Dex
02-05-2010, 06:09 PM
Portland 96, San Antonio 93: Martell Webster's biggest moment
By Jason Quick, The Oregonian
February 04, 2010, 11:30PM
http://blog.oregonlive.com/behindblazersbeat/2010/02/portland_san_antonio.html
Martell Webster has made 380 three-pointers in his Trail Blazers career, but none have been bigger than the one he connected on in the closing seconds Thursday at the Rose Garden.
Webster's three from the top of the arc with 22.6 seconds left pushed an 88-87 lead to 91-87 and proved to be the decisive play in the Blazers' crucial 96-93 victory over San Antonio.
Webster blew a kiss to the rafters after his shot -- aimed, he said, at his fiancee, Courtney Clarke -- but his job wasn't finished.
Webster made two pressure free throws with 10 seconds left to give the Blazers a 94-89 lead, putting the finishing touches on a night when he made all five of his three-pointers and scored 21 points.
The win gave the Blazers (30-22) a season sweep of the Spurs for the first time since the 1996-97 season and moved them into a virtual tie with San Antonio (28-20) in the tightly contested Western Conference.
"When that race tightens at the end of the year, we can say we have that tiebreaker over them," Webster said. "So this is a key win."
Webster has had big moments in his Blazers career -- a game-winning three against New Orleans in his rookie year and a 24-point quarter against Utah two seasons ago. But Thursday's shot, in the heat of a developing playoff race, in front of a national TNT audience, with an arena ready to burst, had to be his biggest moment.
Webster credited his big shot to the penetration of Andre Miller, who kicked to Nicolas Batum on the wing. Batum then swung the ball to Webster at the top.
"It could have been anyone," Webster said. "We could be saying it was the biggest shot of Nic right now, but he passed it. I was just fortunate to be in that position."
The Blazers came back from 10 down in the fourth quarter, thanks in large part to LaMarcus Aldridge, who led all scorers with 28 points while adding 13 rebounds and a key late-game steal of Tim Duncan.
It was the type of game the Blazers have been waiting for from Aldridge, who has drawn criticism from fans for being too soft, overpaid and unable to perform in the clutch.
On Thursday, he was rugged, clutch and steady throughout, hitting three of his four shots in the fourth, including a fadeaway with 2:55 left that put the Blazers ahead for good at 88-87.
If people have been complaining about Aldridge, his coach, Nate McMillan, said it is unwarranted.
"I think that's just part of the world we live in," McMillan said. "When things go wrong or you are not winning, there are going to be people who are going to look for someone to blame. LaMarcus is doing the things we need him to do. He's being aggressive down there, establishing a post-up for us. For him to play 41 minutes tonight on a back-to-back and play against Tim Duncan and those guys who are just banging him ... I think you are seeing growth."
The Spurs had a chance to tie in the closing seconds, but Manu Ginobili -- who hit two big three-pointers at the end of the third -- missed a wide-open three in front of the Blazers' bench with about 12 seconds left.
The Spurs had a chance to tie because Miller missed one of two at the free-throw line with 15.8 seconds left. An 82 percent foul shooter entering the game, Miller missed his first three attempts before making his last free throw.
"Just one of those days," Miller said of his free throws. "It happens like that sometimes."
So do big shots, just ask Webster. Entering the game, Webster had been in a big slump from the three-point line, missing 22 of his last 29 attempts. But on Thursday, in calculated shots, Webster was perfect.
"Big shots," Miller said. "Actually, he hit two big ones. One from the corner and one off the swing pass from Nic. Both were in rhythm."
And one goes down as the biggest shot of his career.
Note: McMillan said he is optimistic that Roy will play against the Lakers on Saturday at the Rose Garden. Roy is scheduled to practice today after missing 11 of the last 12 games with a strained right hamstring.
This kind of article is a reminder of the effort that the Spurs are pitted against night in and night out. In the overall spectrum of the regular season, these are big games to opposing players. Despite their recent struggles, San Antonio is still in the middle of the pack in the West, and is still a team that other clubs aspire to be, and beat.
Not that it's an excuse: This team was always able to match the effort of their opponents in years passed, even after championships. This season, that same effort and efficiency just isn't evident.
Opposing teams and coaches know better than to take the Spurs lightly, and there is a reason every team seems to bring its A game against them. If anything, opponents can probably smell blood now, and have been waiting for a chance to step on the throat of the silver and black.
By Jason Quick, The Oregonian
February 04, 2010, 11:30PM
http://blog.oregonlive.com/behindblazersbeat/2010/02/portland_san_antonio.html
Martell Webster has made 380 three-pointers in his Trail Blazers career, but none have been bigger than the one he connected on in the closing seconds Thursday at the Rose Garden.
Webster's three from the top of the arc with 22.6 seconds left pushed an 88-87 lead to 91-87 and proved to be the decisive play in the Blazers' crucial 96-93 victory over San Antonio.
Webster blew a kiss to the rafters after his shot -- aimed, he said, at his fiancee, Courtney Clarke -- but his job wasn't finished.
Webster made two pressure free throws with 10 seconds left to give the Blazers a 94-89 lead, putting the finishing touches on a night when he made all five of his three-pointers and scored 21 points.
The win gave the Blazers (30-22) a season sweep of the Spurs for the first time since the 1996-97 season and moved them into a virtual tie with San Antonio (28-20) in the tightly contested Western Conference.
"When that race tightens at the end of the year, we can say we have that tiebreaker over them," Webster said. "So this is a key win."
Webster has had big moments in his Blazers career -- a game-winning three against New Orleans in his rookie year and a 24-point quarter against Utah two seasons ago. But Thursday's shot, in the heat of a developing playoff race, in front of a national TNT audience, with an arena ready to burst, had to be his biggest moment.
Webster credited his big shot to the penetration of Andre Miller, who kicked to Nicolas Batum on the wing. Batum then swung the ball to Webster at the top.
"It could have been anyone," Webster said. "We could be saying it was the biggest shot of Nic right now, but he passed it. I was just fortunate to be in that position."
The Blazers came back from 10 down in the fourth quarter, thanks in large part to LaMarcus Aldridge, who led all scorers with 28 points while adding 13 rebounds and a key late-game steal of Tim Duncan.
It was the type of game the Blazers have been waiting for from Aldridge, who has drawn criticism from fans for being too soft, overpaid and unable to perform in the clutch.
On Thursday, he was rugged, clutch and steady throughout, hitting three of his four shots in the fourth, including a fadeaway with 2:55 left that put the Blazers ahead for good at 88-87.
If people have been complaining about Aldridge, his coach, Nate McMillan, said it is unwarranted.
"I think that's just part of the world we live in," McMillan said. "When things go wrong or you are not winning, there are going to be people who are going to look for someone to blame. LaMarcus is doing the things we need him to do. He's being aggressive down there, establishing a post-up for us. For him to play 41 minutes tonight on a back-to-back and play against Tim Duncan and those guys who are just banging him ... I think you are seeing growth."
The Spurs had a chance to tie in the closing seconds, but Manu Ginobili -- who hit two big three-pointers at the end of the third -- missed a wide-open three in front of the Blazers' bench with about 12 seconds left.
The Spurs had a chance to tie because Miller missed one of two at the free-throw line with 15.8 seconds left. An 82 percent foul shooter entering the game, Miller missed his first three attempts before making his last free throw.
"Just one of those days," Miller said of his free throws. "It happens like that sometimes."
So do big shots, just ask Webster. Entering the game, Webster had been in a big slump from the three-point line, missing 22 of his last 29 attempts. But on Thursday, in calculated shots, Webster was perfect.
"Big shots," Miller said. "Actually, he hit two big ones. One from the corner and one off the swing pass from Nic. Both were in rhythm."
And one goes down as the biggest shot of his career.
Note: McMillan said he is optimistic that Roy will play against the Lakers on Saturday at the Rose Garden. Roy is scheduled to practice today after missing 11 of the last 12 games with a strained right hamstring.
This kind of article is a reminder of the effort that the Spurs are pitted against night in and night out. In the overall spectrum of the regular season, these are big games to opposing players. Despite their recent struggles, San Antonio is still in the middle of the pack in the West, and is still a team that other clubs aspire to be, and beat.
Not that it's an excuse: This team was always able to match the effort of their opponents in years passed, even after championships. This season, that same effort and efficiency just isn't evident.
Opposing teams and coaches know better than to take the Spurs lightly, and there is a reason every team seems to bring its A game against them. If anything, opponents can probably smell blood now, and have been waiting for a chance to step on the throat of the silver and black.