Atlanta (2-1) at Portland (2-2)

Cloudy Currently: Portland, OR
Temp: 48° F
  • Game info: 10:00 pm EST Tue Nov 3, 2009
  • TV: SS, CSNW

By ANTHONY GIORNALISTA, STATS Senior Writer Nov 2, 5:18 pm EST

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LaMarcus Aldridge(notes) has helped the Portland Trail Blazers dominate Atlanta at home. His knee injury might give Greg Oden(notes) a greater role in trying to extend that success as the center plays his first game against the Hawks.

With Aldridge’s status uncertain, the Trail Blazers may have to rely more heavily on Oden for points in the paint as they host the Hawks on Tuesday night.

The Trail Blazers (2-2) have won nine of 10 at home against the Hawks (2-1), holding them to 92.3 points per game during that stretch.

Aldridge averaged 20.0 points and 9.5 rebounds in Portland’s last two games versus Atlanta at the Rose Garden, but he might not play Tuesday after suffering a bone bruise in his right knee Sunday night against Oklahoma City.

Blazers coach Nate McMillan said X-rays were negative, but he has no timetable for the 6-foot-11 forward’s return.

Aldridge averaged a career-high 18.1 points last season, continuing his development after posting 9.0 as a rookie in 2006-07. Portland is hoping for the same amount of improvement from Oden, who averaged 8.9 points as a first-year player last season.

The 7-footer, selected first overall in the 2007 draft, has missed all four of the Blazers’ games against the Hawks over the last two seasons due to various injuries.

Oden is averaging 6.5 points, 10.0 rebounds and 2.8 blocks this season. If Aldridge can’t go, Oden should get more chances to contribute offensively.

“I think he’s going to get better,” McMillan said. “We’re running some stuff for him … and we’ll learn how to get him the ball.”

Brandon Roy(notes) will likely assume even more of the scoring burden if Oden isn’t effective. The fourth-year guard averaged 30.7 points in his first three games but was held to 16 on 5-of-17 shooting against the Thunder.

Roy didn’t attempt his first free throw until 5:11 remained, but went 5 for 7 at the line the rest of the way.

“I’m maturing and learning the game and saying when you get leads you’ve got to try to build on them by getting to the free-throw line,” said Roy, the 2007 Rookie of the Year. “You don’t have to always shoot jumpers.”

Roy averaged 26.7 points in his last three games versus the Hawks. He will likely be matched up with Joe Johnson(notes), who continues to lead Atlanta offensively.

Johnson scored 27 points Sunday night but the Hawks lost 118-110 to the Los Angeles Lakers. Atlanta began the season with relatively easy home wins over Indiana and Washington, but allowed Los Angeles to shoot 52.9 percent.

This will be the second game of a four-game trip for the Hawks, who went 16-25 away from Philips Arena last season.

Atlanta needs a better performance from Josh Smith(notes), who scored seven points on 3-of-10 shooting versus the Lakers. He averaged 18.5 points in his first two contests.

Smith had 19 points in Atlanta’s 98-80 home win over Portland on March 15, the last meeting between the teams. The Blazers won the clubs’ other matchup last season 108-98 on Feb. 20.

Updated Nov 2, 5:18 pm EST
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Team Comparison

Team Record Standings PF PA Road/Home Streak L10
Atlanta 12-5 2nd Southeast / 4th East 102.4 97.5 Road 5-4 Lost 1 7-3
Portland 12-7 2nd Northwest / 5th West 96.5 90.5 Home 7-3 Lost 2 6-4

Notes

Former Hawks owner Ted Turner watched from a front-row seat. ... With G Acie Law sidelined by a back injury, the Hawks dressed G Speedy Claxton. The $25 million bust went more than two years without playing until the final week of the season, and he actually got on the court in the waning minutes with the outcome long since decided.

Apr 19, 11:06 pm EDT

Rookie G-F Nicolas Batum was back in Portland's starting lineup after missing a game because of the flu. ... Blazers C Joel Przybilla played in all 82 regular-season games. ... The Blazers scheduled a rally for Thursday in downtown Portland to celebrate the team's return to the playoffs.

Apr 16, 1:53 am EDT
NBA

27 Comments

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  1. Ski
    27. Posted by Ski Fri Nov 6 2:46pm EST

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    The Hawks. So proud for staying true to the course and not trying to get every superstar out there for a year or two, but keeping the core group intact. Hats off to team with a history and a GREAT coach who is growing with them every step of the way. I did not expect this from them.
  2. <i>bbmichal</i>
    26. Posted by bbmichal Wed Nov 4 4:08pm EST

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    If Oden is a bust I will take him. Brad MIller for Oden straight up!
  3. Lovable loser fan
    25. Posted by Lovable loser fan Wed Nov 4 10:49am EST

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    Oden wouldn't be so much of a bust if Kevin Durant superstar from the university of texas ( GO HORNS ) was drafted right behind him
  4. Larrenzo
    24. Posted by Larrenzo Wed Nov 4 10:41am EST

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    the Blazers will be just fine. Remeber { the sun shines on a dog's ass from time 2 time}
  5. The Georgia Outlaw
    23. Posted by The Georgia Outlaw Wed Nov 4 10:27am EST

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    Hawks!
  6. <i>bibb_zw</i>
    22. Posted by bibb_zw Wed Nov 4 9:54am EST

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    I kid you not when I say the Blazers are going to suck this year. They're already 1-2 @ home! Last season they were 34-7! big difference!
  7. The Judge
    21. Posted by The Judge Wed Nov 4 9:04am EST

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    Wow, fire Nate McMillan 5 games into the season??? What damn idiot wrote that? He's been the best coach the Blazers have had since Rick Adelman, but some of you are ready to run him out of town? Do us all a favor and find another sport to follow because OBVIOUSLY you know NOTHING about basketball. Dumb A$$ES.
  8. Alexis Jay
    20. Posted by Alexis Jay Wed Nov 4 8:45am EST

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    Oh... Aldridge was not injured afterall.. Ma bad. Sorry about that.
    But even though, just teach him not to do silly fouls + more balls + more minutes.
    Pretty pleaseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee...........
  9. Alexis Jay
    19. Posted by Alexis Jay Wed Nov 4 8:37am EST

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    Yeah... I know that's his problem the fouls. *sigh*
    I wish Oden will learn not to do those silly fouls.. But once he'll learn this + more balls feed to him + more minutes. The he will dominate the league.
    Go go go go...
  10. C-Note
    18. Posted by C-Note Wed Nov 4 8:26am EST

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    Oden had five fouls in just over 15 mins along with 3 TO. Portland needs to stop starting this fool and play him off the bench until he corrects these problems
  11. Alexis Jay
    17. Posted by Alexis Jay Wed Nov 4 8:25am EST

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    Please oh please...
    Now that Aldridge is not there(injured). Please feed more balls to Oden please!
    Give him a chance to score more points for him to get comfortable in scoring. Please Roy and company, please more balls to Oden please.. He will dominate the league down below much quicker once you do this earlier..
    Go Oden and Blazers!!!
  12. Anonymous Hero
    16. Posted by Anonymous Hero Wed Nov 4 8:08am EST

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    Man, the Blazers are fine, just got outplayed by a better team last night. Nate McMillan is a great coach, his team just lost, IT HAPPENS YOU IDIOTS!!!!! The Blazers will be one of the top teams in the West and for the person who said start Andre Miller "ASAP", you're an idiot. The Blazers didn't make their runs last night until Steve Blake entered the game. Miller is more athletic and more of a scorer, but Blake is a floor general and get the ball to the open man and knock down the open jumper if need be. So i would say it just depends on the team they are playin. Blake earned the starting role, so Miller will have to take it from him.

    In the meantime, GREAT JOB HAWKS! Went with a 9 man rotation and came out on top, KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK, GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!
  13. MIKES
    15. Posted by MIKES Wed Nov 4 7:09am EST

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    jamal crawford.. one of the best scorein guard in the game..hope he move up to the startin role..this guy is a stud...he can outright score...nice player ..
  14. who
    14. Posted by who Wed Nov 4 6:49am EST

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    crawford handsdown six man of the year
  15. ARTURO
    13. Posted by ARTURO Wed Nov 4 6:37am EST

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    Fire nate!!!!.... blazers have alot of talent they just need a better coach............
  16. <i>bunshintechnique</i>
    12. Posted by bunshintechnique Wed Nov 4 4:20am EST

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    Greg Oden is a Draft "BUST"...
  17. jigga
    11. Posted by jigga Wed Nov 4 3:46am EST

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    Fire coach nate, should have done it last year..
    guy is so dumb and they went to a zone the players didnt know what they were doing
  18. JY
    10. Posted by JY Wed Nov 4 3:02am EST

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    don't give up on the blazers so early into the season. this is just a way to teach coach nate not to be so dumb and start andre and put blake on the bench where he's most effective anyway.
  19. Ryan
    9. Posted by Ryan Wed Nov 4 2:43am EST

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    Don't panic, Blazer fans. I have the solution to our problems (Nate McMillan, pay attention please). here it is:
    1 - Start Andre Miller ASAP. He was brought in to help win, so why not start him? He seems to be better than Blake except at the 3-point shot. If nothing else, it'll show how the team plays with Miller running the show and it'll determine if he is better than Blake.
    2 - Get Rudy Fernandez more minutes. That guy can play. Maybe pairing him and Miller together for stretches of time will get something going. Maybe put him in instead of Outlaw, because Outlaw is too much of a wildcard in my book.
    3 - Keep Oden in the starting lineup, but get Joel some playing time early. Oden is getting better, but he's fouling too early. If Joel can get some minutes and take some of Oden's fouls, then Greg can do more things in the paint later on in games rather than sitting because he has 3 fouls in the first quarter.
    4 - WE NEED BATUM! Not something Nate can fix magically, but Nic Batum is one of the team's best defenders. And what does Portland need? Defense. Call me crazy, but I think Batum is the heart of the defense. I mean, look whats happening without him?

    Well, if the Blazers can do 3 out of 4 of these things, i think Portland can rebound easily. If not, we're so screwed when the Spurs come to town...
  20. shotgunmanny
    8. Posted by shotgunmanny Wed Nov 4 2:21am EST

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    I haven't see any different from last year. Same old stuff. Greg fouling, Blake missing, Aldridge the same prima donna. I start thinking that what we have is a coaching problem . We keep this guy Blake as a starter instead to bring Miller. Andre Miller is a better player than Blake. Was wrong with Nate? Travis the same loose cannon ball. No direction, where is the coach? We were told of the new stuff that Oden has. Where is ? As far as I know he STILL has the same problem FOUL,FOUL, FOUL.......
    I hate to say this but this fellow Oden is going to be a huge liability. So far is totally overrated by a ton

    Bring another coach .Nate could be a good college coach, He doesn't belong in the NBA. .
  21. Kevin J
    7. Posted by Kevin J Wed Nov 4 2:02am EST

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    The Blazers are not on the level of the ATL Hawks!
  22. Mike G
    6. Posted by Mike G Wed Nov 4 1:06am EST

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    The Blazers will be fine. They're not far away – the three losses have been to good teams, and none have been by more than six points. They have two main obstacles: the point guards are shooting badly and Oden keeps getting into foul trouble. Neither one is insurmountable. Blake and Miller will recover (take a look at their career percentages) and if Oden keeps fouling, Przybilla will have to step in more, just as he did last year. I'm guessing the first 25 games or so will be bumpy, then they'll be all right. The end result will be enough to break the top five in the west and make it to the second round of the playoffs.
  23. <i>donk2155</i>
    5. Posted by donk2155 Wed Nov 4 1:03am EST

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    Blazers SUCK!!!!!! ODEN is a FLOP.
  24. MoNkEyBaRz
    4. Posted by MoNkEyBaRz Wed Nov 4 12:59am EST

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    Crawford should be starting.......Bibby's all but done.
  25. Derrk
    3. Posted by Derrk Wed Nov 4 12:54am EST

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    nice road win Hawks!!!
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