Game Five: The Blazers are Bipolar
Andrew R Tonry | Monday, April 26, 2010 at 11:49PM 
The Blazers are bipolar and so is this series. There is just no in-between.
When the Blazers are manic—full of an scrap and energy—they win. But that energy level, it seems, is either peaked or nowhere to be found. When depression sinks in the Blazers become lifeless as the Suns run roughshod to a land where everything comes easy.
Unfortunately for Portland, depression has so far become the more dominant trait.
Monday’s pivotal game five opened with the Blazers’ mania. But the rush lasted just six minutes. After making their fist seven shots and racing to a 23-9 lead, Phoenix rattled off a 16-2 run, to tie the game at 25.
Instead of knocking out their opponent, the Blazers’ opening punch seemed instead to wake them up. Unable to maintain their early brilliance, the Blazers sunk back into depression. They were outscored 98-65 the rest of the way and the Suns won easily, 107-88.
In a way, Monday’s matchup in Phoenix became a game we’ve seen before: the Blazers had trouble scoring while the Suns poured baskets in with gusto and grace. There were, of course, a few new—and disappointing—rubs.
Brandon Roy was in uniform. As in game four he came off the bench. Roy entered with 4:22 remaining in the first quarter, and by the 9:52 mark of the second he picked up a third personal foul. It was back to the bench for Roy. He would never find his rhythm or a way into the game. Roy’s impact was negligible. Far from the heroic inspiration of game four, he might as well have been out with injury. In 19 minutes Roy scored five points on two of seven shooting from the field. He wasn’t the only Blazer plagued by foul trouble.
Marcus Camby was whistled for his second midway through the first quarter, which opened the paint and the Blazers’ defense for Phoenix to launch their comeback. In 29 minutes, Camby was effective, but the Blazers needed more. Whenever the lanky center went out, the Blazers fell apart. While playing through a dislocated pinky finger, Camby scored seven points, handed out four assists, and grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds. The team battle for boards, however, was won by the Suns.
Phoenix grabbed 15 offensive rebounds and scored continually on their second chances. The Suns also dominated the Blazers in foul shots. Phoenix made 29 free throws to Portland’s 17. Both the rebounds and trips to the line are indicators of Portland’s depression in effort, reminiscent of both games three and four.
Suns reserves Channing Frye and Jared Dudely provided a heretofore unseen offensive firepower for the Suns. The two combined for 39 points off the Phoenix bench, matching their combined total of the previous four games.
Portland, on the other hand, got next to nothing from their second unit, besides 11 points in 12 minutes from Dante Cunningham. The Blazers’ bench were outscored by Phoenix’s, 55-23.
After a career night in game four and a hot early start, LaMarcus Aldridge again faded into obscurity. He wasn’t tough, and the will displayed previously seemed a thousand miles away. Aldridge scored only five points in the second half after the game was well out of reach. He finished with 17 points and a measly two rebounds.
For reasons I cannot explain, Nicolas Batum was limited to just 20 minutes by coach McMillan. Rudy Fernandez saw 15, but did not score.
Aside from the gravy points kicked in by Dante Cunningham, the lone Blazers to show up were Andre Miller and Jerryd Bayless. Miller led all scorers with 21. He got to the line regularly (although he would argue it should’ve been more) and even hit two threes, a rarity for the veteran guard.
Bayless was again tenacious and helped the Blazers strike first. His stroke from deep, undependable at best, found its mark Monday. Bayless hit three of five from downtown to finish with with 17 points, although he wasn’t particularly efficient making just six of 14 attempts overall.
As the Blazers return home for Thursday’s game six, they must find a way to again to engage and maintain their manic high. Another depressed outing like game five’s and that’s all she wrote.
NOTES:
- Channing Frye’s 20 points set a new playoff career-high.
- The Suns have not lost consecutive games since January 26th.
Reader Comments (9)
B Roy came back and played but looked rusty and was no factor. Still his early return speaks to incredible progress in arthroscopic surgery. See comments on this at http://drpullen.com/2010/04/24/nba-basketball-8-days-after-meniscus-surgery/
I would really like to understand the rationale for Nic not playing more. Is he more hurt than we know?
I agree. What is it with Nate and player substitution patterns? 2 fouls and you are out...why?
And why take Batum out when Camby is also out? Does Nate McMillan WANT to lose?
And I know..the refs did NOT determine the outcome of this game...but that 4th foul on Camby needs to be reviewed...maybe he did commit the foul but NOT on Nash.
there is no question that Batum is hurt so i would guess the sub patterns have something to do with that.
The real problem last night was rebounding. second chance points killed blazer momentum. even in the beginning when we were beating the suns there was a possesion when blazers just stood around and didn't scrap after the lose ball. no way you are going to win a playoff game without hittin the deck and fighting for rebounds and lose balls. LA with 3 boards give me a freakin break
I still think that nate should stick Camby on Stodomire so they don't have to double in the post. I mean LA can guard Collins and Frye right?
Camby guarding Amare is too damn logical. Why is this not happening? Oh, and Rudy es mierda. Chucha su madre Rudy!
It's time to trade Rudy back to Spain for some Tapas!
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