Blazers’ Longest Losing-Streak in Nearly Two Years

Tuesday, March 24, 2015

Andrew R Tonry, GoLocalPDX Contributor

WARRIORS 122, BLAZERS 108

Undermanned, against the best team in the NBA, the Blazers came out swinging Tuesday night. Through the first two quarters they played to the height of their capability, yet only led by five at halftime.

After the intermission, though, Golden State tightened their defense and blew the doors off their offense, and throttled the Blazers 36-to-18 in the third quarter.

From there out, the Blazers--who were without LaMarcus Aldridge (index finger), Nicolas Batum (lower back) and Chris Kaman (shoulder)--could do little but watch as the Warriors put on an offensive clinic.

Indeed, the Warriors were simply tremendous, Tuesday. They got easy shots and made the hard ones look easy. They made a season-best 60.2% from the field, assisted on 37 of their 50 made baskets, and won 122-108.

It was Portland's fifth-consecutive loss, their longest such streak in 23 months.

And while falling to the Warriors could've been expected--and without two starters, it most certainly was--the Blazers are in danger of spinning out of control.

A win Wednesday in Utah--who've been much more respectable basketball in recent weeks--would go a long way towards stemming the tide.

A sixth-straight loss, on the other hand--and another loss to a team whom the playoffs have passed by--would raise serious alarm that the Blazers could be in danger of surrendering the Northwest Division, and any hope of decent playoff seeding.

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A-	CJ McCollum McCollum didn't start (that fell to Alonzo Gee) but he did manage a career-high 23 points in 29 minutes. Indeed, McCollum scored in bunches, Tuesday. He made 9-of-18 from the field and 3-of-5 from downtown. He also managed three steals, but his defense was otherwise sub-par, as the Splash Brothers got whatever they wanted.
C+	Dorell Wright Wright started in place of Aldridge, and filled in about as expected: he hit a few threes, but couldn't come close to replacing the giant void. Indeed, it's clear: Wright gets the start because he's smart, and keeps the second unit otherwise intact--but he's not an NBA quality starter.
C-	Robin Lopez Andrew Bogut crushed Lopez inside. Bogut had a double-double, 10 points, 16 rebounds and six assists. Lopez, on the other hand, managed just two points, seven boards and three assists. Advantage: Golden State.
D+	Arron Afflalo Once again, with the Blazers undermanned, they could've used a lot more from the veteran Afflalo than they got. In 28 minutes Afflalo made 4-of-10 from the field and 1-of-4 from deep to finish with 9 points. He too struggled defensively on the Splash Brothers.
B+	Damian Lillard With Aldridge and Batum out, Lillard knew what the team needed from him: everything, but buckets in particular. In the first half, Lillard obliged, scoring 18 points by halftime. Around that time, the Warriors switched Klay Thompson on to Lillard and his production slowed. Lillard finished with 29, as well as seven rebounds and five assists. Also worth mentioning: Lillard made 6-of-11 attempts from behind the arc, the first time he shot above 50% from the three-point-line in the last six games.