Mike Barrett's Blog

Bucks Survive Blazers in OT

Mike Barrett — Thu, 07 Dec 2006 15:40:00 +0000

It was a shot that Zach Randolph has put down a thousand times. It wasn't an easy shot, as he had Ruben Patterson draped all over him, but with his soft left hand he floated the ball to the rim and saw it take three bounces before finally rolling out. Knowing Zach's touch on those shots, I was very close to calling the shot good, and calling it a Blazer win, before it finally came off the left side of the rim. We were sitting to the right of the rim, and the ball looked to be halfway down.

Understanding that the Trail Blazers were playing the second of a back-to-back, and knowing that the Milwaukee Bucks were due at home, it certainly felt like Portland had just seen its chance to win the game slip by. That turned out to be the case. In the overtime period it was all Bucks, and they beat the Blazers 102-94.

It especially hurt, as this was an opportunity to start this six-game road trip with a second-straight win. And, the Blazers didn't play their best game, yet still had a chance to win it in regulation. They only shot 43 percent, turned the ball over 18 times, and were outrebounded 39-38.

With the Bucks taking note of what Detroit didn't do defensively against Portland, Zach was doubled, and tripled all night. We knew it would be tough anyway, with Ruben Patterson on him in the low block. Randolph had to fight, and shot only 7 for 19, but did end up with 20 points and 14 rebounds. It was time for the Blazer backcourt to step up offensively.

Jarrett Jack continued his strong play as of late, and scored a career-high 30 points, on 12-22 shooting. He also had 10 assists and just 2 turnovers. He did this against a very good defensive point guard, in Maurice Williams. Martell Webster also took advantage of the Bucks' zone defense, and scored 19 points, going 5 for 8 on three pointers.

If the Blazers had won this game, sharing the MVP honors, with Jarrett, would have been Ime Udoka. Udoka is the most consistent player on this team, and for three and a-half quarters, had Michael Redd frustrated and out of rhythum. He is easily Portland's best defender, and draws all the most difficult matchups. Redd had just 10 points at halftime, and 14 through three quarters. He finally broke loose late in the 4th, and in overtime, and ended with 33.

The Trail Blazers were frustrated following the loss, but were upbeat by the time we got to our hotel in Indianapolis at about 2:30 am. On the plane, as always, the DVD of the game was playing. A chance for the players to immediately review things. Nate doesn't tell them to watch, or even walk back to see if anyone is watching. But, they all do. Jarrett and LaMarcus Aldridge were sitting together, pens and paper in hand, watching and discussing everything. Juan Dixon, who just rolled his eyes when he walked past me, frustrated by an 0 for 8 night, went up front to talk with the coaches.

Thursday will involve practice for the team. Nate is letting them sleep a while though, as we're in our fourth city, and third time zone in four days. And, we're just two games into the trip. The Blazers will practice in the afternoon, and then Friday night take on the Indiana Pacers. It's not as cold here as it was in Milwaukee, so that's good. We've got Toronto up following this stop, and that will be, well, Toronto in the winter.

Tonight, on KXL-750 AM in the Portland area, and available anywhere in the world by clicking the link on the top-right portion of this page, it's Trail Blazers Courtside, from 6 to 8pm. Bob Akamian and Jay Allen will be hosting from Portland, but we'll be joining them from Indianapolis. Coach McMillan will be live, as always, early in the show. Wheels will be on at 6:45, Rice at 7:30, and I'll be on at 7:40. Talk to you then.

Zach Leads Blazers Over Pistons

Mike Barrett — Wed, 06 Dec 2006 14:47:00 +0000

Some trends in the NBA make perfect sense. Others do not. The fact that the Trail Blazers have now won 7 of the last 9 games they've played at the Palace of Auburn Hills could be a little surprising to you, given the very recent history of both teams. Again, as we said early in the TV broadcast last night, some of these things can't be explained- you just ride them as long as you can. For some reason, the Blazers play well in Detroit. They beat the Pistons last night 88-85.

It was a nice, and you could probably say unlikely way, to snap a 5-game losing streak. You drop all four games on a homestand, and then hit the road for 6-straight games, and win the first one in Detroit. And this wasn't some flukey win. The Blazers didn't play anything close to a perfect game, or beat the Pistons when they were having a horrible night, or without six of their best players or anything. They simply smothered them with defense, hustle, and rebouding. Three things that have been missing lately.

Last season in Detroit, Zach Randolph put 37 points on Rasheed Wallace, a career high, and the Blazers lost the game in the final seconds. It was clear on that night Wallace needed help guarding Zach, and that double-teaming him, like the rest of the league does, was clearly the best way to force someone else to beat you. Flip Saunders apparently thought he knew something other team's didn't, and didn't double-team Zach until it was too late. Randolph cruised to 31 points and 13 rebounds. Rasheed had his hands so full trying to slow down his former teammate, it threw his offensive game out of whack as well, and he shot just 3 of 10, and had only 7 points.

Speaking of Portland's defense, they held the Pistons to just 43 percent shooting, and kept them 10 points under their season average. Tayshaun Prince, who was never a factor in the game, had just 10 points on 4 of 13 shooting. Rip Hamilton, who had 15 consecutive points for Detroit to end the first quarter, scored just 10 the rest of the way. And the guy who always seems to play well against the Blazers, Flip Murray, was effective off the bench, scoring 11 points, but at no point took over the game, like he can.

Again, the Blazers didn't play a tremendous offensive game. They shot, and scored, below their seasonal averages. They were just 41 percent from the field, and were only 3 for 10 on three-pointers. But, they turned the ball over only 8 times, and outrebounded Detroit 46-35.

Jarrett Jack had a very solid game, against a guy he's been compared to a lot, in Billups. Jack had 18 points, 5 assists, just 1 turnover, and was also 9 for 11 from the free throw line. He was under control, and displayed a kind of leadership that Nate McMillan has been wanting. I mentioned Sunday to expect to see more of Sergio Rodriguez, because of how he's been handling the team on the floor. Don't think Jarrett hasn't been noticing all of this, and against Detroit he very much answered his coach's request. We saw Sergio for a few minutes in this game, but McMillan just didn't think the matchups, guarding a much bigger Billups, and then Flip Murray, were good ones for him.

It's also been said lately that with Joel Przybilla and Raef LaFrentz back, the player who could be losing some minutes is LaMarcus Aldridge. Nate has been the one who has mentioned that. Trouble is, how do you not play Aldridge big minutes when he gives you this? The rookie had his first NBA double-double, 11 points and 11 rebounds last night. He was 5 for 9 from the field, and hit several deep jumpers. He and Zach are making for a very nice combo, with the inside, outside play.

It was nice to see the Trail Blazers happy on the short flight from Detroit to Milwaukee after the game. Zach climbed on the plane, and said "that's more like it," with a big smile on his face (see photo above).

No time to rest, as the Blazers take on the Milwaukee Bucks tonight. We'll have it for you at 5 o'clock on KGW-8, at the Trail Blazers Television Network. Wheels and Tone will, of course, have it on the Blazers Radio Network.

One last note- Brandon Roy had a very good workout yesterday at the Blazers practice facility in Tualatin. He shot and did some conditioning, and was pain free. We had a camera crew there shooting some of the workout, and we'll be rolling some of that video into the TV broadcast tonight.

Trip Opens in Detroit

Mike Barrett — Tue, 05 Dec 2006 04:22:00 +0000

Greetings from Detroit. Well, not actually Detroit, but Rochester, Michigan. We always fly into Pontiac, drive through Oakland, and stay in either Birmingham or Rochester. This is probably my 8th or 9th trip to Detroit, and I've yet to actually see Detroit. As you know, the Pistons play in Auburn Hills, not far from where we're staying. When I need help in this area, I ask my TV partner Mike Rice, who grew up in this area. In fact, when we play the Pistons, I usually try and remind fans that Rice was drafted by the Pistons back in 1962. I follow that up by saying he was drafted in the 8th round. He then normally chimes in and says there were only 8 teams back then. So, let's just put this to bed and say he was the 64th overall pick in the 1962 draft. That would have him just missing out on being a second-round pick these days. That sounds more impressive, and I'm all about propping him up (literally, sometimes).

I toss in a couple of travel stories occasionally, especially during long road trips like this. This is certainly a strange and wonderful way to make a living, but it's also difficult to be away from home for long stretches. There's so much that goes into bouncing around the country on a nightly basis that fans never even think about. I didn't even really think about it until I was actually doing it. Jason Quick, of The Oregonian, wrote an entertaining story about our travel that appeared in today's edition. Here's a link, if you haven't seen it. I laughed while reading it because I remember the bus ride he's talking about in the story. His description is very accurate. He's also correct in describing our plane, the seating arragements, and how all of us cling to some kind of normalcy and routine while away from home. There are so many more stories, and I'll try and slide one in from time to time.

We flew into Detroit (well, Pontiac) on Monday morning, and the team went immediately from the plane to practice at Oakland University. They watched about 40 minutes of tape from the game against Atlanta, and then went through a long practice. As you would expect, they worked mainly on defense. Nate McMillan has not been happy with the defensive effort as of late, and has been preaching that to his team.

Even though this stat is pretty much meaningless, I will tell you the Trail Blazers, for whatever reason, always seem to play well at the Palace. Portland has won 6 of the last 8 in Detroit (well, Auburn Hills). Last season, they nearly pulled the upset of the Pistons at the Palace. They had a chance to tie in their final possession, but turned the ball over, fouled, and lost 93-89. With that win, the Pistons improved to 20 and 3. Zach Randolph, who had to listen to Rasheed Wallace yapping in his ear all night, scored a a career-high 37 points in that game. They also lost to the Pistons in Portland in November of last season, but again had a chance to win, and fell 84-81.

The Pistons got off to a rough start this season, and were just 3 and 5 through their first 8 games. But, then rattled off an 8-game winning streak. That streak was snapped on Sunday, when they fell in Charlotte 97-89.

The Pistons are led in scoring by Rip Hamilton, who is averaging 22 points per game. Chauncey Billups averages 18, and Tayshaun Prince is right around 17 points per game. Rasheed, who had a good game on Sunday, scoring 19, is averaging just 14 points per game, his lowest average since the 98-99 season.

Against the Blazers last season, Rasheed struggled in both games. He had just 13 points in the first game, and only scored 11 in the second, on 3 of 12 shooting.

The Trail Blazers are searching for answers on defense right now. Their offensive numbers have been fine, and are 13th in the NBA in shooting, at 46 percent. They are also taking good care of the basketball, and are 10th in turnovers at just 15 a game. They are, however, allowing 100 points per game, and are dead last in the league in rebounding. That's what has the coaching staff concerned.

Against the Pistons, look for the Blazers to play more zone defense. They've been going in and out of zone schemes lately, but I expect to see much more zone Tuesday night. As you know, zones help stop penetration, but have to adjust quickly to defend outside shooters. If the Pistons get hot from long range, we could see the zone dumped in a hurry. It's also a difficult for many teams to rebound out of a zone. Being you're guarding an area, basically, it takes a much better effort to find a man to box out. Fortunately, Detroit, without Ben Wallace now, isn't a great rebounding team.

I talked about this yesterday, but look for Sergio Rodriguez to continue to see increased minutes running this Portland team. McMillan likes the energy that Sergio brings to the game, and is pleased with the way Sergio is growing in his role as a leader. This team is in need of a vocal leader on the floor. Jarrett Jack is trying to be more of that, but hasn't come as far as Nate wants in that department. Jarrett won't likely see a cut in his minutes even if Sergio plays more, as he'll often times switch to the off-guard spot. The challenge for Sergio against a team like Detroit will be defending. Billups is a big, physical point guard, and Rip Hamilton is 6-7, and is lightening quick.

We should also see the return of Raef LaFrentz Tuesday night. He's back from his calf injury and is anxious to contribute. He could take a lot of pressure off Zach with his outside shooting. Raef is also a good shot blocker and rebounder, and Portland could certainly use that.

It's the first of six straight on the road for Portland. We'll have the game on FSN Northwest at 4:30 pacific time. Yes, Detroit, Oakland, Rochester, Birmingham, and Auburn Hills are all in the eastern time zone. It'll be interesting to see if the local sportscasters actually cover this game. Monday night they were all lathered up, ripping the BCS for sending Michigan to the Rose Bowl, and not the Fiesta. I guess they haven't had anyone to focus their anger on now that Joey Harrington is gone.

Atlanta Shoots Down Blazers

Mike Barrett — Mon, 04 Dec 2006 05:57:00 +0000

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.

Grant Hill Hits Game Winner

Mike Barrett — Sat, 02 Dec 2006 05:35:00 +0000

Following his game-winning shot with three-tenths of a second left at the Rose Garden on Friday night, Grant Hill said, "we got lucky." He went on to talk about the effort by the Trail Blazers, the incredible second half by Zach Randolph, and his own huge plays in the final seconds of the game.

Orlando conntinues to roll, as they've now won six straight games, including five straight on the road. They also made history with the win over the Blazers. They've played the Sonics and Trail Blazers on back-to-back nights, on the road, 15 times in their history. This is the first time they've come away with victories in both games. They also now share the NBA's best record, with Utah, who is also 13 and 4.

Hill, the classy veteran, who has been better known for his injury-plagued career in Orlando than his play on the court, had the two biggest plays of the night. First, he picked off a Sergio Rodriguez pass with 30 seconds left, and then tied the game with two free throws. Then, with just 1.2 seconds left and the game tied, received a lob pass from Hedo Turkoglu, and put in the game-winner. The Blazers didn't have any time outs left, and the Magic won the game, 91-89.

Hill's clutch plays ruined what was a great come-back effort by the Trail Blazers, who didn't take their first lead in the game until the 1:04 mark of the fourth quarter. Orlando led by as many as 9 points in the game, and repeatedly turned back Portland's attempts to get over the hump.

The Blazers had pulled to within one of Orlando, five different times before finally taking the lead. Then, with Travis Outlaw's jumper, went up 89-87 with 1:04 to play. Following a Hill miss, the Blazers had the ball back, with a two-point lead, with 30 seconds to play. Sergio Rodriguez, who otherwise had an outstanding game, floated a pass out top that was picked off by Hill, who made the tying free throws. Portland still had a possession to try and tie, and when nothing else developed, Sergio drove down the right side of the lane and missed a bank shot with 1.2 left.

The game-winning play was a beauty, designed by Magic coach Brian Hill. The Blazers were most likely thinking Hedo Turkoglu would pass the ball in, and then get it back, with a chance to go for the winner. Instead, Jameer Nelson set a back pick for Hill at the foul line. Jarrett Jack and Ime Udoka, who had been switching on picks all night, got caught in the switch, and Turkoglu's pass was caught by a wide-open Hill, who flipped it in.

The Trail Blazers will be looking at this game as a big missed opportunity to beat one of the hottest teams in the NBA. As several of the players said after the game, the Blazers didn't make the most of several big possessions down the stretch, and missed some key free throws, that would have put them in a much better position. They're beyond searching for moral victories, so no one was happy with just a good effort.

Zach Randolph, who was the focus of Orlando's defense, struggled in the first half against a big Magic frontline, and had just 4 points. But, he came alive in the second half, scoring 24 of his 28 in the final two quarters. He had 16 in the third quarter alone, to get Portland to within striking distance. Zach ended with 28 points and 13 rebounds. Jarrett Jack had 14 points, and Travis Outlaw had 13 off the bench, including the big shot to give the Blazers their first lead with just over a minute left. LaMarcus Aldridge had a solid game, with 10 points off the bench.

By the way, the Blazers have been terrific in late-game pressure so far this season. They had been 4 and 0 in games decided by 4 points or less. It looked as though they'd be playing their first overtime game of the season, until Hill ended the suspense.

There's just one game left on this homestand, and then we're off for a six-game road trip. Atlanta will visit the Rose Garden on Sunday night. We leave early Monday morning for Detroit, Milwaukee, Indiana, Toronto, Philadelphia, and Memphis.

Spurs Rally Behind Ginobili

Mike Barrett — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 06:32:00 +0000

It was a very solid, very complete game plan for the Trail Blazers. The trouble is, in this league, the elite teams adjust. The San Antonio Spurs showed why they came into Monday night's game 5 and 0 on the road, and in the second half, out-executed the Trail Blazers and improved to 6 and 0 away from home. They came from 10 down in the third quarter to defeat the Blazers 107-98.

We often say during broadcasts that you can't afford to simply "turn it on and turn it off" during games, or just "flip a switch." Basically, that means you have to play with an all-out effort for 48 minutes. Well, the Spurs are one team that can violate the rule and still win games. They never panic, adjust well, and simply know how to pick their spots. When the door cracks open, they rush through and take advantage of every opportunity.

The Trail Blazers played their most complete half of basketball in the first 24 minutes. They were getting the ball to Zach Randolph, he was passing out of double teams, and guys were hitting shots. Portland shot 52 percent in that first half, had 10 assists on 22 made field goals, and turned the ball over 7 times. Zach had 19 points on 8 of 10 shooting, and the Blazers led by 8. That lead would grow to 10 in the third.

You knew adjustments were coming from the Spurs in the third quarter. The biggest one of the game was when they decided to put a much smaller Bruce Bowen on Randolph. They invited the entry pass to Zach, and then would double him with Tim Duncan. Knowing how easily he scored in the first half, the Blazers kept trying to go through Zach, and that was exactly what the Spurs were wanting. The offense grew stagnant, while the Spurs offense got a major dose of Manu Ginobili. They outscored the Blazers 30-18 in the third, and 29-24 in the fourth.

Ginobili, who has been struggling, got it done with hustle and scrappy play, as we've come to expect. He came into the night shooting just 37 percent, and averaging only 13 points per game. His season high had been 19 points. He nearly got that in the fourth quarter alone, when he scored 18. He ended the game with 25 points on 9 of 14 shooting. He also played a big part in disrupting everything Portland was trying to do at the offensive end.

Speaking of picking your spots, if Ginobili wasn't doing it, Duncan was. During the Spurs big 16-2 run in the third, Duncan was phenominal. He ended the game with 25 points on 10 of 16 shooting. The other member of the "big three," Tony Parker, did most of his damage early in the game, and ended with 14 points.

The Blazers were once again led by Randolph, who had 23 points and 8 rebounds, and despite being under pressure from the Spurs' swarming defense the entire second half, turned the ball over only one time in the game. Jarrett Jack had 12 points and 5 assists, and did a nice job on Parker. Juan Dixon had 17 off the bench for Portland.

Even in the loss, the Trail Blazers have a lot to build on following this game. The last several years, San Antonio has been a really bad matchup for this team. Tonight, even as short handed as they are, they showed they could go blow for blow with the Spurs, who are playing as well as anyone in the NBA right now.

Next up for Portland, is another matchup with the New Jersey Nets on Wednesday. After getting embarassed on their home court by the Blazers on Saturday, you can be sure the Nets will be bring a different effort on Wednesday. They opened their road trip with a loss at Seattle Monday night. Richard Jefferson, who didn't play Saturday, did play Monday, and will play Wednesday.

Tuesday night, it's a special edition of Trail Blazers Courtside, presented by L.A. Weight Loss. Because Thursday is Thanksgiving, we're hosting the radio show on Tuesday from the Rose Garden. It'll be at it's usual time, 6pm to 8, on KXL-AM 750 in the Portland area, and the Blazers Radio Network. You can also listen live to the show by clicking the link at the top-right of this page. You can send your e-mail questions and comments, starting now, to courtside@trailblazers.com.

The Beast from the East

Mike Barrett — Fri, 01 Dec 2006 15:42:00 +0000

If you think the Trail Blazers have been catching some red-hot teams lately, you’re correct. That’s not about to change Friday night, as Portland hosts the best team from the Eastern Conference, the Orlando Magic. Many expected Orlando to be improved this season, but not many thought they’d be 12 and 4 after 16 games.

The true measure for any eastern team is how they do against the much-tougher Western Conference. Well, not only are the Magic 5 and 1 against the West, they’ve started this road trip with impressive wins at Utah and Seattle. They’ve won five in a row overall, look to continue that streak.

I know we’re only a month into the season, but Dwight Howard is the dominant center in the east this season, and is a potential MVP of the league. He is an absolute monster, and has been putting up big numbers, averaging 17 points, and 14 rebounds per game. He already has 3 games of 20+ points, and 20+ rebounds. At Seattle on Wednesday, he had 24 points, 12 rebounds, and 4 blocked shots.

The Magic start a big first unit, with Hedo Turkoglu (6-10), Tony Battie (6-11), and Howard (6-11), on the front line. Grant Hill is healthy and is playing very well, and point guard Jameer Nelson is as tough as nails and makes this Orlando engine roar.

If the offense isn’t enough, and it has been on most nights, the Magic are a force at the defensive end of the floor. They’ve been holding opponents to just 92 points per game, second-best in the NBA. It'll be another big challenge for Zach Randolph, against this Magic shot-blocking machine. We saw Zach have some success against Indiana when he moved out to the perimeter and hit a couple of jumpers. Even though the coaches would ultimately like him in the low block, if he can stretch the defense from the outside, that's fine with them. Problem is, he's Portland's best rebounder, and when he's outside shooting shots he doesn't have a chance at the offensive board.

Following their loss to Indiana on Tuesday, the Trail Blazers took Wednesday off, and returned to practice on Thursday. They mainly worked on defense, and worked on ways to slow down Orlando.

Coach Nate McMillan was a guest on Trail Blazers Courtside on Thursday night, and talked about what will be needed against the Magic. He also discussed the Indiana game, and gave us an update on the status of Raef LaFrentz and Brandon Roy. He also spent time talking about Howard, who he coached on Team USA at the World Championships.

A link to the interview with coach McMillan will be added, in this spot, very shortly.

We were also joined on the show by Joel Przybilla. Joel returned to the Blazers lineup for the game against the Pacers, and talked about how good it feels to be back. He’ll start again Friday night, and hopes to see more action, as he continues to get back into shape.

Friday night’s game against the Magic, is radio only, and begins at 6 o’clock on the Trail Blazers Radio Network.

The Beast from the East

Mike Barrett — Fri, 01 Dec 2006 15:42:00 +0000

If you think the Trail Blazers have been catching some red-hot teams lately, you're correct. That's not about to change Friday night, as Portland hosts the best team from the Eastern Conference, the Orlando Magic. Many expected Orlando to be improved this season, but not many thought they'd be 12 and 4 after 16 games.

The true measure for any eastern team is how they do against the much-tougher Western Conference. Well, not only are the Magic 5 and 1 against the West, they've started this road trip with impressive wins at Utah and Seattle. They've won five in a row overall, look to continue that streak.

I know we're only a month into the season, but Dwight Howard is the dominant center in the east this season, and is a potential MVP of the league. He is an absolute monster, and has been putting up big numbers, averaging 17 points, and 14 rebounds per game. He already has 3 games of 20+ points, and 20+ rebounds. At Seattle on Wednesday, he had 24 points, 12 rebounds, and 4 blocked shots.

The Magic start a big first unit, with Hedo Turkoglu (6-10), Tony Battie (6-11), and Howard (6-11), on the front line. Grant Hill is healthy and is playing very well, and point guard Jameer Nelson is as tough as nails and makes this Orlando engine roar.

If their offense isn't enough, and it has been on most nights, the Magic are a force at the defensive end of the floor. They've been holding opponents to just 92 points per game, second-best in the NBA. It'll be another big challenge for Zach Randolph, against this Magic shot-blocking machine. We saw Zach have some success against Indiana when he moved out to the perimeter and hit a couple of jumpers. Even though the coaches would ultimately like him in the low block, if he can stretch the defense from the outside, that's fine with them. Problem is, he's Portland's best rebounder, and when he's outside shooting shots he doesn't have a chance at the offensive board.

Following their loss to Indiana on Tuesday, the Trail Blazers took Wednesday off, and returned to practice on Thursday. They mainly worked on defense, and worked on ways to slow down Orlando.

Coach Nate McMillan was a guest on Trail Blazers Courtside on Thursday night, and talked about what will be needed against the Magic. He also discussed the Indiana game, and gave us an update on the status of Raef LaFrentz and Brandon Roy. He also spent time talking about Howard, who he coached on Team USA at the World Championships.

To hear our interview with coach McMillan from last night's radio show, click here.

We were also joined on the show by Joel Przybilla. Joel returned to the Blazers lineup for the game against the Pacers, and talked about how good it feels to be back. He'll start again Friday night, and hopes to see more action, as he continues to get back into shape.

To listen to the interview with Joel, click here.

Friday night's game against the Magic, is radio only, and begins at 6 o'clock on the Trail Blazers Radio Network.

Defensive Breakdowns Blamed

Mike Barrett — Wed, 29 Nov 2006 15:56:00 +0000

The identity of this Portland team was established in the first few games. The hard-working, scrappy, defensive-minded, never-say-die-attitude-Blazers were showing what they could be when they truly bought into Nate McMillan's philosophy. Following last night's 105-97 loss to the Indiana Pacers, McMillan said the team has to get back to what was bringing them wins. He was mostly talking about defense.

Several games ago I had scratched a note to myself on my desk. It simply says "Portland is 5 and 0 when holding opponents under 100 points." Forget the offense. When you're a young, shorthanded team, you're going to have to outwork people at the defensive end. You can't always control whether or not your outside shot is falling, but you can always give a better effort on defense.

For the third game in a row a Blazer opponent scored over 100, and this time it wasn't the high-scoring Kings, or Phoenix Suns. The Pacers came into the game averaging 95 points per game, which ranked them 25th in that catagory in the NBA. They shot 52 percent from the field, 38 percent from behind the three-point line, and had 28 assists on 38 field goals.

Despite those numbers from Indiana's offense, and Portland's struggles shooting the ball, the game was still tied at 75 after three quarters. So, give the Blazers credit there. They had battled back from an 11-point hole they dug in the first two minutes of the third quarter, and were in a good position, on their home floor, to pull out the game with a strong defensive mindset in the fourth quarter. It didn't happen that way, as the Pacers put up 30 points in the quarter.

In defense of the Blazers, over the past three games they've caught some pretty good teams at perhaps the wrong time. Sacramento returned Brad Miller and Ron Artest to the lineup on Saturday in that game, and were better than they had showed in their recent games. Phoenix had been struggling and was due for a good game. They played their best game of the season Sunday night. And, Indiana was kicking off a 5-game western swing, following a humbling loss to Toronto on Sunday. They were looking at last night's game as a must win. I also think it is safe to say all three of those teams are better than their records. McMillan doesn't want to hear excuses like that, but it's reality.

It was nice to see Joel Przybilla return to the lineup for Portland against Indiana. He played just 7 minutes in the first half, but went 16 in the second half, and grabbed 10 rebounds. His return will undoubtedly help the team defensively.

Jarrett Jack recorded a career-high 21 points, and also had 6 assists on no turnovers. He continues to improve. The Blazers, as a team, outrebounded Indiana 47-34, and recorded 21 offensive rebounds. You don't lose very often when you grab that many offensive boards and outrebound a team by that margin. The problem was, they shot an uncharacteristic 39 percent from the floor, their lowest percentage of the season.

Zach Randolph had 30 points and 11 rebounds, but was just 11 for 27 from the field. We said this before the game on the TV broadcast, and it held true in this game- no one in the NBA defends Zach like Indiana's Jeff Foster. That's the reason Rick Carlisle started Foster last night. He forced Zach into the 11 for 27, and also caused him to turn the ball over 5 times. Keep in mind, the Blazers play this Indiana team again next Friday, in Indianapolis.

There are two home games left before the long six-game trip back east. Orlando is in town on Friday, and Atlanta is at the Garden Sunday. You can bet the Blazers won't be spending much time on offense in practice today or Thursday.

Przybilla Likely to Return Tuesday

Mike Barrett — Tue, 28 Nov 2006 05:24:00 +0000

Tired of seeing opposing players score on his team at point-blank range, Blazers coach Nate McMillan seemed relieved after Monday's practice, and said, "help is on the way." He was referring to Joel Przybilla, who, after sitting out three weeks, will likely return to the court on Tuesday night when the Blazers host the Indiana Pacers.

In the second game of the season, at Golden State, Przybilla went up to contest a drive by Troy Murphy, and took a knee square to the abdomen. He continued to play in the game, but in the following days suffered through intense pain and swelling, and was ordered to bed (or the couch) for 4-5 days. The recovery has been much longer than he anticipated, and much more painful as well. He told me many times during the past three weeks that this was the most painful injury he's ever had as an athlete. He finally underwent surgery on the 17th, and is now nearing full strength.

Przybilla practiced on Monday, and certainly looked ready to return game action. He was swatting shots, pulling down rebounds, and even displaying a little offense. The Blazer frontline will welcome him back with open arms. They have been badly needing the help of a shot blocker inside, and have been surrendering a lot of points in the paint. Phoenix had 56 points in the paint on Sunday, and Sacramento had 44 on Saturday, and those are teams not noted for their inside, post-up play.

Raef LaFrentz has returned to practice as well, but won't likely suit up for Tuesday's game. He could, however, be set for a return on Friday when the Orlando Magic come to town. LaFrentz pulled a calf muscle during training camp, and then re-injured it at practice, before the second game of the season. His inside play, and long-range shooting should be a big help when he returns.

Brandon Roy was at practice on Monday, still wearing the boot on his left foot. A timetable for his return is still very much up in the air, unfortunately. Friday Roy will undergo an MRI on his left heel, and more should be known after that. Doctors are hoping the inflammation around the talus bone will be down, and as a precaution, will likely recommend that he stay in the boot for at least another week. If all goes well, he could then perhaps return to activity. A return to practice would follow that. If he's still pain free, a return to action could be on the horizon some time after that. Surgery is being looked at as a last option at this point, but nothing more is known at this time.

I spent about 20 minutes with Brandon following practice today, and as you would expect, it's killing him not to be playing. "I had a great start, and really proved to myself that I can succeed at this level," Roy told me. "Then, this happened. I'm frustrated, but also am just counting the days until I can get back in there. My teammates need me, and I think I can help them."

Roy still isn't sure why he all of a sudden had this severe pain in his heel. He says he never had a problem with it in college, and says that makes it all the more frustrating. "It was bothering me a little bit in the first couple of games," says Roy. "Then in the Minnesota game (Nov.4), I remember coming down and coming to a hard jump stop. I really felt it then. I told Jay (Jensen, Portland's trainer) I could finish that game and stayed in. Then, in the game against the Clippers it really flared up on me and I had to come out. I tried playing again in the next game against the Lakers, but it was just too painful. Hopefully, this time spent resting it will take care of the problem. I'm just not sure right now, and that's what's so difficult."

The Trail Blazers and Pacers go at it Tuesday night at the Rose Garden. Indiana is off to a disappointing 7-7 start, and is opening a difficult 5-game western swing. The Pacers have won five straight against the Blazers, their longest winning streak in the history of the series.

The game will be televised on FSN at 7 o'clock, and can also be heard on the Trail Blazers Radio Network.

Suns Take Charge Early

Mike Barrett — Mon, 27 Nov 2006 06:19:00 +0000

Just minutes into Sunday night's game against the Phoenix Suns at the Rose Garden, the Trail Blazers were faced with some familiar problems- how to get Zach Randolph the ball, and how to stop their opponent from getting easy looks at the rim. Zach was doubled and tripled by a swarming Suns defense, and scored 18 points with just 28 minutes, but they were hard-earned points. The effort to pound the ball inside resulted in a somewhat stagnant Portland offense, and the Suns did what they do best- run and score.

For the second straight game, the Blazers' saw their opponent shoot an extremely high percentage in the first half, and got in an early hole. Like Saturday's game at Sacramento, the hold was too deep, and the Blazers ended up falling 119-101.

Raja Bell missed a new career high by one field goal, scoring 30 points in 41 minutes. He was 10 for 19 from the field, including 7 for 12 from behind the three-point line. Two-time MVP Steve Nash was at his best, scoring 23 points and dishing out 10 assists. Nash would say after the game that this may have the Suns' best game of the season.

The Trail Blazers were led offensively by Travis Outlaw, who netted a new career high of 22 points on 8 of 17 shooting. Jarrett Jack scored 13 points and dished out five assists, but also turned the ball over four times.

One troubling stat catagory in the past two games for Portland was points in the paint. They gave up 44 points in the paint against the Kings on Saturday, and surrendered 54 in the paint against Phoenix. The hustling Suns also recorded 17 fast-break points, and 21 second-chance points.

Outlaw's 22 points, came while playing a career-high 45 minutes. He was thrust into a bigger role against the Suns when LaMarcus Aldridge was hit with two quick fouls, and then also took an elbow to the mouth from Phoenix's Jalen Rose. Aldridge needed five stitches to close the wound, and then tried to go in the second half, until he was hit again and was taken out of the game.

Aldridge's foul trouble, and injury, left the Blazers thin in the middle. That helped Phoenix rack up the points in the paint, and outrebound Portland 41-35. Help is on the way on the Blazer front line. Joel Przybilla is expected to practice Monday, and there' s a chance he'll be in uniform Tuesday.

The Trail Blazers' four-game homestand continues on Tuesday night when they host the Indiana Pacers at the Rose Garden.

Hot-Shooting Kings Storm Blazers

Mike Barrett — Sun, 26 Nov 2006 16:35:00 +0000

The game started with a Martell Webster three pointer, and Portland would take a very quick five-point lead. But, unfortunately for the Blazers, this wasn't a sign of things to come, as the Sacramento Kings had a field day on Portland's defense for the rest of the first half. The Blazers made several mild runs in the second half, closing to within 10 points late, but the Kings held on for the easy win, 105-85.

The 85 points scored by Portland is a season-low for offensive output. This is a concern because the Kings aren't a good defensive team. They concentrate on defense a little more now under Eric Musselman, but you should be hitting you offensive averages, and then some, when you play against them.

It was the same old story in the early going of this game, and it's something that Nate McMillan is tired of seeing. When you're playing at home, making up deficits, and rallying from behind is much easier than when you're on the road. I've gotten to the point where I don't really think it's anything physically wrong with the way the Blazers are preparing for games. That has been explored. This is about agressiveness, confidence, and having a clear-cut number-two option on offense. The Blazers haven't found that yet.

We continue to see opponents trying different defenses to stop Zach Randolph. They all use slight variations of the same thing; double and triple-team him. Some teams front him more, or use a delayed double team, but it's all close to the same stuff. The Trail Blazers just aren't adjusting to the situation early enough in games. By the time they figure it out, the machine gets rolling, but it's just taking too long to figure out. They're usually down double figures by the time they hit any kind of a stride.

Zach actually had a pretty efficient game, scoring 24 points on 10 of 16 shooting. Ime Udoka also had a nice ballgame, scoring 13 points. But, that was about it.

We went into last night's game thinking the Kings were probably better than their record indicated. If that was the truth, then that really can be said about tonight's opponent- the Phoenix Suns. The Suns are just 6 and 6, and are in last place in the Pacific Division. They've had to use this time to work Amare Stoudemire back into the flow, and that always takes an adjustment period.

Tonight's game kicks off a four-game homestand for the Trail Blazers. The stand includes Phoenix, Indiana, Orlando, and Atlanta.

By the way, our television broadcast of the game tonight can be seen in a lot of places. I'm not talking about a lot of places in the Northwest, or a lot of places in this country, on League Pass. It'll be shown in France, Spain, Russia, Turkey, Iceland, Hong Kong, Mexico, and The Philippines.

I made sure Sergio Rodriguez was aware that the game would be available in Spain. We're probably going to have him address his fans in Spain at some point during the broadcast (on tape, of course). By the way, Sergio is picking up more and more on our culture here in the Northwest. When we got on the plane to fly to Sacramento Friday, he asked me "who won Civil War football game?"

Another Gutty Effort, Another Dramatic Win

Mike Barrett — Thu, 23 Nov 2006 07:17:00 +0000

I give up. I can't figure this team out. The only sure thing at this point is that they have a heck of a lot of heart, and that they've got great leadership. Outside of that, I'm clueless. Another double-digit comeback? Left for dead by the side of the road, once again, and then brought back to life by an amazingly-resiliant, never-give-up attitude. Is this why this team is so likable, and so easy to cheer for?

Before the game on Wednesday night, my TV partner, Mike Rice, and I were in total agreement (that's newsworthy in itself). We both saw all the arrows pointing to a game that would be very difficult to win. It was a very talented New Jersey team, humbled by this young Portland team just four days earlier, coming off a loss in Seattle in which they gave up a fourth-quarter lead. A Hall-of-Fame point guard in Jason Kidd, challenging his team after the Seattle loss, and questioning his team's heart. They were sure to respond, and respond in a big way.

Early in the game on Wednesday, the Nets did respond, and surprised no one at our broadcast table with the way they started the game. They grabbed a 14-point lead, and were in total control. Meanwhile, the Blazers appeared to be having a let-down game, following the close loss on Monday to San Antonio, with a day off, and a holiday coming the next day. Distractions, in the form of family, in the stands, checking their watches, and already thinking about the next day's gatherings. Everything was happening just as if the script had been read by both teams before the game.

Then we came to the second half. We have grown accustomed to this Blazer team fighting its way back into games, so to see them make a few hard charges wasn't a surprise. They got close on many occasions. Every time they would make a run, it would be answered by Vince Carter, Kidd, or Richard Jefferson, and amazingly talented backcourt. The Blazers just couldn't get over the hump.

It wasn't until late in the game, when Travis Outlaw became unstoppable, when Zach Randolph started doing what he does best, and when Jarrett Jack started hitting clutch jumpers, did we start to realize that this Portland team had made other plans.

The Blazers didn't take their first lead of the game until the 2:51 mark of the fourth quarter. We kept saying on the broadcast that "if they could only get over the hump and actually get the lead." And, sure enough, once they had it, they weren't about to let it go.

Nate McMillan, who has injected this shorthanded team with this belief in itself, admitted after the game that "maybe we won a game that we should have lost." He wasn't happy at all times with the performance, but was thrilled with the late effort. He even shook his head several times as if even he was surprised by his team's first-month heroics here this season.

A few stats that jumped out at me, and then I'm off to enjoy Thanksgiving. The Blazers had 18 assists and only six turnovers in the game. Jarrett Jack ended the two-game series against Jason Kidd with 13 assists and 0 turnovers. And, the Blazer starters in this game went 19 for 19 at the free-throw line. You want a plug for the defense? The Blazers are now 5 and 0 when they hold teams under 100 points, and are 1 and 7 when their opponents get 100+.

New Jersey played a very good game. They'll be extremely upset by the loss, of course, but look at their numbers. They shot 54 percent, outrebounded Portland by 5, dished out 26 assists (14 by Kidd) and turned the ball over only 10 times. Numbers like that are supposed to get you a win. It didn't happen on this night.

The Blazers have already surpassed last year's November win total, with three games left to play. They've done this with Darius Miles, Raef LaFrentz, Joel Przybilla, and Brandon Roy, the pre-season pick to win Rookie of the Year, in street clothes for most of the games in this first month. Even though its hard to believe, the best is yet to come.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Blazers Look for Sweep Against Nets

Mike Barrett — Wed, 22 Nov 2006 06:59:00 +0000

Tonight the Trail Blazers look for a repeat performance of Saturday night's complete performance against the Nets in New Jersey. The Blazers scored the first 13 points of the game, led New Jersey 25-8 after the first, and won going away, 86-68. It was a wire-to-wire win for the Blazers, who only briefly had their lead cut to 10 in the game, and controlled the Nets from the opening tip.

Normally, following a win like Saturday's, you'd rather wait a while before facing that team again. The sting of an embarassing loss sometimes fades over time, but it's very much fresh in hte minds of the Nets as they visit the Garden tonight. Add to that the fact that the Nets lost the opening game of their trip in Seattle on Monday, and they'll be a wounded, and hungry team Wednesday night.

Richard Jefferson didn't play on Saturday night, but returned to New Jersey's lineup on Monday in Seattle. He had 9 points in his 27 minutes, and helped the Nets to a five-point lead through three quarters. The Sonics then blitzed the Nets 33-17 in the fourth quarter, and cruised to the 99-87 win.

The Blazers are coming off a loss as well Monday, to the Spurs, 107-98. It was the third, and not the fourth quarter, that did the Blazers in. They were outscored by San Antonio 30 to 18 in that third quarter, and lost the 10-point lead that they held midway though the third.

Nate McMillan had his team watch the third quarter of the San Antonio game before practice on Tuesday. They watched just parts of the other three quarters, but concentrated mostly on the third.

Coach McMillan was a guest on our Trail Blazers Courtside, presented by L.A. Weight Loss, radio show, on Tuesday night. He talked about how well the team had played in the first half, and gave his opinion why they couldn't close the deal in the second half.

To hear the entire interview with McMillan, click here.

We were also joined on the show by Zach Randolph and Stephen Graham. To hear the interview with Zach, click here. To listen to Graham's segment, click here. Following the interview with Stephen, Blazers assistant coach Bill Bayno stepped in, and you'll also hear that.

Radio analyst Antonio Harvey, also had another of his "Off the Court" segments, and his guest was Dan Dickau. To hear that feature, click here.

The Blazers spent Tuesday afternoon and evening feeding some less fortunate folks at the 11th Annual Trail Blazers Harvest Dinner, at the Rose Garden. We held the radio show live from the event. Over 7,000 meals were served, as this event seems to get bigger every year. The event started in 1996, and was initiated by then-Blazers coach P.J. Carlisimo. Other teams around the league have since adopted events that are very similar. Portland Arena Management and Project Homeless Connect also played big roles in this year's event. Not only were turkey dinners served, but haircuts, medical services, pet care, educational, legal and housing resources, and job counseling, were also available. Congrats to everyone on another great event this year.

Wednesday night's game against the Nets can be seen live on FSN, beginning at 7 o'clock. It'll also be on the Blazers Radio Network, beginning with Game Day, at 6 o'clock.

Blazers Roll in Jersey

Mike Barrett — Sun, 19 Nov 2006 20:04:00 +0000

The Trail Blazers are now 4 and 1 in their home white jerseys. They were wearing them on Saturday night in New Jersey, because the Nets had requested the opportunity to unveil their new alternate red uniforms. They unveiled them, and then probably wished they hadn't. Playing in the whites, the Blazers jumped out to a 13-0 lead on the Nets, led 25 to 8 after the first quarter, and put together a wire-to-wire dominating effort for their second road win.

After the 13-0 start, the Nets never got closer than 10 points, and that was just for a brief moment in the third quarter. By the middle of the fourth, the Blazers had the lead back up to 17, and late in the game it grew to 21. They finally won the game, 86-68. It was as dominating a Blazer win as I can remember in the past two seasons. They've had nicer wins, against more impressive opponents, but haven't jumped on top, so quickly, and never even showed the slightest hint of letting down. That's what happened on Saturday.

The win couldn't have come at a better time. The Blazers had just been pummeled in Boston the night before, and were very down about the loss. They had to watch the Celtics put on a clinic, and have a lot of fun, in the second half. They came out of that game determined to turn things around.

New Jersey coach Lawrence Frank said, before the game, it was their game plan to step on the Blazers from the opening tip, and put them away early. It was a good plan, and one he felt confident his team would execute. They were coming off a very complete win at Indiana on Friday, but looked totally unprepared for the inspired Blazers.

When the Blazers arrived at their hotel in the wee small hours on Saturday morning, Jarrett Jack was so upset with the loss to Boston, and particularly his performance, he dropped his bags and went straight to Nate McMillan's room.

"He was upset with the way he had played, and just wanted some direction, and an idea of what he could to get better," McMillan told me on the plane on the way home late Saturday night. "We talked for a while, and then watched the entire Boston game over again. We stopped the DVD over and over again, and looked at just about every offensive set. It was a great chance to sit one-on-one with my point guard and pick apart everything we're doing."

It was obviously a productive meeting, even if it meant neither man got much sleep. Saturday morning, rather than hold the normal game-day shootaround, the Blazers met in a meeting room at the hotel for three hours. The bus, on the way to game, was very quiet, and very intense. This was a young, shorthanded team responding to a disappointing situation. They weren't about to be embarrassed again.

Perhaps the most impressive stat in the game against the Nets was the fact that Portland had 22 assists on 31 made field goals, including 16 assists in the first half, when the major damage was done. That shows ball movement, obviously, and it shows balance. When Zach Randolph is doing everything on his own, the assist numbers are normally very low. On this night, the Blazers had Zach, LaMarcus Aldridge, and Jamaal Magloire to go to down low. Add to that the deep threats of Ime Udoka, Jarrett Jack, and Juan Dixon, and the New Jersey defense was off balance.

Zach ended with 20 points and 16 rebounds. Aldridge, who's getting better with every game, had 12 points on 5 of 9 shooting. Magloire looked as good as he has so far for this team, and had 9 points on 4 of 5 shooting, and also grabbed 5 rebounds in just 14 minutes.

The Blazers end the road trip 1 and 3, and with a bit of a refreshed attitude. The mood was certainly lighter on the plane on the way home. The coaches were still buried in their DVD players watching tape of the New Jersey game, and preparing for the San Antonio Spurs, but everyone was pleased.

We didn't arrive in Portland until about 3:30 am, and Nate gave the team Sunday off. They'll hold their shootaround on Monday, and will get set to host the Spurs on Monday night (7pm FSN).