tlongII
01-11-2013, 09:58 AM
http://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/index.ssf/2013/01/blazers_stun_miami_heat_continue_improbable_season .html
http://imgick.oregonlive.com/home/olive-media/width748/img/oregonian/photo/2013/01/12102065-mmmain.jpg
You have to hand it to these tantalizing Trail Blazers. They sure do keep things interesting.
In one of the most improbable and impressive performances of the season, the Trail Blazers had another you-had-to-be-there-to-believe-it outing, defeating the Miami Heat 92-90 Thursday night before a national TNT audience and a sellout crowd of 20,536 at the Rose Garden.
After hanging on for dear life through three physical, grinding and lethargic quarters, the Blazers stole a victory from the reigning NBA champions with a captivating and clutch final quarter. The Blazers scored 10 consecutive points during one dominating fourth-quarter stretch and closed the game with a 20-8 run over the final 6:26, stunning MVP LeBron James and the Heat’s vaunted Big Three.
In the process, the Blazers (20-15) won for the 12th time in the last 15 games and for the ninth consecutive time at the Rose Garden. They also improved to 11-2 in games decided by six points or less.
“I don’t know if it has context right now,” Blazers coach Terry Stotts said afterward of the win. “Maybe in a couple weeks, maybe in a couple months, it will have some context. Right now, it’s about a team that’s growing together, finding ways to win games, defending home court. I think it’s just a continuation of what we’ve been trying to build.”
And what the Blazers are building right now, with unexpected victory after unexpected victory, is a playoff-caliber team that — apparently — can beat anybody.
The Heat built as large as a 12-point lead Thursday night as Chris Bosh (29 points), Dwyane Wade (18 points) and James (15 points, 10 rebounds, nine assists) did just enough on offense and Miami’s aggressive, attacking defense stymied the Blazers. But in the blink of an eye, the Blazers — despite shooting just 38 percent in the game — suddenly found some magic.
Nicolas Batum started snatching steals and turning them into coast-to-coast three-point plays, Wesley Matthews started draining three-pointers. LaMarcus Aldridge started grabbing every rebound in sight. A commanding 82-72 Miami lead suddenly evaporated into an 82-82 tie.
Then, as they have all season, the Blazers made just enough clutch plays down the stretch to steal the victory. After Ray Allen swished a three-pointer to give the Heat an 85-82 lead, Batum drained two free throws. After Bosh drained a 22-foot jumper and Allen made 1 of 2 free throws, Wesley Matthews hit the shot of the night, swishing a beautiful three-pointer over Allen to tie the score 88-88.
Then Matthews one-upped himself. After Bosh converted a two-handed dunk with 43.9 seconds left, Matthews answered with another three. This time, he collected a pass from Batum in front of the Heat bench and nailed a corner three, giving the Blazers a 91-90 edge with 26.9 seconds left.
Allen missed a three on the ensuing possession, Aldridge made 1 of 2 free throws and the Heat were given one last-gasp chance to sneak away with the win. But Bosh passed up a midrange jumper in the closing seconds and instead passed to Mario Chalmers, who got a clean, wide open three-point look at the buzzer.
It misfired. And the Blazers escaped with their most impressive win of the season. Afterward, as confetti rained on the arena floor, Matthews stood at center court wearing a wide smile across his face and Batum raised his hands high to applaud a raucous crowd. If anything, those two players were the ones deserving a clap.
Matthews’ defense on James — the Blazer killer — was stout and sturdy all night long. With Matthews at his side seemingly everywhere he moved on the court, James finished just 6 of 16 from the field and was held to less than 20 points for the first time this season. He entered the game averaging 31.2 points per game at the Rose Garden — the most of any player in arena history. But he was held to roughly half that Thursday night.
“I thought he made him work,” Stotts said of Matthews’ defense on James. “LeBron’s a great player. He almost has a triple-double, but I thought he did a good job on him. Wes didn’t really give him alleys to the basket. He got four of his points in transition early in the game. But I thought in halfcourt defense, he did a nice job of taking away angles and forcing him to be a passer and keeping him from the rim.”
Meanwhile, after a sluggish start, Batum was dominant when it mattered most. He scored 10 points in fourth quarter, when he seemed to be everywhere, and finished with 28 points, seven rebounds, five assists and two steals.
“This team showed me that they love me, that they trust me,” Batum said. “I try to be on court, and for the fans, I try to give everything for the city.”
Aldridge battled the Heat’s physical defense and shaky shooting all night, but managed to finish with 20 points and 15 rebounds and Matthews added 18 points for the Blazers.
After notching impressive road victories over the New York Knicks, Memphis Grizzlies and Minnesota Timberwolves last week, the Blazers one-upped themselves against the Heat (23-11) Thursday night.
“That’s what we’ve been talking about all year,” Matthews said. “Play hard every possession, do what it takes to win it. There’s not a team we can’t come back from. There’s not a team that we can’t beat.”
Notes: The Blazers' nine-game home winning streak is their longest since Jan. 24-March 9, 2009. During the run, the Blazers have held eight of nine opponents to 94 or fewer points. ... Aldridge's 15 rebounds were tied for a season-high. He had his 15th double-double of the season. ... Matthews has scored 18 or more points in four consecutive games, which ties a career-high.
http://imgick.oregonlive.com/home/olive-media/width748/img/oregonian/photo/2013/01/12102065-mmmain.jpg
You have to hand it to these tantalizing Trail Blazers. They sure do keep things interesting.
In one of the most improbable and impressive performances of the season, the Trail Blazers had another you-had-to-be-there-to-believe-it outing, defeating the Miami Heat 92-90 Thursday night before a national TNT audience and a sellout crowd of 20,536 at the Rose Garden.
After hanging on for dear life through three physical, grinding and lethargic quarters, the Blazers stole a victory from the reigning NBA champions with a captivating and clutch final quarter. The Blazers scored 10 consecutive points during one dominating fourth-quarter stretch and closed the game with a 20-8 run over the final 6:26, stunning MVP LeBron James and the Heat’s vaunted Big Three.
In the process, the Blazers (20-15) won for the 12th time in the last 15 games and for the ninth consecutive time at the Rose Garden. They also improved to 11-2 in games decided by six points or less.
“I don’t know if it has context right now,” Blazers coach Terry Stotts said afterward of the win. “Maybe in a couple weeks, maybe in a couple months, it will have some context. Right now, it’s about a team that’s growing together, finding ways to win games, defending home court. I think it’s just a continuation of what we’ve been trying to build.”
And what the Blazers are building right now, with unexpected victory after unexpected victory, is a playoff-caliber team that — apparently — can beat anybody.
The Heat built as large as a 12-point lead Thursday night as Chris Bosh (29 points), Dwyane Wade (18 points) and James (15 points, 10 rebounds, nine assists) did just enough on offense and Miami’s aggressive, attacking defense stymied the Blazers. But in the blink of an eye, the Blazers — despite shooting just 38 percent in the game — suddenly found some magic.
Nicolas Batum started snatching steals and turning them into coast-to-coast three-point plays, Wesley Matthews started draining three-pointers. LaMarcus Aldridge started grabbing every rebound in sight. A commanding 82-72 Miami lead suddenly evaporated into an 82-82 tie.
Then, as they have all season, the Blazers made just enough clutch plays down the stretch to steal the victory. After Ray Allen swished a three-pointer to give the Heat an 85-82 lead, Batum drained two free throws. After Bosh drained a 22-foot jumper and Allen made 1 of 2 free throws, Wesley Matthews hit the shot of the night, swishing a beautiful three-pointer over Allen to tie the score 88-88.
Then Matthews one-upped himself. After Bosh converted a two-handed dunk with 43.9 seconds left, Matthews answered with another three. This time, he collected a pass from Batum in front of the Heat bench and nailed a corner three, giving the Blazers a 91-90 edge with 26.9 seconds left.
Allen missed a three on the ensuing possession, Aldridge made 1 of 2 free throws and the Heat were given one last-gasp chance to sneak away with the win. But Bosh passed up a midrange jumper in the closing seconds and instead passed to Mario Chalmers, who got a clean, wide open three-point look at the buzzer.
It misfired. And the Blazers escaped with their most impressive win of the season. Afterward, as confetti rained on the arena floor, Matthews stood at center court wearing a wide smile across his face and Batum raised his hands high to applaud a raucous crowd. If anything, those two players were the ones deserving a clap.
Matthews’ defense on James — the Blazer killer — was stout and sturdy all night long. With Matthews at his side seemingly everywhere he moved on the court, James finished just 6 of 16 from the field and was held to less than 20 points for the first time this season. He entered the game averaging 31.2 points per game at the Rose Garden — the most of any player in arena history. But he was held to roughly half that Thursday night.
“I thought he made him work,” Stotts said of Matthews’ defense on James. “LeBron’s a great player. He almost has a triple-double, but I thought he did a good job on him. Wes didn’t really give him alleys to the basket. He got four of his points in transition early in the game. But I thought in halfcourt defense, he did a nice job of taking away angles and forcing him to be a passer and keeping him from the rim.”
Meanwhile, after a sluggish start, Batum was dominant when it mattered most. He scored 10 points in fourth quarter, when he seemed to be everywhere, and finished with 28 points, seven rebounds, five assists and two steals.
“This team showed me that they love me, that they trust me,” Batum said. “I try to be on court, and for the fans, I try to give everything for the city.”
Aldridge battled the Heat’s physical defense and shaky shooting all night, but managed to finish with 20 points and 15 rebounds and Matthews added 18 points for the Blazers.
After notching impressive road victories over the New York Knicks, Memphis Grizzlies and Minnesota Timberwolves last week, the Blazers one-upped themselves against the Heat (23-11) Thursday night.
“That’s what we’ve been talking about all year,” Matthews said. “Play hard every possession, do what it takes to win it. There’s not a team we can’t come back from. There’s not a team that we can’t beat.”
Notes: The Blazers' nine-game home winning streak is their longest since Jan. 24-March 9, 2009. During the run, the Blazers have held eight of nine opponents to 94 or fewer points. ... Aldridge's 15 rebounds were tied for a season-high. He had his 15th double-double of the season. ... Matthews has scored 18 or more points in four consecutive games, which ties a career-high.