End it with a Standing Ovation
posted: Wednesday, January 17, 2007 at 9:28 PM
When LeBron James visits town, the fans come out, and tonight, the Trail Blazers put on a show and gave them every reason to cheer while demolishing James and his Eastern Conference leading Cavaliers 94-76.
Zach Randolph had another great night, this time fishing with 26 points and 12 boards. Along with Z-Bo's hot was was Brandon Roy, who added 19 points and 10 rebounds. LaMarus Aldrige scored 14 to comemorate the release of his bobblehead, and Sergio Rodriguez dished out a game-high nine assists. Indeed, it was another total team effort in which the Portland never trailed.
All three Trail Blazers rookie's looked fantastic tonight, and it shows everything that Portland is capable of when they put together a full 48 minutes.
LeBron finished with 23 points, six boards and two assists.
All but Over
posted: at 9:16 PM
Zach Randolph just hit a running hook in the lane and was fouled. With his free throw the Trail Blazers are up 91-66. Zach leads all scorers with 25 and 12 rebounds.
With that, LeBron James is taking a seat -- no reason to risk injury when the game is out of reach. And if it wasn't before, it certainly is now with Brandon Roy's three. Oh, the rookie from Washington has also go 10 boards to go along with his 19 points and four assists.
94-71, Portland.
LeBron Trying to Ramping it Up
posted: at 9:08 PM
And it looked like he was trying to gain speed for a jump as he just ran right through Juan Dixon in the paint, but strangely enough Dixon was whistled for the personal. But, as we've seen for many years in the NBA, stars get all the calls.
Despite LeBron's efforts Cleveland has yet to put a dent in this Trail Blazer lead. In fact, Ime Udoka's corener three just pumped it up to 21.
Portland's biggest margin of victory came early in the season in New Jersey where they beat the Nets by 18.
Scott Pollard, meanwhile, just checked in to a rousing ovation -- most likely caused by his spiked up black mohawk.
That's Right it's His Night
posted: at 9:00 PM
LaMarcus has got 14 points, three short of his career-high. Here's to him setting a new one tonight, because really, what would be more fitting than a career performance to go with a bobblehead debut?
Oh, and by the way, let's all see if we can't get LaMarus and Mr. Brandon Roy sent to the Rookie Challenge in Las Vegas during All-Star Weekend, yeah?
74-55, Portland with just under nine to go.
Cav's Blowing Their Lids
posted: at 8:51 PM
After being whistled for what was clearly a carry, Cleveland coach Mike Brown picked up a technical in frustration. It should be noted however, that James, who made as much noise or more than his coach, did not.
Cleveland is running almost exclusively pick and rolls with LeBron James and letting him create -- but right now, the often prolific player seems to have run out of ideas.
Meanwhile Zach Randolph is heating up. He's got 16, and the Trail Blazers are up 19 entering the fourth quarter.
Rookie and Rookie
posted: at 8:45 PM
First it's LaMarcus grabbing an offensive board and putting it back for two, then it's Brandon Roy slicing through the lane for two more.
Future is looking bright. Real bright. Better grab some shades.
64-48, Trail Blazers.
Zach Scores and is Fouled
posted: at 8:37 PM
At the rim Z-Bo took the hit and finished, which is good for two reasons. One, we get two points. Two, Zach got himself into the paint. So far Cav's have given Randolph the outside shot and he's been taking, and missing, it.
If Zach establishes his inside game tonight, Cleveland will be in real trouble because neither Anderson Varejao or Zydrunas Ilgauskas can handle Randolph's post moves.
59-47, Portland. Four minutes to go in the third.
And what's this?
Zach just shot, fought, fought, shot, and fought some more for a loose ball that turned into two free throws and a standing ovation from this crowd -- easily the loudest this packed building has been all night.
Dickau for Three...
posted: at 8:31 PM
...Free throws that is. And he drains them all.
Tonight's games see's Dickau getting his third consecutive start for the injured Jarrett Jack, and perhaps the free throws will get Dan a little more invovled in this game, as he would certainly like to repeat the solid performace he proved capable of in last week's win over Sacramento.
And wait! What's this? Dickau For Three! All at once now!
Well there you go... Dan's six quick points give Portland a 54-42 lead with just under eight minutes to go in the third.
Assist Deficit
posted: at 8:26 PM
The Trail Blazers have dished out 11 assists to Cleveland's ONE as we begin the second half.
If the difference remains as such, Portland ought to ride it to victory.
And as Brandon Roy completes the three-point play, the Trail Blazers are up 44-41.
Cav's End Half on a Run
posted: at 8:11 PM
But Portland's still ahead, 41-37.
Larry Hughes has been almost perfect from the field as LeBron seemed to coast for most of the half -- but as you may know, this is something James tends to do often. After getting his teamates involved early, he turns everything up to ten and takes the game over towards the end.
But, the Trail Blazers are look strong tonight. Sergio's got four assists, Zach's got nine points, and Brandon Roy's putting in a great all-around performance with seven points, six boards and two assists.
If Portland can keep the energy up and keep the fans involved, they stand a pretty good chance of upsetting LeBron's Cav's.
Some of the better half-time entertainment in recent memory I might add. The TNT Dunk Squad is flying, flipping and spinning all over the place.
Zach Does the Impossible
posted: at 8:08 PM
He stops a LeBron James fastbreak without a basket or committing a foul!
Randolph stripped King James and the Trail Blazers recover!
Welcome to the Circus
posted: at 8:03 PM
The man in the center circle, well LeBron James of course.
James just hit the most remarkable, junk shot ever. After a hard foul LeBron had his back turned, and was floating away from the basket. From his hip he flipped up a one-handed shot behind his head and it bounced in.
Half man, Half amazing. Who was it they used to say that about? (If you know, feel free to post)?
In the meantime, LeBron can share that title.
Under a minute left in the first-half, and the Trail Blazers lead 41-34.
Happy Birthday Wheels!
posted: at 8:01 PM
It's radio announcer Brian Wheeler's Birthday, and he's got on a party hat a pretty big grin on his face -- after all he's surrounded by the BlazerDancers, who just gave him a little cake.
Booing the Bad Calls...
posted: at 7:57 PM
...And rightfully so. There's been a couple of them now, all in succession, and all against the Trail Blazers. Portland fans, who have been cheering for LeBron all night, just let him have it at the line, as he was the recipient of the lastet tickty-tack whistle.
Segio Para Tres!
posted: at 7:49 PM
That's Sergio For Three (if my Spanish is correct...)
Boy, with the limited amount of minutes we've seen from the Spanish sensation in this, only his first, season, my goodness, the sky is the limit. I'm not quite ready to call him the next Steve Nash, but I did consider it.
There Trail Blazers, after a few buckets from Larry Hughes brought the Cav's within striking distance, have again blown the lead up to double digits.
31-21, Portland.
The Second (Unit)
posted: at 7:38 PM
Portland bench unit is on the court in its entirety and it should be interesting to see if they continue their hot play. In a number of games recently, the bench has been bringing more to the table the the Trail Blazers starters.
And well, they're off to a good start here again. Back to back buckets from Juan Dixon and LaMarcus Aldridge is a pretty sight.
My goodness, with that, Sergio's already got four assists! He's giving them out like candy on Halloween these days... really quite impressive.
24-14, Trail Blazers lead and LeBron James is on the bench.
The Fantastic First
posted: at 7:37 PM
Just about everything went right for Portland in this first period. Sure, I suppose you could ask for more than 18 points, but when you hold your opponent to nine, that number becomes more than acceptable.
Portland is playing with a sense of energy that is sometime missing these days, and the packed house is responding. If the Trail Blazers can keep their effort up while continuing to harness the energy of this capacity crowd, the Trail Blazers Cavaliers might just deal the Cavaliers their second straight loss.
His Night
posted: at 7:31 PM
Not LeBron, but LaMarcus.
The Trail Blazer rookie's Bobblehead was given out to the first lucky 2,000 fans entering the arena tonight. And Aldridge, who just checked in, connected on his first attempt.
Good stuff.
Portland Off to a Great Start
posted: at 7:27 PM
Bradon Roy's three just added the exclimation point, and the reverse dunk he just threw down on the ensuing possession added about five more!
Cleveland just took a timeout, and they needed it -- the Rose Garden is deafening, packed to the brim, and the Trail Blazers are up 14-5 with three-minutes remaining in the first quarter.
Meet The LeBrons
posted: at 7:26 PM
That's right Portland fans, King James is in the house. The "other" number 23 is warming up and already impressing Rose Garden fans with acrobatic dunks and a funky, high-arching three-point swish. It seems the young phenom knows that he's a big reason why their wont be any tickets at the box office by tip-off tonight, and he's already begun the show they've come to see.
In his second year, James notched his first triple double in Portland, January 19th -- almost two years ago to the day. Sort of a a scary omen... But townight will be different as almost the entire Trail Blazers roster is.
Ime Udoka will get the honor of trying to slow down James tonight, which may well be the most difficult assignment he's had all year -- and that includes taking on Kobe, Dwayne Wade, and many other elite NBA scorers.
The Cavs, whose starting lineups are being announced, have the best record in the Eastern Conference at 23-14.
In their first matchup of the season, Portland fell to the Cavaliers, 100-87 in Cleveland on November 15th. Last year the teams split their two games -- each defending their home court.
And we're closing in on the Trail Blazers chance to do the same again this year... But to do so, their going to have to pay EXTRA special attention to LeBron... Here we go.....
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