tlongII
04-04-2011, 11:16 PM
http://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/index.ssf/2011/04/trail_blazers_can_clinch_playo.html
http://media.oregonlive.com/blazers_impact/photo/lamarcusaldridgejpg-23c3a76dcd6b56f4.jpg
LaMarcus Aldridge, the Trail Blazers' leading scorer, says just making the playoffs isn't enough.
Even though there will be no champagne on ice and no big parties planned afterward, the Trail Blazers on Monday admitted to this: Tonight's game against Golden State carries a little more weight than just another date on the 82-game schedule.
Tonight is the night the Blazers can clinch a spot in the NBA playoffs.
If Houston loses at home to Sacramento, or if the Blazers beat Golden State, Portland will be headed to its third consecutive postseason.
"That's what you are playing for – to get into postseason," coach Nate McMillan said. "The thing is, once you get there, if you have the opportunity to move up, then you start talking about that. So clinch, then after that we will talk about where we are and our games remaining."
Inside the Blazers, there was a general reluctance to talk about clinching, in part because Golden State (33-44) has traditionally given the Blazers trouble, and also because the Blazers (45-32) are in the middle of a nip-and-tuck race with New Orleans and Memphis for the Western Conference's sixth seed.
With five games remaining, Portland holds the sixth seed by one game over New Orleans and Memphis. The season's second-to-last game is against Memphis in the Rose Garden, and the winner will also claim the tie-breaker in the season series. Should Portland and New Orleans tie, the Hornets own the tiebreaker because they won the season series three games to one.
"We don't want to be satisfied with just clinching," LaMarcus Aldridge said. "We want to try and keep this sixth spot. It will be good to know we are in the playoffs, but for me, it's not about getting in. I have a bigger picture."
That bigger picture includes winning a first round series, something the Blazers haven't done since 2000, when they advanced to the Western Conference Finals before losing in seven games to the Lakers.
Since that Game 7 defeat, the Blazers are 7-18 in the playoffs.
If anything, the Blazers figure to be battle tested if they make the playoffs. Their past six games have come against teams that have either clinched, or are on the cusp of clinching, a Western Conference playoff berth. The Blazers are 4-2 in those games, including a dominating 104-96 win over Dallas on Sunday.
The win over the Mavericks was the second game since McMillan made what he figures will be his final rotation move of the season – inserting Marcus Camby at center and moving Nicolas Batum to the bench. The move allows Aldridge and Gerald Wallace to play their natural forward positions, and has resulted in two stellar games by Batum off the bench.
If there has been a buzz word on the Blazers late this season, it has been "rhythm." The players have been constantly talking about finding a rhythm, building a rhythm, keeping a rhythm. And now, more than at any other time this season, it appears the Blazers have the best rhythm of the season.
"I thought last night (against Dallas) it was really good," McMillan said. "Our execution was really good, meaning we were playing off each other. Last night showed that they knew what each other's strength was. We had some matchups, and I thought we recognized the matchups quickly."
Aldridge agreed.
"It's been pretty good lately. A good flow," Aldridge said. "Everyone knows where their shots are coming from, and as a team, we know what our roles are and where shots are going to come from, and defensively we are getting better."
All that is left, it would seem, is official word that there will be a postseason.
Notes: An eye doctor determined that point guard Andre Miller does not have any damage to his left eye. Miller was poked by Dallas' Brian Cardinal in the fourth quarter of Sunday's game and complained of blurred vision afterward. He was given eye drops on Monday but will not miss any games ... The Blazers last season clinched a playoff berth on March 31. Two seasons ago, they clinched on April 5.
http://media.oregonlive.com/blazers_impact/photo/lamarcusaldridgejpg-23c3a76dcd6b56f4.jpg
LaMarcus Aldridge, the Trail Blazers' leading scorer, says just making the playoffs isn't enough.
Even though there will be no champagne on ice and no big parties planned afterward, the Trail Blazers on Monday admitted to this: Tonight's game against Golden State carries a little more weight than just another date on the 82-game schedule.
Tonight is the night the Blazers can clinch a spot in the NBA playoffs.
If Houston loses at home to Sacramento, or if the Blazers beat Golden State, Portland will be headed to its third consecutive postseason.
"That's what you are playing for – to get into postseason," coach Nate McMillan said. "The thing is, once you get there, if you have the opportunity to move up, then you start talking about that. So clinch, then after that we will talk about where we are and our games remaining."
Inside the Blazers, there was a general reluctance to talk about clinching, in part because Golden State (33-44) has traditionally given the Blazers trouble, and also because the Blazers (45-32) are in the middle of a nip-and-tuck race with New Orleans and Memphis for the Western Conference's sixth seed.
With five games remaining, Portland holds the sixth seed by one game over New Orleans and Memphis. The season's second-to-last game is against Memphis in the Rose Garden, and the winner will also claim the tie-breaker in the season series. Should Portland and New Orleans tie, the Hornets own the tiebreaker because they won the season series three games to one.
"We don't want to be satisfied with just clinching," LaMarcus Aldridge said. "We want to try and keep this sixth spot. It will be good to know we are in the playoffs, but for me, it's not about getting in. I have a bigger picture."
That bigger picture includes winning a first round series, something the Blazers haven't done since 2000, when they advanced to the Western Conference Finals before losing in seven games to the Lakers.
Since that Game 7 defeat, the Blazers are 7-18 in the playoffs.
If anything, the Blazers figure to be battle tested if they make the playoffs. Their past six games have come against teams that have either clinched, or are on the cusp of clinching, a Western Conference playoff berth. The Blazers are 4-2 in those games, including a dominating 104-96 win over Dallas on Sunday.
The win over the Mavericks was the second game since McMillan made what he figures will be his final rotation move of the season – inserting Marcus Camby at center and moving Nicolas Batum to the bench. The move allows Aldridge and Gerald Wallace to play their natural forward positions, and has resulted in two stellar games by Batum off the bench.
If there has been a buzz word on the Blazers late this season, it has been "rhythm." The players have been constantly talking about finding a rhythm, building a rhythm, keeping a rhythm. And now, more than at any other time this season, it appears the Blazers have the best rhythm of the season.
"I thought last night (against Dallas) it was really good," McMillan said. "Our execution was really good, meaning we were playing off each other. Last night showed that they knew what each other's strength was. We had some matchups, and I thought we recognized the matchups quickly."
Aldridge agreed.
"It's been pretty good lately. A good flow," Aldridge said. "Everyone knows where their shots are coming from, and as a team, we know what our roles are and where shots are going to come from, and defensively we are getting better."
All that is left, it would seem, is official word that there will be a postseason.
Notes: An eye doctor determined that point guard Andre Miller does not have any damage to his left eye. Miller was poked by Dallas' Brian Cardinal in the fourth quarter of Sunday's game and complained of blurred vision afterward. He was given eye drops on Monday but will not miss any games ... The Blazers last season clinched a playoff berth on March 31. Two seasons ago, they clinched on April 5.