Trail Blazers 95 vs Thunder 109 Game Thread - I Am A Trail Blazers Fan - Message Boards - Team

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DHawes22
Posts: 6475

Posted 03/26/2012 1:24 PM

How did Flynn & Hickson look in extended action against the Thunder?
Great: Combined 31 points, on 12-16 shooting, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals & 1 block (2)
29%
Good: Loved the offensive side of the ball, but there's room for improvement on D (4)
57%
Average: Hard to determine with the game out of hand (1)
14%

March 27, 2012
7:00 PM | Rose Garden Arena | Portland, OR
Trail Blazers (23-26) vs. Thunder (37-12)

For the first time since the controversial goaltend call, the Trail Blazers and Thunder will face off on the Rose Garden hardwood. The Trail Blazers did a lot of things wrong in that game, including blowing a six-point lead with just two minutes left to play and losing the rebounding battle by 20 (59-39). Nicolas Batum even had a chance to win it at the end as the middle of the paint parted the like Red Sea, but instead of going up strong with authority, Nic elected to lay it in which allowed Russell Westbrook to make a phenomenal play on the ball, sending the game into overtime. But for all Portland did wrong, they did just enough to win that game. And really, that's all you can ask from a team during a grueling regular season. You will never play to perfection and there will always be coulda, shoulda, woulda's but to have victory in your hands only to see it snatched away from a missed call can have repercussions.

While the NBA admitted the following day that the incorrect call was made by official Scott Foster, that didn't do much to ease the sting of defeat from the Trail Blazers' minds. Before the goal tend that wasn't was called, the Trail Blazers were 14-9 on the season and 11-1 at home and ready to add another W to the column. Since that loss, Portland has plummeted, losing 15 of the following 24 games. Once a team destined for a respectable seed in the Western Conference playoffs, the Trail Blazers are now on the outside looking in at the eight and final slot. Is it fair to blame the downfall of the season on one call? Absolutely not. While it was a punch to the gut, it would have been nice to see the Blazers rebound like it didn't happen and use that bad call as motivation to destroy anything in sight on the basketball court. But the fact of the matter is, it was a major turning point in the season.

But back to the game at hand Tuesday night. As I mentioned in the game thread last Sunday when the two teams tangoed in OKC, Portland just doesn't matchup as well as they once did with the Thunder now that Gerald Wallace is gone. Nicolas Batum needs to match Durant minute for minute and shadow him wherever he goes on the floor. I'm a huge Babbitt fan, but I don't think it'd be the best idea to have him matched up on KD for too many possessions. But if Batum is going to D up Durant, he must get physical with the superstar. Make him uncomfortable and agitate him. Maybe Nic can get into KD's head a little bit and throw him off of his rhythm? I have no worries about Matthews on Harden as Wes has been playing at an All-NBA level on Defense. But then there's Westbrook. Sometimes it seems like the OKC offensive weapons come in waves. For Portland to win Aldridge must have a monster night. I'm talking 30+ points, 10+ rebounds and a few blocks. If he can shoulder the load offensively and two of the three OKC stars can he held in check, the Trail Blazers could exact a little revenge and tie up the season series with the West's best team.

Trail Blazers vs Thunder Highlights

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postedbailblazers
Posts: 165

Posted 03/26/2012 7:07 PM
OKC's last two wins have been extremely impressive. They are better than ever right now. This will be a real achievement if we beat them. Looking forward to seeing what Smith and Flynn can do with this opp as Felton appears to be headed home to be with his ailing mother.

I am a fan of rhubarb pie.

DHawes22
Posts: 6475

Posted 03/26/2012 7:27 PM
Tomorrow's game gets that much tougher as Ray Felton will miss it as he will tend to family matters-

Portland G Raymond Felton will miss Tues. game vs OKC for family reasons. He is expected to return for Thurs. game vs New Orleans.
Does this mean Nolan gets the start? Or will we see Jonny Flynn get run with the starting unit?

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Tobyus Sanchezo
Posts: 1599

Posted 03/26/2012 8:51 PM
Nate McMillan was.. A SONIC. Remember them?

Clay Bennett and David Stern had a plan, bring an NBA Championship to Oklahoma. Like there's anyone actually living in Oklahoma who doesn't say moooo, and produces a gallon of milk per day on average.

I am a fan of playoffs in two zero one three

barnettfan
Posts: 370

Posted 03/27/2012 5:38 AM
Ok Tobyus that is just pure racism or statism or profiling or sumthin. but funny. Moooo

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Tobyus Sanchezo
Posts: 1599

Posted 03/27/2012 8:02 AM
All I'm saying is there's probably more cows then people in that state. Although I wouldn't know. The only thing I do know about Oklahoma is they found some rocks in a field somewhere that supposedly have ancient Viking incriptions on them.

I am a fan of playoffs in two zero one three

freddead
Posts: 321

Posted 03/27/2012 2:20 PM
not really a good game for felton to be out hope nolan can handle westbrook without turning the ball over i think he can guard westbrook better then felton i just hope he can keep the ball away from him

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log1011
Posts: 22

Posted 03/27/2012 4:49 PM
I think the game against LA gave them some confidence, and I hope they can get there game together with OKC. As said, I think Nolan will have his hands full with Westbrook. I think Nolan can handle the Trail Blazers' offense well, and I hoping to see some minutes for Johnny Flynn!

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Tobyus Sanchezo
Posts: 1599

Posted 03/27/2012 7:45 PM
Thunder are gonna bend the rim, this game is getting ridunkulous.

I am a fan of playoffs in two zero one three

DHawes22
Posts: 6475

Posted 03/27/2012 9:50 PM
I'd like to see Jonny Flynn become the starting point guard the rest of the season. We know what we have in Felton. And after watching more and more of Nolan, I'm getting a better understanding of his game. But Flynn is still a mystery to me. He has trouble creating for himself but he is lightning quick and has pretty good court vision.

As for Hickson, he may have just earned himself a contract for next year. I would like to see more rebounds out of him but his offensive game has surprised me. I'd like to see us start LA at the 5 and JJ at the 4 to see if something is there.

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DHawes22
Posts: 6475

Posted 03/27/2012 10:47 PM
Post-Game Quotes:
Coach Kaleb Canales on Nolan Smith-

“I thought he was focused. I thought he missed some easy shots that he usually hits. Again, this is a team loss and this is a loss that we need to get on the defensive end of the floor.”

Coach Canales on point-guard play-

“Well, I thought defensively, we let them get in a rhythm. We talked to Nolan and Jonny about getting energy on the defensive end and the offense will come. I thought it was a good change of pace, Jonny coming in and pushing the ball. But we need to do a better job as a team defensively.”
LaMarcus Aldridge on finding success in third quarter-

“It wasn’t enough. We definitely played better defense in the second half overall, we played defense better in the third quarter. We cut it to like nine or something like that and then they started to make shots. We didn’t get enough stops tonight.”

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postedbailblazers
Posts: 165

Posted 03/28/2012 12:29 AM

Posted By DHawes22 on 03/27/2012 9:50 PM
I'd like to see Jonny Flynn become the starting point guard the rest of the season. We know what we have in Felton. And after watching more and more of Nolan, I'm getting a better understanding of his game. But Flynn is still a mystery to me. He has trouble creating for himself but he is lightning quick and has pretty good court vision.

As for Hickson, he may have just earned himself a contract for next year. I would like to see more rebounds out of him but his offensive game has surprised me. I'd like to see us start LA at the 5 and JJ at the 4 to see if something is there.
Flynn peaked my interest tonight as well. Hickson playing like he has something to prove. Like the potential here.

I am a fan of rhubarb pie.

freddead
Posts: 321

Posted 03/28/2012 1:17 AM
ya id like to keep those two on the roster after this season but i see whats wrong with thabeet hes flat clumsy

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freddead
Posts: 321

Posted 03/28/2012 1:21 AM
man im startin to hate the thunder but its gonna be short lived once everyones gone from there they'll never rise again if they dont win the championship this year or the next i see guys starting to leave

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