89 - 81... Tough loss for the Trail Blazers
posted: Monday, January 01, 2007 at 9:25 PM
Brandon Roy led all Trail Blazers with 18 points and 5 assists, while Ime and Martell both turned in 11 apiece. Jamaal Magloire grabbed 13 rebounds...
It's unfortunate that 2007 had to start off with a tough loss against a team that hadn't won a game in 6 tries. Some people will blame the New Year's festivities, some will blame the new basketball, but whatever it was, the Trail Blazers just couldn't get going offensively.
The Trail Blazers have a chance to rebound in the Rose Garden against Eddy Curry and the New York Knicks this Wednesday.
In and out...
posted: at 9:21 PM
It looks like there's a lid on the basket for the Trail Blazers right now... First Brandon Roy's runner rimmed out and then Ime's three went everywhere but in...
It's Trail Blazer ball, but they're down 8 with 29 seconds left.
Two 3's will tie it...
posted: at 9:19 PM
51.3 second and you gotta believe!
Less than 2 minutes...
posted: at 9:12 PM
Roy has 18, including two big free-throws to cut the Celtics lead to 7, but he's going to need help if the Trail Blazers are going to make another huge comeback and start 2007 off right.
Martell Webster is one of the guys who could really help Roy in this fourth quarter. Webster just hit a 3 to make it a 4 point game.
It's Trail Blazer ball and the Rose Garden is ready!
With 4:05 left...
posted: at 9:05 PM
Portland needs to find some offense.
The starters have returned, which should work to their advantage, but other than Brandon Roy and Ime Udoka, Portland has been unable to get going on the offensive end.
Just like that Portland might get some momentum... After grabbing three offensive rebounds and grabbing a big steal, Brandon Roy took it hard to the hoop and was fouled.
As usual, he converted both free-throws and got this Rose Garden crowd back on their feet.
T-Shirt Toss gets Rose Garden rocking ...
posted: at 8:55 PM
Even with the Trail Blazers down in the fourth quarter, the cheerleaders know exactly what the Rose Garden crowd needs to get rocking.... Free tee-shirts!
A tough zone defense from Boston has caused a couple Trail Blazer turnovers, and Portland is now down 4.
Zach Randolph and Joel Pryzbilla have now entered the game to try and bring some offense back to the Portland side. Roy is also set to check in after the next dead ball...
Telfair finally gets two...
posted: at 8:52 PM
After a couple missed lay-ups and a miserable night from the floor, Sebastian Telfair finally turned in his first two points of the game.
Those points are the difference, it's 72 - 70 Celtics.
Fourth quarter is Trail Blazer time...
posted: at 8:46 PM
The Trail Blazers let the Celtics grab 3 offensive rebounds on their final possession until Gerald Green finally put in the buzzer beater for the Celtics.
Heading into the fourth, Portland needs to rally out of this 3 point deficit... And Martell Webster knows exactly how to do that! With time expiring on the shot clock, Webster nailed a three from the corner.
It's a tie ball game! Find a TV, find a radio, or get to the Rose Garden, because it's going to be another close one...
Telfair returns with 3:56 left in third...
posted: at 8:40 PM
Call it the return part II, but ex-Trail Blazer Sebastian Telfair has returned for the Boston Celtics.
Zach Randolph welcomed back his former teammate with a wild shot, and then followed up his miss with his 8th rebound and 9th point.
Brandon Roy knocked down another jumper, adding to his team high 14 points.
Portland needs a knockout punch to get rid of this feisty Celtics team once and for all. They now trail, 66-65.
8 points for Roy!
posted: at 8:32 PM
Roy now has 8 points in the second half, 12 in the game, and the Trail Blazers now lead the Celtics 60 - 58.
Ime Udoka is the Trail Blazers second leading scorer with 9 points.
As if he couldn't do any more, Roy drew a triple-team and then found a wide open Zach Randolph in the post. Randolph was fouled before he could convert on the lay-up.
Roy has 4 assists to go along with his 12 points.
R.O.Y.'s half!
posted: at 8:29 PM
The rookie shooting guard has taken over, scoring 6 points and dealing an assist to start the second half. His effort, along with small forward Ime Udoka, has helped Portland retake the lead, 56 - 54.
R.O.Y. to Ime... like butter!
posted: at 8:25 PM
Brandon Roy cut through the Celtic defense like a hot knife through butter and then found Ime Udoka, who was making a beautiful backdoor cut.
Ime converted the lay-up and the free-throw, which cut the Celtics lead to 1 point.
Starters return to begin half...
posted: at 8:20 PM
Pryzbilla and the rest of the Trail Blazer starters have returned to begin the second half...
Unfortunately, the Celtics started off with a little more energy than the Trail Blazers, beginning the third quarter with a 6 to 2 run.
Good guys trail 50 - 46.
Heading into half-time...
posted: at 8:00 PM
As expected, the Celtics have tried to run on offense and dirty up the game on defense, which is pretty much the only way the Paul Pierce-less Celtics could stay close to this Trail Blazer team...
At half-time, we're all tied up at the Rose Garden, 44 - 44, which is extremely disappointing considering the Trail Blazers led by 8 for much of the second quarter.
All the kids in attendance were treated like NBA stars during half-time. The Trail Blazer children were treated with a chance to shoot a free-throw and win a free Chalupa, courtesy of Taco Bell.
As for the game itself, the Celtics have out-scored Portland 28 to 18 in the paint, and they've really curbed Randolph's quest for 50 points. Randolph and R.O.Y. have been held to 4 points apiece, while Jamaal Magloire leads all Trail Blazers with 7 points.
Juan Dixon and Joel Pryzbilla both have 6 points, while Ime Udoka and Sergio Rodriguez have combined for 7 assists.
Ryan Gomes and Al Jefferson lead all Celtics with 10 points each. Point guard Sebastian Telfair has 0 points, but has dished 2 assists to help the Celtics.
The Trail Blazers need to lock it down in the second half if they want to start the year off right. If Randolph scores 46 points, not only will he fulfill the 50 point prediction, but he will also start 2007 off with a Taco Bell treat- giving the Trail Blazers 100 points and all fans in attendance a free Chalupa!
Sergio... to Juan... And one!
posted: at 7:50 PM
Sergio picked Telfair like a booger, and then found Juan Dixon on the fastbreak...
Dixon not only ran the floor, but he also converted on a truly veteran move by leaning into a hustling Celtics defender and drawing a foul.
Heading into a time-out, one lucky Portland fan will now have a chance to shoot a halfcourt shot for a Toyota Tundra. Since the first shot of the season, Portland fans have been unable to take advantage of the Shoot for a Tundra contest... The new year, however, brought more of the same with another missed attempt at a halfcourt shot.
The Trail Blazer mascot, Blaze, nailed a backwards shot from halfcourt, a truly amazing feat, which only added insult to injury for the struggling Portland fans.
Juan Dixon was unable to nail down the free-throw, however, and was only able to increase the Trail Blazer lead to 8.
It's all Portland, 39 - 31.
Boston Celtics running...
posted: at 7:43 PM
The Celtics have played two point guards for much of the game and the small lineup has let Boston fastbreak, something that has hurt the Trail Blazers in previous games.
In order to counter this high speed attack, the Trail Blazers have put in Flash Gordon aka Spanish Chocolate aka Sergio Rodriguez.
Sergio immediately made his presence felt with a big-time assist to Jamaal Magloire. Magloire should really consider hiring Sergio as his agent, because there's no one that makes the center look better than the rookie point guard.
Sergio and Jamaal have connected on more dunks this year than donuts and coffee...
Pryzbilla still leads all scorers...
posted: at 7:38 PM
Which will continue to shock and amaze most fans watching the game. The center is typically known as a defensive guru, but tonight he's done a little bit of everything.
Travis Outlaw, Juan Dixon, Martell Webster, Jarrett Jack and Jamaal Magloire are on the floor to start the second for the Trail Blazers.
What a way to end the quarter!
posted: at 7:35 PM
Normally, it's Sergio Rodriguez that gets the last second shot, but tonight it was Martell Webster!
Brandon Roy controlled the possession but lost the ball after being hit with a quick double team. The ball landed in Webster's hands and he converted on a huge three to end the quarter.
Trail Blazers lead heading into the second, 27 - 23.
Szczerbiak flops his way to the line...
posted: at 7:28 PM
Wally Szczerbiak is a true comedian, performing one of the best impersonations of a basketball player that the NBA has ever seen.
Telfair has entered the game for the first time tonight, and the point guard received a warm reception from the Rose Garden crowd.
The Trail Blazers also upgraded two loyal Trail Blazers fans during a timeout, moving them from the 300 level to section 103, courtesy of Stub Hub. It's always good to see the Fun Police make someone's day or even their new year!
Jarrett "Downtown" Jack?
posted: at 7:20 PM
Jarrett Jack has really improved his 3-point shooting recently, and it's showed early. The point guard cashed in on a catch-and-shoot from deep for three Trail Blazer points.
He's 1 of 2 on the night.
The Celtics have also heard that Zach Randolph might score 50 points tonight and have immediately started using zone defenses and quick double teams to prevent the power forward from catching the ball.
It's been an unlikely hero that has led Portland so far. Joel Pryzbilla has 6 points and leads all Trail Blazers. Randolph is close, though, with 4 points of his own.
Trail Blazers lead 17 - 16.
It's Joel Pryzbilla's Thrilla!
posted: at 7:14 PM
Al Jefferson learned quickly how big of a mistake it is to go up soft against center and dominator Joel Pryzbilla. The center rejected him so bad, it looked like a repeat of Joel's GI Joes commercial.
Trail Blazers lead 10 - 8.
Starters introduced...
posted: at 7:07 PM
No surprises here.... ZeBo, Ime, The Thrilla, R.O.Y., and Jarrett Jack "Of All Trades" round out the Portland starting lineup.
Although the game is overshadowed by the return of Telfair, Portland fans may also recognize Forward/Center Theo Ratliff, who now plays with the Boston Celtics. Ratliff patrolled the paint for Portland and was also an All-Star with the Philadelphia 76ers.
Celtics cashed in on two Portland turnovers for 4 quick points, but "The Thrilla" Pryzbilla answered with a lay-up and ZeBo followed soon after with 2 points of his own to tie the game...
That's 2 of 50 expected points for Randolph!
Minutes to Tip-Off...
posted: at 6:47 PM
The fireworks have exploded, the ball has dropped in Time's Square, and the New Year is set to get underway tonight at the Rose Garden as the Trail Blazers take on the Paul Pierce-less Boston Celtics.
Not only is it the first game of 2007, but it's also the first time point guard Sebastian Telfair has returned to the Rose Garden, since he was included in a draft day trade that sent shooting guard Brandon Roy to Portland.
Telfair's tenure in Portland was cut short last year by the improvement of point man Jarrett Jack, who swiped the young guard's starting spot prior to his departure. If nothing else, Telfair will be immortalized on DVD after starring in the ESPN documentary "Through the Fire."
Since losing Paul Pierce, the Celtics have struggled, losing 6 straight, including a 101-95 loss to the Sonics last night. Al Jefferson and Wally Szczerbiak will look to provide an inside-outside game, while Telfair, rookie Rajon Rondo, and Delonte West provide Boston coach Doc Rivers with options at the point position.
For the Trail Blazers, it's all about Zach Randolph. Randolph and Brandon R.O.Y. combined for 51 of the Trail Blazers 86 points in their game against the Jazz, and tonight should feature more of the same. Randolph's game is built to abuse power forwards like Al Jefferson, who aren't particularly intimidating shot blockers.
Expect Randolph to score about 50 points, with Roy following close behind with 40 of his own, as the Trail Blazers use the first game of 2007 to snap their 2 game losing streak.
Goooooooo Trail Blazers!
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shhhplz said...
You can always tell when the home team was out partying the night before. Zac was dragging his tail up and down the floor in the second half. As a co-captain, he should be ashamed of himself for not being ready for tonight's game, New Year's Eve nonwithstanding. You could tell that Zac put himself before the team because it was apparent that he, how shall I put this delicately, had spent his energy the night before.
Touch loss. Blazers need to find other ways to get Zack the ball inside. Also, 2nd unit needs to learn some set offensive plays. They looked lost on offense. And...Joel needs to play more. Maggie can't buy a bucket.
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