Trail Blazers Weekly Recap: 2/1-2/7
Trail Blazers Recap
The Blazers had made it to five straight victories until they ran into the streaking Canadiens on Thursday. You’ve got to love the bench play of the Blazers as of late, especially Allen Crabbe, Meyers Leonard and Gerald Henderson. Those three have not only accepted their bench roles, but have embraced it and has given Portland one of the strongest second units in the NBA. If the Blazers can continue their strong play, don’t be surprised with a solid playoff spot and possible Coach of the Year and Most Improved Player awards for the team.
Blazers 107 vs. Bucks 95
Why did we win?
The Bucks came into Portland struggling. The Greg Monroe experiment isn’t working and Giannis Antetokounmpo needs a year or two more to become an NBA All-Star. However, credit a great shooting night from C.J. McCollum and more solid bench play to get this one done. Also, gotta love the Moda Center fans for disrupting their free throws, with Milwaukee shooting only 58% from the line.
Related Story: Stop Asking Henderson About a Trade
Improvements?
The Blazers got caught watching “The Greek Freak” dribble and drive a few times (yes I’m too lazy to type his last name). This happens with young teams like us: getting lazy and just watching a guy heat up in isolation. Yes, it depends on the player, however I’m a believer in squashing the rhythm before it starts. Portland should take notes from the late 80s Pistons and how they dealt with Michael Jordan: MJ isn’t going to beat you, someone else is going to have to.
What did we learn?
The Blazers don’t have a five guy lineup to close games. We need to find it before the playoffs, however during the regular season, it’s nice to see that a veteran like Henderson can step up and provide a nice third scoring option with Damian Lillard and McCollum. It has taken him a while to bounce back from injury, but I only see us getting better and better with him gaining more minutes.
Raptors 110 vs. Blazers 103
Why did we lose?
The Raptors are very, very good… and when a backcourt duo can drop 60 points on a team it’s just adding fuel to the fire (Portland knows all about that). Simply put, Kyle Lowry and Demar DeRozan are playing like the 2nd best backcourt in the NBA behind Golden State, virtually unstoppable.
However, the true reason we lost is because we had to play catchup all game after Toronto exploded in the first quarter with 37 points.
Improvements?
When a team it coming in hot like Toronto (13-1 in last 14 games), Portland can’t let them get a start like that. Credit the defense to holding Lillard to an awful first three quarters. Granted, Lowry has been a great defender going back to his days in Houston, and Lillard struggles whenever he gets a great defender on him. I’d like to see Dame become more of a spot-up shooter/cutter whenever he is being harassed like that so he can still get the 20+ points we need from him in order to win.
What did we learn?
The Raptors are a great example of what level the Blazers could get to because they have two stellar guards and solid team contributions all around. The Raptors secret weapon, and the winner of the most underrated player in the NBA, is Jonas Valanciunas. That guy is the epitome of the perfect center in today’s NBA and I think Mason Plumlee could mimic his game to his. Valanciunas can score, draw fouls, pass extremely well and is big enough to guard anyone effectively, traits that Plumlee or any other Blazers’ post could take and run with.
Blazers 96 vs. Rockets 79
Why did we win?
I don’t know if there is a bigger headcase team in the NBA then Houston, and with my sincere disdain for James Harden, I don’t mind at all. The drama of the front office aside, this team has a roster that is one of the best on paper but they have become such a chemistry disaster and teams like Portland are taking advantage. The Blazers held them to 32.5% shooting, with an astounding 19.5% three point percentage.
To really understand the current state of these teams, just look at the dominance in assists, with Portland dishing 21 to Houston’s 13. In other words, team play vs. selfish play.
Improvements?
Despite a solid month or so where we have been closing out teams for easy victories, this marks the third game in the last two weeks where Portland gave a team hope in the fourth quarter. With Harden on the bench for most of it, Houston mustered an 11-0 run and gave the crowd life. Thankfully our lead was big enough to withstand them, but in a game with playoff implications like this one, we need to keep a team out of striking distance.
What did we learn?
Team basketball is working in Portland, with six players in double figures. Crabbe got sick and didn’t play, but Henderson was able to score enough for a solid bench contribution. We’re sharing the ball and making each other better, with one of the biggest examples of this coming from Lillard’s growing assist numbers. The trust is there, the system is working, let’s keep it up and not let off the gas pedal!
I really think tonight’s game in Memphis is one of the most important of the season. A win against the Grizzlies in Tennessee would mean the world to Portland’s confidence.
*Writer Note: I disagree with Rip City Project editor Steven Dewald, don’t trade Henderson!
*Editor Note: I just want to see the Trail Blazers get some compensation before Henderson walks in free agency.