Posted 03/10/2010 11:45 AM

Post-Game Thoughts
Another game, another nearly blown lead. What is up with this current group of Trail Blazers? They jumped all over the Kings, 12-2, to start the game and lead 73-62 entering the 4th quarter. In both instances Portland allowed the Kings to go on runs of over 10-0 to get right back into the thick of things. Not surprisingly, it was the offensive output letting down the Blazers once again. I thought something horrible could happen if we didn't eclipse the century mark against a team who allows 105 a night and by only scoring 88, we were close, too close at times, to losing that game. If it wasn't for Camby's defensive prowess in the 4th and Roy's 4th quarter wake up call which saw him close out down the stretch offensively and soared high to grab numerous clutch rebounds, the Kings would have walked off the Rose Garden floor victorious to a stunned Rose Garden crowd.

"It wasn't our best effort, but any time you play against those teams that are playing for nothing, you pretty much get their best effort," Camby said. "We were fortunate to get away with the win, while understanding we can play a whole lot better."

"Even though his stat line wouldn't knock your eyes out, Camby really dominated the game for them on the defensive end and was very much the difference," Sacramento coach Paul Westphal said. "He was a big impediment to our offense."

Through three quarters I was wondering if we made the correct trade or not. Travis was a known 4th quarter scorer while Steve spread the defense with his three-point shooting ability while all I saw was Marcus throwing the ball away at every opportunity, including a careless inbounds pass which was thrown in no one's vicinity. In total, Marcus has committed 17 turnovers in 8 games, a high number for a player who has the ball in his hands very little and more than his combined 13 made field goals in his tenure to date with the Blazers. Who knows what got into him, but he won it for us last night. His five blocks closed down the interior for a team, in Sacramento, who makes their living scoring in the paint. A couple times, Marcus handed out a couple of what I like to call "man blocks" where he bodies his man straight up and smashes the ball right back into their face. He had a few weak-side and even one from behind, but those "man blocks" really send a "Not in my house!" message to the Kings and ignite the crowd.

B-Roy stole the show down the stretch by scoring inside or out (19 points) and pulling down some clutch boards amongst the trees (8 rebounds), but someone who flew under the radar and isn't getting noticed for his great impact last night was Nico Batum. 14 points, 2 rebounds, and 2 assists isn't going to jump off the stat sheet and wow many people like his back-to-back performances last week did, but he is incredibly efficient. He shot 6-7 from the floor, not once forcing a shot and becoming a deadly mid-range shooter. Another facet of his game which can only be appreciated from watching the game and not found on a box score was his defense on Tyreke Evans. 'Reke did score a team-high 18 points but it took him shooting 8-19 from the floor to accomplish that feat and only got to the line three times for a player who ranks 15th in the league in free throw attempts per night at 6.5.

When the Blazers are struggling to put away a 21 win squad, instead of yelling or going crazy over something I can't control, I think. Last night's topic was playoffs. A few times during that game I was kind of hoping for Draft Lottery, because if we come out with that level of effort or intensity during a playoff game, the Lakers, Mavericks, or whomever are going to flat-out embarrass us. Personally, I am a big fan of making the playoffs, even though chances of advancing are incredibly slim, mostly due to the fact our whole team can use as much playoff experience as possible. On the other hand, as a fan, I can't take a four or five-game series defeat. It strikes too close to home and brings back memories of all of those hopeless first round exits from 1993 and on (sans for the 2003 7 game series against Dallas). There is absolutely no shame is bowing out in the 1st round as long as you put up a fight, but the past two games have lead me to believe otherwise. I wish I could sit here and pinpoint the problems we have or what we are lacking, outside of Gregzilla, but I just can't put my finger on it. The team is missing something this season and the fans can feel it. The Garden hasn't been the same hostile environment it was earlier on this season. We have two absolutely huge road games against sub .500 teams and if we can look like a playoff team in defeating Golden State and Sacramento then the playoff juices will start to flow within, but as of now, I shall proceed with caution.
Official Game Photos

Box Score