The Portland Trail Blazers surprised and shocked Blazer fans as they completely destroyed the Brooklyn Nets 124-80. The Trail Blazers improve to 40-18 on the season and sport a 22-7 record at home. The Nets, having been playing better recently, now have a 26-29 record and sport a 10-18 road record. The Blazers sweep the season series against the Nets 2-0.
Let’s have some backstory. Thomas Robinson, after spraining his MCL slightly in last night’s game, was unable to play tonight and head coach Terry Stotts was forced to use Victor Claver, yes Claver, as his backup center. Before tonight you are probably thinking that this game will be a disaster or at the very least a loss. You are expecting a scenario where Robin Lopez gets into early foul trouble and the Blazers will be forced to play some horrid line-up of all guards. Then you watch the game expecting the shoe to drop. The Blazers are up by ten early, but you are still worried. This Brooklyn team, especially Joe Johnson and Deron Williams, can light it up if they’re feeling it.
Well, how about if I told you that Robin Lopez would not record a single foul and Victor would finish with 13 points and 5 rebounds in 22 minutes and play good defense against the Nets. Go ahead tell me I’m insane.
Getting back on track, the Portland Trail Blazers took the reins of this game and rode off into the sunset as early as the second quarter. Portland was up by nine after the first quarter and then promptly outscored the Nets 29-14 in the second. In defense of the Nets, they were unusually cold offensively. Joe Johnson, Mr. Fourth Quarter, only had 11 points on 4-for-11 shooting. Deron Williams only had 12 points on 4-for-10 shooting. Paul Pierce, who had three wide-open threes, finished with just 6 points on 3-for-8 shooting, 0-for-3 from three. Shaun Livingston, who has been making a comeback, played just twelve minutes and didn’t score a single point. It was an off-night for the Nets to say the least, but really, getting beat by 44 points?
The Blazers’ bench was the catalyst and finisher. They combined for 68 points. That’s right they scored more than the Blazer starters combined. Talk about the bench stepping up. Mo Williams had 21 points and 7 assists. Will Barton had, in my opinion, his best game of his career as he finished with 20 points on 8-for-13 shooting, 11 rebounds and 4 assists. Will Barton was all over the place. He was passing the ball, finding the open man and taking good shots. Plus he was very aggressive on the glass and played good defense on his man. Maybe the bench is coming alive finally. One of the good side effects of LA going down is you discover what you have down on that bench. Barton has probably earned more time in the rotation once the Blazers get fully healed. I hope Claver gets time, but it’ll be hard to find the time to get him in games.
The Blazers have been playing phenomenal basketball since LaMarcus Aldridge went down. It has forced Portland back into that unselfish style of theirs that they may have gotten away from a little bit. The Blazers now sit 4-1 this season in games without LA. That is impressive.
The Blazers went 46-for-86 and shot a blistering 54% from the field. Furthermore, the Blazers continue their three-point spree by going 13-for-31 and shooting 42%. Portland continues to be lethal at the line as they went 19-for-21 and shot 91%. They out-rebounded Brooklyn 53-29. Robin Lopez only had eight rebounds. Let that sink in. They out-assisted the Nets 29-18. You get the point.
As far as the starters go, not one starter played over 30 minutes. Damian Lillard finished with 14 points on 6-for-11 shooting, 2-for-3 from three in 29 minutes. Batum continues to be efficient as he finished with 19 points on 6-for-12 shooting, 1-for-4 from three, 6 assists, 6 rebounds and 2 steals in just 29 minutes as well.
Well, that was fun to watch, but unexpected. The Blazers will now have a couple of days off in the hopes of maybe getting one of these big men back. There is the possibility that Meyers Leonard plays in their next game, but at the level this team is playing right now, take your time. Just kidding, please come back. The Blazers will play the Denver Nuggets yet again on Saturday night at the Moda Center as they face off for the final time this season. Tip-off is at 7:00 p.m. PST. There is a high chance that Ty Lawson will be able to play, but the Blazers need to be ready regardless. Denver is familiar with their schemes and will look to bounce back from a disappointing loss Tuesday night. Stay tuned!