Trip Off to a Good Start

The Trail Blazers shocked us on Sunday with their sudden ability to run, gun, and push the tempo under just about any circumstance. Tuesday, in the first game of this road trip, they did an about face. Rather than attempt to run with a struggling team, who’d much rather run, the Blazers turned it into a half-court contest and frustrated the Memphis Grizzlies.Memphis doesn’t defend, but they can score. They came into the game averaging 106 points per game. Portland simply decided to turn the screws defensively, control the tempo, and held them to just 79 points, in the 93-79 victory- the 8th-straight victory over the Grizzlies.Brandon Roy, who was just 1 for 6 against Minnesota on Sunday, led the Blazers with 20 points, and also recorded 7 assists. He got plenty of help. LaMarcus Aldridge helped get the team off to a great start, and ended with 16 points, and 12 rebounds. Steve Blake was productive again in this new three-guard lineup, scoring 14 points and going 4 for 6 from behind ...