Minnesota (1-5) at Portland (3-3)

Mostly Cloudy Currently: Portland, OR
Temp: 48° F
  • Game info: 9:00 pm EST Sun Nov 8, 2009
  • TV: FSNO, CSNW

By BRETT HUSTON, STATS Writer Nov 7, 4:14 pm EST

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The Portland Trail Blazers’ new lineup worked wonders in a win their last time out, and they plan on keeping Andre Miller(notes) in their starting five.

The Minnesota Timberwolves may need to make some changes of their own if they plan on beating Portland.

The Blazers look for their ninth consecutive win over Minnesota on Sunday night at the Rose Garden, while the Timberwolves try to regroup after a dreadful showing in their fifth straight defeat.

Portland (3-3) had averaged 94.2 points its first five games, so coach Nate McMillan decided to kick-start his team’s stagnant offense by inserting Miller alongside Brandon Roy(notes) and Steve Blake(notes) while moving Martell Webster(notes) to the bench.

Miller wasn’t spectacular Friday against San Antonio - he shot 2 of 9 - but finished with 10 points, six rebounds and four assists, and McMillan was thrilled with the three-guard offense. Roy scored a game-high 24 points, Blake added 15 and the ball movement improved in a 96-84 win over the Spurs.

“I’m happy to see the movement. That felt more like a flow, more like a rhythm on both ends of the floor,” McMillan said. “(Andre) got everybody involved, a lot of communications, and just looked in sync even though that team hasn’t played a lot together. We got the ball movement.”

The change, which Roy called “something we needed,” is expected to stick - at least for now.

“I looked at the schedule,” McMillan said. “With the schedule the next week or two I am going to stay with it and look at it. It was a good unit tonight.”

Miller also got Greg Oden(notes) the ball more often, and the second-year center responded with 14 points, eight rebounds and four blocks in his best game of the season.

Oden has only faced the Timberwolves (1-5) once since being selected with the No. 1 pick in the 2007 NBA draft, but Roy has made sure his absence hasn’t made a difference. The two-time All-Star, originally selected by Minnesota with the sixth pick in the 2006 draft before being swapped for Randy Foye(notes), has averaged 24.5 points and 6.5 assists in leading Portland to two straight four-game season sweeps against the Timberwolves.

Minnesota could certainly use another scorer right now. First-year coach Kurt Rambis’ team has averaged a Western Conference-low 91.0 points, and was even worse Friday in an ugly 87-72 home loss to Milwaukee.

“We said it in the beginning - this is going to be a process, this is going to take time, and they have to learn how to play together and how to do the right things in order to get wins,” Rambis told the Timberwolves’ official Web site.

While it was expected that Minnesota’s young backcourt of Jonny Flynn(notes) and Corey Brewer(notes) would experience some growing pains, Al Jefferson(notes) figured to give them an outstanding post threat.

Jefferson, though, hasn’t looked comfortable inside during his first six games back after tearing his ACL last February. He’s averaged 15.3 points on 39.6 percent shooting, and has yet to record more than eight rebounds in a game after averaging at least 11.0 the past three seasons.

Jefferson averaged 26.5 points and 5.5 rebounds in two games against Portland last season before the injury.

Minnesota has lost seven in a row at Portland, though five of those defeats have come by four points or fewer.

Updated Nov 7, 4:14 pm EST
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Team Comparison

Team Record Standings PF PA Road/Home Streak L10
Minnesota 1-13 5th Northwest / 15th West 88.6 102.7 Road 0-7 Lost 13 0-10
Portland 11-5 2nd Northwest / 5th West 97.1 88.9 Home 6-2 Won 2 8-2

Notes

F-C Craig Smith scored 18 points in 18 minutes before fouling out for the Wolves. ... Rookie F-C Kevin Love had a team-high 10 rebounds. ... The Timberwolves shot 7-for-25 from 3-point range.

Apr 16, 12:03 am 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

20 Comments

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  1. Cherry Pie
    20. Posted by Cherry Pie Tue Nov 10 10:23am EST

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    Greg Oden a draft bust??? Are you kidding me??? Sam Bowie was a draft bust . . . and who did they pass on??? Jordan, Barkley, Stockton . . . or maybe Sam Perkins, Mel Turpin, Kevin Willis or Michael Cage? Wait and Blazer History will tell the tale. Here are the top 10 . . . now tell me how much better these other 9 are . . .

    1. POR -- Greg Oden

    2. SEA -- Kevin Durant

    3. ATL -- Al Horford

    4. MEM -- Mike Conley Jr.

    5. SEA -- Jeff Green

    6. MIL -- Yi Jianlian

    7. MIN -- Corey Brewer

    8. GSW -- Brandan Wright

    9. CHI -- Joakim Noah

    10. SAC -- Spencer Hawes
  2. <i>bunshintechnique</i>
    19. Posted by bunshintechnique Mon Nov 9 9:46pm EST

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    Yes, Portland is good right now but it cannot hide the fact that Greg Oden is a "Draft Bust". I would pick Rudy Fernandez over him.
  3. Scott S
    18. Posted by Scott S Mon Nov 9 5:17pm EST

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    doesn't look like any of you are watching the games! How can you comment about Roy or Oden, get your game on and watch then you might say things that make sense instead of just blowing rediculous, superflous hot air that doesn't make any sense or reason. Roy did his job and so did Oden and all the Blazers. Great job Nate. The season is still ahead of us not behind us!
  4. <i>cobblinator</i>
    17. Posted by cobblinator Mon Nov 9 4:14pm EST

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    2. Posted by tructran36 Sun Nov 8 8:30pm EST Report Abuse
    Greg Oden sucks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    U suck
  5. Daniel
    16. Posted by Daniel Mon Nov 9 1:51pm EST

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    Shotgunmarry is an idiot. U complain that the future aldridge is not physical. But u want to play old man Howard. Give me a break. Portland is working good with what they got. They miller to play consistantly cause Blake is not a good pg. He got abused last yr in the playoffs by Houston.
  6. shotgunmanny
    15. Posted by shotgunmanny Mon Nov 9 10:57am EST

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    The new line-up looks good, for now. I believe the line - up should be Aldridge, Webster, Oden, Miller and Roy. From the bench: Steve, Fernandez, Outlaw, Juwan. Prezvilla. At time Bayless.

    The Blazers need physical players. Adridge shape up, NEEDS TO BE PHYSICAL. He is NOT. Outlaw needs control. Bayless is good but needs direction, He is a loose bullet ricocheting all over the court. Oden needs improving his offense. He could be a trerrific offensive player. Leave the defense for Prez. Make Roy a swingman. He can play Small Forward and Guard. The rest of the team keep developing. Try not to play more than 9 guys. I want to see more of Juwan.

    In close games at the end I want to see: ROY, MILLER, FERNANDEZ, ODEN, JUWAN. I would like to see ALDRIDGE, but the guy IS NOT PHYSICAL. What a waste. BLAKE is good but I am afraid I have to go with MILLER. However, if we need a 3 point play I want BLAKE in the floor alongside with ROY and FERNANDEZ and make a choice who will shoot depending how the floor looks. Of course in the center PREZ not ODEN. And in sm fwd. WEBSTER,

    If you are way behind be sure you have ROY and OUTLAW there. The rest could be debatable. BAYLESS is good but he is not the player for clutch time yet. TOO LOOSE.
  7. Ryan
    14. Posted by Ryan Mon Nov 9 5:17am EST

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    So Roy only scored 2 points this game, big deal. A win is a win. And besides, it was a gimme of a game against Minnesota. Roy could have started the game, spent a few minutes on the floor, then gone to the snack bar, grabbed a few hot dogs and a soda, finished them, and sat out the rest of the game citing "heartburn" and the Blazers still would've won. Yes, I'm saying the T-Wolves suck.

    Anyway, I'm loving the 3-guard unit Portland is using, but in the long-term, it's gotta be Miller, Roy, Webster, Aldridge, and Oden in the first unit. I love Steve Blake and I think he should get a lot of playing time (20-25 minutes a game would be great), but Miller is clearly better. On the other hand, using 3 guards to start does help the team spread out minutes among the backup guards, like Bayless or Rudy Fernandez, both of whom I think should get more minutes too (mostly Rudy though). Well, if this lineup works, it works. I just hope it doesn't produce disastrous results later on...
  8. getsomeson23
    13. Posted by getsomeson23 Mon Nov 9 3:58am EST

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    Portland is in no trouble if Brandon scores only two points Henry. The team would be in trouble if Brandon solely had to carry the load and was getting little help from everyone else. I was at the game and I did not even realize Brandon had two until the third. And upon learning that, I was surprised to see Miller with 19 (at the time), Outlaw with 14 (at the time) and I knew Aldridge was just running laps with his 19.

    With the new lineup, a person like Bayless (who was seeing zero floor time) is now getting a chance to show if his game has matured enough to help to the team. So that is why the minutes distribution is so even (I believe in the San Antonio game it was a little bit of the same, but Bayless only got a little over 5 minutes, while everyone else was close to their regular rotation). The guard lineup is a surprising one, but I think it will work against most teams in the league, and it puts the onus on the team to get the necessary stops to be able to break and run the court. A good mini-run to help lift the team before their 5 game roadie where 4-1 is a 95% possibility.
  9. <i>fat_baldwin_inc</i>
    12. Posted by fat_baldwin_inc Mon Nov 9 2:03am EST

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    Go nate!!!!!
  10. Nathan
    11. Posted by Nathan Mon Nov 9 1:52am EST

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    Nathan Jawai!! Go you good thing, Aussie ftw!
  11. Meadow
    10. Posted by Meadow Mon Nov 9 12:29am EST

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    roy knows his job is do to what is needed to lock down wins. this game was never in doubt so roy just put it on cruise control.
  12. <i>doug456123</i>
    9. Posted by doug456123 Mon Nov 9 12:09am EST

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    Wow, Oden only got ONE foul.
  13. DTV
    8. Posted by DTV Mon Nov 9 12:07am EST

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    I picked Brandon Roy in my Fantasy League. He better step it up.
  14. Iwvelez
    7. Posted by Iwvelez Sun Nov 8 11:48pm EST

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    The game was a blowout from beginning to end so Roy wasn't needed to score he just rebounded and passed the ball because the whole team was on fire
  15. Tom
    6. Posted by Tom Sun Nov 8 11:44pm EST

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    oden and dre were friggin dominent!!!!!!!!!!
  16. Henry H
    5. Posted by Henry H Sun Nov 8 11:40pm EST

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    Tell you what, that is one strange box score. I didn't see the game, but if it's true that Brandon Roy had two points, along with an 0-0 at the foul line, these guys are in some trouble. And take a look at the minutes played. That's just a strange line, though I guess if it was an early blowout, it makes some sense that 10 players had roughly the same minutes. And what a bizarre starting line-up. I've been too busy to know what's up with that, but I'll head over to Blazersedge.com to get the skinny. Plus, I'd trust Nate McMillan to make most any basketball decision.
  17. No Sympathy
    4. Posted by No Sympathy Sun Nov 8 11:40pm EST

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    WTF happened Brandon Roy?
  18. Duz The Man
    3. Posted by Duz The Man Sun Nov 8 11:36pm EST

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    ahahahahaha greg sucks? yeah... min sucks badd tonight
  19. Truc
    2. Posted by Truc Sun Nov 8 8:30pm EST

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    Greg Oden sucks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  20. Iwvelez
    1. Posted by Iwvelez Sat Nov 7 7:02pm EST

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    Greg Oden is going to posterize Al Jefferson.. count on it.
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