tlongII
10-28-2009, 01:54 PM
http://portlandtribune.com/sports/story.php?story_id=125671144831358100
http://portlandtribune.com/news_graphics/125672075152076200.jpg
Brandon Roy blocks a shot by Houston's David Anderson
The Trail Blazers were really rolling for only one quarter Tuesday night at the Rose Garden.
They committed 26 turnovers, three more than they did in any game a year ago.
Greg Oden managed only two points – a put-back in the final minute.
Brandon Roy made only 5 of 18 shots from the field.
And still, Portland made its 2009-10 regular-season debut a successful one with a 96-87 victory over the Houston Rockets.
“I saw some good stuff,” Portland coach Nate McMillan said. “It’s still a work in progress, but other than the turnovers and a lot of early fouls, it was pretty good.”
Portland did squander a 20-point fourth quarter lead that shrunk to six points with more than two minutes remaining before taking care of business. And then there were the 26 turnovers.
But there were plenty of good signs, too, from a Portland team that is expected to make a solid run at the Northwest Division championship.
The Blazers held Houston to .370 shooting, owned the backboards (51-33), blocked 12 shots and shot superbly from 3-point range (.476) and the free-throw line (.909).
Travis Outlaw came off the bench to score a game-high 23 points – 14 in the first half – and lead a second-quarter surge that keyed the victory.
A sellout crowd of 20,403 was rollicking as the Blazers scored the first 11 points of the quarter en route to a 31-point period and a 54-41 halftime lead.
Portland extended the lead to 75-55 late in the third quarter and was still in front 80-62 with less than 9 minutes to play when Houston – starting point guard Aaron Brooks and four reserves – made a belated bid at victory. The Rockets went on a lengthy run that trimmed the margin to 89-83 with still 2:19 on the clock.
The Blazers scored on each of their next three possessions to finally wrap up the victory.
“We played hard, played aggressive,” said Roy, who never found his shooting eye but contributed 20 points, five rebounds and five assists in 37 minutes. “We were sloppy, had way too many turnovers.
“We built a lead, but the biggest thing is, we didn’t put them away when we had a chance to. But again, first game. We’re just happy to take this win. That’s one under our belt.”
Outlaw had shot only .375 from the field in the preseason, but he was on from the start Tuesday night, scoring seven points in each of the first two quarters. The 6-9 Outlaw – who divided time between small forward and power forward – made 9 of 14 shots from the field, including 2 of 3 from 3-point range. He also had four rebounds, two assists and two steals while playing 33 minutes – more than any Blazer but Roy.
“Travis had his shot going and he was working hard at the defensive end,” McMillan said.
Outlaw said he wasn’t concerned about his play in the exhibition games.
“I really wasn’t that worried about the preseason,” Outlaw said. “That’s when you’re trying things and fine-tuning. It wasn’t like it was the playoffs.
“I came into the game night just to be calm, not trying to force anything. If the shot’s there, it’s there.”
It was a matchup of teams that squared off in the first round of the playoffs last season, with Houston winning in six games. The Rockets aren’t close to the same team, though, missing injured Yao Ming and the departed Ron Artest. And they also have Tracy McGrady on the shelf with an injury.
Houston coach Rick Adelman was forced to play 6-6 Chuck Hayes on Portland’s 7-foot Greg Oden. It didn’t result in the field day for Oden many might have expected.
The Blazers’ second-year big man had 12 rebounds and five blocks. But Oden also picked up five fouls that limited him to 26 minutes, had seven turnovers and scored only two points – a put-back with a minute remaining.
“It was all right for the first game,” Oden said. “You definitely want a lot more points, but I did some good things that don’t show up in the stat sheet. I feel OK with the performance. I want to cut down on the turnovers, but we came through with a victory.”
It wasn’t the best of games for Portland centers Oden and Joel Przybilla and power forward LaMarcus Aldridge, who all experienced foul trouble, which limited their offensive production.
Przybilla fouled out with two points and 10 rebounds in 16 minutes. Aldridge scored Portland’s first seven points, but picked up his fourth foul early in the third quarter and finished with 11 points and six rebounds in 24 minutes.
“Houston’s (big men) are small but they’re good, smart defenders,” McMillan said. “Hayes, (Luis) Scola, (Carl) Landry – those guys do a nice job. They baited our bigs into rushing things at times, and we turned the ball over way too often.”
With a group that included only one starter – Martell Webster – and reserves Przybilla, Outlaw, Andre Miller and Rudy Fernandez, the Blazers used an 11-0 run to start the second period to forge a 34-23 lead. Then, after Houston closed to 37-30, Portland went on a 9-0 spurt that increased the margin to 46-30.
“That tempo in the second quarter was exactly what I was looking for from that group,” McMillan said. “They forced some turnovers and got some steals.”
Portland, which shot .436 from the field and .301 on treys through the preseason, was at .500 and .462 in the first half, respectively. The Blazers shot only .358 from the field in the second half, but had enough to cushion to win rather handily.
“We didn’t play well as a team,” Adelman said. “We tried to do everything one-on-one and made a lot of mistakes in the second quarter that gave (the Blazers) some easy baskets that were unnecessary. The Blazers got a little bit lax when they had the big lead. They turned it over a number of times. But we just make too many mental mistakes throughout the course of the game.
“We don’t have the ability to match up with them like we did in the playoffs last year. Maybe we’ll get to that at some point. We’ll have to make some adjustments for when we play them again Saturday.”
NOTES: It was the 72nd straight home sellout for Portland. ... Ex-Oregon star Brooks led Houston with 19 point and five assists. ... McMillan used a nine-man rotation, keeping Juwan Howard, Jerryd Bayless and rookie Dante Cunningham on the sidelines. ... Miller was only 3 for 9 shooting but had nine points, seven assists and four rebounds in 26 minutes. He made a pair of big baskets — a lean-in 10-footer and a 3-pointer — to help quell Houston's surge in the fourth quarter. ... Starting point guard Steve Blake had seven points, three rebounds and two assists in 26 minutes. ... Webster, starting for the injured Nicolas Batum, made 4 of 7 shots from the field, including 2 of 4 from 3-point land, and had 14 points in 25 minutes. ... Fernandez’s first appearance came late in the first quarter when he replaced Webster, with Roy moving to small forward. ... ... Portland has a nine-game winning streak in home openers dating back to 2001. ... The Blazers opened the season at home for the first time since 2002. ... Houston had beaten the Blazers in 17 of their last 21 regular-season meetings.
http://portlandtribune.com/news_graphics/125672075152076200.jpg
Brandon Roy blocks a shot by Houston's David Anderson
The Trail Blazers were really rolling for only one quarter Tuesday night at the Rose Garden.
They committed 26 turnovers, three more than they did in any game a year ago.
Greg Oden managed only two points – a put-back in the final minute.
Brandon Roy made only 5 of 18 shots from the field.
And still, Portland made its 2009-10 regular-season debut a successful one with a 96-87 victory over the Houston Rockets.
“I saw some good stuff,” Portland coach Nate McMillan said. “It’s still a work in progress, but other than the turnovers and a lot of early fouls, it was pretty good.”
Portland did squander a 20-point fourth quarter lead that shrunk to six points with more than two minutes remaining before taking care of business. And then there were the 26 turnovers.
But there were plenty of good signs, too, from a Portland team that is expected to make a solid run at the Northwest Division championship.
The Blazers held Houston to .370 shooting, owned the backboards (51-33), blocked 12 shots and shot superbly from 3-point range (.476) and the free-throw line (.909).
Travis Outlaw came off the bench to score a game-high 23 points – 14 in the first half – and lead a second-quarter surge that keyed the victory.
A sellout crowd of 20,403 was rollicking as the Blazers scored the first 11 points of the quarter en route to a 31-point period and a 54-41 halftime lead.
Portland extended the lead to 75-55 late in the third quarter and was still in front 80-62 with less than 9 minutes to play when Houston – starting point guard Aaron Brooks and four reserves – made a belated bid at victory. The Rockets went on a lengthy run that trimmed the margin to 89-83 with still 2:19 on the clock.
The Blazers scored on each of their next three possessions to finally wrap up the victory.
“We played hard, played aggressive,” said Roy, who never found his shooting eye but contributed 20 points, five rebounds and five assists in 37 minutes. “We were sloppy, had way too many turnovers.
“We built a lead, but the biggest thing is, we didn’t put them away when we had a chance to. But again, first game. We’re just happy to take this win. That’s one under our belt.”
Outlaw had shot only .375 from the field in the preseason, but he was on from the start Tuesday night, scoring seven points in each of the first two quarters. The 6-9 Outlaw – who divided time between small forward and power forward – made 9 of 14 shots from the field, including 2 of 3 from 3-point range. He also had four rebounds, two assists and two steals while playing 33 minutes – more than any Blazer but Roy.
“Travis had his shot going and he was working hard at the defensive end,” McMillan said.
Outlaw said he wasn’t concerned about his play in the exhibition games.
“I really wasn’t that worried about the preseason,” Outlaw said. “That’s when you’re trying things and fine-tuning. It wasn’t like it was the playoffs.
“I came into the game night just to be calm, not trying to force anything. If the shot’s there, it’s there.”
It was a matchup of teams that squared off in the first round of the playoffs last season, with Houston winning in six games. The Rockets aren’t close to the same team, though, missing injured Yao Ming and the departed Ron Artest. And they also have Tracy McGrady on the shelf with an injury.
Houston coach Rick Adelman was forced to play 6-6 Chuck Hayes on Portland’s 7-foot Greg Oden. It didn’t result in the field day for Oden many might have expected.
The Blazers’ second-year big man had 12 rebounds and five blocks. But Oden also picked up five fouls that limited him to 26 minutes, had seven turnovers and scored only two points – a put-back with a minute remaining.
“It was all right for the first game,” Oden said. “You definitely want a lot more points, but I did some good things that don’t show up in the stat sheet. I feel OK with the performance. I want to cut down on the turnovers, but we came through with a victory.”
It wasn’t the best of games for Portland centers Oden and Joel Przybilla and power forward LaMarcus Aldridge, who all experienced foul trouble, which limited their offensive production.
Przybilla fouled out with two points and 10 rebounds in 16 minutes. Aldridge scored Portland’s first seven points, but picked up his fourth foul early in the third quarter and finished with 11 points and six rebounds in 24 minutes.
“Houston’s (big men) are small but they’re good, smart defenders,” McMillan said. “Hayes, (Luis) Scola, (Carl) Landry – those guys do a nice job. They baited our bigs into rushing things at times, and we turned the ball over way too often.”
With a group that included only one starter – Martell Webster – and reserves Przybilla, Outlaw, Andre Miller and Rudy Fernandez, the Blazers used an 11-0 run to start the second period to forge a 34-23 lead. Then, after Houston closed to 37-30, Portland went on a 9-0 spurt that increased the margin to 46-30.
“That tempo in the second quarter was exactly what I was looking for from that group,” McMillan said. “They forced some turnovers and got some steals.”
Portland, which shot .436 from the field and .301 on treys through the preseason, was at .500 and .462 in the first half, respectively. The Blazers shot only .358 from the field in the second half, but had enough to cushion to win rather handily.
“We didn’t play well as a team,” Adelman said. “We tried to do everything one-on-one and made a lot of mistakes in the second quarter that gave (the Blazers) some easy baskets that were unnecessary. The Blazers got a little bit lax when they had the big lead. They turned it over a number of times. But we just make too many mental mistakes throughout the course of the game.
“We don’t have the ability to match up with them like we did in the playoffs last year. Maybe we’ll get to that at some point. We’ll have to make some adjustments for when we play them again Saturday.”
NOTES: It was the 72nd straight home sellout for Portland. ... Ex-Oregon star Brooks led Houston with 19 point and five assists. ... McMillan used a nine-man rotation, keeping Juwan Howard, Jerryd Bayless and rookie Dante Cunningham on the sidelines. ... Miller was only 3 for 9 shooting but had nine points, seven assists and four rebounds in 26 minutes. He made a pair of big baskets — a lean-in 10-footer and a 3-pointer — to help quell Houston's surge in the fourth quarter. ... Starting point guard Steve Blake had seven points, three rebounds and two assists in 26 minutes. ... Webster, starting for the injured Nicolas Batum, made 4 of 7 shots from the field, including 2 of 4 from 3-point land, and had 14 points in 25 minutes. ... Fernandez’s first appearance came late in the first quarter when he replaced Webster, with Roy moving to small forward. ... ... Portland has a nine-game winning streak in home openers dating back to 2001. ... The Blazers opened the season at home for the first time since 2002. ... Houston had beaten the Blazers in 17 of their last 21 regular-season meetings.