The Portland Trail Blazers, in the words of center Chris Kaman, dug themselves a hole which ended up being a grave, falling behind to the Washington Wizards by 25 before things got interesting, but it was too little, too late. The Trail Blazers fell 105-97.
Recap
The Trail Blazers started the game shooting cold in a tentative offense, while the Wizards were as hot and aggressive as a Texas Pine Snake in August. The only saving grace from the first quarter were the eight second-chance points that the Trail Blazers managed, keeping the 27-20 Wizards lead from being any gaudier.
You could take those same points from the first quarter, hit ctrl+c, then smash ctrl+v a few dozen times to describe the kickoff to the second period. When Wizards reserve Drew Gooden is hitting jumpers and rainbow threes, you know something’s wrong. And something was very wrong for the Trail Blazers, who quickly found themselves down nearly 20 points. They were also 0-7 from deep before a Nicolas Batum three mercifully snapped that streak. And while they were able to get the lead down to nine, an 11-0 Wizards run to end the half had the Trail Blazers like the fall guys in a bank heist, wondering how they got into this mess in the first place, down 60-40 at halftime.
The third was not much kinder to the Trail Blazers, as the Wizards’ lead ballooned to 25. Some threes from Arron Afflalo, Damian Lillard, and CJ. McCollum made a dent in Washington’s cushion, and a Steve Blake triple from about a step out on a 2-for-1 opportunity to end the quarter drew the Blazers to within seven heading into the fourth. Things were ripe for a big Trail Blazers push and another unlikely comeback.
With the game feeling infinitely more competitive, the Trail Blazers rode Aldridge to the tune of 12 fourth quarter points, and the lead shrank to as little as three before Washington pushed it back out to eight.
Mar 16, 2015; Washington, DC, USA; Portland Trail Blazers head coach Terry Stotts gestures to officials from the sidelines after receiving a technical foul against the Washington Wizards in the fourth quarter at Verizon Center. The Wizards won 105-97. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
The Trail Blazers were down four with about 3:30 left in the game, when the first of two crucial bits of officiating occurred down the stretch. With the Trail Blazers needing a stop, John Wall pulled up for a jumper that rimmed high, its bounce bringing it directly above the rim where it was tapped by Marcin Gortat. Immediately, the Trail Blazers on the court held their hands high in the air: “Offensive goaltending!” As LaMarcus Aldridge twirled his finger for the universal sign of either “WEE!” or “Go the tape the review that,” the baseline official could only shrug: they had missed the call, and you can’t review those kinds of plays unless it’s the last two minutes of the game. The Wizards were credited with two points they didn’t deserve, and their lead was then six.
The second referee whoopsie came with the Trail Blazers still down six with about two minutes left, and Lillard drove the left baseline on Wall, put up a lay in, hit the backboard with it… at which point Wall batted it like a whiffle ball, leading to a Wizards fast break three and a technical foul on Trail Blazers Head Coach Terry Stotts. The Trail Blazers were denied two points they did deserve, and the Wizards got four points as a direct result (the three and the technical).
Between the Gortat goaltend no-call and the Lillard lay in goaltend no-call and ensuing play, there was a possible 8-point swing from the Trail Blazers to the Wizards which may have affected the outcome of the game.
No matter if you believe the Trail Blazers had no business being in the thick of things after digging a 25-point hole (or grave, with hindsight), there is no denying that inaccurate officiating had a measurable affect on the game’s outcome. As it stood, the Trail Blazers couldn’t muster enough for a win and slunk away with the 105-97 loss.
Players
LaMarcus Aldridge had his usual strong performance. Today it was 24-and-12 with three dimes, and half of those points came in the fourth quarter. Where is Aldridge when you need him? Oh, he’s right there. Like always.
Damian Lillard isn’t as consistent, and he had somewhat of an off-night with 14 points supplemented by nine assists and four boards. You’ll take that in a pinch, but not the 5-18 shooting or the three turnovers.
Nicolas Batum didn’t score in droves, but hit some timely threes and was the game’s leading rebounder with 14, not to mention his 12 points, five assists, steal and a block. He’s now averaging 12-9-6 over the last five games, and if you haven’t noticed that he’s been playing a sight better lately, you’re not paying attention.
Arron Afflalo likes his new team. He thinks his new team can win a ring, and he wants to help. And if he can score 15 a game like he did tonight, his new team will like him right back (though we’re sure they already do).
Chris Kaman has been on a mini-streak, averaging about 10 and six on 63% shooting over the last handful of games. Tonight, it was 12 and four with some timely taps to keep possessions alive when they were badly needed.
The Trail Blazers St. Patrick’s Day off before taking their talents to South Beach to face the Miami Heat on Wednesday, March 18th.