Sorry I’m writing this 24 hours after the game ended. It’s been a busy time at the ole NWSB. If anyone knows some Oregon NBA sports fans, specifically a Portland Trail Blazers die-hard who can write these pretty much when the game ends let me know. We’d like to have a chat with him/her.
The Blazers have lost eleven games this year, but none of them have been as tough to take as last night’s loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
BOXSCORE | My POST GAME NOTES
Oklahoma City 111, Portland 107
When: 10:00 PM ET, Monday, February 6, 2012
Where: Rose Garden, Portland, Oregon
Officials: #48 Scott Foster, #42 Eric Lewis, # Matthew Myers
Attendance: 20559
Portland played well enough to win, and they should have come out of there with a victory last night (more on that later).
Here then is my Love’ Em & Hate’ Em for the Thunder matchup on Monday night.
Love’ Em
1. LaMarcus AldridgeWhat more can you say about how brilliant he has been for this team? LaMarcus Aldridge had 39 points last night, and he had the game-winning block if Scott Foster hadn’t wrongly called goaltending with six seconds left in regulation and the Blazers leading by two. Aldridge was 11 out of 11 at the free throw line.
2. Winning the Turnover BattleOklahoma City had 19 turnovers in this one while the Blazers had just 12 turnovers. Portland has had trouble taking care of the ball at some points during the season, but they seem to be improving of late.
Nicolas Batum played 32 minutes and had zero turnovers and three steals.
Hate’ Em
1. Terrible OfficiatingThere is no way I would put anything else at number one on this list after a game like last night. Scott Foster called Aldridge for goaltending despite the fact that Foster was the furthest official away from the play.
Thunder vs. Trail Blazers blog: Love’ em & Hate’ em - (AP Photo/Don Ryan)
It’s tough to see whether it is goaltending from half court, but Foster went ahead and called it anyway.
He was wrong and it ended up costing the TrailBlazers a key win.
2. Rebounding MarginIt’s tough to win a game when you get outrebounded 59 to 39. Oklahoma City had 18 offensive rebounds in this one. Three Thunder plays were in double figures in rebounds last night.
3. Jamal CrawfordWith Raymond Felton hurting, Jamal Crawford got a rare start at the point guard spot last night. Crawford still took 18 shots and hit only six.
He is shooting only 37.9% from the floor this season.
The Blazers really need Crawford to start being more selective with his shots.
A point guard taking 18 shots generally isn’t a recipe for success.
The Blazers have the night off tonight, but they will be back in action Wednesday night at home against the Rockets.
Want to see the video of that pathetic call in the Thunder vs. Blazers game? Click here – its on our forums.
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Post tags: 2011/12, 2012, Aldridge Goaltending Video, Blazers Blog, Love Em Hate Em, Nate McMillan, Oklahoma City Thunder, Oklahoma City vs. Portland recap, portland, Portland Trail Blazers, Portland Trailblazers, Portland Trailblazers Blog, RIP City, Thunder vs. Trail Blazers, Trailblazers blog
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