The One That Got Away
The One That Got Away is not only a song title by Katy Perry, but it also fits last night’s Portland Trail Blazers game perfectly. The Blazers had an 18 point lead at home in the Rose Garden against the Clippers, but they let a win slip right through their hands.
BOXSCORE | My POST GAME NOTES
L.A. Clippers 74, Portland 71
When: 10:30 PM ET, Thursday, February 16, 2012
Where: Rose Garden, Portland, Oregon
Officials: #41 Ken Mauer, #44 Eli Roe, #65 Sean Wright
Attendance: 20665
It was an extremely ugly fourth quarter as the Blazers put up only 11 points. Chris Paul and the Clippers stole a 74-71 win away from Portland.
Onto the Love ‘em & Hate ‘em for last night Clippers vs Trail Blazers matchup.
Love ’Em
1. Nicolas Batum
Nicolas Batum filled it up with 19 points on 8 of 16 shooting last night. He was red hot in the first quarter, when he scored 15 of his points.
It looked like it was going to be a career night for him, but he got a little less aggressive as the game went on.
2. Defense
Portland got back to playing solid defense in this one. You’re going to win a lot of games when you hold the opposing team to 74 points.
The Clippers were 2 for 17 from three-point range, and they shot just 38% from the floor overall.
The Blazers backcourt did a particularly good job on the Clippers guards in this one.
Hate ’Em
1. Stagnant Offense
Portland was still ahead in the fourth quarter, but the stagnant offense made it much easier for the Clippers to guard the Blazers. No one was moving without the ball and Portland started playing far too much one-on-one basketball.
Clippers vs. Trail Blazers blog: love ’em & hate ’em - (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
Nate McMillan has been harping about this all year, but the team still goes through stretches where it doesn’t move the ball around and run the offense.
2. Rebounding
It was expected that the Blazers might have a tough time on the glass here without LaMarcus Aldridge in the lineup, and they definitely did. They were outrebounded 47 to 35 in this one.
Marcus Camby was particularly disappointing. Camby got in foul trouble early on, and he finished with only six rebounds.
3. Raymond Felton
To say that Raymond Felton is in a funk right now is a major understatement. Felton went 0 for 7 from the floor and scored zero points last night.
This is a guy that had a very good season last year, but he needs to get his confidence back in a hurry.
The Atlanta Hawks will visit the Rose Garden Saturday night. Portland is now just one game above .500 at 16-15.
This week we put out a Trailblazers potential trades article.
Did you have a read yet?
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