PORTLAND IN BIG TROUBLE WITHOUT ROY
Tonight the stuggling Portland Trailblazers came out and made a statement to Los Angeles Lakers and the rest of the league...for one half.
Portland carried a 51-44 lead going into halftime having accumulated a 14 point lead in the first quarter. Forward LeMarcus Aldrige was having his way inside against Pau Gasol and Steve Blake orchestrated the offense aptly. But a Laker charge at the end of the first half highlighted by a Rony Turiaf 3 point play carried over into the second half as the Laker defense picked up.
What did they do? Not a whole lot if you ask this (for recreation only) analyst. When looking at the Blazer offense it was clear that their identity sat on the bench resting his ankle. Steve Blake was left mostly in charge of the offense and seemed to find his way around defenders whether via the dribble or by screen but didn't have anywhere to go with the ball. Certainly the Laker defense had something to do with that but you couldn't help but notice that the entire Portland team seemed to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, a clear sign that without Roy they are going to struggle.
This seems to be the time that Jarrett Jack could make his name but Nate McMillan doesn't seem to comfortable giving him the reigns. We're not sure that Jack carries the respect of the players and the coaching staff but it feels like he should be given the chance. He's a good compliment to the game Blake plays and has more one-on-one capabilities than Martell Webster, who has been given the nod of approval.
Any way you slice it the Blazers are a young team that is going to go through their highs and lows. If they don't find a solution at point guard soon they are going to find themselves too far out of the chase to come back.
Portland carried a 51-44 lead going into halftime having accumulated a 14 point lead in the first quarter. Forward LeMarcus Aldrige was having his way inside against Pau Gasol and Steve Blake orchestrated the offense aptly. But a Laker charge at the end of the first half highlighted by a Rony Turiaf 3 point play carried over into the second half as the Laker defense picked up.
What did they do? Not a whole lot if you ask this (for recreation only) analyst. When looking at the Blazer offense it was clear that their identity sat on the bench resting his ankle. Steve Blake was left mostly in charge of the offense and seemed to find his way around defenders whether via the dribble or by screen but didn't have anywhere to go with the ball. Certainly the Laker defense had something to do with that but you couldn't help but notice that the entire Portland team seemed to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, a clear sign that without Roy they are going to struggle.
This seems to be the time that Jarrett Jack could make his name but Nate McMillan doesn't seem to comfortable giving him the reigns. We're not sure that Jack carries the respect of the players and the coaching staff but it feels like he should be given the chance. He's a good compliment to the game Blake plays and has more one-on-one capabilities than Martell Webster, who has been given the nod of approval.
Any way you slice it the Blazers are a young team that is going to go through their highs and lows. If they don't find a solution at point guard soon they are going to find themselves too far out of the chase to come back.
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