Tonight promises to provide more Trail Blazer answers
The Denver Nuggets bring Carmelo Anthony and a whole lot of other good players tonight to the Rose Garden for this TNT game. And we’ll find out how much defensive progress Portland has made thus far.
Certainly, too, we’ll find out about the offense. The Utah Jazz carved up Denver pretty well at times last night and Portland should, with patience, do the same thing. The Nuggets didn’t seem real interested in being gritty at the defensive end. This is an early division “big game” and yes, while it’s early, you’d like to establish a superiority as soon as possible if you want to win the division title.
The way to beat these guys is attack them, take it to the basket, get into the paint. And then at the other end, you have to pay attention and not let them get easy baskets.
And oh, you better rebound. These guys are good on the boards. Real good.
NBA, Trail Blazers | Dwight Jaynes | October 29, 2009
Carmelo Anthony, Denver Nuggets, Dwight Jaynes, Portland Trail Blazers
I hope this doesn’t become a Brandon Roy vs. Carmelo Anthony showcase. I love Roy, but that would not go well for the Blazers.
I will be interested in hearing how Van Gundy rips the Blazers this time… actually the guy is kind of funny in a dark way.
The Rockets were just plain overmatched on Tuesday. If the Blazers turn the ball over and have foul trouble like they did against Houston, fans could be in for a long night. I am starting to prepare myself for a slow start to this season. In the long run they will be better but the road might be a bit rocky getting there. I hope fans can be patient.
TNT? Never good for the Blazers. Take it to the paint, attack? Not what they’ve been doing so much. Rebound? Yeah, I think they’ve got that going.
Denver doesn’t like to play defense, so yeah, they do need to attack. Make them foul. Make Carmello work on D. Greg O. be assertive on D, and call for the ball on O. Can’t wait!
Two things are clear so far:
1. Blazers should have gone for Ty Lawson.
2. Blazers should have gone for DeJuan Blair.
Where exactly would they be getting their playing time? I would’t bet against Bayless in two years being the better choice than Lawson. There is a reason they did not choose Blair.
1. I’m basically betting against Bayless. You’re right. He might be the better choice in two years. But a championship-winning, steady point guard, who has looked good as a professional, I would have gone with that security.
2. If there is a reason they did not choose Blair (apart from his knees), that same reason should have precluded their pursuit of Millsap unless they did it strictly to hamper Utah’s finances. Because Blair will be as good as Millsap.
They’d get their playing time, particularly Lawson, who has a similar game to what McMillan had.
Here’s a game where Miller should start. Grandma Blake won’t be going inside. Indeed, he won’t even *pass* it inside.
The thing about Lawson is, he’s unbelievably quick. We’ll have trouble with that tonight. I have to admit, I would have liked grabbing him in the draft, as security.
Tonight’s game will be a tough one I think. If we can stay out of foul trouble and keep the Nuggets from getting too hot, we’ll be ok. Missing Batum tonight hurts, hopefully Martell can get under Melo’s skin the way Nic can.
It is really very early but this is a pivotal game.
Two heavyweights from the same division…equal teams in many ways
A big game should the division come down to a tiebreaker by season’s end
Right! And also – very important – don’t forget to slip the refs the bribe!
..and another spectacular performance by our #1 overall pick.
….and another myopic Oden-bashing post from the self-proclaimed prophet. Troll
Yep, the big dude proved me right again. What can I say?
Did you see the line? If only it were Greg, then we’d have one.
“The Trail Blazers struggled from the floor all night, and ended up shooting just 35 percent from the field. Roy got the 30 points, but was just 6 for 16. Aldridge ended 4 for 15. Miller, off the bench, was 3 for 11, and Travis Outlaw, who was so sharp against Houston, shot just 1 for 8.”