Blazers Bungle Final Minute in Miami

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Wednesday, March 18, 2015

Andrew R Tonry, GoLocalPDX Contributor

Coming back from a double-digit deficit, the Heat kind of pulled a Blazers.

To be fair, though, in the final moment Portland too did their part to seal the loss.

With :41 seconds remaining in a high-intensity, back-and-forth contest, the teams were tied at 104. The Blazers had the ball and opted to go two-for-one. Perhaps rushing, LaMarcus Aldridge--who had been hot all night--put up an airball with :34 seconds left.

On the other end, Dwyane Wade drilled a step-back jumper from the free throw line. It was one of Wade's many critical makes in the fourth quarter, where he scored 15-of-his-32 points. He was truly in vintage form.

Still, down two points with :13 seconds to play, the Blazers had a chance.

In a timeout they advanced the ball and drew up an out-of-bounds play. But the Heat defended tenaciously, and rather than risk a five-second call, the Blazers were forced to call another timeout--their last.

On their second attempt the Blazers had no choice but inbound the ball. But the Heat snuffed out Damian Lillard's break to the passer. As a release valve, LaMarcus Aldridge approached the three-point line but the inbounds pass was off target. It bounced off Aldridge's fingers into the backcourt, and the Blazers were whistled for an over-and-back violation. 

The Heat were awarded possession. Dwyane Wade was fouled, and he sunk both of his free throws. Down four points with only :09 seconds remaining and no timeouts, it was game, set, match.

 It was a particularly upsetting defeat for the Blazers, not only because it was their second straight against an inferior Eastern Conference team, or because they led so handily earlier.

No, Wednesday's loss was frustrating because, after playing so handily, and riding the hot hand of Aldridge, the Blazers never even got off the potential game-tying shot.

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A-	LaMarcus Aldridge For 99% of his time on the court, Wednesday, Aldridge was a monster who couldn't miss. He also came up with some wicked rebounds down the stretch. But his final shot failed to draw iron, which puts a gnarly stain on an otherwise sublime 34 point, 12 rebound performance.
C-	Nicolas Batum For the third time in the last four games, Batum took no more than six shots from the field. He made half of them, Wednesday. And while the Blazers could've used a few more good looks from the Frenchman, they would've traded them for stouter defense on Wade, who Batum couldn't corral. Batum finished with eight points, four rebounds and six assists.
C	Robin Lopez Pretty middling performance from Lopez, who managed just six points, six rebounds and three turnovers.
B	Arron Afflalo Afflalo made 4-of-6 attempts from beyond the arc, and anytime he shoots from distance with such accuity is a boon for the Blazers. Along with his 15 points he added three boards and an assist.
C+	Damian Lillard Yet again Lillard shoots well from the field, though struggles from distance. He couldn't get free in the final inbounds plays either--which, to some degree, Miami deserves credit for. He finished with 17 points, three boards, three assists and four turnovers.

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