The Afterparty: Spurs/Blazers Game 6

A party full of post-game links and coverage to give you every over-analyzed angle in hopes of making your Blazers IQ that much greater. 

Can the Trail Blazers wear the "Rip City" Jerseys every night?  There was ball movement on offense.  There were fewer blown defensive assignments.  We actually saw proper defensive rotations.  There was energy for 3.5 quarters.  Roy was his usual self.  Outlaw was his usual self.  Andre Miller finally looked comfortable.  Blake shot well.  And did I mention that Greg Oden got the best of Tim Duncan?

Do we credit this type of performance to Nate McMillan's unconventional starting lineup change which featured both Blake and Miller?  Maybe.  It definitely helped.  It got this team off to a quick start and into a rhythm we had yet to see through the first 5 games.  And from Nate's post game comments, it sounds like he plans on sticking with this new starting 5 for the next few games at least.  The Blazers take on teams that are not necessarily impressive at the off guard and small forward positions so this lineup should continue to work.  For now that is.  I'm not ready to anoint this move as the genius moment of the century yet.  Just one game people, just one game.

A couple of downers last night:  LaMarcus Aldridge and Rudy Fernandez are becoming forgotten soldiers.  Aldridge was decent against the Hawks but has been a non-factor the rest of the time.  And Rudy, far worse.  Last night he saw a measly 11 minutes and really did nothing but throw one nice bounce pass to Aldridge and missed a buzzer beater that Martell cleaned up to end the 1st.  Not sure what it'll take to get these two back on track, but I hope something clicks soon as they are too important to this team to fizzle away.

• The media row report.  [Blazers Edge]
• Props to the new starting lineup.  [Mike Barrett]
• And the RG started getting nervous.  [Jason Quick]
• "Spark" sounds just about right for last night.  [Brian T Smith]
  
• Recap from the enemy side.  [Pounding the Rock]
  

Recap.  Box Score...



Highlights...


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