Hot Live Blog Action – Paces vs Blazers

As a fan, tonight I feel like I’m on cruise control. I’ve been high and coasting ever since Sunday when the Blazers dismantled the Spurs and whipped them like the saggy geezers they are (becoming). So tonight’s game against the loser Pacers should be nothing, right? Simply an appetizer, because if the Blazers win tonight, tomorrow’s visit to Denver will be for first place.

But, as the players and coaches always contrivedly spout, “we’re taking it one game at a time.” Bleck. But it’s true, especially tonight, seeing as the Pacers have beat the Blazers something …. Checking the notes, asking my neighbors… Nine. It’s nine straight losses to a team of scrubs that couldn’t carry Reggie Miller’s skinny jock strap.

A note or two before Portland ends yet another—and perhaps the last—of their dubious streaks:
– Jarret Jack back in the house for the first time. Still sporting the creepy John Waters pencil mustache I see. Jack is a prideful boy and will certainly look to do a little more than he’s capable of tonight. Get ready for fast break foibles. The fans here are feeling fond, giving Jack a hefty round of applause—certainly more than I’d have served up.
– The Spread: Portland -10.

FIRST QUARTER:

10:01 – Holy Fuck, it’s Rick Smits!! The Dunking Dutchman is back! Wait… no… It’s Troy Murphy. Damn Murph, those are some big shoes—or should I say, long pants—to fill.

7:22 – I guess the Blazers were on cruise control too. Every Indiana starter has scored and the Pacers lead 12-4. Better to get socked in the mouth at the opener and be forced to wake up no, rather than in the second half when it’s too late.

4:22 – “Smits” Murphy just called called for the walk, which means I’m serving up some more vintage Rick Smits footage. In this one he suits up for a little YMCA ball… (empty gym? Do those count for highlights?) Meanwhile, while I’ve been obsessed with the Dunkin’ Dutchman, the Blazers have thankfully closed the gap a bit. LaMarcus Aldridge leads all players with 6. Portland 10, Indiana 16.

:55 – Every one’s saying that Pacer Marquis Daniels looks like a WNBA player. Only problem is nobody knows a single the name of a single one. That’d be a pretty great heckle if it followed him… Portland falls in another little hole and closes it, mostly. Travis Outlaw has seven and it’s 24-20, Indiana.

SECOND QUARTER:

11:39 – The most important stat so far: the Pacers are out-rebounding the Blazers 16-6. Jesus…

7:40 – Jarret Jack, meet your replacement Jerryd Bayless. He just scored in your eye. And you fouled him, but it was a ticky-tack foul and he went right by. Bayless has scored five straight, but the Blazers still trail 38-33.

6:07 – Good Lord! Rudy just whipped a pass through the key and about an inch of daylight to Travis Outlaw for and easy dunk. Catfish is having his best game of recent memory. He leads all scorers with 13 and the Blazers have pulled within one, 37-38. Taking a lead into half-time after such a listless, shitty performance says a lot about either Portland’s poise or Indiana’s suck. You choose.

3:40 – My new obsession with “Smits” Murphy obscured an important fact: The Pacers are without an injured Danny Granger. With that, there’s absolutely no excuse to lose tonight. Not that there would’ve been before, but still… Indiana keeps peaking out in front after Portland closes the gap. Again it’s rebounding. Portland 42, Indiana 49.

1:22 – After two misses LaMarcus Aldridge comes up with the ball, dunks and is fouled. Count the and one. That ought to help the rebound total. Unfortunately TJ Ford’s three on the other end does nothing to help the score. Again the Blazers trade to for three. Outlaw and Dunleavy. RUH ROH! Lil “Smits” Murphy is cut and bleeding all over the place. Out of his EYE. Good for a timeout. Portland 47, Indy 55.

:00 – Travis can’t miss. Neither can the whole Pacer team, Jarret Jack included. Outlaw’s got 17 but the Pacers lead 59-52 at the half. Just a little bit of defense is all this one will take… That’s not too much to ask. Or scream, and Nate McMillan is probably doing right now…

HALFTIME:

Who do I see standing outside the Pacers locker room at halftime?

Larry Fucking Bird.

THIRD QUARTER:

8:40 – Maybe Nate McMillan or whoever was supposed to give the defensive speech was stuck taking a dump at halftime because things have NOT gotten better. And furthermore, I REFUSE to believe the Pacers are that good. Something’s got to give. In the first half the Pacers made a mind-bending 58% of their shot attempts. Portland 60, Indiana 72.

7:09 – This is becoming reminiscent of the Spurs game in San Antonio last week. TJ Ford is going all Tony Parker. He just scored a high-arching layup over the outstretched hand of LaMarcus Aldridge. Dunleavy adds a three. Good Lord. 79-65 Indiana.

5:29 – Jarret Jack fouls Roy, who finishes, and one. If anyone should’ve known better thant to foul Roy as he’s knifing through the lane…

3:46 – A couple a free throws and a decent defensive stand bring the Blazers a little closer. Brandon Roy is bringing the ball up and seems to be taking a more active stance in this game. He spins Marquis Daniels off his back and scores at the rim and the crowd is lit. One of them—the crowd or Roy—is not going to let the Blazers go quietly. Or maybe both. Portland 74, Indiana 79.

1:08 – It’s fucking Groundhogs Day in here—every time the Blazers whittle the lead down to something manageable, the Pacers go on a mini run, thanks to Portland’s sloppy defense and worse rebounding. That and Marquis Daniels has 21.

:00 – Now that was VINTAGE Jarrett Jack. Stumbles into the lane, ball first, throws up a partially deflected airball. Nice. Nothing doing on the other end, as Jerryd Bayless gets called for a charge that gets the crowd crazy pissed. 86-78, Indy.

FOURTH QUARTER:

9:00 – A nifty little three point play by Brandon is followed by another by the Vanilla Gorilla. Except Joel bricks the free throw. Deficit cut back down to five from ten just a moment ago. Just… PLAY DEFENSE. Portland 83, Indiana 88.

7:48 – After two trips of solid defense, Rudy lights the Rose Garden on fire with a corner three, cutting the Pacer lead to two. Brandon tries to match him but just misses… after flopping he sprints up court to steal a pass in the lane. LaMarcus wisely cuts his drive short and hits Steve Blake who makes good from deep. Blazers lead for the first time since 2-0. Hot shit. This place is as loud as I can remember in some time. Everyone on their feet throughout the Indiana timeout. Portland 89, Indiana 88.

6:09 – Blake for three from the opposite corner! All is riotous until Indy finally stops the Blazer run. But for the moment, it’s feeling like too little, too late. Portland 92, Indiana 90.

3:17 – Channel your inner Rasheed Wallace for this one: “BALL DON’T LIE!” Aldridge ties up Marquis Daniels on the break and is whistled for a foul. Certainly looked like a jump ball from here. Daniels gets one of two. After buckets from Jack and TJ Ford, and one from Roy, we’re all tied up at 99.

1:47 – Roy defers to Travis, who nails a fading 15 footer. Indy calls for time and on the way to the bench, Outlaw jogs by coach McMillan, who gives him a ferocious head-shaking fist pump. Like he screamed “HELL YEAH” to him like a teammate. Rare to see that much emotion displayed by Nate. Portland 101, Indy 99.

1:33 – TJ Ford answers with the same type shot. On the other end so does Roy. Portland up by two. This game is so charged and close people didn’t even seem to notice when the Blazers hit the 100-point free Chalupa mark, which is refreshing, honestly.

:40.5 – Roy puts his head down Drexler-style and bowls through the lane to pick up a foul. Hits them both to put Portland up 4. Timeout Indy.

:19.7 – Sweet Clanking Rebound Jesus… The Pacers just missed three consecutive threes, keeping the ball alive each time. On the motherfucking fourth, Nic Batum fouls Marquis Daniels, who makes two of three at the line. Portland up two with 18 seconds to play. The Cherry Poppin’ Daddies are pumping over the PA, which isn’t quite doing it for the Portland crowd.

EEEK! What the fuck??! Marquis Daniels steals the ball from Blake at midcourt and jams. Tie ballgame.

:1.7 – Ball in Roy’s hands, he heads in to the lane and falls… or is fouled? In the replay it looks sort of questionable but he’s headed to the line for two. Makes ’em both. Portland again up two, 107-105.

Jarret Jack gets the ball behind the three point line, fakes off a defender and… has daylight… an open three… Wide right… not even close. Blazers win their eighth straight at the Rose Garden and head to Denver tomorrow and battle for first place… Yeeesh.. this one sure was tighter than it should’ve been… but then again, for whatever reason, I felt all game long the Blazers would take it… but I didn’t think it’d be this close.