Blazers Have No Answers, Drop Game 3

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Saturday, April 25, 2015

Andrew R Tonry, GoLocalPDX Contributor

GRIZZLIES 115, BLAZERS 109
Memphis leads series 3-0

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Playing in Portland didn't matter.

Neither did the return of Arron Afflalo.

Nor did the Grizzlies' losing Mike Conley to injury in the third quarter.

The Grizzlies simply have the Blazers' number.

Memphis won Game 3, 115-109, Saturday at the Moda Center the way they did the previous two: convincingly, with poise and grit.

Memphis have not only dominated the Blazers--they've exposed them. Memphis too have dealt with injuries, and even without their floor general point guard down the stretch, the Grizzlies were still the better team.

Cynical as it may sound, Portland were offered a massive opportunity when Conley left the game are taking an elbow to the head from C.J. McCollum.

The shot was severe enough that Conley was taken from the locker room to a local hospital. With only a day between games, his status could be questionable for Monday.

Memphis were also without backup point guard Beno Udrih (ankle), so third-stringer Nick Calathes checked in a played the rest of the way.

Still, the Blazers weren't able to capitalize.

They made a 9-0 run, but then took a few bad shots and missed a few open ones, and the Grizzlies widened the gap. Memphis didn't do anything special, or wild. They just hung in there, and took good shots.

Wire-to-wire, Saturday, Portland never led.

Over the course of the series' 144 minutes, the Blazers have been in front for just 16.

Compared to the first two games in Memphis, there were some upticks. Portland had their best shooting game. The Blazers (and Memphis too) shot 46.8% from the floor. Portland also made 11-of-their-27 thee-point attempts, good for 40%.

The Grizzlies pulled ahead by getting to the line, where they scored 39 points to Portland's 26. That right there is the difference.

Portland fans were upset with the calls. But the Grizzlies too were hit with dubious whistles, and the advantage often goes (rightfully) to the aggressor.

Looking ahead to Monday's Game 4, it appears Portland have more to play for than pride. Will they fight hard to avoid the sweep? Or will they slink away with their tails between their legs?

The way things have been going, slinking away seems more likely--it's been Portland's posture this whole series.

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D	LaMarcus Aldridge Aldridge, who fought valiently trying to shoulder the Blazers in the first two games while Lillard stunk, occupied the rut on Saturday. Aldridge came out horribly, missing his first seven shots. And they weren't just rolling out--they were way off. During the stretch he even put up an air-ball. Indeed, Aldridge's play helped dig the early hole that the Blazers couldn't get out of, even once Conley had left the court.
B	Nicolas Batum Batum's 27 points Saturday tied a season-high. (It was just the fourth time he's scored 20 or more this season.) And while it came at a fine time, Batum, who added six rebounds and four assists, could've been better. He made 6-of-12 attempts from distance, but missed a couple open looks--and rushed a few more--that would've gotten Portland over the hump in the fourth quarter. Indeed, while it was one Batum's best offensive performances of the season, it still left wanting.
D+	Robin Lopez In the most physical game of the series, Lopez was frustrated mightily by Marc Gasol. For the most part, it rendered Lopez ineffective. He four points, four rebounds and two turnovers in 27 minutes.
D+	Arron Afflalo Afflalo had a three during the Blazers' 9-0 run in the fourth quarter. And that was about it. As has been his way this year with Portland, Afflalo has failed when the Blazers needed him most.
B-	Damian Lillard To the delight of Portland fans--and likely his own tense conscience--Lillard started off hot. He made his first three--a deep one--and 6-of-his-first-7. He also, for the first time this series, set up his teammates. But as the game went on, Lillard cooled. He had just three points in the fourth quarter, and took a handful of ill-advised, difficult three's. They were the kind of shots that, if they go in, constitute Lillard time. But Saturday surely wasn't Lillard Time.
A-	CJ McCollum While the starting shooting guard position continues to be an absolute black hole for the Blazers, McCollum was buffeted by returning to the second unit, where he's free to attack with the ball. He made hay of it, going 8-of-14 from the field, 2-of-4 from distance, and 8-of-9 from the line. McCollum tied a season-high with 26 points. He also grabbed four rebounds and two steals.
D	Meyers Leonard After twisting his ankle in the locker room and missing Game 2, Kaman returned and stole a bunch of minutes from Leonard. It was a shame, because Kaman looked old and washed up.
D	Meyers Leonard It's been an awful series from Blake, who could help the Blazers by getting open for a few three's. That hasn't happened. He missed his only attempt.
INC	Meyers Leonard It doesn't make sense. Leonard, who was one of the very few bright spots in the first two games, saw just five minutes, Saturday. He did not attempt a shot. A head-scratcher to be sure.