4 the clackamas print
Wednesday, Nov- 11, 2009
Blazers find their spark pin
By Steven Weldon
The Clackamas Print
The Blazers currently sit at 4-
3, coming out of an early slump
in their first games which had
fans and critics confused about
what had happened to the high
expectations that came with the
season.
After the Blazers were out
run and outplayed the first five
games, coach Nate McMillan
decided to tinker withjhe starting
lineup. He took small forward
Martell Webster out and ran a
three guard lineup of free agent
pickups Andre Miller, Steve
Blake and of course, Brandon
Roy.
In the two weeks before, the
team seemed lost in their new
digs. The offense was stagnant
and it wasn’t a team effort in
scoring or defense. Roy had 42
points and LaMarcus Aldridge
had 27 points, but it was all for
naught in a 111-107 loss to the
same Houston Rockets team that
they had handled well on open
ing night at the Rose Garden.
Even so, they were going into
Oklahoma City the very next
night to play a young, up and
coming team that was ready to
play. However, luckily for the
Blazers, Oklahoma City star
Kevin Durant had an incredibly
off night, shooting 3-21, and the
Blazers ran out of the city with
an 83-74 victory over a team that
had very high confidence.
Just when you thought it woufd
turn around, the Atlanta Hawks
came to Portland and exposed
holes all over our defense and
offense. Hot shooting by the
Hawks and more fastbreak point?
than you can shake a stick at led
to the demise of the Blazers!
Brad Heineke Clackamas Print
Blazers guard Brandon Roy drives to the basket for a layup over the Nuggets Chris ‘Birdman’
Andersen, Aaron Affalo and Kenyon Martin on Oct. 18. Roy averages 21.9 points per game.
who suffered their second loss
at home, a feat not accomplished
last season until the middle of
December.
The team had three days to
think about what had transpired
in the first five games. It was
a shocking start to a promising
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season. It was then that McMillan
decided to jump-start the offense
with the three guard lineup.
Friday night against the San
Antonio Spurs was the Blazers’
first run at a team with this new
starting crew. They responded
by dazzling fans with a 29-
14 first quarter in which the
team finally got out, spaced
the floor and ran the fastbreak
the way they should have all
along. The quarter was capped
by a buzzer-beating slam dunk
by Martell Webster off of a
Rudy Fernandez miss. The
way the quarter went had us in
raves about what was finally
going on.
It was then we figured out-
what was wrong in the begin
ning. All last year, the team ran
through Roy at point. While
he is not a point guard by
position, he plays the role that
LeBron James once played in
Cleveland and Hedo Turkoglu
in Orlando. A calming pres
ence to start the offense. Roy’s
been with the team since
2006, he knows what coach
McMillan wants. When Blake
is on the floor, it also provides
a sense of knowledge. Blake
and Roy on the court together
last year was wonderful har
mony. However, this season
it didn’t start out as well as it
was supposed to.
The problem with Blake is
his athleticism and size. He
has been frequently beaten
by the other 29 guards in the
league since the time he came
-onto the court. Yes, he’s got
ten considerably better, but
his ceiling was being reached.
That’s when Andre Miller was
signed. Like the old saying
goes, if you can’t beat ‘em,
join ‘em. The Blazers had con
stantly been beaten by teams
led by Miller.
"While Miller was going to
be a long term leader for the
team, he didn’t have the keys
to the Blazers offense j
of his lack of knowledi
Therefore, Blake was i
running the point, wifi
playing with the secol
told to play uptempo bai
Miller was played with fl
ers sparingly, but the ta
seemed lost.
Then, Friday night, M
the offense. He didn’t neg
tions from coach, bee]
turned on his thinking
stopped thinking. Thing!
flowing for the cagey |
he played outstanding!
on Spurs guards Tony pj
George Hill, and while 1
could not be seen ini
score, it was clear throl
fact of fastbreak point!
was a 12-2 advantage!
Blazers, exactly what hi
was looking for.
Late in the game, thl
of the Blazers bus fell I
Spurs started shooting b|
Portland did not play«
as in the first half. TH
got within three. Howel
the Blazers frceflowingl
clicking, Blake found hi!
with a clutch three poiil
the ball was put back ini
hands late to seal a 96-84
It was a huge win for atj
seemed confused and I
three days before.
|
The basic plan for the!
is first to throw the balll
post early in the game,!
Greg Oden and Aldridgl
from there. The plan lai
game however, seemel
ent than last season. Nol
completely clear on win
with the basketball, besl
ting it into the hoop. Last
and in the three reasons!
Roy was the focal poiil
last six minutes of the I
worked, as Roy was foul
league for points in thl
quarter.
I
The key fori
Blazers send
Execution, fl
fense. Free-fi
ing offense. 1
the new ihn
guard lineuA
Miller, Blake |
Roy, it can /il
pen.
Miller’s
presencel
Sunday against the Mil
Timberwolves was exact!
the team needed. In the fil
the Blazers took advantage
inexperienced Wolves 9
and began a shootout tffl
long been needed for the#
In a 116-93 win, the Bias
basically whatever they 9
and Miller had 21 points I
the offense in a way whffl
once again, exactly whaB
McMillan wanted.
The key for the Blazj
son? Execution. Deiens®
Flowing offense. With ■
three guard lineup of
Blake and Roy, it can ha®