tlongII
04-04-2011, 09:09 AM
http://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/index.ssf/2011/04/trail_blazers_6.html
http://media.oregonlive.com/blazers_impact/photo/9451089-large.jpg
LaMarcus Aldridge had 18 points and eight rebounds against Brendan Haywood and the Mavericks on Sunday.
There was a lot of talk Sunday night -- before, during and after the Blazers' 104-96 victory over Dallas -- about the possibility that the two teams could meet in the first round of the playoffs.
If that series happens, it will create several intriguing matchups and questions. Can the Blazers' backcourt size overcome Dallas' speed and shooting at the guards? Can Portland overcome the Mavericks depth in the post, where the Blazers are limited in depth and height?
Which of the two savvy point guards has the edge -- Jason Kidd or Andre Miller?
But the heart of the matchup is the one between the best players on the two teams: Dirk Nowitzki against LaMarcus Aldridge.
If the three games the two power forwards played against each other this season (Nowitzki was injured and did not play during Dallas' Jan. 4 home win over Portland) are any indication, the advantage goes to Aldridge.
On Sunday, Aldridge had 18 points and eight rebounds and shot 9 for 17 from the field, while Nowitzki had 16 points and five rebounds and shot 5 for 12. It was the third time Aldridge outplayed the Mavericks veteran.
On Dec. 15 in Dallas, Aldridge had 35 points and 10 rebounds and shot 14 for 26 from the field. Nowitzki had 21 points and five rebounds and shot 7 for 14 in the Mavericks' victory.
On March 15, Aldridge had 30 points and eight rebounds and shot 13 for 25. Nowitzki had 28 points and 11 rebounds and shot 9 for 14. The Blazers won.
So in the three games, Aldridge averaged 27.7 points and 8.7 rebounds and shot 52.9 percent from the field (36 for 68). Nowitzki averaged 21.7 points and 7.3 rebounds and shot 52.5 percent (21 for 40). The Blazers won two, Dallas one.
Aldridge also does a good job of defending Nowitzi as his length and athleticism allows him to contest Nowitzki's famously awkward fallaway jump shot even when Nowitzki steps out behind the three-point arc. Nowitzki only occasionally defends Aldridge as Dallas assigns that task to its centers and also relies heavily on a zone.
That's not to say the Nowitzki doesn't have a vast edge in experience -- he's a former MVP and 10-time All-Star who has been to the NBA Finals.
But if you're the Blazers, you have to like the possibility of a series in which their best player has shown an edge over the opponents'.
Other notes, tidbits and links:
• Blazers coach Nate McMillan wants to see swagger, fire and confidence out his players, and they show all of that in a dominant performance the narrows their magic number to make the playoffs to one, The Oregonian's Joe Freeman reports.
• One big advantage to the change in the Blazers' starting lineup has been a boost in bench scoring. In the two games since moving Marcus Camby into the starting lineup and Nicolas Batum to the second unit, the Blazers bench has scored 31 and 37 points. Much of that is attributable to Batum, who has scored 19 and 15 points in those games.
Before the lineup change, the Blazers averaged 18.8 points off the bench in the previous six games.
• The Blazers and Mavericks would make a perfect first-round playoff matchup, with Dallas already getting ready, the O's John Canzano writes.
• Canzano also notes the contrast between owners Mark Cuban and Paul Allen. Cuban, by the way, was at the Rose Garden on Sunday, but Allen was not.
Cuban wore a light-blue T-shirt over a long-sleeved white undershirt, with jeans and sneakers -- showing that the NBA dress code does not apply to owners.
Allen and Cuban do have one thing in common: They were the only two owners who voted against allowing the SuperSonics to leave Seattle for Oklahoma City.
• The Mavericks were a little too worn out from a six-game, three-back-to-backs road trip to give a very accurate playoff preview, I write.
• Dallas missed center Tyson Chandler, who sat out with a back injury, but Nowitzki says things could be worse after the 3-3 trip, the Dallas Morning News' Eddie Sefko reports.
• The Blazers could have celebrated making the playoffs for the third consecutive season, but Houston stayed alive by defeating Atlanta 114-109. The Blazers will clinch the next time they win or Houston loses. The Rockets' next game is at home against Sacramento on Tuesday.
• Portland's next game also is Tuesday, when Golden State visits the Rose Garden. The Warriors also just beat Dallas, 99-92 on Saturday. The Blazers have split two games against the Warriors, with the home team winning each time, and also close the regular season at Golden State one week from Wednesday.
http://media.oregonlive.com/blazers_impact/photo/9451089-large.jpg
LaMarcus Aldridge had 18 points and eight rebounds against Brendan Haywood and the Mavericks on Sunday.
There was a lot of talk Sunday night -- before, during and after the Blazers' 104-96 victory over Dallas -- about the possibility that the two teams could meet in the first round of the playoffs.
If that series happens, it will create several intriguing matchups and questions. Can the Blazers' backcourt size overcome Dallas' speed and shooting at the guards? Can Portland overcome the Mavericks depth in the post, where the Blazers are limited in depth and height?
Which of the two savvy point guards has the edge -- Jason Kidd or Andre Miller?
But the heart of the matchup is the one between the best players on the two teams: Dirk Nowitzki against LaMarcus Aldridge.
If the three games the two power forwards played against each other this season (Nowitzki was injured and did not play during Dallas' Jan. 4 home win over Portland) are any indication, the advantage goes to Aldridge.
On Sunday, Aldridge had 18 points and eight rebounds and shot 9 for 17 from the field, while Nowitzki had 16 points and five rebounds and shot 5 for 12. It was the third time Aldridge outplayed the Mavericks veteran.
On Dec. 15 in Dallas, Aldridge had 35 points and 10 rebounds and shot 14 for 26 from the field. Nowitzki had 21 points and five rebounds and shot 7 for 14 in the Mavericks' victory.
On March 15, Aldridge had 30 points and eight rebounds and shot 13 for 25. Nowitzki had 28 points and 11 rebounds and shot 9 for 14. The Blazers won.
So in the three games, Aldridge averaged 27.7 points and 8.7 rebounds and shot 52.9 percent from the field (36 for 68). Nowitzki averaged 21.7 points and 7.3 rebounds and shot 52.5 percent (21 for 40). The Blazers won two, Dallas one.
Aldridge also does a good job of defending Nowitzi as his length and athleticism allows him to contest Nowitzki's famously awkward fallaway jump shot even when Nowitzki steps out behind the three-point arc. Nowitzki only occasionally defends Aldridge as Dallas assigns that task to its centers and also relies heavily on a zone.
That's not to say the Nowitzki doesn't have a vast edge in experience -- he's a former MVP and 10-time All-Star who has been to the NBA Finals.
But if you're the Blazers, you have to like the possibility of a series in which their best player has shown an edge over the opponents'.
Other notes, tidbits and links:
• Blazers coach Nate McMillan wants to see swagger, fire and confidence out his players, and they show all of that in a dominant performance the narrows their magic number to make the playoffs to one, The Oregonian's Joe Freeman reports.
• One big advantage to the change in the Blazers' starting lineup has been a boost in bench scoring. In the two games since moving Marcus Camby into the starting lineup and Nicolas Batum to the second unit, the Blazers bench has scored 31 and 37 points. Much of that is attributable to Batum, who has scored 19 and 15 points in those games.
Before the lineup change, the Blazers averaged 18.8 points off the bench in the previous six games.
• The Blazers and Mavericks would make a perfect first-round playoff matchup, with Dallas already getting ready, the O's John Canzano writes.
• Canzano also notes the contrast between owners Mark Cuban and Paul Allen. Cuban, by the way, was at the Rose Garden on Sunday, but Allen was not.
Cuban wore a light-blue T-shirt over a long-sleeved white undershirt, with jeans and sneakers -- showing that the NBA dress code does not apply to owners.
Allen and Cuban do have one thing in common: They were the only two owners who voted against allowing the SuperSonics to leave Seattle for Oklahoma City.
• The Mavericks were a little too worn out from a six-game, three-back-to-backs road trip to give a very accurate playoff preview, I write.
• Dallas missed center Tyson Chandler, who sat out with a back injury, but Nowitzki says things could be worse after the 3-3 trip, the Dallas Morning News' Eddie Sefko reports.
• The Blazers could have celebrated making the playoffs for the third consecutive season, but Houston stayed alive by defeating Atlanta 114-109. The Blazers will clinch the next time they win or Houston loses. The Rockets' next game is at home against Sacramento on Tuesday.
• Portland's next game also is Tuesday, when Golden State visits the Rose Garden. The Warriors also just beat Dallas, 99-92 on Saturday. The Blazers have split two games against the Warriors, with the home team winning each time, and also close the regular season at Golden State one week from Wednesday.