WATCH: Botched Call Burns Blazers

Monday, March 16, 2015

Andrew R Tonry, GoLocalPDX Contributor

WIZARDS 105, BLAZERS 97

With 2:15 remaining in the fourth quarter, the Blazers were down, 96-90. Damian Lillard drove past John Wall and attempted a layup. Wall came flying in from behind for the block and got his hand on the ball, but not before the ball hit the backboard.

By NBA rules, that's a goal-tend. The Blazers should've been awarded two points.

But the referees missed the call, instead awarding Wall the block.

The Blazers were able to corral the ensuing loose ball, but missed their next try.

Wall got the following rebound and sped down the court where he found Paul Pierce in the corner. Wall found Pierce, who drained the three.

Meanwhile, a furious Terry Stotts drew a technical foul for protesting the missed goal-tend call.

So, instead of cutting the Wizards' lead to four, the Blazers found themselves in a 10-point hole. Indeed, the missed call drastically altered the outcome of Monday's game.

But that is not to say the Blazers should have--or would have won.

After cutting a 25 point deficit down to three, the Blazers had essentially been trading baskets with the Wizards throughout much of the fourth quarter. Portland did an admirable job whittling away the lead, but never proved they could get over the hump. The Blazers led only once, Monday, when the score was 2-0.

And, to be sure, any time a team trails by 25 points, and shoots 40% from the field, they don't really deserve to win--call or no call.

But at least the Blazers can be allowed to wonder: what could've been had the refs got it right?

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B+	LaMarcus Aldridge Aldridge started slow, but came alive late. If anything the Blazers didn't go to him enough down the stretch, where his post and turn-around game was really on-point. Making 10-of-19 attempts from the field, Aldridge finished with 24 points, 12 rebounds and three assists.
B-	Nicolas Batum Yet again, Batum was everywhere, affecting the game on both ends of the court. He ripped down a season-high 15 rebounds to go along with 12 points, five assists a steal and a block. He didn't, however, have his shot going. Batum made 4-of-12 from the field, Monday, and 2-of-6 from beyond the arc.
C	Robin Lopez The large and powerful Wizards front-line of Nene and Marcin Gortat got the better of Lopez, Monday, who scored eight points and grabbed just four boards.
C+	Arron Afflalo Afflalo ignited the Blazers' third-quarter run that erased a 25 point lead and gave Portland a chance. In the period, he scored 10 of his 15 points. At the same time, Afflalo struggled to contain Bradley Beal.
C+	Damian Lillard Lillard's game was akin to Batum's--he couldn't make a shot but was effective elsewhere. Lillard hit just 5-of-18 from the floor and 2-of-8 from downtown. He finished with 14 points, nine assists and four rebounds.
A	Chris Kaman The Blazers came out totally flat, but when Kaman checked in he game them a lift, hitting 4-of-his-first-6 shots. Unfortunately, Kaman was the only bench player who shot above 50% for the evening. He finished with 12 points and four rebounds in 13 minutes.