Miller leads Blazers to rout of Timberwolves

Nov 9, 12:44 am EST

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PORTLAND, Ore. (AP)—Portland coach Nate McMillan’s experiment with a three-guard starting lineup has sparked the Trail Blazers.

Portland won its second consecutive game since McMillan employed a starting lineup that includes guards Brandon Roy(notes), Andre Miller(notes) and Steve Blake(notes). It was Miller leading the way Sunday, as he scored 21 points to lead Portland to a 116-93 win over Minnesota.

With Roy, Miller and Blake as starters, the Blazers (4-3) have won games by margins of 12 and 23 points. Against Minnesota, Portland shot 50 percent (41-for-82) from the field and outrebounded the Timberwolves 49-39.

The Trail Blazers also had 35 assists, led by Roy’s seven.

“That’s always a good sign when the team is moving the ball because it get everybody involved,” McMillan said.

Everyone who played for Portland scored. Miller hit 9 of 14 shots in 27 minutes to score a season high for points. LaMarcus Aldridge(notes) and Travis Outlaw(notes) scored 19 points each, followed by Jerryd Bayless(notes) with 12 and Greg Oden(notes) with 11.

One beneficiary of having point guards Blake and Miller in the starting lineup was Aldridge, who scored 17 points during the first half.

“Having two point guards on the floor makes it easier when I run the floor. I know one of those two guys is going to see me,” said Aldridge, who grabbed 10 rebounds and went 9-of-9 from the free throw line. “When you run the floor and you get the ball I think it makes you feel like you’re doing it for a good reason.”

The three-guard experiment worked so well Sunday that the Blazers didn’t even need Roy’s usual scoring contribution. Roy, who came into the game averaging 25.2 points a game, scored two points on 1-of-6 shooting in 26 minutes, though he also had six rebounds.

It was Roy’s lowest output since Nov. 10, 2006, when he failed to score in seven minutes against New Orleans. Roy didn’t see his lack of scoring as a negative.

“Guys were making plays and I didn’t need to score,” he said.

Minnesota (1-6) lost its sixth consecutive game since winning the season opener against New Jersey. Portland outscored Minnesota by at least eight points during each of the first three quarters in routing the Timberwolves. The Blazers have won nine consecutive games over Minnesota.

It was the Timberwolves’ second consecutive one-sided loss after a run of several competitive performances.

“We really didn’t come out with a good effort,” Minnesota guard Corey Brewer(notes) said. “Everybody says “we’re young, we’re this, we’re that,’ but we can’t come in and play like this.”

Minnesota had five players score in double figures. Nathan Jawai(notes) led the way with 16 points. Ryan Gomes(notes) scored 15 points, while Al Jefferson(notes) had 12 points and 10 rebounds for the Timberwolves.

Portland dominated the first half, after getting off to a slow start. The Blazers made one of their first five shots, then hit 12 of 14 from the field to finish the first quarter to take a 33-24 lead. Portland widened its lead by halftime to 62-45 as Aldridge scored 10 points during the second quarter, eight from the free throw line.

Minnesota closed to 78-63 on Brewer’s 3-pointer with four minutes remaining in the third quarter. But Portland responded when Travis Outlaw and Martell Webster(notes) hit 3-pointers to help the Blazers finish the period on a 14-4 run and a 92-67 lead.

NOTES: Minnesota forward Kevin Love(notes) graduated from Lake Oswego High School, a Portland suburb. Love is sidelined for approximately four more weeks with a broken hand he sustained during the preseason. … Portland starts a five-game, seven-day road trip Tuesday in Memphis. … Minnesota has failed to score at least 100 points in its past 11 games against Portland. … Portland’s nine-game winning streak over Minnesota is longest current win streak over any team.

Updated Nov 9, 12:44 am EST
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Portland vs Chicago

Mon Nov 23, 2009, 10:00 pm EST

Minnesota at LA Clippers

Mon Nov 23, 2009, 10:30 pm EST

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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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Top Performers

 Top Performers
 Minnesota
R. Gomes Ryan Gomes
7-14,  15 Pts
6 Rebs, 4 Assists
 Portland
L. Aldridge LaMarcus Aldridge
5-11,  19 Pts
10 Rebs, 3 Assists

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