The Portland Trail Blazers had a plan coming into tonight's Game 2 versus the Rockets. They were going to get everyone involved. They were going to lock down on defense. They were going to share the ball, shut down on the Rockets shooting, and play tough playoff basketball. Yeah, that didn't happen so much. But there is some good news.
They have Brandon Roy.
And some nights, that's enough.
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LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 21: Sasha Vujacic #18 of the Los Angeles Lakers lays the ball up between Paul Millsap #24 and C.J. Miles #34 of the Utah Jazz in Game Two of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at Staples Center on April 21, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Sasha Vujacic;Paul Millsap;C.J. Miles
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LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 21: Lamar Odom #7 of the Los Angeles Lakers dunks the ball in front of Paul Millsap #24 of the Utah Jazz in Game Two of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at Staples Center on April 21, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Lamar Odom;Paul Millsap
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LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 21: Pau Gasol #16 of the Los Angeles Lakers dunks the ball in front of Jarron Collins #31 of the Utah Jazz in Game Two of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at Staples Center on April 21, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Pau Gasol;Jarron Collins
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PORTLAND, OR - APRIL 21: Aaron Brooks #0 of the Houston Rockets takes a shot over Joel Przybilla #10 of the Portland Trail Blazers in Game Two of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at the Rose Garden Arena on April 21, 2009 in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Aaron Brooks;Joel Przybilla
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PORTLAND, OR - APRIL 21: LaMarcus Aldridge #12 and Brandon Roy #7 of the Portland Trail Blazers block out Shane Battier #31 of the Houston Rockets in Game Two of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at the Rose Garden Arena on April 21, 2009 in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** LaMarcus Aldridge;Brandon Roy;Shane Battier *** Local Caption *** PLAYER 1;PLAYER 2
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PORTLAND, OR - APRIL 21: Ron Artest #96 and Yao Ming #11 of the Houston Rockets contemplate their situation in Game Two of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at the Rose Garden Arena on April 21, 2009 in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Yao Ming;Ron Artest
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PORTLAND, OR - APRIL 21: Nicolas Batum #88 high-fives LaMarcus Aldridge #12 and Brandon Roy #7 of the Portland Trail Blazers in Game Two of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at the Rose Garden Arena on April 21, 2009 in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Nicolas Batum;LaMarcus Aldridge;Brandon Roy
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PORTLAND, OR - APRIL 21: Luis Scola #4 of the Houston Rockets goes up for a shot over LaMarcus Aldridge #12 of the Portland Trail Blazers in Game Two of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at the Rose Garden Arena on April 21, 2009 in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Luis Scola;LaMarcus Aldridge
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PORTLAND, OR - APRIL 21: Ron Artest #96 of the Houston Rockets goes up for a dunk past Brandon Roy #7 of the Portland Trail Blazers in Game Two of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at the Rose Garden Arena on April 21, 2009 in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Ron Artest;Brandon Roy
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LOS ANGELES - APRIL 21: Head coach Jerry Sloan (R) of the Utah Jazz argues a call while taking on the Los Angeles Lakers in Game Two of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at Staples Center April 21, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Jerry Sloan
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Roy had 42 points (tied for the second-most in franchise history) on 15-27 shooting along with seven assists to push the Blazers to a 107-103 victory, tying their first-round matchup with Houston at 1-1.
Now, there were several things the Blazers improved upon from Game 1. LaMarcus Aldridge got out of the cooler, with 27 points and 12 boards. The Blazers employed the front-and-baseline-double approach on Yao Ming and held him to 12 points and five rebounds (with the help of some fancy acting work by Joel Pryzbilla to draw Yao's fourth foul midway through the third quarter). Plus, they won the rebounding and turnover battles.
But in the end, honestly, it was Roy. Roy slicing through the lane to constantly challenge Yao, getting underneath his block magnet arms and hitting the layups. Roy nailing crossover-stepback-threes time after time after time. Roy putting the team on his back whenever they needed a bucket. Roy refusing to let Portland go down 0-2 in front of a raucous (but slightly less berserk from Game 1) Rose Garden crowd.
On the flip side, Houston still shot 50% from the field, still got 23 points from Aaron Brooks (who continues to dominate the point guard matchup) and were severely limited by foul trouble. I highly doubt that any member of the Rockets crew is shaking in their space-shuttle-shaped beds this evening as they prepare to head back to the friendly confines of the Toyota Center.
Portland did what they had to do: they evened the series going back to Houston and picked up some momentum. But they still have a lot of questions to answer. If Joel Pryzbilla isn't able to get the referees to believe in magic and Yao doesn't start racking up fouls, are they going to be able to consistently maintain pressure on him? All night long you waited for Yao to take over -- and when he would begin to, another foul would be called. Obviously, the Portland crowd didn't agree, as their loudest noise was mostly reserved for an officiating crew that actually gave them the edge in free throws and personal fouls. The Blazers were tremendously effective with the front-and-baseline-double, but it's likely the Rockets will spread the offense out and find shooters, which the Blazers have yet to prove they can defend.
For the Rockets, there's only so much you can do if Brandon Roy has gone Nova. The key to this series as it goes is quickly becoming Luis Scola versus LaMarcus Aldridge. Round one went to Scola; round two, to Aldridge. That matchup may ultimately end up deciding who eventually gets killed by the Lakers will advance to the next round.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
4-22-2009 @ 7:50AM
ChrisH said...
I don't think I'd say that Portland got the advantage in foul calls last night. Yes, they were called for 26 while Houston was called for 28, but 6 of those fouls on Houston were in the last 39 seconds when they were trying to stop the clock and get the ball back. If you look at fouls before the last 90 seconds of the game, Houston held a 22-26 advantage over Portland.
12 of Portland's free throws were in the last 39 seconds as well, so Houston held a 32-24 advantage there as well until they had to foul.
Reply
4-22-2009 @ 1:21PM
SUPERMAN said...
Very accurate comments and a great point regarding this biased journalist Matt Moore. It is interesting that Portland does not get the credit for winning the games they did during the regular season which ultimately put them in the position they are in, and being placed as a #4 seed in the west. I don't think anyone could disagree that the Western conference is deeper and a bit stronger than the two and maybe three teams that are good on the Eastern half.
With all of that being said, Portland certainly did not show up in the first game, possibly lack of experience was to blame, but to say that the Lakers have this thing wrapped up is ridiculous. The next round for the Lakers no matter who they play will not be anything like there series with UTAH, who by the way is not that bad. The Lakers if they play Portland in the second round , and that is still a big if, they are lucky to say they will have home court, since they have not won in Portland for the last 8 try's. And I will remind you that the last time was UGLY for the Fakers, which no excuses are needed , that had a playoff atmosphere.
It is also interesting to see how many Head coaches there are in the NBA who have passed through Portland.
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4-22-2009 @ 2:05PM
pahtoo said...
So, what hapopened to "Ron-Ron the Roy Stopper?"
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