tlongII
12-31-2008, 12:02 PM
http://blog.oregonlive.com/behindblazersbeat/2008/12/blazers_beat_celtics_without_r.html
It was, quite simply, the most impressive, unlikely and perhaps most important victory of the Trail Blazers' season.
Playing without All-Star guard Brandon Roy and against the NBA champion Boston Celtics, the Blazers had just enough poise, just enough pride and just enough toughness to win 91-86 Tuesday night, delighting a sellout Rose Garden crowd of 20,651.
And in the process of winning the final game of 2008, the young and improving Blazers learned a potentially crucial lesson that could lead to a successful 2009.
"(This shows) that we can beat anyone in the league at any time," center Joel Przybilla said. "We learned that everyone in this room can compete with anyone at this level, with any team at this level, at any time. We have a lot of guys that can play on this team."
The victory was equally important in the standings. The Blazers (20-12) ended a seven-game losing streak to the Celtics, which included three consecutive losses at the Rose Garden, and moved into first place in the Northwest Division, one-half game ahead of the Denver Nuggets (19-12).
In the last meeting against the Celtics, a 93-78 loss in Boston, the Blazers finished with a season-low tying 29 field goals and a season-low 11 assists. And after the first quarter, it appeared the Blazers were destined to endure another grueling defeat at the hands of the Celtics (28-5), who have developed into the NBA's best with a nasty bravado that has intimidated the Blazers in recent meetings.
After the first quarter, the Blazers trailed 23-13 and were in the midst of a forgettable performance that saw them shoot 33.3 percent (6 for 18) from the field and register their fewest points in any quarter this season.
But the Blazers did not cower this time.
With 5:11 left in the second quarter, rookie Greg Oden, in a move that seemed to energize the Rose Garden and inspire his teammates, pushed All-Star guard Ray Allen into the first row during a drive to the basket. Oden was whistled for a technical foul, and Allen nailed three consecutive free throws, increasing Boston's lead to 37-25.
But the tone was set: The Blazers weren't going to back down from the Celtics this time.
Portland outscored Boston 15-8 the rest of the quarter, trimming the Celtics' lead to 45-40 at halftime, and the momentum carried over into the second half. The Blazers earned a share of the lead at 49-49 with 7:44 left in the third quarter when LaMarcus Aldridge nailed two free throws and Oden had a layup.
Then the Blazers gained their first lead of the second half early in the third quarter when Jerryd Bayless made two free throws with 11:03 left. It was part of a 6-0 Blazers' run that gave them a 70-64 lead with less than 10 minutes remaining, and for the first time, it seemed like the Blazers actually had a chance against the Celtics -- even without their do-everything All-Star, Roy.
Boston would trim the lead to one possession several times the rest of the way, including in the closing seconds at 87-86 after Paul Pierce converted a three-point play with 22.6 seconds left.
But the Blazers never faded. Sergio Rodriguez drained his most important free throws of the season with 17.9 seconds left to give the Blazers an 89-86 advantage and, after Eddie House missed a three-pointer, the victory was all but sealed.
Rudy Fernandez gathered the rebound off the House miss, was fouled by Kevin Garnett, and sank two free throws to ice the game.
In the middle of the comeback, in another tense moment that could potentially become a defining moment for the Blazers, Aldridge and Garnett got into it, and each received a technical foul with less than 30 seconds remaining. Garnett appeared to bump, then elbow Aldridge as he walked toward the Celtics' bench during a timeout. Aldridge responded by slapping the back of Garnett's head.
"That was huge," Przybilla said. "We're not going to back down from no one and it shows the growth of this team right now. It was a huge win."
"We're out there together," added point guard Steve Blake. "We support each other. If teams are going to go after somebody, they're going to have to go after all of us. It's nice to know that your teammates have your back. Everyone kind of manned up tonight."
Especially Blake, who finished with a team-high 21 points on 8 of 12 shooting, including 5 of 7 three-pointers, and three assists. Aldridge overcame a dreadful first half to finish with 20 points, seven rebounds and two blocks, and Oden had another solid performance, registering 13 points and 11 rebounds -- his 10th double double of the season.
But look up and down the Blazers roster -- from Travis Outlaw's 17 points off the bench, to Rodriguez's clutch free throws down the stretch -- and you could point to someone who played a part in this victory.
And, in the biggest surprise, it all came without Roy, who did not play because of a strained right hamstring.
"I thought we really looked confident out there, we didn't look rattled and we pretty much stayed poised, I thought, throughout the game," McMillan said. "And if we gave out game balls, we could give them to a number of guys tonight.
"Anytime you're facing a team like this, you have to out-scrap them, you have to outwork them, execute and limit your mistakes. We turned the ball over a little bit throughout that game, but we were able to come back and make up for it by getting some stops and making some plays."
Notes: Roy said he hopes to practice on Thursday but is listed as day-to-day. ... Bayless, playing his most meaningful minutes of the season, finished with two points, two assists and four turnovers in an up-and-down performance. ... Fernandez made his first career start, in place of Roy, for the Blazers. ... Pierce finished with a game-high 28 points for the Celtics, who also got 17 points and eight rebounds from Garnett. ... Allen, struggling all night, finished with 12 points on 2 for 11 shooting.
It was, quite simply, the most impressive, unlikely and perhaps most important victory of the Trail Blazers' season.
Playing without All-Star guard Brandon Roy and against the NBA champion Boston Celtics, the Blazers had just enough poise, just enough pride and just enough toughness to win 91-86 Tuesday night, delighting a sellout Rose Garden crowd of 20,651.
And in the process of winning the final game of 2008, the young and improving Blazers learned a potentially crucial lesson that could lead to a successful 2009.
"(This shows) that we can beat anyone in the league at any time," center Joel Przybilla said. "We learned that everyone in this room can compete with anyone at this level, with any team at this level, at any time. We have a lot of guys that can play on this team."
The victory was equally important in the standings. The Blazers (20-12) ended a seven-game losing streak to the Celtics, which included three consecutive losses at the Rose Garden, and moved into first place in the Northwest Division, one-half game ahead of the Denver Nuggets (19-12).
In the last meeting against the Celtics, a 93-78 loss in Boston, the Blazers finished with a season-low tying 29 field goals and a season-low 11 assists. And after the first quarter, it appeared the Blazers were destined to endure another grueling defeat at the hands of the Celtics (28-5), who have developed into the NBA's best with a nasty bravado that has intimidated the Blazers in recent meetings.
After the first quarter, the Blazers trailed 23-13 and were in the midst of a forgettable performance that saw them shoot 33.3 percent (6 for 18) from the field and register their fewest points in any quarter this season.
But the Blazers did not cower this time.
With 5:11 left in the second quarter, rookie Greg Oden, in a move that seemed to energize the Rose Garden and inspire his teammates, pushed All-Star guard Ray Allen into the first row during a drive to the basket. Oden was whistled for a technical foul, and Allen nailed three consecutive free throws, increasing Boston's lead to 37-25.
But the tone was set: The Blazers weren't going to back down from the Celtics this time.
Portland outscored Boston 15-8 the rest of the quarter, trimming the Celtics' lead to 45-40 at halftime, and the momentum carried over into the second half. The Blazers earned a share of the lead at 49-49 with 7:44 left in the third quarter when LaMarcus Aldridge nailed two free throws and Oden had a layup.
Then the Blazers gained their first lead of the second half early in the third quarter when Jerryd Bayless made two free throws with 11:03 left. It was part of a 6-0 Blazers' run that gave them a 70-64 lead with less than 10 minutes remaining, and for the first time, it seemed like the Blazers actually had a chance against the Celtics -- even without their do-everything All-Star, Roy.
Boston would trim the lead to one possession several times the rest of the way, including in the closing seconds at 87-86 after Paul Pierce converted a three-point play with 22.6 seconds left.
But the Blazers never faded. Sergio Rodriguez drained his most important free throws of the season with 17.9 seconds left to give the Blazers an 89-86 advantage and, after Eddie House missed a three-pointer, the victory was all but sealed.
Rudy Fernandez gathered the rebound off the House miss, was fouled by Kevin Garnett, and sank two free throws to ice the game.
In the middle of the comeback, in another tense moment that could potentially become a defining moment for the Blazers, Aldridge and Garnett got into it, and each received a technical foul with less than 30 seconds remaining. Garnett appeared to bump, then elbow Aldridge as he walked toward the Celtics' bench during a timeout. Aldridge responded by slapping the back of Garnett's head.
"That was huge," Przybilla said. "We're not going to back down from no one and it shows the growth of this team right now. It was a huge win."
"We're out there together," added point guard Steve Blake. "We support each other. If teams are going to go after somebody, they're going to have to go after all of us. It's nice to know that your teammates have your back. Everyone kind of manned up tonight."
Especially Blake, who finished with a team-high 21 points on 8 of 12 shooting, including 5 of 7 three-pointers, and three assists. Aldridge overcame a dreadful first half to finish with 20 points, seven rebounds and two blocks, and Oden had another solid performance, registering 13 points and 11 rebounds -- his 10th double double of the season.
But look up and down the Blazers roster -- from Travis Outlaw's 17 points off the bench, to Rodriguez's clutch free throws down the stretch -- and you could point to someone who played a part in this victory.
And, in the biggest surprise, it all came without Roy, who did not play because of a strained right hamstring.
"I thought we really looked confident out there, we didn't look rattled and we pretty much stayed poised, I thought, throughout the game," McMillan said. "And if we gave out game balls, we could give them to a number of guys tonight.
"Anytime you're facing a team like this, you have to out-scrap them, you have to outwork them, execute and limit your mistakes. We turned the ball over a little bit throughout that game, but we were able to come back and make up for it by getting some stops and making some plays."
Notes: Roy said he hopes to practice on Thursday but is listed as day-to-day. ... Bayless, playing his most meaningful minutes of the season, finished with two points, two assists and four turnovers in an up-and-down performance. ... Fernandez made his first career start, in place of Roy, for the Blazers. ... Pierce finished with a game-high 28 points for the Celtics, who also got 17 points and eight rebounds from Garnett. ... Allen, struggling all night, finished with 12 points on 2 for 11 shooting.