Blazers Start Road Trip Right

Sunday, March 15, 2015

Andrew R Tonry, GoLocalPDX Contributor

BLAZERS 113, RAPTORS 97

After blasting the Pistons on Friday in Portland, on Sunday the Blazers picked up right where they left off: hitting on all cylinders.

The Trail Blazers have shot 50% or better from the field in consecutive games for the first time this season. #PORatTOR

— Trail Blazers PR (@TrailBlazersPR) March 16, 2015

In Toronto, Sunday, the Blazers were totally in sync. Their ball movement was crisp and their three's were falling. Portland beat the Raptors going away, 113-97.

Indeed, the Blazers are looking as efficient and connected as they have all season--which is especially heartening, considering the recent loss of Wesley Matthews.

And while replacement Arron Afflalo's Matthews-like line helped, Sunday, the resurgence of Nicolas Batum--who's rediscovered confidence and playmaking ability--is perhaps the most important factor in Portland's smooth, effective play since the All-Star break.

In Toronto, Sunday, Batum was quietly marvelous. He took only five shots, yet piled up a double-double--10 points and 12 assists. He also made both of his attempts from deep.

Once again a threat to make his three's, Batum is opening up the offense for the entire team. Every Blazers starter scored in double-figures, Sunday.

All that ball movement got the Blazers plenty of great looks, and almost to a man, Portland knocked them down. The team shot 52.3% from the field and 44.8% from distance. Of the Blazers' 45 made baskets, 27 were assisted.

As the first of a five-city eastern swing, the Blazers couldn't have asked for much more. They travel immediately to Washington, where they will take on the struggling Wizards, Monday afternoon.

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A	LaMarcus Aldridge This was the quintessential LaMarcus Aldridge performance: get the offense going early, continue being a threat and grab some boards. Aldridge finished with 24 points, 10 boards and five assists, while drilling 9-of-his-14 attempts from the field.
A-	Nicolas Batum Early in the season it was frustrating when Batum only took a few shot attempts. That was, in part, because he was missing most of them, especially the three's. But when he's making them everything changes, and he doesn't really need to take too many. He just needs to act quickly and decisively, which is exactly what he's been doing in recent weeks. Supremely efficient game for Batum, who finished with 10 points and 12 assists, a couple of which came at critical junctures and snuffed out the Raptors comeback attempts.
B	Robin Lopez Lopez patrolled the paint, Sunday, where he had three blocks and affected many more. He finished with 11 points and six rebounds.
C	Arron Afflalo Afflalo was the opposite of Lillard: he nailed his outside shots while bricking those closer to the hoop. But what the need from Afflalo is to replicate Wesley Matthews' outside touch, and Afflalo obliged, Sunday, making 4-of-6 from deep. Overall, though, he was went just 5-of-14 from the field, scoring 14 points, while grabbing one rebound and having no assists.
B-	Damian Lillard Lillard scored some slick moves around the basket, Sunday, though he struggled from distance, making just 2-of-8 from beyond the arc. Still, he shot 50% overall on the day, and finished with 23 points, four rebounds, five assists and two steals.