BLAZERS GRADED: Portland 95, Indiana 85

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Saturday, December 13, 2014

Andrew R Tonry, GoLocalPDX Contributor

It was good, but not great.

After losing the previous two games, the Blazers beat the Pacers in Indiana, 95-85, wrapping up their five-game road-trip with a record of 3-2.

Now, most any road win--especially the second night of a back-to-back and the fifth game in seven nights--is solid, even against a team who'd lost their previous seven games.

But what keeps Saturday's win from being great, however, is that the Blazers were on course to deal the Pacers a massive blowout and they took their foot off the gas.

During the thrid quarter Portland led by as many as 29 points, Saturday in Indianapolis. Bench players like Will Barton, Meyers Leonard and Thomas Robinson should've been trotted in like human victory cigars.

But mop up duties were once again passed to Portland's starting five, as the Blazers scored just two points in the opening six-and-a-half minutes of the final period. During that time Indiana rattled off a 12-0 run. Blazer coach Terry Stotts fumed, and sent Damian Lillard back in. Moments later, LaMarcus Aldridge too returned to action.

The Pacers continued cutting into Portland's lead, getting as close as eight, though they never really threatened. 

Still, after losing the two previous games--including an absolute stinker at Minnesota--resting the starters down the stretch of a true blowout would've put a little extra spring in the Blazers' step as they return to Portland.

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NICOLAS BATUM: B
Yet again Batum makes well-rounded contributions while struggling from distance. Saturday he was 1-of-5 from behind the three-point line. He was hitting from inside the arc, though. He finished with 14 points, his highest total since opening night. (Actually, looking at it now, it's a little unnerving that Batum's season-high is just 16 points...) 

LAMARCUS ALDRIDGE: B+
Pretty run-of-the-mill game for Aldridge, who notched a double-double with 19 points and 14 rebounds even though his shot was a little off (8-of-23 from the field).

ROBIN LOPEZ: B
Eight points and eight boards for Lopez, who made all four attempts. Just putting on the hard hat, grabbing the lunchbox, and going to work.

WESLEY MATTHEWS: B-
Not a whole lot stands out about Matthews' performance, Saturday. Like the rest of the Blazers--and the team at large--he took care of business.

DAMIAN LILLARD: B-
Same as the others, Lillard didn't shoot particularly well (7-of-22 overall, 0-of-3 from three) but he was responsible for a few highlights, including this nasty dunk:

STEVE BLAKE: B+
Solid performance from Blake, who finished with eight points and a team-high seven assists--even if this flailing low-light where he tosses the ball out of bounds and loses a shoe is destined for next week's Shaq-tin' a Fool:

CHRIS KAMAN: B+
Kaman helped spark the second quarter run which gave the Portland the initial separation. In 18 minutes he had 10 points and six rebounds.

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