11/18 NBA Recap: Blazers Talk

Only three games from last night to talk about, so let's not doddle. Here's today's NBA recap.

- The Portland Trailblazers defeated the Denver Nuggets, despite shooting 40% from the field and missing 50% of free-throws taken. Portland made up for poor shooting with solid defense and even more solid reboudning, lead by Marcus Camby, who had 14 rebounds (but he shot 20%.) Wes Matthews also added 20 points and 10 rebounds filling in for star guard Brandon Roy. LaMarcus Aldridge also put up 10 boards and 24 points. LaMarcus Aldridge is really turning it on this season, averaging 18 points and a career-high 8 boards. Along with Camby, the Blazers have a dominant front-court. Aldridge is steadily improving on defense, while Camby has also been a defensive specialist. Add Joel Pryzbilla, another beast on the boards off the bench, they have the front-court to make a push. And no one is questioning the duo of Andre Miller and Brandon Roy in the back-court (if Roy's knees can healproperly. If not, I take evreything I wrote after this back.)

Then there's the SF position, which is currently played by Nicholas Batum, who is showing that he is a solid #3 on the team. This starting five has the chance to make a good showing late in the season, but they need a veteran presence on the bench, particularly a veteran who knows how to win. Who could that be? Well, the free agent market is thin as of now, so a trade would have to happen. The team can make it to the playoffs with this current squad, but can they win in the playoffs with a relatively inexperienced playoff team? I don't think so, but I think they make the playoffs (albeit as a low seed.) Without a lot of depth off the bench and not much WINNING playoff experience, I cannot predict a team to make it deep in the playoffs (especially if Brandon Roy keeps aggravating his knees as the season progresses. It's been reported that Roy may not be the same caliber-player he has been because of his deteriorating knees.) What do the readers think? Are the Blazers playoff bound or are they just a pig with make-up on at this point?

- The Orlando Magic bested the Phoenix Suns and the Indiana Pacers not surprisingly defeated the Los Angleles Clippers. Same old, same old really. I've analyzed the Clippers to death in the recaps.


Sorry if this recap was short. In fact, it's painfully short. It's hard to write about three games when only one of them close (and remotely interesting.) If the Oden news came out today, it would've been longer, but it obviously came out on a day in which I was recapping the Celtics and about 4 or 5other games. Oh well. But here's where the UB faithful come in. What do you want me to write about (preferably NBA related) in separate articles from the recaps? My "GOAT" list? Other past drafts? Let me know what you want to see. Don't be shy to comment, we don't bite.

MVP of the Night: The Portland Trailblazers, for giving me something to write about.