Rapid Reaction: Portland 100, Chicago 89

Portland Trail Blazers

100

Final Recap | Box Score

89

Chicago Bulls

	LaMarcus Aldridge, PF 38 MIN | 9-18 FG | 3-3 FT | 5 REB | 2 AST | 21 PTS | +3 Nice night offensively, but with Camby gone, LaMarcus is going to have to do a much better job on the boards. Carlos Boozer ended the contest with fourteen rebounds to Aldridge’s five, which is not okay.
	Nicolas Batum, SF 33 MIN | 6-11 FG | 0-0 FT | 9 REB | 3 AST | 15 PTS | +6 Solid all around effort, minus a few boneheaded turnovers. Batum’s role is only going to grow from here, and he did a nice job being active and aggressive.
	Joel Przybilla, C 25 MIN | 1-4 FG | 0-0 FT | 4 REB | 0 AST | 2 PTS | -6 Seriously, though, when can Thabeet start? He can’t be this bad. Watching Przybilla limp through these games makes my knees hurt. Also, Portland guards? If Joel is any further than two feet from the basket, he SHOULD NOT have the basketball in his hands.
	Raymond Felton, PG 30 MIN | 6-11 FG | 3-3 FT | 1 REB | 5 AST | 16 PTS | +5 Commence Operation Please Sign Me Next Year For More Than The Veteran’s Minimum now.
	Wesley Matthews, G 33 MIN | 6-11 FG | 2-3 FT | 2 REB | 1 AST | 18 PTS | +7 The stat sheet doesn’t reflect it as much, but this is one of the better games Matthews has had as of late. He had his shot going, was able to penetrate, and didn’t look lost on defense. Exactly what Portland is going to need from him going forward.
	Jamal Crawford, G 24 MIN | 3-12 FG | 1-1 FT | 3 REB | 2 AST | 8 PTS | +11 Crawford wanted desperately to take over this game, but when his shot isn’t falling, he’s completely ineffective.
	Craig Smith, PF 10 MIN | 2-2 FG | 0-0 FT | 2 REB | 1 AST | 4 PTS | +8 Can someone tell my why the Rhino isn’t getting twenty minutes a game again? Smith is valuable, especially when Batum was playing out of position and getting abused at the PF spot by Boozer.
	Nolan Smith, G 18 MIN | 5-7 FG | 0-0 FT | 3 REB | 1 AST | 12 PTS | +6 Breakout party! Nolan Smith looked like a legit NBA player tonight, and his minutes are only going to increase from here.
	Luke Babbitt, SF 12 MIN | 1-3 FG | 2-2 FT | 4 REB | 1 AST | 4 PTS | +5 Babbitt’s pump fake to jab step to pump fake to pass move could cure cancer, I think.

Two Things We Saw

1. This was a classic “first game for a new coach” game. Even if Derrick Rose had played, I think Portland still would have pulled this one out. I’m not sure what the winning percentage is for teams playing after their coach is fired, but I’m guessing it’s at least seventy-five percent.
2. Don’t worry, the tanking starts on Sunday.