GAME REVIEW: Raptors at Blazers [Dec 27]
FINAL SCORE: Raptors 89, Blazers 102
Game Info; Box Score; Full Play-By-Play
This game was decided at two crucial moments in the 4th quarter:
Number One
At the 08:06 mark of the 4th quarter … with the score POR 76, Tor 74 … when the Blazers called a Full Time-out, and the following 4 substitutions were made:
* The Blazers subbed out Sergio Rodriguez/PG, Travis Outlaw/PF and Joel Przybilla/C for Steve Blake/PG, LaMarcus Aldridge/PF and Greg Oden/C, leaving on Brandon Roy/OG and Rudy Fernandez/SF;
while,
* The Raptors subbed out Chris Bosh/C for Jermaine O’Neal/C, and left Anthony Parker/OG on the floor along with Andrea Bargnani/PF, Joey Graham/SF and Jose Calderon/PG;
and,
Number Two
At the 06:35 mark, five [5] possessions later … with the score POR 82, Tor 74 … when the Raptors called a Full Time-out after the visitors had failed to convert on their 2 jumpshots [a very makeable J2 by Bargnani; and, a J3 by Parker], and the home side had made good on all 3 of their shot attempts [a J2 by Roy; a Driving Layup by Roy; and, a J2 by Aldridge].
Then, when play resumed with the Raptors having made 3 more substitutions:
* Bosh/PF subbed in for Parker/OG; Jason Kapono/OG subbed in for Bargnani/PF; and Moon/SF subbed in for Graham/SF
this game was effectively over.
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How come?
If the Raptors would have gone with a line-up of, either:
A. 1/Calderon, 2/Moon, 3/Graham, 4/O’Neal-or-Bargnani & 5/Bosh
or
B. 1/Parker, 2/Moon, 3/Graham, 4/O’Neal-or-Bargnani & 5/Bosh
coming out of either one of those two specific time-outs with a solid defensive & rebounding Group-of-5 on the floor, then they would have been able to stay with the Blazers at the critical moments of last night’s game … much like they were able to use line-up B against Sacramento the previous night, shutting down the Kings on the final two meaningful possessions of that game.
It’s a fundamental mistake in basketball judgment to believe that the best way to play the game at crunch time against a High End team is to load-up with a one-dimensional spot-up shooter like Jason Kapono - seeking his additional offensive production - at the expense of Rebounders/Defenders like Jamario Moon & Joey Graham, in concert with one another … especially when working against a player like Brandon Roy.
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The eventual outcomes of NBA games are determined by the slimmest of margins and it’s not always just what a team “makes” that creates the difference but also what it “leaves” on the table for its opponent to take advantage of coming down-the-stretch in a hard-fought contest.
Tags: Andrea Bargnani, Anthony Parker, Brandon Roy, Chris Bosh, Greg Oden, Jamario Moon, Jason Kapono, Jermaine O'Neal, Joel Przybilla, Joey Graham, Jose Calderon, LaMarcus Aldridge, Rudy Fernanez, Sergio Rodriguez, Steve Blake, Travis Outlaw
December 28th, 2008 at 3:59 pm
i’m super interested to see what portland does with their youngins. rudy fernandez is quickly becoming one of my favourite players in the league. truly a treat.
as for the game…i thought the game was lost in the 3rd quarter myself. my trust in the raptors coaching to make crucial decisions in crunch time is just not there, sadly.
December 28th, 2008 at 4:45 pm
Raps Fan,
The big thing I took from last night’s game from the Blazers’ perspective was just how much better Greg Oden’s movement has become recently since his foot/ankle injury earlier this season.
IMO, those NBA observers who think that his current level of post-up game is going to remain where it’s at right now over the course of his career are going to be sorely mistaken.
By this time next season he is going to a solid force in the middle for the Blazers, in all three major phases of the game [i.e. rebounding, defensively & offensively].
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As well … once Martell Webster returns to form, from his own leg injury … either later on this season or next year … that is when the Blazers are going to really become very dangerous, given his ability to shoot the ball from the perimeter and his overall level of athleticism at his size.
IMO,
These 9 players …
Bayless-Roy-Webster-Fernandez-Batum-Outlaw-Frye-Aldridge-Przybilla-Oden
are as good as any other young nucleus in the League today …
with other trade-worthy assets like:
Blake, Rodriguez, Bayless, Diogu, Randolph & LaFrentz
still on the roster, as well.
December 28th, 2008 at 7:18 pm
i would be surprised if anyone thinks this is as good as it gets for oden. he may not be producing uber amounts at the moment, but there is no denying him being a force in the middle. i wonder about his progress at this point if he didn’t have so many injuries, and how his ‘history’ will affect his progress in the nba.
December 29th, 2008 at 4:15 pm
Raps Fan,
Apparently, in some quarters, there have already been suggestions that Oden is not going to be able to develop as a legit Low Post scorer in this League, and will merely be a solid “rebounder/defender” down-the-road for the Blazers, as if that alone would somehow be a bad thing for Portland.
Personally, I like everything I’ve seen from this kid, so far, including his recent shift to wearing white socks that reach up to the lower parts of his calves to go with his white shoes. It’s a throwback look to a by-gone era in which Thor would have excelled, IMO.
December 29th, 2008 at 5:06 pm
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