B-Roy And Defense Lead To Portland Knocking Off Knicks 104-97

Posted by Jeff Sack under NBA Game Recap

The Portland Trail Blazers trailed the New York Knickerbockers Tuesday night for most of three quarters in their game at Madison Square Garden. The Blazers took their defensive intensity up a notch in the fourth quarter and the Knicks looked like they ran out of gas, as Portland went on to win their fifth straight game 104-97. Portland All-Star guard Brandon Roy led the club with 23 points, and the victory put the Trail Blazers on top of the Northwest Division in a two way tie with the Denver Nuggets.

New Knickerbockers coach Mike D’Antoni has tried to implement the run and gun game that he had used in his last stint as coach of Phoenix over the last couple of contests. Sunday the team used it effectively as they defeated the Golden State Warriors 138-125. New York might be able to win games against second tier teams running all night. They can not possibly hope to be efffective though against top tier teams like the Blazers, because the team does not have the players to carry it out on their roster.

I have written this before, you take a look at the New York roster and there is individual talent, but a team has to be more than just a collection of athletes. They have to be a cohesive unit, Portland is one of those teams. If they have a bad night from Greg Oden (which they did in this one the big man missed 2 dunks in the game’s opening minutes, and scored just 2 points) they can weather the storm because they are a team. Possibly a long term benefit of their center missing his rookie season after undergoing micro-fracture surgery on his knee, was that they learned to play without him.

New York led for most of the first three quarters, taking a 31-24 lead at the end of the first. Portland made the game closer in the second quarter tying the game late in the period, but David Lee hit a shot a the buzzer and the Knicks would hold a 51-49 lead at the half.

The third quarter opened with the lead volleying back and forth. New York looked like they were about to start to break away late in the period leading 75-67 when Chris Duhon hit a pair at the line with 2:04 remaining. Portland scored 4 unanswered points to end the quarter the Knickerbockers leading 75-71. The Blazers put the game away after starting the fourth on a 10-0 run making it 81-75 when Rudy Fernandez connected on a 26 foot trey with 9:37 to play. The Knicks never recovered.

Brandon Roy had 23 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals, in the Portland victory. Rudy Fernandez continued to impress 18 points, 2 assists, 2 rebounds, LaMarcus Aldridge another nice game 17 points, 6 rebounds, 1 block. Travis Outlaw came off the bench and added 16 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block, 1 steal, Steve Blake another solid night running the offense, 15 points, 6 assists, 4 rebounds, 1 steal. Even though Oden did not have a good night offensively, he and Joel Pryzbilla combined for a big night on the boards. Oden had 7 rebounds, 2 blocks, Pryzbilla scored 8 grabbed 14 boards, 2 blocks.

New York had 2 players with double-doubles, guard Chris Duhon had 23 points, 13 assists, 5 rebounds, 1steal. David Lee was the other player who recorded a double-double, 19 points, 12 boards, 1 assist, 1 block. Al Harrington scored 16 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, Tim Thomas came off the bench with 14 points, 2 rebounds, 1 steal. Portland has a 13-6 record, New York falls to 8-9.

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