Good afternoon from the Rose Garden, just in time for for a matinee game that looks like an important one. As Trail Blazers TV commentator Mike Rice said recently, for Portland to make the playoffs they have to beat the under .500 teams and win at home.
Enter the Spurs who, behind Tony Parker’s ridiculous 39 point performance, torched the Blazers last week. That was in San Antonio, without Tim Duncan. Currently Duncan is shooting around, looking anxious to get going. It’ll be interesting to see what the Spurs do with the big man back in the lineup—do they again let Tony Parker go to work, or rather return to the tried and true formula of running through Duncan?
Tonight seems as much about confidence as anything else. The back to back beating the Blazers took in Texas stung. Minnesota was a nice rebound, but if the Blazers are for real, they’ve got to come in to games like this one and stare the Spurs down, then paddle their asses. OK, no—they’ve just got to win.
A few notes before Tip-off:
– Spread has Blazers -4 tonight. The consensus on (backup) press row: it’s a little generous because…
– The Spurs have won 20 of the last 22 games, and five of six here in Portland.
– Greg Oden still out. He figures to return in 2010.
– I can smell Fabricio Oberto from here.
PREGAME:
It’s a little hotter in here than usual, due to two things: 1.) This is the first quality opponent to visit the Rose Garden since well before the All Star break and 2.) because the fans know this one’s important as well. Good thing—the Blazers will need the support.
FIRST QUARTER:
8:58 – Good lord I hate the Spurs. Oldest, boringest, winningest, fundementalist, personality devoid, team from Texas led by a Frenchman. Which makes it even sweeter that Brandon Roy has hit his first three shots. Make it his first four, all smooth mid-range jumpers.
6:32 – LaMarcus is just as hot. He’s got a quick five, capped by a tomahawk jam on the break. HOLY SHIT! Roy hits again. He’s got 10 goddamn points. Spurs coach Popovich (who we’ll call Ratso Rizzo, cause dude is just that ugly) calls for timeout and the Blazers get a standing ovation. Blazers 15, Spurs 10.
5:19 – Dangerous Housewive (Tony Parker) is pressing but to no avail. Missed a couple shots and then throws a pass to the photographers. Nice. On the other end, Aldridge hits another. Both he and Roy have yet to miss.
3:53 – ANOTHER standing ovation for the Blazers. If it weren’t for Steve Blake’s crazy 14 assist performance a few games ago, this might rank as the hottest first quarter of the season. Doh… spoke too soon. Roy misses his first shot. Still, dude’s got 12 already. Portland 26, San Balonio 16.
:00 – Man, can’t get too carried away just yet, because the Spurs don’t get rattled, but hot damn. Everything is just going to the Blazers way. Channing Frye just out-flopped Fabricio Oberto under the basket, drawing the loose-ball foul. At the end of one, Portland 33, San Antonio 21. Roy leads all scorers with 12 and LaMarcus is right there with 11.
SECOND QUARTER:
10:20 – Even the second unit is feeling it. Rudy Fernandez for three! Then the Spaniard steals, which leads to another Aldridge basket. Good lord. Up 17, Roy’s on the bench, basically putting his feet up. Portland 38, San Antonio 21.
8:33 – Even Channing Frye getting in on the action. The Blazers are just DESTROYING the Spurs, more than doubling their total points. It’s 44-21, Portland, and Ratso Popovich is about to have a brain hemorrhage.
5:44 – Somebody must’ve replace the Spurs Geritol with sugar pills. This is just pathetic, even for a bunch of old geezers. Every player in a Blazers uniform to see action so far has scored, save Nic Batum and the Vanilla Gorilla. 49-26, Blazers.
3:35 – It is fucking RAINING! Rudy drains a three despite being fouled by former Blazer and hometown hero (?) Ime Udoka. Strangely enough though, the free throw bounces out. Not to worry though. While Portland is like NBA Jam “On Fire” on offense, the Spurs are frigid. They’ve got just 30 points to Portland’s 55. Bayless checks in, unfortunately he wont have the opportunity to clamp down on Tony Parker, who’s sitting on the Spurs bench.
2:34 – During a timeout Nic Batum is giving French lessons on the jumbotron. No shit. They’re calling tonight “French Night.” Perhaps as in, Tony Parker can go french a butthole?
0:00 – Unfuckingbelievable. Portland 64, San Antonio 37. LaMarcus Aldridge leads all scorers with 21. His career high is 36… could see a new one, perhaps?
THIRD QUARTER:
8:43 – Roy has come out firing, nearly mirroring how he opened the game. He’s added a quick six, bringing his game-high total to 23. San Antonio is trifling just as hard, missing layups, free throws and, best of all: Frenchy Parker just airballed a three and the Portland crowd roasted him. Portland 70, San Antonio 45.
6:18 – Sweet French Jesus! Nic Batum finally gets on the scoreboard and will a soaring baseline jam over Matt Bonner that figures to get him on Sportscenter as well. Portland crusing with a 25 point lead.
3:54 – Batum continues to dominate, ripping down his second offensive rebound in a single possession, this time taking it away from three surrounding Spurs. 78-51, Blazers.
:00 – If this keeps up I think you call it Portland’s best win of the season. Against playoff bound opponents in the Western Conference, the Blazers have only beat two teams (Utah and New Orleans) by more than 10 points. At the end of the third quarter, Portland are up 22 at 80-58. LaMarcus Aldridge, as long as he stays in the game, figures to best the 30 point make for the first time this season. If Roy were to also hit 30 it would be the only time the two have done so together. God knows what two Blazers were the last to do so.
FOURTH QUARTER:
9:30 – Brandon Roy drills a three from the corner. He and Aldridge each have 26. Portland 85, San Antonio 61. Man… I thought the Spurs crapped the bed in their last game against Cleveland, but this is ridiculous.
6:11 – Every single Blazer is feeling it. Except Travis Outlaw. He just clanged a dunk attempt, got bailed out by a foul call, hit one of two at the line. Then on a free and easy fast break with ground bound Ime Udoka in his rearview, Travis turns around to watch, and ends up so far away from the basket his dunk turns into a missed layup. The best part? It doesn’t even matter. Not in the least. 86-61 Portland.
5:30 – Well, it doesn’t look like we’ll see the dual 30 point games from Brandon and LaMarcus, as they’re both resting comfortably on the bench. But being able to pull your stars at the six minute mark against the Spurs is a victory in itself.
3:53 – Steve Blake nails his third three in as many attempts, putting Portland up 93-70. People are flooding towards the exits. Real fans, however, are staying put to revel in it (either that or to do the wave). It’s one thing to see the Blazers blow out the Clippers or T-Wovles and another when it happens against the Spurs. After seeing the Spurs down the Blazers so many times over the last few years, this is the kind of whooping that’s satisfying ’till the end, even well after it’s decided.
2:37 – Portland’s human victory cigar, Shavlick Randolph checks in the game. No Ruffin sightings at this juncture. Portland 100, San Antonio 79.
:00 – Final score: Portland 102, San Antonio 84. Ninth straight here at the Rose Garden and by far the Blazers best win of the season. Sweet Genius.
Solid gamelog. Nobody really comments on these things, but I keep reading ’em.
I didn’t catch the game until the garbage time fourth quarter, but even the third unit was working it. Good looking!
its like i was there t-bone.