Subscribe Feed (RSS)That’s right, heavy rain and some flooding right now in Houston. Portland weather. Perfect setup for Game 6 Thursday night.
And the Blazers, as we saw Tuesday night, are unlocking the secrets of playing the Rockets. You saw better ball movement, you saw Yao Ming being moved around, you finally saw some interior passing, you saw Brandon Roy looking for his teammates more.
And of course, you saw more of Rudy Fernandez. And in the case of Rudy, even if he doesn’t score much, it changes the dynamic of the Houston defense a lot — because you have to pay attention to Rudy. You have to defend him at all times because he can cut your heart out with a three-pointer or a dunk off a lob. When Nic Batum is on the floor, you can leave him and go help on someone else. Not so with Rudy.
Here are a few other things from Tuesday’s game:
– Greg Oden was awful for sections of this game. Giving him the ball with his back to the basket at this point is almost totally a waste of time. His footwork just isn’t there yet. Best give it to him off a pick and roll when he’s already on the way to the basket or just let him get his points off the backboard. The point is, he can really help on the defensive end and he did in the fourth quarter of this game. He’ll rebound, block shots and can bother Yao a little. He’s oozing potential and he needs to play. Obviously. Just be judicious in the way you use him.
– Best game by Steve Blake in quite a while. Some outstanding passes and some nice shooting. He’s not so panicky now when he gets the ball inside. The entire Blazer roster is more comfortable playing against Yao now, just as we predicted.
– How much longer does Luis Scola need to prove he can make that open shot? Man, the Blazers might try to get out on him a little quicker.
– I’ll say it again, if a guy starts, but isn’t good enough to ever return to the game, why does he start?
– Danny Crawford and Bill Spooner are two of the best officials on the planet. You barely knew Leon Wood was out there. The guys stuck to the old NBA Playoff formula Tuesday night — you can’t make a bad call if you make no call at all. It got pretty physical at times.
– Aaron Brooks seems to have a little more trouble shooting the ball when his team is behind than he does when it’s ahead.
– LaMarcus Aldridge got better as the game went on. Again, he’s finding his comfort zone. Brandon Roy overcame whatever medical malady was bothering him and was tough down the stretch. Thursday shapes up as a real war.
Tags: Brandon Roy, Dwight Jaynes, Greg Oden, Houston Rockets, Luis Scola, NBA playoffs, Nic Batum, Portland Trail Blazers, Rudy Fernandez, Yao Ming
“– Aaron Brooks seems to have a little more trouble shooting the ball when his team is behind than he does when it’s ahead.”
That’s because he is a loose canon. The game started sliding away and he started throwing elbows. Remember the Oregon/UW game in 2006 where he threw a forearm at Appleby? He doesn’t handle pressure well. Hence the missed free throws late in games 3 and 4. We just have to keep his head out of the game.
Dwight, You’ve been right about so many things in this series, it’s ridiculous. When I saw Rudy starting the second half, I was convinced it came from this blog.
The only thing I can find to disagree with you on is your prediction that we’d hate the Rockets by now. I think watching this team play has been a real pleasure. Yao shoots the ball in a way that you have to respect, and even such former pains as Ron Artest have done the NBA proud. Adelman has put on one hell of a show here – these guys are worthy opponents and there hasn’t been anything vicious along the lines of Rondo hitting Miller in the head tonight in Boston. Of course, it isn’t over yet.
One observation I had from the game tonight: At one point Battier was called for an obvious foul on Brandon, and Battier lost it. I mean he really became unglued when he was arguing the call. Right then I realized that the Rockets are very freaked out about how this series could end. Go Blazers.
Absolutely right on the money with the Rudy Fernandez dynamic. Not only does he space out the floor with his 3-point shooting and constant shuffling from end to end, but you can just tell he has an incredibly high basketball IQ. Unfortunately, some of those around him aren’t quite up to speed, ala Greg Oden fumbling his beautiful dimes. The more time Fernandez is in to force the Rockets from focusing solely on Roy, the more open looks Aldridge and Outlaw get, thus our offense becomes a team operation instead of a Roy vs. the world battle.
Game 6 is for the taking, and like you mentioned last week, home court starts to matter less and less as teams get used to each other. Having said that, I still cannot wait to have the series return to the Rose Garden for game 7. Rip City baby!!
I have to disagree Bill. It’s true, we’ve had a good battle, but I’ve had points in every single game where I’ve just absolutely hated the Rockets.
In this series I’ve seen far too much of the Blazers team that frustrated me during the regular season than the one that made me smile like a kid.
While some of that might be on the Blazers lack of experience, I’m fully ready to blame it all on the Houston Rockets.
Well, I was glad to see Rudy get more minutes, but how about getting the ball to him so he can shoot?
I realize it is heresy to suggest that Roy might pass more or move more without the ball, but the team plays better with more movement (and typically gets more assists, more points, and a higher shooting percentage). Roy looked tired, but I still think he needs to pass, move, and run more rather than plod up court and do some one-on-one stuff. (Mind you, few are better in a one-on-one situation, but we/Blazers/Roy go to that well too often.)
It still seems like the Blazers should run more. Yao is physically incapble of running for 40 minutes, but the Blazers don’t force him to run and Yao stays on the court 40 to 44 minutes. If we run him, he is far less effective.
Blake had a better game, but I think Sergio should have gotten more than 5 minutes — especially with Rudy playing 35 minutes (see earlier comment about getting the ball to Rudy for shots).
I like Batum, but I’m not sure I see the logic of the “well, he started all year so he has to start in the playoffs” approach. If we truly need a defensive specialist, Batum should start but it seems like we need Rudy’s movement (and shooting) more than we need Nic’s defense (at least in this series). Should we beat Houston, it might make sense to start Batum against the Lakers. Let’s make the other team adjust to our strengths rather than simply doing what we did all year. (Yeah, yeah, doing what we did all year won 54 games . . .)
Finally, I’d still like to see Oden play until he fouls out or truly gets so gassed he cannot play. Even now Oden is quicker up and down the floor than Yao — we (Blazers) need to run more. Oden can wear out Yao more by running rather than bumping him and getting stupid fouls.
At this point we have nothing to lose. Houston is suppossed to win at home and close it out…but can they?
They haven’t with Yao yet
I know Roy and the boys are gonna give it their all,and there gonna come at them with no fear
I still believe
I don’t mind Nate starting Batum, if that’s what it takes to save face for both Nate and Batum. As long as Rudy gets 35 minutes and Travis is on the bench for the last five minutes of the game, it’s fine.
Is Rudy’s conditioning there on his first season to where he can play a solid 40 minutes in a game?
I agree with you, Bill: Houston has been a worthy adversary of the Blazers. In fact, I’ll go out on a limb and say that, at this point in their careers, Scola is a more complete player than LA – even though LA has gobs more upside. Scola always seems to be at the right spot defensively, can hit the open shot, and has some nifty low-post moves. And Battier is as smart as they come in terms of basketball IQ.
But at the same time, watching the Rockets somehow reminds me of a circus sideshow: the world’s tallest man (Yao); the strong man (Artest); the speedster (Brooks); and the people with perpetually bad hair (Wafer & Scola). Looking forward to seeing more of the freak show on Thursday.
Rip City!
Your comment about Luis Scola. I think he’s the biggest surprise in this series–the man is good! I’d hardly heard his name before this series, but he can play ball. LA has to work hard to defend him, having to go in and out of the paint so he can keep a hand in his face, and he was up to the task in the 2nd half.
Rudy playing comment is right on–again I really like his defense. Brandon said in post game that Rudy making Battier work so hard to defend him and to get his own shot softened him up so in the 4th he couldn’t defend Brandon well. And I think “tired” is why Battier went off on that obvious foul. Rudy playing more pays off in many ways. Way to go Nate.
Kristen:
Uh…I guess you may have a point, I hadn’t looked at it like that. But Brooks can’t handle pressure? Did you watch any of the 07 season? I seem to remember they were one of the last unbeaten teams and won almost every game by Brooks’ steady and consistent play in the 4th.
In regards to Steve Blake’s play last night, his best moment is when he was driving to the basket and FROZE Yao with a move about halfway through the key. He then had an open layup. That sort of move, late in the game when its close, shows tremendous energy. Good stuff.
Rudy is too damn good not to be on the floor at least 30 mins a game. He is going to be a HUGE piece of the Blazers championship team. The energy, shooting and IQ he brings to the game are awesome.
I think he is now an “untouchable” on this roster.
I wasn’t sure what would happen 1st last night. A miss from Luis Scola or a Blazer getting a hand in his face. If that happens again Friday in Huston the Blazers could be toast.
During the 3rd quarter – up by 11 – I was ready for the blow out. It didn’t happen. HOUSTON IS ONE GOOD TEAM!!! When they were ahead 68-64 – I was ready to admit they were the better team.
However, the Blazers had other ideas. A 15-0 run!?!? Are you kidding me? They could have not made another point after that run and still won the game.
Having Rudy in the game really changed a lot of things. It was now okay to trade baskets and not focus so much on Yao. Hopefully we can keep Scola from making a bunch of “free throws” next game.
If we do pull off games six and seven – it’s hard to imagine better preparation for what the next series has in store for us.
The reason Battier went nuts after the foul is that Brandon hooked him and pulled him along. It’s a pro move you see in a lot of sports that makes it look like your being fouled when in fact you pull the defender into you. Brilliant, but shifty and refs don’t like to get duped like that.
cbb,
Houston should be used to that since Yao does it all the time:-)
Yao is the king of disguising his fouls. Between hooking the other players arm under his while fighting for post position or just moving his lower body into cutters and ball-handlers, it’s hard to see unless you’re specifically looking for it or seeing it on replay. People kept harping on him fouling Brandon on Roy’s drives to the hoop, but honestly I think he’s done a pretty solid job of keeping his arms straight up. But as CLEARLY evidenced by the replay of Outlaw trying to go up for a shot on Yao after stealing the ball, Yao, a HUGE human being, looks like he’s barely moving, but he’s knocking players off their trajectory and having a pretty big impact on their drives and cuts.
to bad we cant win in houston
@cbb I’m pretty sure Battier was complaining that Joel was moving on the pick. I’d be really surprised if he felt Brandon was the cause of the problem.
I watched that play multiple times in slow motion because I was curious why Battier was so upset.
BTW, one thing I’ve always been confused about in basketball is what happens if you set a solid pick, but the person you pick knocks you off balance and you stumble backwards but not enough to be an offensive call.
This happens to me in pick up games on occasion and when it does, I feel both like I’m moving and fouling a bit because the person can’t get around me. But the reality is that I’m stumbling backwards a bit because the offensive player tried to go through me instead of around me.
Anyways, watching the play that Battier was upset about, I saw Joel falling back and sticking with Battier more than normal. It certainly looked to me like he lost his balance a little because of Battier running into him, but I can’t tell for certain.
Regardless, it sure seemed like Battier was arguing about Joel, not Brandon.
Battier has excellent self control and doesn’t normally go crazy over calls, even if they’re bad–why in this case?
Maybe because he was fatigued and frustrated–it happens to pros too.
I don’t think the call was bad–he put his head into Joel’s chest and tried to plow by him. That’s a no-no.
What clued me in was when they showed Battier talking to the ref he was grabbing his arm. When you watch the replay you will see that Battiers right arm is extended and locked in by Brandon’s elbow dragging Battier through the pick. That’s the way I saw it.
AS to the officials, last night was a good example of them letting the players decide the game. It was good to watch because the game had more flow.
So long as the Blazers push the tempo, even if it’s not a true fast break, they do well against the Rockets. They seem more likely to do this at home. If they can make themselves do it in Houston they have a great chance. If they don’t, if they let Houston rest and set up their defense, they have almost no chance.
I think Houston has been a perfect opponent for the Blazers’ first playoff series in a long time. They’ve shown the fellas how to play hard, play smart, and keep playing for all 40 minutes. Win or lose this has been a real growth experience for them. I’d be happier winning, though.
We finally contained the great and legendary all-star Kyle Lowry!
I was impressed with the heart of the Blazers, down 68-64, it was all but over. Except they put their foot down, pedal to the medal, on both ends and finished the game strong.
Great rally. I think if they are within striking distance in Houston going into the fourth quarter, it won’t be good enough.
They are going to need a 10 point cushion…to bring it home.
Anybody notice anything different about the officiating? Portland would have won game 3 by at least 11 with competent/honest officiating….
I normally am a big Danny Crawford fan, but he missed several big calls. Just about every time, Leon Wood made the right call – and they were BIG calls – from outside….or so I saw it. Never thought I’d be saying, “thank God for Leon Wood.”
In his defense, Crawford didn’t make a lot of bad calls.
“I think if they are within striking distance in Houston going into the fourth quarter, it won’t be good enough.
They are going to need a 10 point cushion…to bring it home”
This is the NBA, even in the regular season you’ve gotta be 10 points better than the home team becuase they’re going to get the calls down the stretch.
I don’t know how many times I’ve seen the Blazers play in Utah and have a nice little lead heading into the 4th quarter, only to have the Jazz get a few cheap fouls early in the quarter, then be “in the penalty” early and march to the FT line and outscore Portland by 15 points down the stretch and win the game going away
(But you know what “they” say…the agressive teams get the calls and the refs don’t decide the games?)
The road team just has to be 10 points “better” That means the Blazers will have to be firing on all cylinders, shoot the lights out and not have mental lapses from any of their young players
Sure, it can be done. But like I said at the beginning of this series, don’t bet the farm on it
On the Battier foul against BRoy:
Why on earth would Roy drag Battier along behind him by hooking his arm??? He was already ahead of him and running to the basket. All holding Battier would do is slow him down AFTER he already had the advantage. It doesn’t make any sense.
Those arm-hooking plays were done by John Stockton out on the perimeter trying to free himself to get the ball because he was too slow to get open honestly, so he would try to get free throws. That play is not done by Roy who has a lane to the basket, or for that matter by any other Blazer because we don’t even have a wily veteran that has learned to pull those moves off yet (like Yao has).
The point about the Battier foul which stuck out to me, was that he appeared to lose his composure. If we can get the levelheaded ones to unravel, can Artest be far behind?