tlongII
03-23-2011, 10:35 AM
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Trail Blazers guard Wesley Matthews (2) drives as the Blazers best the Washington Wizards, 111-76, at the Rose Garden Tuesday.
The Trail Blazers dismissed the woeful Washington Wizards 111-76 Tuesday night in a dominant, highlight-a-minute performance that made the Wizards look a junior varsity team.
But the junior varsity schedule is over.
Gerald Wallace had one of his best games in a Blazers' uniform, LaMarcus Aldridge and Nicolas Batum had efficient difference-making outings and the Blazers forced -- or merely watched in some instances -- the Wizards commit 27 turnovers before a sellout Rose Garden crowd. And the Blazers relished every second of the easy victory in the postgame locker room, joking about their own missed alley-oops and highlight-reel blocks.
But amid all the exuberance was a hint of seriousness.
Now that the Blazers have dispensed of the Wizards, a murderous schedule looms as teams jockey for playoff positioning in the who-knows-what's-gonna-happen Western Conference. The next six games are particularly daunting as the Blazers play the San Antonio Spurs (twice), Oklahoma City Thunder (twice), New Orleans Hornets and Dallas Mavericks in an 11-game stretch that will likely decide their playoff fate.
"It's a tough, tough schedule," Andre Miller said. "Tough way to finish off the regular season. It's going to be a challenge. But it's definitely a chance for us to try to get a rhythm, get some confidence against some teams and hopefully try to send a message."
The Blazers (41-30) have closed the last two regular seasons impressively, accumulating a combined 18-4 record over their final 11 games. But they'll be hard-pressed to duplicate the feat this season with a closing schedule that features just two more games against teams with sub-.500 records.
Are the Blazers ready for the challenge?
"Yep, we have no choice," Wesley Matthews said. "You don't really try to predict the future, but we did what we needed to do tonight. We'll take (Wednesday off), get back to work on Thursday and then roll the dice again on Friday."
Of course, it wasn't all talk about the future Tuesday night as the Blazers took plenty of time to enjoy one of their most commanding victories of the season.
Aldridge, who scored all 22 of his points in the first half, treated his postgame gathering with reporters as if he were a stand-up comedian, teasing Wallace for a poor alley-oop lob he passed to Aldridge and ribbing Matthews for being on the wrong end of an incredible block by Wizards center JaVale McGee.
McGee's block, in which he rejected a surefire driving Matthews' dunk with one hand in such commanding fashion it elicited a collective "Ooooohhhh" in the Rose Garden, was one of the Wizards' few bright spots. And Matthews heard about it afterward.
"The highlight that stands out in my head was McGee going and taking Wesley's dunk," Aldridge said. "I was like, 'Wow! OK!' I saw Wesley had his steps and I was like, 'OK, this is going to be a top 10 dunk.' And then it was a top 10 block. So I was like, 'Wow.'
"Make sure to ask him about how that felt."
But outside of that block, it was a forgettable, if not laughable, night for the Wizards, who committed 27 turnovers -- that led to 33 Blazers points -- and shot 37.1 percent from the field. Just one Washington starter reached double figures in scoring and it was Jordan Crawford, who made just 3 of 15 shots and committed six turnovers.
No, most of the highlights on this night belonged to the Blazers.
If Wallace wasn't intercepting passes and blocking shots into the front row on defense, he was weaving between Washington defenders for coast-to-coast layups. If Brandon Roy wasn't tossing fast-break lobs to Wallace for alley-oop dunks, Rudy Fernandez was drawing charges and harassing Washington guards on defense.
Even seldom-used Chris Johnson got in on the action, registering three blocked shots and a nice alley-oop dunk in 16 minutes off the bench.
By the time the night was over, Wallace had a beautiful final, well-rounded statistical line, finishing with 28 points -- his most with the Blazers -- eight rebounds, four steals and three assists. He made 10 of 14 shots. Batum added 22 points, 12 rebounds and three steals, recording his fifth double-double of the season.
But in the grand scheme of things, Tuesday night's blowout will have little bearing on the playoff race. Because while the Blazers maintained their grip on sixth place in the Western Conference -- one game ahead of seventh-place New Orleans and one game behind fifth-place Denver -- a grueling schedule awaits.
"I have no idea," Miller said, when asked what seed the Blazers might earn. "We could be an eight, we could be a five. You never know."
Notes: The Wizards' road record fell to 1-32. ... Miller attempted two shots and finished with four points, but registered 11 assists. ... One game after being held scoreless for the first time this season, Matthews had 15 points and three assists. ... The Blazers won their fifth consecutive home game. ... They've scored at least 110 points in three consecutive home games, the first time they've done so since January 2002. ... Aldridge did not attempt a shot in the second half. ... The Blazers led by as many as 38 points.
Trail Blazers guard Wesley Matthews (2) drives as the Blazers best the Washington Wizards, 111-76, at the Rose Garden Tuesday.
The Trail Blazers dismissed the woeful Washington Wizards 111-76 Tuesday night in a dominant, highlight-a-minute performance that made the Wizards look a junior varsity team.
But the junior varsity schedule is over.
Gerald Wallace had one of his best games in a Blazers' uniform, LaMarcus Aldridge and Nicolas Batum had efficient difference-making outings and the Blazers forced -- or merely watched in some instances -- the Wizards commit 27 turnovers before a sellout Rose Garden crowd. And the Blazers relished every second of the easy victory in the postgame locker room, joking about their own missed alley-oops and highlight-reel blocks.
But amid all the exuberance was a hint of seriousness.
Now that the Blazers have dispensed of the Wizards, a murderous schedule looms as teams jockey for playoff positioning in the who-knows-what's-gonna-happen Western Conference. The next six games are particularly daunting as the Blazers play the San Antonio Spurs (twice), Oklahoma City Thunder (twice), New Orleans Hornets and Dallas Mavericks in an 11-game stretch that will likely decide their playoff fate.
"It's a tough, tough schedule," Andre Miller said. "Tough way to finish off the regular season. It's going to be a challenge. But it's definitely a chance for us to try to get a rhythm, get some confidence against some teams and hopefully try to send a message."
The Blazers (41-30) have closed the last two regular seasons impressively, accumulating a combined 18-4 record over their final 11 games. But they'll be hard-pressed to duplicate the feat this season with a closing schedule that features just two more games against teams with sub-.500 records.
Are the Blazers ready for the challenge?
"Yep, we have no choice," Wesley Matthews said. "You don't really try to predict the future, but we did what we needed to do tonight. We'll take (Wednesday off), get back to work on Thursday and then roll the dice again on Friday."
Of course, it wasn't all talk about the future Tuesday night as the Blazers took plenty of time to enjoy one of their most commanding victories of the season.
Aldridge, who scored all 22 of his points in the first half, treated his postgame gathering with reporters as if he were a stand-up comedian, teasing Wallace for a poor alley-oop lob he passed to Aldridge and ribbing Matthews for being on the wrong end of an incredible block by Wizards center JaVale McGee.
McGee's block, in which he rejected a surefire driving Matthews' dunk with one hand in such commanding fashion it elicited a collective "Ooooohhhh" in the Rose Garden, was one of the Wizards' few bright spots. And Matthews heard about it afterward.
"The highlight that stands out in my head was McGee going and taking Wesley's dunk," Aldridge said. "I was like, 'Wow! OK!' I saw Wesley had his steps and I was like, 'OK, this is going to be a top 10 dunk.' And then it was a top 10 block. So I was like, 'Wow.'
"Make sure to ask him about how that felt."
But outside of that block, it was a forgettable, if not laughable, night for the Wizards, who committed 27 turnovers -- that led to 33 Blazers points -- and shot 37.1 percent from the field. Just one Washington starter reached double figures in scoring and it was Jordan Crawford, who made just 3 of 15 shots and committed six turnovers.
No, most of the highlights on this night belonged to the Blazers.
If Wallace wasn't intercepting passes and blocking shots into the front row on defense, he was weaving between Washington defenders for coast-to-coast layups. If Brandon Roy wasn't tossing fast-break lobs to Wallace for alley-oop dunks, Rudy Fernandez was drawing charges and harassing Washington guards on defense.
Even seldom-used Chris Johnson got in on the action, registering three blocked shots and a nice alley-oop dunk in 16 minutes off the bench.
By the time the night was over, Wallace had a beautiful final, well-rounded statistical line, finishing with 28 points -- his most with the Blazers -- eight rebounds, four steals and three assists. He made 10 of 14 shots. Batum added 22 points, 12 rebounds and three steals, recording his fifth double-double of the season.
But in the grand scheme of things, Tuesday night's blowout will have little bearing on the playoff race. Because while the Blazers maintained their grip on sixth place in the Western Conference -- one game ahead of seventh-place New Orleans and one game behind fifth-place Denver -- a grueling schedule awaits.
"I have no idea," Miller said, when asked what seed the Blazers might earn. "We could be an eight, we could be a five. You never know."
Notes: The Wizards' road record fell to 1-32. ... Miller attempted two shots and finished with four points, but registered 11 assists. ... One game after being held scoreless for the first time this season, Matthews had 15 points and three assists. ... The Blazers won their fifth consecutive home game. ... They've scored at least 110 points in three consecutive home games, the first time they've done so since January 2002. ... Aldridge did not attempt a shot in the second half. ... The Blazers led by as many as 38 points.