BLAZERS GRADED: San Antonio 110, Portland 96

Friday, January 16, 2015

Andrew R Tonry, GoLocalPDX Contributor

Though it's been a rare sight this season, the Spurs looked like themselves Friday. Which is to say: they looked like the NBA's defending champs.

With NBA Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard back after missing 15 games, the Spurs starting lineup emerged intact for only the second time this season.

Finally whole, San Antonio embarrassed the Blazers. The entirely dominating performance was reminiscent of last year's playoffs, where the Spurs bounced Portland with ease, a potent offense firing on all cylinders.

Save for shooting percentage, San Antonio topped Portland is most every other important category. The Spurs out-rebounded the Blazers 49-32, out-assisted them 34-20, and forced a whopping 12 steals. And while the Blazers did shoot 50% from the field, San Antonio took an astounding 20 more shots than the Blazers.

Indeed, this was a reminder from the perennially-contending Spurs: they're not going anywhere.

Despite shooting well inside the arc, the Blazers struggled outside it, netting just 6-of-19 from deep. Five of those makes came from the bench. Portland's starters, meanwhile, were an atrocious 1-of-12 from three.

As San Antonio's lead swelled above 20 in the fourth quarter, Blazers' coach Terry Stotts waved the white flag and emptied the bench, presumably trying to get his starters a few extra minutes of rest as Portland plays the second of a back-to-back in Memphis, Saturday.

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LAMARCUS ALDRIDGE: B-
Aldridge was serviceable, Friday. He made half of his shots, good for 24 points, and grabbed eight points. He didn't exactly light the world on fire, either. He may, however, be receiving a call--or a fine--from the league after an egregious flop that drew free throws on Tony Parker.

NICOLAS BATUM: F
Record scratch: Batum continues to toil. He finished with five points, four boards, two assists and five turnovers. A pair of them, on back-to-back possessions, were particularly ugly. Twice Batum threw awful passes to the hands of San Antonio defenders that resulted in fast-break baskets.

CHRIS KAMAN: D
Kaman never really got going, Friday. He finished with just six points and five rebounds. Against the Spurs up-tempo, fast offense, there wasn't much he could do.

DAMIAN LILLARD: B-
While Lillard had some fine moments--including scoring nine-consecutive points to end the second quarter--his outside shot was off. Lillard missed all five attempts from behind the arc. He finished with 23 points, five assists and two boards.

WESLEY MATTHEWS: C-
Matthews took a physical pounding toward the end of Wednesday's game against the Clippers and didn't seem to be right on Friday. He took only four shots--of which he made one--and managed only two points, two assists and a rebound. Were he not banged up, the grade would've been worse. Extra credit for toughing it out.

MEYERS LEONARD: B+
It continues: Leonard's getting court time and producing. Yeah, a few dumb fouls, but he also made both attempts from downtown. In fact, Leonard made all four of his shots Friday, good for 12 points. A few more rebounds (he had three) would've pushed this one to an 'A.'

CJ MCCOLLUM: A
A marvelous 20 minutes of offense for McCollum, who also made both of his three's. He tied a season-high with 17 points. And, like Leonard, he seems to be gaining confidence.