Holy smokes, that was awesome. Yes, the emotional pendulum is back to delirious mode, as Rookie #4 finally had his own breakout game to follow Rookies #1, #2, and #3 earlier in the season. 20 year old two-guard Jerryd Bayless took control of a shorthanded Blazer team, whose coach Nate McMillan was mixing and matching with the remaining parts until he found a set he liked and went with it. (He psyched himself up for it by getting the rare T for arguing calls in the third quarter, and it seemed to work.)
That lineup was the return of the fabled No Towers offense, something we saw briefly before in the last week. LaMarcus Alrdidge shifts to the five, Batum and Outlaw at 3 and 4, and Roy and Bayless at the guards. It was the game changing setup for Bayless' game changing moments, but it was merely the happy side effect of the reason for the switch--Oden and the pick and roll.
In an interview after the game, Nate was point blank about why they went small. When asked why Oden played so few minutes, he said Greg was too slow on the pick and rolls, and Harris was abusing him early. Joel is also not the best defender outside, although he was battling for rebounds if there were going to be any. Oden looked fairly rookified tonight, overall, also not getting too involved in the offense (although some of the blame there is on the guards not going to him much).
By going zone and staying small, Nate hoped that Lopez would be taken out of his game, but more importantly Harris could be better defended and taken out of his. (I think the risk was that it would free up Carter if he was hot, but thankfully he really wasn't tonight. He had looks, but didn't hit them and was well defended at others).
{more, including a semi-shot at liveblogging the 2nd half, below}
Before I go into the liveblog section, I wanted to say a couple more things about the game and the team's current situation. A win without Blake is a big deal, first of all, and they can bank that one with pride. Secondly, it was great to see Bayless finish at the rim--just 24 scant hours after a Mendoza-esque one for eleven from the field-- but perhaps even more importantly to defend their point face-up like a champ, and get to the foul line AND make them all.
One game does not a season make, and my baseball reference above applies here in terms of scouting tape and second/third trips through the league. A hot rookie can catch other teams unsure how to defend and prioritize him, but eventually someone figures it out, and the player has his first big league adjustment test: can he broaden his game to relieve the pressure?
In Bayless' case it's going to be his ability to pass. If he can't run a point, it's going to be hard to give him serious minutes while Blake is out, unless Roy takes over in situations like the fourth quarter of this game, where Roy brings it across late looking to drive, pop or get fouled, and Bayless can be the off guard to an extent.
But more fundamentally he's got to learn to dish effectively on the deep drive, just to keep the big defenders honest. It's like a football team that can't run. If all you do is pass, the linemen barrel through and hold their hands up. If you can't pass in basketball, ironically, the "linemen" of hoop will hold thier hands up and bat down your foolish shot attempt. So you gotta pass so the defender is left guessing as the play develops.
Still, Bayless seems to understand the instruction that, hey guys, we're NBA players! We can drive to the hoop like the guys we watch on TV, and either score or get fouled! Or maybe even since we O-Reb so well, one of my friends will sneak in weakside and take a long bound and we'll start all over! Roy knows it, Sergio knows it but can't do it, Blake isn't in there for that, Rudy knows it and can do it but doesn't very much. Bayless knows it, and at least for now while teams aren't prepped for it, he's got a chance to be successful.
The big question on everyone's mind is what do they do with Sergio now? Is that just a blip or should Nate see more games like that? Why can't Sergio do that too? If he can't, why shouldn't Bayless be getting more time?
Here's the play that will surely be prominently featured on the highlight shows this evening. Watch for B-Rex's "Simba Face" when he makes the bucket.
I thought Outlaw had another nice game, mostly off his fourth quarter when he played both ends well, and made some really key threes from opposite corners. When he's on you can just feel it, and I hope every Blazer on the court feels it too--because when he hits that zone, for God's sake feed him every time until he's doubled, then work off those.
He made his big shots, then was kind of quiet until the latter points of the fourth, especially when he made the dagger basket at 101-95, 1:03 remaining. The technical on Devin Harris and foul shot by Roy, plus another pair of Bayless FTs, put a fork in this one, one of the more entertaining games of the seasons.
LaMarcus came through again with 20 more points and six rebounds. Other than Roy and perhaps Pryz, nobody brings his expected load to the table night after night like LaMarcus. Twenty to 22 per game is around the level he plays at, and slowly but surely we're seeing better attitude, aggressivenes and beefy guy instinct from LA.
I should mention that Bayless at 23 was not the high scorer. That would be the gimpy saviour, who was clearly hurting a bit but willed his way to 29 points on 50% shooting. Plus 16(!) trips to the foul line, 13 made. Plus eight rebounds. And five dimes. Two steals. No TO. And in FORTY minutes. Poor guy is going to be broken by 40 at this rate; his is giving his body to the team right now. But I'm sure he feels the same way as the whole city--if he can somehow do it on the court, it has to get done. He was awesome tonight, and in large part he owes that to the attention drawn by Bayless and Outlaw. When there are two options instead of one besides Brandon, this team looks like it can be deadly. Most times there's just one, and in fact MOST times, especially lately, there's been none.
So a great win, a road win that puts the Blazers at no worse than .500 out of four, with a chance for 3-1 if they handle a hot and young Bobcats team. (BEdge preview here).
And now let's see what you think of the as-it-happened, speedblogging venture otherwise known as "liveblogging." When I'm able to do at least half the game with a working computer nearby, I'll try more of these. It's not every play, but it's close to, and I do in fact stop and rewind the DVR a little bit to rewatch things. Very interesting stuff. I like how it gives you more detail about the preceding or folowing movement, the defense, etc. But beware of typos, left to die in the name of typing speed to keep up with the play. And some of it is salty. I was excited, sue me.
2 half starts clunkily, although they are working in hard to Oden and getting good things to happen. Aldridge makes a couple from outside, but Simmons finds open looks and can't miss. Then it's Harris, ridic free off the pick and roll on Sergio's soft D, and then Harris blowing by Oden for the nice layin. Anderson also drains a big three.
Good hard work sequence, Roy works under the foul line trying to get a foul, can't, moves deeper in and last second literally slaps it to Batum in the corner, misses, Oden tips to Roy, who's moved back into the paint and lays in the putback. Nets answer by Lopez hitting an open jumper. Then Aldridge fails to follow Lopez into the paint and he's found for the easy jam.
Outlaw two shots with 5 minutes left in the 3rd?? How does he not get minutes? Finally takes one and makes a FT. Nets have to miss eventually and finally do. Roy drives and gets Anderson on a borderline block, makes his FTs. Foul shots keeping them in the game, 57-65. PDX first foul with 4:11 left (batum 3)
Hayes misses a crazy open 3. Brandon doesn't have the messiah shot tonight, and with that miss they go under 40%.
Bayless and Roy, a desultory pass to Outlaw who loses it, but then gets the nice block on Carter, and Bayless drives all the way and finger rolls. Harris answers at the foul line, Pryz wrong matchup obviously.
Nate gets the T! Roy gets nailed way out frontcourt, nothing major but for a second it looked like it wasn't going to be called and I guess Nate had had enough. LMA had recently gotten an elbow to the gut as he rolled around his man, but got called for the OF instead (he did use his own arm to get by, but after he was fouled).
Good steal by Outlaw, scrapes it off the floor, then Bay makes a nice drive to the hoop for FT. Makes the pair, 63-69.
Boone faces Pryz on a great pass in deep by Harris. Outlaw cans an open three NOT in the corner! right wing. Bayless with a nice OF draw on Dooling! Good momentum swing, gotta make some shots in the last minute. Outlaw misses a jumper in the paint but Pryz with a great tip off the glass, 68-71 and Roy on the bench the last couple. Harris misses a three, Blazers near last shot. Bayless couldn't get much, harrassed out top, gets it to Rudy who lamely shuffles over near foul line and misses a jumper. Outlaw with a nice play at the end to keep NJ from getting anything off to end the q. 68-71. Good strong finish.
Outlaw misses a corner three to start the 4th. Carter misses over Pryz. Nice D, leads to transition 3 by Rudy. Tie game at 71. Dooling gets it right back at the top of the key. Bayless, Roy, Pryz, Rudy, Outlaw to start. Bayless with a GREAT drive right down the middle, between everyone and a sweet roll. Dooling misses, good D, Pryz with another rebound and good fast break to Bay, who drives again, AND ONE, 17 points, 76-74, first lead in a long time, since I think 7-5 or so.
Dooling forced into a long three by good D, Shot clock exp. Roy drives but misses (still good), Dooling makes his own fast break 2, Bayless fouled again out front. Outlaw goes for the hoop from the baseline, gets fourth NJ foul with 9:03 to go. YGMYFT, 1-2, 77-76. Sergio in.
Weak makeup call on Joel, even up bump in the middle of the paint but whatever. TO.
NJ misses shot, PDX the bound. Barrett asks when is Bayless coming back? Rice says "about a minute." Outlaw from the baseline moves in for a short jumper, misses but Aldridge on the weakside for the follow and jam. Lopez answers with an OR and slam. Small lineup for PDX. Roy takes advantage and gets in for two deep, 81-78. Harris fast on Aldridge. Outlaw drains corner three, 84-80.
Hayes misses long three though he was open, Lopez over Travis for the OR jam. Sergio across the lane with 3 sec left, finds Outlaw AGAIN from the corner, 87-82. Roy makes the steal then gets an intentional foul (not called) for 2 FT. (BAyless back in for Serg, Rudy also out looking gimpy). Brandon misses second, 88-82. TO.
Harris off the pick and LMA doesn't follow, drains a three. Redeems by hitting from 18, Lopez can't come out to him. Harris is amazing, just smooth as butta. 19 for him, 90-87. Bayless stripped and Harris steals for two more. LA with a great saving jumper off a busted poss. 92-89.
Harris on Bayless and Jay does great. LMA took the shot too early at 5 ft. NJ bad shot by Simmons, Rudy DR. Oh my GOD!!!! BAYLESS SLAMS AND ONE! FACIAL! HOLY FUCK! LMA with the quick dish and Bay comes right at Simmons, who misses him but clips him as he goes by. Bay makes the FT. Lopez came out on LMA, who was dancing back and forth up and down the box. Lopez finally decided to follow him, but LA had already moved wing, and and left Simmons to help on Bay. 20 pts, 95-89. Harris almost loses it, pushes it on the floor to Simmons, who opts not for the three but goes around a Lopez pick and reverses it in. Roy answers with a drive and deuce.
Dooling schools Rudy, no help, 97-93. Rudy redeems with a short drive, finds LA deep for 2 left side. Then blocks Harris on help D going the other way.
Bayless misses with 130, late getting back, Outlaw fouls Simmons. Makes 2. 107.
Bay dribbles it down, then tries to go to Outlaw but it's tipped out with 5 to go. Outlaw gets ball with 3 on the shot clock, drains from between the foul line and the top. sweet jumper! Bigtime shot, probably the dagger. 101-95, 103. I think that's the killer. (Rice said it was going to Aldridge or Roy, it went right to Travis. Does Rice never learn? Remember Detroit?)
Batum in for Rudy to gret taller, but still neither Joel nor Oden in. Bayless great D, forces the miss by Harris, drawing contact but no foul. They foul Roy with 44, then Harris gets a T! Stoooopid. Rice calls the game here. Bayless makes the T. Brandon makes one, but they get the reeb and Bayless is fouled. Makes both,. 11-11 FT, 6-8 FG, 3 AST, just 1 TO.
Najera makes a layup, and the Nets call uncle. Bayless finally misses another shot, forced to take one to beat the shot clock (although why not just let it run out and put it on the floor?)
105-99. Obviously Bay the story in this game, but it makes Philly the outlier, not GSW/Bulls/NJ.
Another great 4th quarter, 37 points. No Towers! Nice move by Nate, credit where due. Also only 3 TO in the second half, and be honest, they started hitting their shots.
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