The Portland Trail Blazers played six minutes of magical basketball, then were slowly roped back down to earth, tied up, and thrown down the 0-2 series hole they now find themselves in with the 82-97 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies.
Recap
If you had the pleasure of catching the first half of the first quarter, you were treated with a game that looked like a competitive basketball game, played by living, breathing members of the Portland Trail Blazers. If you tuned in late, however, you were greeted with many of the same things you saw in Game 1: confusion on offense, ineptitude on defense, heads hung low, and LaMarcus Aldridge fighting like he was commanding an army of unwilling peasants to rise up against their robot overlords.
While perhaps not as dramatic as all that, the game certainly had smacks of a bad sci-fi revolution-gone-bad story, with the Trail Blazers playing the part of the under-prepared and outmatched oppressed and the Grizzlies playing the part of the stronger, more confident ruling class.
Were the first few minutes of the game simply that ruling class toying with the oppressed, allowing them a few knocks on the shin before the mighty sword swung heavy and quick? Perhaps. Or perhaps, for just a few moments, the Trail Blazers forgot that they were supposed to lose, remembered that they, too, could work hard, and took full advantage of every mistake the Grizzlies made.
After that, it fell apart in a brilliant potpurri of poor shot selection, turnovers, and a Grizzlies offense that found contributions in all the places the Blazers couldn’t.
Memphis’ starting guards: 36 points on 14-22 (63%) shooting, 7 assists, 4 steals, 2 turnovers.
Portland’s starting guards? 29 points on 6-18 (33%) shooting, 2 assists, 0 steals, 2 turnovers.
The Grizzlies got 16 points off 14 Trail Blazers turnovers, while the Trail Blazers could manage just five points off six Grizzlies turnovers. Perhaps most shocking is that the Grizzlies shot 8-of-16 from deep, the Blazers just 6-of-20.
…and none of these stats do a complete job of reflecting what happened on the court for most of the game. The Trail Blazers were consistently and relentlessly pulled out of their comfort zone on offense, and were unable to keep up their end of the bargain on defense.
Players
I’m not sure you could give enough praise to LaMarcus Aldridge. Despite his stat line not looking superhuman, he had 24 and 14 with four blocks and two steals. His production came at a price, as he relentlessly went into the teeth of the Grizzlies’ defense. He was giving it his all on both ends, and it was obvious. He was confident, strong, and nonplussed. You cannot say the same about the Trail Blazers’ other All-Star.
Damian Lillard… it’s easy to pile on to the once-unstoppable guard, given that his first two playoff games this year have looked about as fresh as gas station egg salad. In contrast to Aldridge, Lillard’s box score does tell the story: 5-16 shooting, 1-5 from deep, two boards, one assist… woof. Lillard was bullied on offense, forced into spots he doesn’t excel from or shots most people could never hit. He was equally woeful on defense.
Could it be the lack of a starting-caliber shooting guard? Could it be the pressure of slumping into the Playoffs? Could it be the shoes (Dame was 38.7% from deep before he started wearing his signature sneaker; just 30.1% from deep after). Whatever it is, Trail Blazers fans better hopes he shakes out of it, pronto.
Meyers Leonard has stepped up his game for the playoffs… a phrase that would have been inconceivable to most people who haven’t seen him play in the last few months. Tonight it was 10 points on 4-5 shooting, 2-2 from range, with seven rebounds– a number of which were contested. He’s grown as a player, and that he’s getting regular rotation minutes in a playoff series can’t just be chalked up to injuries. He’s earned them. Leonard might end up being one of the brightest spots in what could be an otherwise unsightly playoffs.
Robin Lopez looked noticeably more assertive and confident, playing 31 minutes and offering 10 and six with a few blocks, a dime, and a steal. Maybe someone said, “psst, hey Robin! You’ve looked a little slack the last few games. Wanna step it up? I’ll give you a graphic novel from Powells!” and with that, his ears perked up and he went out there and threw his weight around a little. He certainly looked rejuvenated.
Nicolas Batum had another reasonably decent game: 11-7-7 but with four turnovers. He’s not “2013-14 Batum,” but neither is he “most of 2014-15 Batum.” The best way to put it: he looks like he could play better, but he’s still pulling his weight. For the Trail Blazers, who’ve grown accustomed to his underachieving, “reasonably decent” from Batum is a bit of a boost, even if it’s negated by all of the injuries.
C.J. McCollum had another bad game: 3-13 and 0-4 from deep for six points, three boards, and a steal. His playoffs are… not going well so far.
Notes
- Why does Leonard still bite on pump fakes? Well… why is water wet? Some questions don’t have answers.
- Aldridge fumbled quite a few passes/dribbles. His left thumb is probably constantly reminding him that it’s injured, even if it doesn’t affect every aspect of his game. Still, you need him to execute.
The Trail Blazers finally come home to try to dig themselves out of their 0-2 hole this Saturday.