Atlanta Shoots Down Blazers
posted: 12/3/2006 at 9:57 PM
For the first time since December of 1997, the Atlanta Hawks have won a game in Portland. You knew a streak like that was going to end at some point, the Trail Blazers were just hoping it didn't have to be on Sunday night. The Hawks kicked off their west-coast swing with a 107-96 victory at the Rose Garden, and sent the Trail Blazers on their longest road trip of the season, still riding their losing streak.
This game was a carbon copy of so many we've seen played by the Blazers lately. Nate McMillan even commented that he's starting to sound like a broken record. A slow start, not enough help for Zach Randolph, too many turnovers, and not enough defense. Those were just a few of the comments made following the last four games on this homestand. They all applied again against the Hawks.
Randolph again, got his offensive numbers. He had 30 points on 11-18 shooting, but also turned the ball over five times. The Blazers, as a team, turned it over 21 times. That's not the most distrurbing number, however. The fact that another team shot a high percentage against Portland's defense, has the coaching staff very concerned. In this homestand alone, Phoenix shot 54 percent, Indiana 52 percent, Orlando 49 percent, and Atlanta 51 percent. When you're struggling to defend, you have to play a nearly perfect offensive game to have a chance to win. This Blazers team has some offensive firepower, but not enough to be giving up easy baskets at the other end.
Atlanta was led by Joe Johnson's 33 points. Tyron Lue, off the bench, had 19 points on 9 of 15 shooting. Behind the three-point line, Atlanta was 8 for 17. That's 47 percent, and many of them were wide-open looks. The Blazers shot a very respectable 49 percent from the field, including going 7 for 13 on three pointers. That's enough to get you a win, offensively.
When talking about positives in the loss, one player stands out to me. Martell Webster, who was taken out of the starting lineup, responded, and looked as agressive as we've seen him look lately. Martell had 18 points (4 of 6 on threes), and also grabbed five rebounds. He turns 20 on Monday, and is probably too young to realize how important he is to this team right now. He simply has to bring that kind of agressiveness to the court in every single game if he's going to be a starter. With so many teams collapsing the defense around Zach, someone has to hit outside shots. At the very least, they have to attempt outside shots. Martell is the team's best deep threat, and if he's even close to being on, it can change a game. He'll have to be this same way on this road trip for Portland to have a chance in these games.
The Blazers got strong play from their point guards as well on Sunday. Jarrett Jack had 9 points and 8 assists, and continues to give up more and more playing time to Sergio Rodriguez. Jarrett played 28 minutes, and Sergio played 26. Of course, just because Sergio comes in, doesn't mean Jarrett goes out. We've seen him playing some off-guard as well, and he's big enough to guard some of the bigger twos in this league. Sergio had 8 points and 11 assists against the Hawks, and continues to run the team very well. He's only 20, by the way.
By the time most of you will be reading this, we'll be in the air on our way to Detroit. Tuesday night this six-game trip begins with a game against the Pistons. It's then on to Milwaukee, Indiana, Toronto, Philadelphia, and Memphis.
Raef LaFrentz will be making the trip, and expects to be in uniform against the Pistons (4:30pm FSN Northwest). He was one guy, before the season, we said could really help this team. Then he had this calf injury. It'll take him some time to get into prime game shape, but this team can badly use his outside shooting. I'm looking foward to seeing him play alongside Zach, and pulling his defender away from the paint, and Zach.
As you've probably heard, Brandon Roy will not be making the trip, but will be working out in Portland, trying to get his conditioning back. He'll also be testing his left heel, and hopefully won't be feeling significant pain. He says circle the game on the 15th against the Clippers, as that's when he'd love to make his return. If all goes well, that's the earliest we'll see him.
Talk to you from Detroit.
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Hey Mike, Thanks for continuing to Blog for us. I think that alot of the defensive woes are a direct result of such a turnover of players in the offseason. Our rotations are just horrible at times. Both on the perimeter and down low. It'll just take time to get it right. Maybe the whole team needs more late night film sessions.
Hey Mike, Thanks for continuing to Blog for us. I think that alot of the defensive woes are a direct result of such a turnover of players in the offseason. Our rotations are just horrible at times. Both on the perimeter and down low. It'll just take time to get it right. Maybe the whole team needs more late night film sessions.
gmornin mike! It's nice to see sergio getting more PT. There isn't anybody on the team more capable of getting their TEAM MATES good shots than sergio (other than probably roy) I don't question the ball in his hands at crunchtime in the least bit when looking at the other options right now. Dixon and Zach are obviously better at getting their own shots off, but they will be heavily contested. sergio is far more likely to see the open man and get him a better shot than a contested one from one of those two. Unfortunately for that to happen it brings us back to the teamwork-rotation-timing thing. If the offensive work away from the ball happens right sergio will have open people to throw to or get zach or juan a better shot that the defense hasn't been able to set up for as well, if not he'll have to take the shot. Right now it may seem that giving it to juan or zack and crossing your fingers is better than letting sergio have it in a situation like that, but for the team to impove we need to be able to rely more on the offensive rotation and teamwork and less on giving it to zack and see what he can do. - if they don't try winning with teamwork i don't think they'll become a winning team
I think it is up to Martell to be aggressive, but it is also on the PG to pass him the ball. Jack did it twice, early, and the result was 2 quick 3-pointers. Unfortunately, that doesn't happen often. I've been campaigning for Martell's minutes to be with Sergio. I think he would be more effective and aggressive if he knew he would be rewarded with the ball for moving and working without it.
I can see why Nate has been limiting Martell's minutes. We had a stretch where we hit two 3s in a row. However, Atlanta hit two 3s and a 2 during that same stretch as a result of Martell's confusion at the defensive end. That's tough to deal with for a coach, i'm sure.
hey mike, i love the blogs. always provide that in depth analysis and inside information. one of the things that's been pressing on my mind lately has been the struggles that we've seen on the offensive end.
sure everyone wants to talk about the defensive woes- the matador defense, if you will- but i see the lack of consistent scoring options outside of zach. now you and other media members have always praised players like martell webster and at times jarrett jack for being the gym rats that they are, and going out to tualatin after games to open up the practice facility and work on their games. id like to know if that some amount of extra work is being put in thus far in the early season and from whom.
thanks
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