-appreciated grandpa of this team bang away against the leagues elite. Anyone else notice Juwan's a pretty sharp cat who will be sitting on a bench in suit for a long time?
Ah, but then there are the gems. Much like hundreds of hippies descending on the Oregon coast every fall to flip a thousand steaming patties hoping to uncover one magical mushroom, the disaster of this seasons roster have unearthed two beauties, and boy did they shine last night.
Bayless and Webster anyone? Bayless is looking more and more like a young Chauncy Billups as the season goes on, the one teams kept giving up on thinking he'd never become the point guard they all had hoped. Bayless is a baller, period; but more than that he has that unquantified something, killer instinct, crazy confidence, ice filled veins.... all the age old metaphors seem to be morphing into one hell of a player, and an extremely young one at that.
And then there's Martell, and for anyone who watched closely Webster defending Carmelo Anthony in the first week of the season and last nights performance has to be as giddier than a dental patient with nitrus turned way too high. 37 shots? Are you kidding me? All season Webster has worked harder than anyone on the team on defense, period. But though the occasional brilliant flashes have sent shivers of excitement up the spine, something was missing. And that something started to materialize last night; experience. For the first time it seemed to come together for Webster. He challenge every shot and showed something else, his strength. All night he put on a body on Bryant, pushing him out of his sweet spots and keeping him from finding anything comfortable all night.
So the season is what it is ultimately, and no matter how high this team goes or how low it may sink some questions have been answered, and some diamonds pulled out of the rough.... And how bout that experience?
kd_jinx - great post, just one thing, we hippies don't have to turn over that many, we know where to look ; )
this team sure has been very impressive this season. great work on the blog!
Just want to mention that from the video of Kobe, he's not as much of a jerk as some would make him out to be. Only pointing this out because he'd be excoriated by many Portland fans if he were to come out and be anything less than classy in losing.
miller to roy backdoor was epic. first time i have seen them truly play in tandem all season. i believe that lineup would have also sealed the deal against memphis as well. miller should be runnin in the 4th
Why is it that the Blazer's season begins and ends with beating the Lakers? I'm a SacTown fan and it just seems like you guys go ga ga after beating a team that win or loose, still has the best record? I mean concentrate on beating the lesser teams too and make it to, and maybe even through, the second round of the playoffs, and then go nuts-o. Shoot, even we were ahead of the Lakers by a point with 4 seconds to go, and we're a lot greener than you guys. Loose to the Clippers and beat the Lakers, how about beat both???
Kobe has a broken index finger, so it's not too surprising that he might have a little trouble handling the ball or shooting. He went 4-21 tonight as well.
Blazers always manage to bust LA in Portland anyway, it's always fun to watch that. Hope they can keep that streak up indefinitely. Do you think Bynum will be out for the season too so he can keep up his parallels with Oden?
duray-Love me or hate me, it's one or the other. Always has been. Hate my game, my swagger. Hate my fade away, my hunger. Hate that I'm a veteran. A champion. Hate that. Hate it with all your heart. And hate that I'm loved, for the exact same reasons.-kobe--online replica Longines PrimaLuna