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It’s the end of the streak as we know it, and Blazers should feel fine

By Matt George Moore

PORTLAND, OR - MARCH 20: Jusuf Nurkic
PORTLAND, OR - MARCH 20: Jusuf Nurkic /
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If there’s such a thing as a “good loss,” the Portland Trail Blazers had one Tuesday against the Houston Rockets.

The Blazers lost to the Rockets Tuesday, 115-111.

What does it mean?

Well, first things first: It means former Blazers TV color man Mike Rice doesn’t have to eat his shoe.

Second, it means that Portland’s winning streak, one of the longest in franchise history, ends at 13 games.

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It means that Damian Lillard’s franchise-record streak of 52 straight games with a made three-pointer comes to an end, too.

And it also means that the Blazers’ nine-game home-winning streak goes kaput.

So why aren’t we all mad and sad and stuff?

Rockets vs. Blazers

The Rockets

Since Jan. 1, the Rockets are an astounding 31-5; that’s an 81 percent winning percentage. They’ve won six in a row — and 23 of their last 24 games.

Against the Blazers Tuesday night at the Moda Center, the Rockets shot 48.1 percent from the field and 52.8 percent from three.

James Harden, likely the league’s Most Valuable Player, scored 42 points and shot 5-of-7 from three. He added six rebounds and seven assists.

His backcourt mate, Chris Paul, pitched in 22 points, eight rebounds and six assists, while shooting 5-of-10 from three. And he got away with more pushing, pulling, grabbing and flopping than most professional wrestlers do during a month of mega-matches — including on one of the last plays of the game when the Blazers had a chance to secure a crucial rebound.

The Rockets also got good production from Eric Gordon (18 points) and Luc Mbah a Moute (13 points on 5-of-7 shooting, including 2-of-2 from three).

The Blazers

On the flip side, Lillard and CJ McCollum struggled, combining for a dreadful 0-for-12 from three. McCollum was especially cold, finishing with just eight points on 4-of-15 shooting.

Credit the Rockets with playing good defense, hounding Lillard and McCollum at the three-point line and throwing double teams at them whenever they fought their way through the perimeter.

All else being equal: If Dame or CJ make just one three-pointer each — going 2-for-12 instead of 0-for-12 — the Blazers win the game.

But they didn’t. And here’s where the good stuff comes into play.

Glass Half Full

Despite the torrid and horrid three-point shooting by the Rockets and Blazers, respectively, Portland was in the game until the final seconds. And they only lost by four points to the team that’s supposed to be so much better than everybody else.

How?

It was inevitable that Lillard and/or CJ would hit a rough patch when shots were not falling. The question was: Who would step up in their absence?

Rip City got its answer on Tuesday night: Everybody.

Jusuf Nurkic was very good, despite being in foul trouble. He finished with 21 points, 11 rebounds, four blocks and two steals. And he shot an amazing 9-of-10 from the field. Nurk also continues to show progress catching the ball in or near the paint and setting himself up to take and make a high percentage shot. We’re seeing far fewer plays in which Nurkic catches the ball in traffic and rushes a shot toward the rim.

Progress!

Al-Farouq Aminu kept the Blazers in the game early with a barrage of high-arcing threes. He would finish with 22 points – just two points below his season high. And, like Nurkic, he shot the lights out (7-for-11 from the field including 6-of-8 from three). He also added eight rebounds.

Maurice Harkless continues to shine. He didn’t miss a single shot, going 5-for-5 from the field (3-for-3 from three) and finishing with 17 points.

Evan Turner pumped in 10 points on 5-of-10 shooting — and took a beating doing it.

When the Blazers wings and their center play like they did Tuesday, they can beat just about any team in the league.

On nights when the shots are falling for all five starters — Dame and CJ included — the Blazers can beat anybody.

Yes, Anybody

Including the Houston Rockets. Although they weren’t able to get the win against the Rockets Tuesday, it was a “good loss” nonetheless — one that bodes well for the playoffs and for the Blazers long-term future.

Who can reasonably argue that the Blazers wouldn’t be able to take the Rockets deep into a seven-game playoff series? Or even win it?

It might seem strange to ask these questions, since the Blazers have yet to beat the Rockets this season. (The fourth and final match-up between the two teams is April 5.) But Portland is not the same team it was early in the season. And at the risk of repeating myself, if Lillard or CJ shoot even half as well as they normally do, the Trail Blazers would have beaten the Rockets on Tuesday with a chance to even the season series in Houston on April 5.

Next: Jusuf Nurkic discusses free agency, playoffs

Losses can be more revealing than wins. And after Tuesday night, I ain’t mad. I ain’t sad. I don’t even feel a little bit bad. Disappointed? Yeah. Maybe. A little. Mostly because the winning streak was so fun to watch and write about.

But I’m certainly not worried about this team.

The Blazers are for real.

And the Rockets? Beatable.

Bring on another win streak.

Bring on April 5.

And bring on the playoffs.