tlongII
11-07-2014, 09:56 AM
http://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/index.ssf/2014/11/trail_blazers_lopsided_victory_over_dallas_maveric .html
http://imgick.oregonlive.com/home/olive-media/pgmain/img/oregonian/photo/2014/11/06/-2d8512be00028b75.jpg
Portland Trail Blazers guard Steve Blake (25) reacts after Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) hit a big 3-pointer as The Portland Trail Blazers face the Dallas Mavericks at the Moda Center
We're only five games and nine days into an 82-game, six-month NBA marathon. But one thing has become abundantly clear about your Trail Blazers: They are not those same old free-wheeling, offensive-minded defensive patsies you begrudgingly got to know in recent years.
In fact, early indications suggest they might just be pretty darn good on defense.
The Blazers disassembled another NBA power Thursday, cruising past the Dallas Mavericks with an impressive 108-87 victory at the Moda Center, and they did it with a rugged, aggressive and willing defense that more and more is becoming hard to ignore.
"I feel that we're sure of ourselves on that end of the floor," Damian Lillard said, referring to the team's defense. "We're comfortable, confident going out there and defending people. And we trust each other."
The statistics speak to this trust. Through five games, the Blazers (3-2) rank near the top of the NBA in multiple statistical categories. They are allowing just 91.2 points per game, the third-fewest in the league. They are allowing opponents to shoot just 40 percent, which ranks second. And they are allowing teams to shoot just 29.2 percent from three-point range, which ranks seventh.
Since media day, coach Terry Stotts and players up and down the roster have insisted that defense would evolve into a strength for this team. Training camp might as well have been one extended defensive drill the Blazers worked on it so much. The word defense has been uttered so frequently, but so many, it's almost been annoying.
But results are results. And even though the sample size is only five games, even though it's far too early to know if this is merely a good five-game run or a sign of things to come, it's become impossible to dismiss the success.
The Mavericks (3-2) entered Friday night's game leading the NBA in scoring, averaging 111.8 points per game, and shooting, connecting on 52.4 percent of their shots. But the Blazers made them look like a rec-league team. Just three Dallas players reached double figures in scoring and only Dirk Nowitzki (17 points on 6 of 17 shooting) had more than 15. The Mavericks shot just 37 percent (33 for 90), including a frigid 22 percent from three-point range (5 for 23), and were run out of the gym in the second half, when the Blazers outscored them 62-37.
The Blazers aggressively switched on pick-and-rolls to thwart Dallas' three-point shooting, especially on Nowitzki, they clogged the paint to prevent easy looks and they hounded and harassed Dallas players whenever they touched the ball. And once the Blazers earned a stop, they fought for possession, building a whopping 53-34 rebounding edge.
"There was a lot to like," Stotts said of the Blazers' defense.
Oh, sure, the Blazers flashed a wealth of offense. LaMarcus Aldridge continued his smooth start to the season, finishing with 20 points and seven rebounds, Lillard shook off a modest shooting night to record 18 points, six assists and five rebounds, Nicolas Batum (eight points, nine rebounds, nine assists) came within a whisker of his fifth career triple double and the bench, thanks to robust scoring nights from Chris Kaman (12 points, five rebounds) and CJ McCollum (13 points), outscored the Mavericks' bench 52-35.
But this win was about defense. And, so far, this season has been about measurable defensive growth.
"I think it is," Matthews said, when asked if he's noticed that the defense is better than last season. "And I think we know it has to be. Because we saw where our defense got us last year and that was great. But we want to do more. We don't want to be just a one-hit."
In what ways are the Blazers better? A quick spin around the locker room Thursday night revealed a mix of opinions. Multiple players were asked to name three or four areas where the Blazers are excelling on defense and there was a surplus of answers.
Matthews praised the team's ability to contest shots, limit transition points and communicate. Aldridge lauded the Blazers' tenacity at "controlling the ball" and defending the pick-and-roll. Lillard raved about the Blazers' "urgency," physical play, paint protection and general "active" play. McCollum credited the team's help defense and everyone's willingness to "trust each other."
"We're doing a very good job of being aware, of being conscious of what's going on, doing a very good job of communicating and I think, for the most part, we're just being very tough out there," Robin Lopez said. "We're willing to work. And when all three of those things come together, usually, you'll be somewhat successful."
There's also this: The Blazers are doing their homework. Scouting reports. Film. Statistics. The Blazers are soaking in the collection of resources and data they have about opposing player's tendencies and strengths and using them to their advantage on the court.
"Everybody's in touch with what we need to do defensively," Lillard said. "Everybody's locked in and everybody's paying attention to scouting reports and that's another thing that we're doing better -- paying attention to scouting reports and we're making sure that we take away the other guy's strengths."
The Blazers have played 20 quarters this season and have allowed 30 or more points just four times. They've held opponents to 23 or fewer points in 12 quarters and allowed less than 20 points in seven quarters. Only one team -- the Sacramento Kings -- have reached triple-digits in scoring against them.
Thursday was merely the latest -- and perhaps greatest -- example of the Blazers' defensive muscle.
"We played a very good game," Stotts said. "Defensively, we continue to stay on point with most of the things that we're trying to do. Everybody seems pretty locked in. Those are the things that we need to do."
http://imgick.oregonlive.com/home/olive-media/pgmain/img/oregonian/photo/2014/11/06/-2d8512be00028b75.jpg
Portland Trail Blazers guard Steve Blake (25) reacts after Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) hit a big 3-pointer as The Portland Trail Blazers face the Dallas Mavericks at the Moda Center
We're only five games and nine days into an 82-game, six-month NBA marathon. But one thing has become abundantly clear about your Trail Blazers: They are not those same old free-wheeling, offensive-minded defensive patsies you begrudgingly got to know in recent years.
In fact, early indications suggest they might just be pretty darn good on defense.
The Blazers disassembled another NBA power Thursday, cruising past the Dallas Mavericks with an impressive 108-87 victory at the Moda Center, and they did it with a rugged, aggressive and willing defense that more and more is becoming hard to ignore.
"I feel that we're sure of ourselves on that end of the floor," Damian Lillard said, referring to the team's defense. "We're comfortable, confident going out there and defending people. And we trust each other."
The statistics speak to this trust. Through five games, the Blazers (3-2) rank near the top of the NBA in multiple statistical categories. They are allowing just 91.2 points per game, the third-fewest in the league. They are allowing opponents to shoot just 40 percent, which ranks second. And they are allowing teams to shoot just 29.2 percent from three-point range, which ranks seventh.
Since media day, coach Terry Stotts and players up and down the roster have insisted that defense would evolve into a strength for this team. Training camp might as well have been one extended defensive drill the Blazers worked on it so much. The word defense has been uttered so frequently, but so many, it's almost been annoying.
But results are results. And even though the sample size is only five games, even though it's far too early to know if this is merely a good five-game run or a sign of things to come, it's become impossible to dismiss the success.
The Mavericks (3-2) entered Friday night's game leading the NBA in scoring, averaging 111.8 points per game, and shooting, connecting on 52.4 percent of their shots. But the Blazers made them look like a rec-league team. Just three Dallas players reached double figures in scoring and only Dirk Nowitzki (17 points on 6 of 17 shooting) had more than 15. The Mavericks shot just 37 percent (33 for 90), including a frigid 22 percent from three-point range (5 for 23), and were run out of the gym in the second half, when the Blazers outscored them 62-37.
The Blazers aggressively switched on pick-and-rolls to thwart Dallas' three-point shooting, especially on Nowitzki, they clogged the paint to prevent easy looks and they hounded and harassed Dallas players whenever they touched the ball. And once the Blazers earned a stop, they fought for possession, building a whopping 53-34 rebounding edge.
"There was a lot to like," Stotts said of the Blazers' defense.
Oh, sure, the Blazers flashed a wealth of offense. LaMarcus Aldridge continued his smooth start to the season, finishing with 20 points and seven rebounds, Lillard shook off a modest shooting night to record 18 points, six assists and five rebounds, Nicolas Batum (eight points, nine rebounds, nine assists) came within a whisker of his fifth career triple double and the bench, thanks to robust scoring nights from Chris Kaman (12 points, five rebounds) and CJ McCollum (13 points), outscored the Mavericks' bench 52-35.
But this win was about defense. And, so far, this season has been about measurable defensive growth.
"I think it is," Matthews said, when asked if he's noticed that the defense is better than last season. "And I think we know it has to be. Because we saw where our defense got us last year and that was great. But we want to do more. We don't want to be just a one-hit."
In what ways are the Blazers better? A quick spin around the locker room Thursday night revealed a mix of opinions. Multiple players were asked to name three or four areas where the Blazers are excelling on defense and there was a surplus of answers.
Matthews praised the team's ability to contest shots, limit transition points and communicate. Aldridge lauded the Blazers' tenacity at "controlling the ball" and defending the pick-and-roll. Lillard raved about the Blazers' "urgency," physical play, paint protection and general "active" play. McCollum credited the team's help defense and everyone's willingness to "trust each other."
"We're doing a very good job of being aware, of being conscious of what's going on, doing a very good job of communicating and I think, for the most part, we're just being very tough out there," Robin Lopez said. "We're willing to work. And when all three of those things come together, usually, you'll be somewhat successful."
There's also this: The Blazers are doing their homework. Scouting reports. Film. Statistics. The Blazers are soaking in the collection of resources and data they have about opposing player's tendencies and strengths and using them to their advantage on the court.
"Everybody's in touch with what we need to do defensively," Lillard said. "Everybody's locked in and everybody's paying attention to scouting reports and that's another thing that we're doing better -- paying attention to scouting reports and we're making sure that we take away the other guy's strengths."
The Blazers have played 20 quarters this season and have allowed 30 or more points just four times. They've held opponents to 23 or fewer points in 12 quarters and allowed less than 20 points in seven quarters. Only one team -- the Sacramento Kings -- have reached triple-digits in scoring against them.
Thursday was merely the latest -- and perhaps greatest -- example of the Blazers' defensive muscle.
"We played a very good game," Stotts said. "Defensively, we continue to stay on point with most of the things that we're trying to do. Everybody seems pretty locked in. Those are the things that we need to do."