Rapid Reaction: Blazers 86 - Hornets 74
Portland Roundball Society | Monday, March 5, 2012 at 9:30PM 
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Gerald Wallace, SF 32 MIN | 2-8 FG | 8-8 FT | 4 REB | 1 AST | 13 PTS | +14 Active, but not as efficient as his last effort in the loss to Minnesota. Weird to be questioning Wallace’s effort, but inconsistency requires it. |  |
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LaMarcus Aldridge, PF 29 MIN | 5-11 FG | 0-0 FT | 11 REB | 0 AST | 10 PTS | +19 Got going somewhat in the second half, but Aldridge has not looked quite himself since the All-Star break. Now that he’s been bestowed the honor, let’s hope the fire remains—because no-shows on the upcoming seven-game road trip are going to put the Blazers in holes they can’t dig out of. |  |
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Marcus Camby, C 26 MIN | 3-6 FG | 0-0 FT | 16 REB | 2 AST | 6 PTS | +23 Perhaps Przybilla is helping to re-light Camby’s fire. But against the lowly Hornets front line, he did so without much resistance. Again, something to keep an eye on in the days and weeks to come. |  |
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Raymond Felton, PG 30 MIN | 5-10 FG | 0-0 FT | 0 REB | 10 AST | 11 PTS | +23 Did well penetrating and probing the Hornet defense in his return to the starting lineup. Still isn’t making jumpers, though. Baskets came around the hoop. | |
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Nicolas Batum, SF 37 MIN | 7-16 FG | 3-4 FT | 3 REB | 1 AST | 19 PTS | +14 Solid. A few boneheaded or lackadaisical defensive plays, but then again, it’s not like he had to be on best behavior against New Orleans’ lack of firepower. |  |
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Jamal Crawford, G 19 MIN | 1-3 FG | 3-4 FT | 1 REB | 1 AST | 5 PTS | +2 Returning to the bench Crawford pulls another no-show. |  |
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Joel Przybilla, C 14 MIN | 1-2 FG | 0-0 FT | 3 REB | 0 AST | 2 PTS | -1 Stat line doesn’t do Przybilla’s defensive game justice. He’s not only taking charges, laying down heavy screens and frustrating the opposition, he’s getting the team in sync as a defensive whole. | |
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Elliot Williams, G 7 MIN | 2-4 FG | 0-2 FT | 0 REB | 1 AST | 4 PTS | -9 Pretty swell on both ends for a few short meaningful minute in the first half. |  |
One Thing We Saw
- It took ‘till the second half, but the Blazers finally started acting like they were playing their final home game before a whopper of an eastern swing. Still, there were times, especially in the second quarter, when the same holes that have dogged the Blazers were bottling them up again. An easy victory over a D-League-level talent in New Orleans is nice, but far from a potent or meaningful elixer.
Reader Comments (1)
Where is Wesley Matthews on your report card???