That's all she wrote...
posted: Wednesday, November 28, 2007 at 9:22 PM
Well, the fat lady is singing but it's not a very bright tune here at the Rose Garden...
Travis Outlaw led all scorers with 26 points, the last of which came on a buzzer beating 3-pointer, and he also grabbed 7 rebounds. LaMarcus Aldridge finished with 22 points and nearly pulled of a double-double with 9 rebounds.
Brandon Roy did finish with a double-double but it would've been nice if he'd turned in a few more than 10 points. He also grabbed 10 rebounds to lead all Trail Blazers.
Danny Granger led the Pacers with 23 points and Jeff Foster grabbed 17 rebounds to lead Indiana.
Well, it had to come some time, but, man, it sucks to end a streak in such poor fashion. Portland had control of this game for 36 minutes, but unfortunately, they play 48 in the NBA...
Yikes...
posted: at 9:16 PM
Jamaal Tinsley's jumper has made it a 5 point game with 24.7 seconds left in regulation.
Outlaw now has 23 points for the Trail Blazers and Aldridge is close behind with 22 points. With only about 2 possessions left, Portland needs to score a quick basket and then look to trap the inbounds pass for a turnover.
Martell's three is.... off! Wide left. It'll be Pacers ball with 20.3 left in regulation.
Tinsley converts...
posted: at 9:12 PM
And it's just getting ugly out there on the court.
First, Martell looked like he was hit 3 times before his shot finally left his hand, then Roy received a complimentary shove in the back from Jamaal Tinsley...
Portland needs a little help. They're down 5 with 1:24 left...
DEE-FENSE! DEE-FENSE!
posted: at 9:06 PM
And Martell grabs the rebound!
For those of you that are wondering why Outlaw sees so many minutes in the fourth quarter of close games, it is really evident tonight that it's because he can guard so many positions and grab a rebound in traffic.
Typical small forwards run into problems when they're forced to rebound against bigger players, as we just saw when Jeff Foster shoved Brandon Roy out of the way to grab his 14 rebound, but with Outlaw, there's really no risk that someone's going to go over his back and grab a rebound.
Outlaw can also defend anyone from Mike Dunleavy, who has 18 points, to Danny Granger, which is an important asset late in the game.
Martell Webster has just connected on a three-pointer and, after reviewing the play, Jamaal Tinsley's three has been made a 2. It's 82 - 82 with 2:45 left in the game!
Whew...
posted: at 9:00 PM
Roy will sub in for Sergio, who leaves the game with 3 points and 4 assists in 14 minutes.
The Pacers have gone on a mini-run after a few turnovers and one late-in-the-shot-clock three-pointer by Jarrett Jack.
Indiana leads 76 - 72... UNTIL JACK HITS A THREE!
And Roy steals it from Dunleavy... Then finds Aldridge for the DUNK! TRAIL BLAZERS LEAD!
It's 77 - 76 Portland!
The Fun Police are moving fans down to the lower levels of the Rose Garden! The roof is shaking, the earth is quaking and you can almost hear the Pacers' hearts breaking!
First one- GOOD!
posted: at 8:58 PM
Second one... Off the mark.
It's all tied up at 69!
AND TRAVIS OUTLAW JUST TOOK IT OFF THE RAFTERS! What a block!
SERGIO FOR THREEEEE! YES! EN FUEGO!
Portland leads by 3!
THRILLA!
posted: at 8:54 PM
For two!
On a two-handed throw down...
It's a one point game! The Rose Garden is JACKED!
Travis Outlaw will head to the line for 2 free-throws... Portland can re-take the lead! Get to a TV! Find a radio! Steal somebody's bicycle and pedal to the Rose Garden!
With 8:47 left, we're almost back where we started... It's 69 - 68 Pacers...
A Miracle Minute?
posted: at 8:50 PM
And just like that the Trail Blazers are back in it!
You didn't think they'd go quietly into the night, did you?
Two steals and 3 baskets in-a-row have cut the Pacers lead to just 4 with 10:06 left in regulation.
AND JAMAAL TINSLEY HAS JUST PICKED UP A TECHNICAL FOUL!
It's a three-point ball game!
UofO dance team...
posted: at 8:43 PM
Hopefully, the Duck dancers can get this Rose Garden crowd on its feet, because the Pacers have sucked the oxygen out of the building.
The Trail Blazers are now shooting just 37.1% from the field and are now down 39 - 36 on the rebounding front.
The Pacers have also started heating up from the perimeter. They're now 7 of 18 from deep for 38.9%.
Portland is just 4 of 16 for 25% from three-point land.
Sergio and Travis Outlaw just connected on a fastbreak slamma-jamma to cut the Pacers lead to 8 points. Hopefully, this will spark the Trail Blazers as they were only able to muster 13 points in that third quarter.
The game is by no means over, though. It's 67 - 59 Indiana.
Just what the Sarge ordered!
posted: at 8:37 PM
LaMarcus Aldridge came out of the timeout and threw down a monster dunk after some quick ball movement around the perimeter.
Aldridge nearly threw down a second attempt, but he was held from behind by Jamaal Tinsley.
The Pacers are still causing problems here in the third quarter. They now lead 62 - 53...
Third quarter action
posted: at 8:29 PM
Both teams are a little sloppy to start the second half, but the Trail Blazers have used a Martell Webster three-pointer to increase their lead to 4, 49 - 45.
Webster now has 7 points on 3 of 5 from the field and it'd be a nice boost to the Trail Blazers offense if he'd get a little more aggressive in the second half.
The Ducks took down another Civil War competition, as a UofO fan beat her Beaver opponent down the floor and made a lay-up to take home the "Dizzy Ball" grand prize. Prior to running the floor, each contestant was required to spin around a plastic bat 15 times...
Back to the action, though, as Portland can't buy a basket and the Pacers are heating up from outside. Back-to-back three-pointers have made it a 6 point Pacers lead.
Coach McMillan is visibly frustrated and he wants to talk it over.
Highlights of the Night...
posted: at 8:18 PM
Not to call out a Trail Blazer on his birthday, but the highlight of the night so far has to be Taureen Green.
No, the rookie point guard didn't throw the bounce pass to Aldridge for the dunk (Steve Blake did that), nor did he throw the no-look pass to Brandon Roy for the three-pointer (that was Sergio)... But Green turned in the highlight of the night with 7.2 seconds left in the half when he got caught picking his nose by the Rose Garden camera.
Greg Oden had a smile from ear-to-ear on the bench as he teased his teammate and Green looked a tad embarrassed as he hid near the end of the bench.
Winning back-to-back National Championships? $120,000
Being drafted into the NBA? $427,000
Getting caught picking your nose on your birthday in front of 10,000 people? Priceless...
Uh oh...
posted: at 8:09 PM
For our halftime entertainment, it's an all-out dodgeball brawl between the University of Oregon dance team and the OSU dance team...
Early on, the Beavers have a heavy advantage, but a couple caught balls can change everything in a hurry. The biggest difference maker has been the Duck mascot, who has absolutely killed the rather tough Beaver squad.
Benny, the Beaver, has struggled tonight. First, there was the missed read on the last second Hail Mary pass, and, now, he's pretty much a target for every Duck dancer.
The Beavers have still taken the first game, however, and from the look of it, they'll take home the second game as well.
In true Beaver fashion, however, OSU is not just winning but their also talking smack while they do it. Somewhere, I'm sure, Chad Johnson is proud.
Transition defense...
posted: at 7:57 PM
As the first half comes to a close, we'll do a little stat round up to summarize the game so far.
More than anything, the Trail Blazers have suffocated the Pacers transition game, which seems like their biggest strength. When the Pacers shoot early in the clock, it's almost always a good shot, but as they grind out a possession, it seems like they become a little disorganized. Other than Granger, who has 12 points, the Pacers struggle to create their own shot and the Trail Blazers have done a solid job of slowing down Indiana's attack, for the most part.
The Pacers have 18 points in the paint to the Trail blazers 14, and they've also grabbed 1 extra rebound (23 - 22). To be honest, neither team is showing much force on the glass. Numerous rebounds have been tipped, bobbled and then kicked before they finally find a home.
Indiana is shooting 40% from the field, which is just under the Trail Blazers 46.3%.
LaMarcus Aldridge leads all Trail Blazers with 14 points on 6 of 8 from the field.
Headed into halftime: it's Portland 46, Indiana 42...
He's heating up...
posted: at 7:48 PM
Travis Outlaw is red-hot and rolling here in the second quarter. He's scored back-to-back baskets and now has 10 points, which is tied with Danny Granger for the game-high.
Outlaw also has 4 rebounds.
Elsewhere around the arena, there's a nice mix of Beaver fans and Duck fans spread throughout the stands. The Duck, fresh off his trip up from Eugene, is signing autographs, taking pictures and hanging out with everyone in Eugene Green.
The OSU Beaver is on the other side of the arena, putting in a little PR for the OSU program.
I'm still waiting for the WSU Cougar to show up, but I'm pretty sure I'd be the only fan in attendance that celebrated his arrival. In fact, most of the UofO fans might get a little upset as the Cougs jumped the Ducks in nearly every single preseason NCAA basketball poll.
It's alright Duck fans... There's always track!
T him up!
posted: at 7:43 PM
T him to the moon!
Jeff Foster just laid a vicious hack on an unsuspecting Travis Outlaw which resulted in the night's first technical free throw. Jarrett Jack converted for his 1st point of the game.
The play also drew the loudest reaction from the fans, especially as the replay showed that Foster clearly had no reason to throw an overhand right hook at Outlaw.
If Foster isn't careful, Joel Przybilla might throw him in the Octagon and teach him a lesson or two in good manners...
It's 27 - 24 Trail Blazers!
Just like we planned it!
posted: at 7:32 PM
Point guard Sergio Rodriguez must have ate his Wheaties this morning, because he has come off the bench on fire!
Against this Pacers team, it is important that the Trail Blazers continue to attack the basket, and obviously this is the type of game that suits our Spanish spark plug. Frankly, the Indiana Pacers couldn't guard a sub sandwich in a phone booth even if they had riot gear, but it's up to the Trail Blazers to make them pay.
Heading into the second quarter, Aldridge and Roy are tied with 8 points, but Roy also has 4 rebounds (tied with Joel Przybilla for the team lead). Steve Blake leads all Trail Blazers with 3 assists.
Blaze, the Trail Cat, is leading a "Sumo Version" of this weekend's Civil War, and from the sound of it, it looks like the Ducks pulled out the last second victory. Part of the blame has to be put on Blaze, though, as he threw a terrible Hail Mary that would've tied the game for all the Beavers fans out there.
It's 22 - 17 Trail Blazers!
Call it "The Definition"...
posted: at 7:25 PM
Of questionable call!
On back-to-back plays, Martell Webster was hit with tough foul calls. Initially, Webster looked like he was undercut on the offensive end by his Pacer defender, but the stripes saw otherwise and hit Webster with his first foul.
Danny Granger then went strong on a one-on-one fastbreak against Webster and, although Martell tried to sell the charge, Granger's aggressiveness was rewarded with two free-throws.
Webster looks incredibly upset on the Trail Blazers sideline as he will most likely spend the rest of the first half on the bench, but in his wake, there will be more room for Travis Outlaw and Jarrett Jack to step up in extended action.
Trail Blazers lead 18 - 13!
Early Portland lead...
posted: at 7:15 PM
But it's too early to talk about it as just over 3 minutes have passed here in the Rose Garden.
In the early going, LaMarcus Aldridge has 4 points on 2 15-18 footers, and Brandon Roy also had an uncontested lay-up to give the Trail Blazers a 6 - 3 lead.
Webster put up a tough three-pointer that rimmed out, but it's nice to see that Portland is trying to get everyone on the floor going early.
The Pacers look a little flat, as nearly everyone of their jumpers has fallen short off the front of the rim, but there's no complaints out of this Rose Garden crowd.
One thing we'll keep on eye on is Coach Nate McMillan over on the sideline. He has vowed, in multiple instances, to let this young squad play their own game, which is a somewhat drastic change from his normal sideline pacing and constant coaching. So far, Nate has been up off the bench, but he looks a lot more calm than usual.
Part of this has to do with the fact that the Trail Blazers have jumped to a 15 - 11 lead with 5:12 left in the first quarter... And by the way, for those scoring at home, we have one more successful marriage proposal to add to the list!
What about Jermaine?
posted: at 7:00 PM
For now, it looks like Jermaine O'Neal will not be in the Pacers starting lineup, as they have Granger, Murphy, Foster, Dunleavy and Tinsley listed on the preliminary board, but that doesn't mean O'Neal won't sneak into the game...
Some other thoughts from the shoot-around and introductions-
1.) The Rose Garden has a nice crowd, especially for a Wednesday, but no one is more excited to be here than a couple guys around section 204. They've already started heckling Mike Dunleavy and I'm expecting some big things from that area as the game gets underway.
2.) Taureen Green can dunk, I'm pretty sure. At bare minimum, he can grab the rim with both hands from a standstill jump.
3.) When Josh McRoberts picks off his first open-court pass and heads down for the 1-on-0 fast break, get your cameras ready. He makes a 360 windmill dunk look like a lay-up.
4.) The tallest player on the floor, at least to start, for the Pacers is 6'11" Jeff Foster and he may have the ugliest sideburns in the NBA. Aldridge should have a field day against this front line...
Welcome back!
posted: at 6:08 PM
Whether you're singing "Make It Rain" or "Let It Snow," it makes no difference- there's something for you at the Rose Garden as the Portland Trail Blazers get set to take on the Indiana Pacers in what should be a battle of two very evenly matched teams.
The Pacers are one of the biggest surprises of the year, thus far, as they've overcome injuries to their star (Jermaine O'Neal is listed as day-to-day with a knee injury but he is warming up as I type this) and responded to low expectations by torching some of the toughest teams in the league.
Most recently, the Pacers took their act to Denver and edged a Kenyon Martin-less Nuggets team by 2 points, 112 - 110.
In that game, Mike Dunleavy scored 30 points and Jamaal Tinsley posted a game high 11 assists.
When you look at their roster, no name stands out quite like Jermaine O'Neal. Portland fans are familiar with the perennial All-Star as it was the Trail Blazers that drafted O'Neal out of high school, but O'Neal became a different player once the Pacers gave him an opportunity to spread his wings.
This year, however, O'Neal has taken a backseat to some of his complimentary players. Danny Granger is one of the most dangerous unknown talents in the NBA and he is the type of player that scares even the most well-balanced teams. He's quick, long, and he can knock down a jumper from anywhere on the floor.
Look for Granger to draw the attention of either LaMarcus Aldridge, who is quick enough to disrupt the 17th pick in the 2005 draft, or Travis Outlaw.
On the other hand, the Pacers are an outstanding 5 - 1 when Mike Dunleavy leads the team in scoring. Dunleavy, acquired as part trade that sent Stephen Jackson to Golden State, has excelled in Jim O'Brien's free-wheeling system to the tune of 16.3 points, 5.7 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game.
It sounds weird to say, but letting Jermaine O'Neal take over the game might be in the best interest of the Trail Blazers. One game after priority number one was stopping Dwight Howard in the paint, Coach McMillan must shift the Trail Blazers focus and encourage his back-court to get involved on both ends of the floor.
Statistically, the Pacers are 7th in the NBA in scoring with 103.4 points per game, but they're also 27th in the NBA in points allowed (a porous 105.7 points given up per game). They're second in the NBA with 45.7 rebounds per game, but they also give up an astounding 45.5 rebounds to opposing teams (25th worst in the league).
Essentially, the Pacers try to give an inch and take a mile out of their opposition. If Portland can keep this from becoming the NBA's version of a "Pop-A-Shot," they'll send the Pacers packing with their 9th loss of the season and they'll extend my personal "Game-Time Blog" win streak to 6 games!
Stay tuned - tip-off is in 23 minutes!
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