Trailblazers slipping away from playoff spot with 102-98 loss to the Suns

The Portland Trailblazers are slipping fast. Until recently they held the 8th playoff spot in the West, staving off the Rockets and the Lakers. Then over the last 10 games the Blazers went 3-7 and the Rockets went 6-4, now the Blazers have dropped to the 9th spot in the West, which is one outside of the last playoff spot. The Rockets have improved to 29-26 and the Blazers are 25-29 now after having lost to the Suns, 102-98.

“Not only did we lose five in a row, but the last one was not very nice,” coach Stotts said. The break “gave everybody a chance to spread out, collect their thoughts, rest up and come back with a vengeance.”

Or so he thought. The losing streak extended vs the Suns. Coming into the game the Blazers must have brightened up a bit. Off of a five game losing streak, which included losses to the Mavericks, Rockets, Magic, Heat and Hornets, the Blazers were looking to halt the skid against the worst in the West, the Suns. The last loss of the Blazers was a horrid one to the Hornets, they lost it 99-63. The Phoenix Suns are 18-36 and have lost seven of their last ten games. By all indications this was the game which the Blazers ought to have used to climb out of their rut. The Suns were a league worst 6-23 on the road. And the Rose Garden Arena is one of the toughest places to play in. The Blazers should have had this one, instead they dropped it 102-98. Or rather, Goran Dragic took it away with a career high 18 assists with his 16 points. Steve Nash must have mentored him well during their time together in Phoenix. Although Dragic did not shoot very well, he finished with 5-13, his all round play made up for it. Goran Dragic alone had as many assists as the entire Portland Trailblazers team.

“I just wanted to get out of Portland and (not) think too much about basketball,” said rookie Claver of the Blazers who finished with 4 points in his starting role. Blazers were missing bodies and the Suns spread the minutes well among its roster. The Suns had seven players who played 20 minutes or more. The Blazers had five, their entire starting lineup. They were missing Wesley Matthews who was out with a sprained ankle and an injured elbow.

A couple of three pointers from Damien Lillard and Nicolas Batum kept the Blazers close in the last four minutes. Lillard’s three brought the Blazers back 96-92 and Batum’s closed the gap to 100-95. Then Nolan Smith and LaMarcus Aldridge hit free throws to make it 98-100. But Dragic came to the rescue of the Suns by sinking a pair of free throws. Lillard then bricked a three to end all hopes of a Blazer comeback. Recently it was shown by Stu Woo of the Wall Street Journal that LaMarcus Aldridge ranks 2nd in the league in field goal percentage this season in the final minute of games when the score is within three points for either team. Aldridge has shot 9 of 15 in such situations for .600%.

The leader in the stat is “Mr. Fourth Quarter”, Kyrie Irving who has shot 11 of 17 for .647%. Interestingly Kobe Bryant shoots .250% with 3 of 12 shooting in this stat. Aldridge hasn’t shot well from the line in that situation, he’s gone 4 for 9 from the charity stripe.

For the Blazers, three players scored above 20. JJ Hickson had his 28th double double of the season with 25 points on 10 of 14 shooting and 16 rebounds. This matches his career high for double-doubles for a season. LaMarcus Aldridge had 23 points on 7 of 16 shooting with 5 rebounds. Damien Lillard finished with 24 points on 8 of 19 shooting with 7 assists. Nicholas Batum added 15 points on 5 of 14 shooting. The Blazers shot just 41.2% from the field.

The Suns also held the advantage on the glass. They outrebounded the Blazers 37-25. Five of the Suns players had 5 rebounds or more. Five of them also finished in double figures. Luis Scola had 18 pointson 8 of 11 shooting with 6 rebounds. Gortat added 12 points with 5 boards. Dudley had 12 with 4 dimes. Dragic led with his 16 points and 18 dimes. And Wesley Johnson added 14 off the bench.

The Lakers fans will be rejoicing with this loss of the Blazers. With today’s loss, the Blazers have tied the Lakers with a 25-29 record. LA has gone 6-4 in its last 10 games and their window on making it to the postseason depends as much on them playing well as it does on the Blazers and Rockets playing poorly.

Here are the highlights from this match: