Magic @ Blazers Game Thread

[Pinwheel1]

Wes breaking out (8 out of the last 11 games with 20pts or more) is making Roy's steep decline somewhat palpable.

Win the season tonight.

And I found it hilarious that the announcers were making excuses for the Magic about how they were under the weather. Gimme a break! We're missing our starting center. Our star SG has 2 bad knees. Our backup center can't run. And our replacement center and starting PG are entering the twilight of their respective careers. Kerr (especially), you're better than that.

Actually Kerr is not better than that. I really don't like him. But it was annoying listening to them ramble on about the poor Florida Teams schedules. We have to be the only city who's closest city is a 2 hour flight.

 

[B-Roy]

Wesley is putting up old Roy like scoring numbers and efficiency to go along with MUCH better defense. I would argue he's been almost as valuable as Roy as been the past few years.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

I agree. Every player outside Dwight is absolute garbage. I always laughed at those rumors of Orlando trading for CP3. They have exp. contracts but NO talent to package along with those exp. deals.

 

[illmatic99]

Wesley is putting up old Roy like scoring numbers and efficiency to go along with MUCH better defense. I would argue he's been almost as valuable as Roy as been the past few years.

It's a bit different. Roy was so good even with teams doubling/trapping him, and he was a very effective playmaker. Wes has not yet seen defensive coverage like Roy did, and he still can't pass. But one thing (I, and a) lot of people are forgetting is that he's just 24 and in only his second season as a pro. The best is yet to come, I believe, but he has to have the ability to adjust his game according to defenses.

 

[barfo]

Loved Andre's post game interview! He has such a bubbly personality.

Like a bubbly vat of sulfuric acid.

barfo

 

[Pinwheel1]

Wesley is putting up old Roy like scoring numbers and efficiency to go along with MUCH better defense. I would argue he's been almost as valuable as Roy as been the past few years.

Well you know I have been a Wes fan since June, and he is playing great, but until he can close games then he is not as valuable as Roy has been the last few years. He is just an awesome role player.

 

[B-Roy]

It's a bit different. Roy was so good even with teams doubling/trapping him, and he was a very effective playmaker. Wes has not yet seen defensive coverage like Roy did, and he still can't pass. But one thing (I, and a) lot of people are forgetting is that he's just 24 and in only his second season as a pro. The best is yet to come, I believe, but he has to have the ability to adjust his game according to defenses.

Wesley scores differently than Roy. He takes advantage of opportunities and mistakes the other team makes. I don't think he'll ever be the iso scorer that Roy was, but then again, that's not really his game. He still manages to score a comparable amount of points though, and his efficiency is excellent as well. One major disadvantage is not really being able to go to him in the clutch, but like you said, the guy is young, and the best is probably yet to come. I think playing with a good point guard is really helping him though. I doubt he'd be as efficient without someone like Miller.

I love him though. He does so much without any plays called for him. And he hustles on both ends of the court.

 

[illmatic99]

On a related note, it was hilarious to see Orlando double Roy off the ball on every possession in the fourth. He was just walking over to the weakside with two guys shading him, leaving 3 Magic players to defend 4 Blazers.

That's the kind of stuff you'll likely never see with any other Blazer currently on the roster.

 

[hasoos]

One of the things that jumped out at me tonight was the fact that in the second half Nate didn't play any of the backup PG. It looked to me like Nate had enough of the backup PG play from both guys, and decided he couldn't chance it with them on the court in the second half.

I credit a huge part of the comeback by the Blazers on Joel Pryzbilla and his physical presence out on the floor. Howard could not knock him out of position and when Howard did get inside, Joel fouled him hard and sent him to the line.

It was really nice to see Batum figuring out that if he wasn't having a good offensive game that he could still contribute by playing defense, rebounding and putting out an effort. Almost all of his points tonight were from effort on the defensive end or by rebounding. But he got a double double out of hustle.

Roy was having a hard time moving, but he was playing hard, probably playing more minutes then he should have, but he wanted the win.

Nate finally went big for a while tonight, and it worked. A vast portion of the second half was played without a true PG. Then he followed it up with the 5 smalls for a bit. He was really mixing it up tonight, and I think we saw some increase in the pace of game because of it. Most likely because Andre Miller is running the team more and more. I also think part of it has to do with guys like Wesley Mathews, who is getting steals and getting out on the break. He is probably one of the few players on the team that can finish in traffic on the break competent.

 

[MIXUM]

johnhollinger

Qualitatively, this is the most Blazer-like I've seen the Blazers look in some time. Przybilla return does wonders for big man rotation.
about 2 hours ago via web

 

[RoyToy]

Amazing what playing with some of your best players can do, eh?

It's a shame we'll never get to see what Roy/Aldridge/Oden would look like after several years of playing together. Fucking shame. Little doubt in my mind they're contenders and a top 5 team every year at the very least.

Man...

 

[MIXUM]

I really think if dick head cho could man up and make a trade for a scorer off the bench (backup pg or pf).... we would be a pretty dangerous team.

health permitting of course!

 

[Nikolokolus]

I really think if dick head cho could man up and make a trade for a scorer off the bench (backup pg or pf).... we would be a pretty dangerous team.

health permitting of course!

Patience grasshopper, it's not even December 15th (the first opportunity to trade free agents signed over the summer) but really, we have no idea what direction this team will be heading in a month. I think if I were him (and everybody else in management/ownership) I'd want a pretty good grasp of the way my team was trending. Lately there's been a lot of down with a recent up-tick that may or may not hold.

I know you're a big proponent of the Mo Williams, Andy Varejao angle, but it's easier said than done to make trades to improve the bench when so much of your lineup is either hurt (Roy, Oden, Williams), or just flat out unreliable (Marks, Babbitt, Dante, Armon, Patty, etc.) -- he's not playing with an especially strong hand.

 

[MIXUM]

thats kinda true nik... BUT he has 2 1st rounders, 2 expiring contracts, a shit load of rookies from the bench to europe and if he really wants to get creative... ODEN. Therefore, a good GM could make a solid move to help us.

Any trade he makes should come with stipulation... YOU HAVE TO TAKE SEAN FUCKING MARKS!!!

 

[mgb]

One of the things that jumped out at me tonight was the fact that in the second half Nate didn't play any of the backup PG. It looked to me like Nate had enough of the backup PG play from both guys, and decided he couldn't chance it with them on the court in the second half.

I credit a huge part of the comeback by the Blazers on Joel Pryzbilla and his physical presence out on the floor. Howard could not knock him out of position and when Howard did get inside, Joel fouled him hard and sent him to the line.

It was really nice to see Batum figuring out that if he wasn't having a good offensive game that he could still contribute by playing defense, rebounding and putting out an effort. Almost all of his points tonight were from effort on the defensive end or by rebounding. But he got a double double out of hustle.

Roy was having a hard time moving, but he was playing hard, probably playing more minutes then he should have, but he wanted the win.

Nate finally went big for a while tonight, and it worked. A vast portion of the second half was played without a true PG. Then he followed it up with the 5 smalls for a bit. He was really mixing it up tonight, and I think we saw some increase in the pace of game because of it. Most likely because Andre Miller is running the team more and more. I also think part of it has to do with guys like Wesley Mathews, who is getting steals and getting out on the break. He is probably one of the few players on the team that can finish in traffic on the break competent.

Ya, it was painful to see Roy go after that loose ball at mid court. He realized he didn't have a chance and just pulled up. That really showed how slow he is now.

 

[Mediocre Man]

I thought the team played great last night, and I thought Nate made a lot of really solid adjustments.

 

[Blazinaway]

But on the plus side it looks like they're maybe starting to morph a little bit and learn to play in the clutch without him ... and Brandon looks like he might be starting to let things go a little bit.

agree, I think the Roy coming off the bench and little or no ISO "process' is well underway, takes time

 

[BlazerCaravan]

It's like the Magic didn't have an opponent if you listened to TNT.

I dunno if they are trying harder or what, but after the first timeout, 95.5 was perfectly synced up with video (to the point where the pounding of the ball on the court was perfectly synced)... Which surprised me given it was TNT.

The game before was also well synced.

 

[Nikolokolus]

thats kinda true nik... BUT he has 2 1st rounders, 2 expiring contracts, a shit load of rookies from the bench to europe and if he really wants to get creative... ODEN. Therefore, a good GM could make a solid move to help us.

Any trade he makes should come with stipulation... YOU HAVE TO TAKE SEAN FUCKING MARKS!!!

I mostly agree with your premise (that a good GM should be able a solid move at some point during the season) but I think immediate relief may not be coming.

When you hear all of the chatter surrounding the impending lockout, it makes it sound like a lot of teams are hedging their moves because of the uncertainty surrounding the next CBA, What I mean by that is, I don't think the normal rules of engagement are in play, and it very well could be in the longterm interests of this team to hold onto those first round picks and expiring contracts. And finally we don't even really know how much autonomy he has to make deals given the wonky power structure of Vulcan, hat-guy, Paul Allen, Larry Miller ...

I don't envy Cho's job at all.

 

[MIXUM]

i just think with our lack of bench at center and pg.... we really cant do much unless that position comes back in trade. Could they trade one of two (joel and camby)? yes but i dont see anyway we trade miller unless we get a quality PG back given the state of our pg situation. I mean nate didnt even play patty 5 minutes vs orlando lol.

not to mention miller has quietly emerged as a top player on this team...

 

[LittleAlex]

Wes breaking out (8 out of the last 11 games with 20pts or more) is making Roy's steep decline somewhat palpable.

Win the season tonight.

And I found it hilarious that the announcers were making excuses for the Magic about how they were under the weather. Gimme a break! We're missing our starting center. Our star SG has 2 bad knees. Our backup center can't run. And our replacement center and starting PG are entering the twilight of their respective careers. Kerr (especially), you're better than that.

You forgot to mention Sean "The Human Handicap" Marks.

No team can complain about getting a raw deal as long as Portland continues to have Marks on the bench.

He is like everyone on the team having the flu all at the same time.

 

[LittleAlex]

I thought the team played great last night, and I thought Nate made a lot of really solid adjustments.

Yup, you have to give Nate his due.

Going to a small lineup with LA at center caused the Magic problems in the second quarter, then going Miller Time in the 4th sealed the deal.

 

[andalusian]

In the section I was sitting were plenty of guys with green and yellow jackets saying "Aussie Basketball " something on them. They were going "Aussie Aussie Aussie - Oye Oye Oye" during the 3th quarter. It was lots of fun!

 

[hasoos]

In the section I was sitting were plenty of guys with green and yellow jackets saying "Aussie Basketball " something on them. They were going "Aussie Aussie Aussie - Oye Oye Oye" during the 3th quarter. It was lots of fun!

Yea I could hear them right not too far down from me in 301. They were either really close, or really loud, or both.

 

[hasoos]

johnhollinger

Qualitatively, this is the most Blazer-like I've seen the Blazers look in some time. Przybilla return does wonders for big man rotation.
about 2 hours ago via web

For the first time all season long we have somebody on the team that can set a decent pick. I also loved the fact that Joel completely hammered Howard several times with fouls, and was big enough that Howard could not push him out of the paint. I missed Joel. He brings nasty and physical this team desperately needs.

 

[MickZagger]

Yup, you have to give Nate his due.

Going to a small lineup with LA at center caused the Magic problems in the second quarter, then going Miller Time in the 4th sealed the deal.

The only reason they could do that was because Howard was out of the game.