Warriors' Big Three hands Portland worst home defeat

**Jodelo** · 04-06-2011

Since tlongII does not post the Threads after losses:

It’s official – the Trail Blazers are in the playoffs.
Good thing they’re not facing Golden State in the first round.
The Warriors (34-44) will be going on vacation next week, but they punched the clock with a special panache in a 108-87 rout of Portland Tuesday night at the Rose Garden.
It snapped an eight-game home win streak for the Blazers (45-33), who learned early in Tuesday’s game that they were officially a playoff team with Sacramento’s victory at Houston.
Small consolation.
Making the playoffs “was one of our goals, so that’s good,” Portland LaMarcus Aldridge said. “But we have to keep building, keep finding our rhythm to move forward.”
The Blazers took a step in the other direction Tuesday night.
“Tonight was bad,” Portland coach Nate McMillan said. “This is one of those games where you burn the tape and move on.”
It was the most one-sided home loss of the season for the Blazers, which has dropped two of three games this season to a Golden State team they’ll face again next Wednesday in the regular-season finale at Oakland.
Most of the Portland faithful – and perhaps most of those inside the organization, too – expected the Blazers to come out on top in this one. Instead, they got dominated by a team that has no size, ranks next-to-last in the NBA in rebounding percentage (and was playing without injured center Andris Biedrins) and plays disinterested defense.
“Nothing’s a gimme in this league,” Blazer point guard Andre Miller said.
The Big Three – no, not Miami’s LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh – collaboratively buried the Blazers Tuesday night.
Monta Ellis, David Lee and Stephen Curry combined for 87 points in the Warriors’ free-wheeling, “what-me-worry?” offensive system.
“They’re an up-tempo type team, so they play with some energy,” Miller said. “Those three guys, they take a lot of shots. If they make half of them, it’s a good game for them.”
Ellis, who has averaged 31.7 points against Portland this season, led the way with 30 Tuesday night, draining 11 of 19 shots, including 4 of 6 from 3-point range.
“Monta Ellis was Monta Ellis,” McMillan said. “We couldn’t stop him.”
“He’s in a system where he’s free to do whatever he wants,” Miller said. “He gets a lot of minutes, so he knows he’s going to get up shots. He’s done that to a lot of teams.”
Ellis’ backcourt mate, Curry, was deadly as well, making 10 of 21 shots, including 3 of 5 from 3-point territory. Curry contributed 28 points, eight rebounds, four assists and two steals.
Lee, meanwhile, was outplaying Aldridge inside, going for 29 points and a season-high 20 rebounds while converting 13 of 17 shots. Lee was even more effective after Blazer center Marcus Camby left for good late in the first quarter with a strained neck muscle.