tlongII
04-08-2011, 09:29 AM
http://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/index.ssf/2011/04/portland_98_utah_87_gerald_wal.html
http://media.oregonlive.com/oregonian/photo/2011/04/9468670-standard.jpg
Utah Jazz forward Paul Millsap (24) is double-teamed by Portland Trail Blazers forward Gerald Wallace (3) and guard Wesley Matthews
SALT LAKE CITY -- The Trail Blazers put two important objects in their rearview mirror Thursday night while disposing Utah with a business-like 98-87 victory.
The win moved the Blazers back into sixth place in the Western Conference, a half game ahead of New Orleans and 1 1/2 ahead of Memphis with three games remaining.
In the process, the Blazers also put behind them the concerns of a late-season swoon that stirred after a 21-point home loss to Golden State on Tuesday.
"Everyone said to throw out that Golden State game," Brandon Roy said. "But I thought we could only throw it out once we played well tonight. Because if we didn't, it would be kind of concerning. So it was good to play well. Now we can just say (Golden State) was a bad night."
The Blazers (46-33) never trailed Thursday, as coach Nate McMillan once again rode his starters. Gerald Wallace played 43 and a half minutes, and made every second count, as he continues to be perhaps the Blazers single biggest difference maker. Wallace finished with 29 points, eight rebounds, a steal, a block and about a half-dozen crashes to the floor in pursuit of the ball.
Meanwhile, Nicolas Batum started in place of the injured Marcus Camby and played brilliantly for the fourth consecutive game. Batum hit 9 of 13 shots, scored 21 points and drew rave defensive reviews from McMillan. In his last four games, Batum has made 29 of 50 shots and is averaging 17.5 points.
The Blazers also got a big boost from Roy, who made 5 of 8 shots and finished with 11 points in 21 minutes.
It was the second win in Salt Lake City this season, marking the second time in franchise history the Blazers swept the Jazz in Utah.
"Even as a player, winning in Utah has always been a drain," McMillan said. "This is a tough building to play in, so when you get a victory here, you know you have done something pretty good."
Utah (37-42) will finish with a losing record for just the second time in the last 28 seasons. On Jan. 15, the Jazz were 27-13 and in the thick of the playoff race. Since then, they are 10-28 and have watched coach Jerry Sloan resign, franchise player Deron Williams get traded and a litany of injuries help unravel their season.
On Tuesday, the Jazz played without Andrei Kirilenko, Mehmet Okur, Raja Bell, Ronnie Price and Kyrylo Fesenko, all out with injuries.
The Blazers now turn their attention to Friday night's game against the Lakers at the Rose Garden. The Lakers are all but locked into the West's second seed, and could be the Blazers' first-round opponent if the Blazers slide.
Wallace, however, said now that the Blazers have clinched, he is not concerned with where they finish.
"I'm not worried about position," Wallace said. "The main thing is get in and you play. Because regardless of who you play, in order for us to get to the championship, you're going to have to meet that team now or later. So it doesn't matter to me. My main thing is just for us to stay healthy, stay consistent and stay focused and hungry going into the playoffs. Who we play is who we play."
Portland will face either San Antonio, the Lakers, Dallas or Oklahoma City in the first round.
http://media.oregonlive.com/oregonian/photo/2011/04/9468670-standard.jpg
Utah Jazz forward Paul Millsap (24) is double-teamed by Portland Trail Blazers forward Gerald Wallace (3) and guard Wesley Matthews
SALT LAKE CITY -- The Trail Blazers put two important objects in their rearview mirror Thursday night while disposing Utah with a business-like 98-87 victory.
The win moved the Blazers back into sixth place in the Western Conference, a half game ahead of New Orleans and 1 1/2 ahead of Memphis with three games remaining.
In the process, the Blazers also put behind them the concerns of a late-season swoon that stirred after a 21-point home loss to Golden State on Tuesday.
"Everyone said to throw out that Golden State game," Brandon Roy said. "But I thought we could only throw it out once we played well tonight. Because if we didn't, it would be kind of concerning. So it was good to play well. Now we can just say (Golden State) was a bad night."
The Blazers (46-33) never trailed Thursday, as coach Nate McMillan once again rode his starters. Gerald Wallace played 43 and a half minutes, and made every second count, as he continues to be perhaps the Blazers single biggest difference maker. Wallace finished with 29 points, eight rebounds, a steal, a block and about a half-dozen crashes to the floor in pursuit of the ball.
Meanwhile, Nicolas Batum started in place of the injured Marcus Camby and played brilliantly for the fourth consecutive game. Batum hit 9 of 13 shots, scored 21 points and drew rave defensive reviews from McMillan. In his last four games, Batum has made 29 of 50 shots and is averaging 17.5 points.
The Blazers also got a big boost from Roy, who made 5 of 8 shots and finished with 11 points in 21 minutes.
It was the second win in Salt Lake City this season, marking the second time in franchise history the Blazers swept the Jazz in Utah.
"Even as a player, winning in Utah has always been a drain," McMillan said. "This is a tough building to play in, so when you get a victory here, you know you have done something pretty good."
Utah (37-42) will finish with a losing record for just the second time in the last 28 seasons. On Jan. 15, the Jazz were 27-13 and in the thick of the playoff race. Since then, they are 10-28 and have watched coach Jerry Sloan resign, franchise player Deron Williams get traded and a litany of injuries help unravel their season.
On Tuesday, the Jazz played without Andrei Kirilenko, Mehmet Okur, Raja Bell, Ronnie Price and Kyrylo Fesenko, all out with injuries.
The Blazers now turn their attention to Friday night's game against the Lakers at the Rose Garden. The Lakers are all but locked into the West's second seed, and could be the Blazers' first-round opponent if the Blazers slide.
Wallace, however, said now that the Blazers have clinched, he is not concerned with where they finish.
"I'm not worried about position," Wallace said. "The main thing is get in and you play. Because regardless of who you play, in order for us to get to the championship, you're going to have to meet that team now or later. So it doesn't matter to me. My main thing is just for us to stay healthy, stay consistent and stay focused and hungry going into the playoffs. Who we play is who we play."
Portland will face either San Antonio, the Lakers, Dallas or Oklahoma City in the first round.