The Portland Trail Blazers have now lost four in a row after falling to the Memphis Grizzlies 97-86. More important than a 4-game skid and the playoff implications it brings is that the Blazers were without Chris Kaman (shoulder), and lost both Nicolas Batum (back) and LaMarcus Aldridge (hand) during the course of the game. Whether the Blazers can weather the storm they find themselves in remains to be seen.
Recap
Aldridge started 4-6 from the field and 2-2 from the line for 10 points halfway through the first, and it was knotted at 14 apiece. Good Portland defense on two straight possessions unfortunately led to two straight Memphis threes; it’s tough to tell whether that hurts more than giving up those same threes with bad defense. What definitely hurt is that Aldridge was whacked on his left hand by Tony Allen. Down 26-19 with 2:30 left in the quarter, the Blazers needed a run to avoid kicking off the second quarter in a hole. An Aldridge jumper (what hurt hand?) and an Arron Afflalo jumper was matched by two Memphis buckets, and both teams were shooting above 60%, but it was Memphis with the 35-27 lead.
With both teams’ reserves on the floor, Memphis finally missed some shots to open the second. The Blazers bench deserves a lot of credit, as C.J. McCollum demonstrated with a three and a sliding jumpshot to give the Blazers a 40-37 lead and force the Memphis timeout. With the starters back in for both teams and Memphis’ transition game on point (jump started by turnovers and missed shots), the Blazers suffered a 10-2 Grizzlies run and the Grizzlies led 53-44 at the half.
Meyers Leonard and Dorell Wright both started the third quarter, leaving everyone wondering where Batum and Aldridge were. It turns out the former hut his back, and the latter suffered a left hand injury. Neither would return to the game. With the Blazers woefully short-handed, Memphis caught fire, and suddenly it was a 10-point lead. By the time Lillard air-balled a three, the Blazers’ second-quarter run felt like it was 1,000 years ago.
Portland’s hopelessness was thick enough to cut with a butter knife, and even a 14-point third quarter from Lillard still had the Blazers glaring into a 77-62 hole going into the fourth.
As we’ve seen all year, this Blazers team does funny things when backed into a corner as the Blazers got it down to single digits again. Lillard and Dorell Wright hit consecutive threes and the Blazers held firm on defense, looking to make it a two possession game before throwing the ball out of bounds on a botched fast break. Unfortunately, the Blazers could not get a stop to capitalize on their offensive success. The final damage: 97-86 Memphis.
Players
LaMarcus Aldridge was huge: 16 and 5 in his 18 minutes before being forced out by injury. No one player could possibly affect Portland’s playoff chances more than Aldridge being out, though to be fair, they haven’t gotten wins lately even with his help.
Nicolas Batum was not huge, failing to score before being forced out by injuries himself.
Big third quarter notwithstanding, Damian Lillard hasn’t been the same player that electrified the league early in the season. His 27-7-3 is nothing to shake a stick at, but with men down, Lillard will be called upon to do even more. Is he up to it?
C.J. McCollum had a very aggressive game, and he’s one of the few Blazers who can sometimes create separation by himself. Tonight he had 13 and six. That’s a nice bonus off the bench.
Arron Afflalo had eight points, and the more I watch him, the more I notice how slow his jumper is. He waits almost until he’s coming back down before his release.
Robin Lopez had eight and seven with a block and more plays that don’t show up in a box score than you could count, as usual.
The Trail Blazers finally get to return home after dropping four of five in this brutal road trip. They get a few days rest before facing the Warriors at home on Tuesday.