A Frustrating Reminder
Andrew R Tonry | Sunday, March 7, 2010 at 11:24PM 
Of all the NBA’s 30 teams, none is a more frustrating reminder of what could’ve been for the Blazers this season than the Denver Nuggets. With matching records last year, the two teams shared the Northwest Division title. In the last game of the 2009 regular season the Blazers decimating the Nuggets. The teams were expected to wage another heated battle for this year’s division title. But as we all know, injuries torpedoed the Blazers. And while the season must still be considered a success, all things considered, watching the Blazers struggle against the Nuggets re-opens the wound every time. Denver poured on a little extra salt Sunday, walloping the Blazers 118-106 in Denver.
The Nuggets took an early lead that grew as high as 21. They shot a staggering 58.9% from the floor and made nine of 22 three point attempts.
Portland could not slow down Carmello Anthony, who finished with a game-high 30 points. But Denver’s domination was equally related to how totally they kept Portland’s two leading scorers, Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge, under wraps. The duo shot just nine for 28, combining for a measly 28 points—not enough to stay with the high-scoring Nuggets.
While Aldridge was mostly just cold, the Nuggets sent numerous traps at Roy, basically daring someone else to beat them. Jerryd Bayless and Rudy Fernandez answered the call, but weren’t quite enough. The two mercurial bench players were hot from deep, making all seven of their three-point attempts. Bayless’ three three’s were a career high. He finished with 24, the most since scoring 31 in San Antonio on December 23rd. For all his offensive luster, the second year guard had a difficult time defending veteran Chauncey Billups on the other end.
Still, it was comforting to see Bayless have a confident outing. In the previous nine games since Steve Blake was traded, Bayless has not proven that he’s up to the task of running a team. Sunday he hit the outside shots that teams have been daring him to take, something he’ll have to do with greater regularity if this experiment is going to bear fruit. Bayless has to make those shots because he’s just not a passer—his five assists came with four turnovers.
Without Marcus Camby, who is day-to-day with a sprained ankle, the Blazers were especially thin against Denver’s powerful front line.
For most of the second-half the Nuggets held a double-digit lead. The entire game played to their tempo. Still, the Blazers deserve some credit for hanging around, never giving up, hitting nine of 16 three’s, and cutting the Denver lead to single-digits numerous times in the fourth quarter. On the other hand, whenever they were on the verge of really making a game of it, Portland made a number of bone-headed turnovers or simply failed to execute. One stretch in particular stood out as Portland allowed the Nuggets to recover two straight offensive rebounds that seemed to be the theirs for the taking. One was on a missed free throw—the kind of little lapses that drive coaches berserk.
And so the Blazers three-game wining streak was snapped. All that talk about starting to find their rhythm, really being on the same page, and starting to make their playoff push seemed to evaporate Sunday. Fortunately the next few games on the schedule should allow the Blazers to again build up that winning swagger.
NOTES:
- Andre Miller surprised everyone with a sick fast-break dunk. Who knew the old man could jump? Before this, I would’ve bet that Miller couldn’t even dunk in a non-game situation. This footage proves me wrong:
- Portland gets to 100 points for the 7th straight game for the first time since Nov.8-21, 1995 (8 games).
- Aaron Afflalo was the only Denver player to shoot under .500 (four for nine, 44%)
- Speaking of 44%, the Blazers bench scored 47 points, which was 44% of their total points.
Reader Comments (5)
I actually choked on my bagel when I saw that Miller dunk. Awesome.
Millers dunk was amazing but that game was quite the reality check as to where the blazers stand in the west. Roy's hammy still ain't right and Aldridge got dominated
That Miller dunk brought me back to 99, watching Sabonis dunk it in the WCF. There's definitely a little magic in seeing a guy with a presumed 6" vertical throw it down. The game went as expected by most, if Camby would have been in we would have had a chance.
Yeah, the dunk, well, whatever. What a sad story unfolded at tip off. The Blazers were not ready, and they will never be ready as long as an opponent (pick one, anyone) can feast at the rim, lay up after lay up. And why won't they run Brandon off of picks instead of iso plays? He is slow at the moment, not healthy. It's bad coaching. He's not athletic. He's not getting the respect from the officials (because he's slow and all too guard-able). It was ridiculous to see Brandon as a liability, with no one working to get him open.
On the bright side, the Blazers were the better team in the second half. Rudy and Bayless really lit it up. Too bad LaMarcus was a no show.
I must say that Martell Webster made some nice basketball plays in the third quarter. It almost made me regret all those times I cussed him for inconsistency and his lack of feel for the game.
Foremost, I feel lousy because I thought the team would have shown more heart, and that Camby's attendance would have been better.
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