Trail Blazers vs Mavericks Thursday, 04/21/11 AT 07:30PM

Around The World: April 21

04/21/11

  1. Written by: DHawes22  / avg. rating: 4.5

    April 21

    Trail Blazers: Portland's Turn to Hold Serve
    "Going into a playoff series you tell yourself that you've got this to fall back on- two home games, just like your opponent had. It's kind of a worst-case-scenario thing going into the first two games of a series. It's more of a "let's steal game one," to a "let's earn a split on the road," to a "okay, all they've done is hold serve." "

    Oregon Live: For Blazers to get back in series, LaMarcus Aldridge must match Dirk Nowitzki in fourth quarter
    "We need to make sure he's the focus going down the stretch," McMillan said. "Get that ball to LaMarcus and play through him.''

    Portland Tribune: Adjustments, homecourt give Blazers hope
    "All is not lost. The No. 3-seeded Mavericks held serve at home, winning the first two games. As Miami coach Erik Spoelstra said Tuesday, “a series doesn’t really start until a team wins on an opponent’s homecourt.”

    Columbian: Where do Blazers go from here?
    “Of course you’re disappointed coming back with two losses,” McMillan said. “But pretty much, this like the regular season when we dropped two. We gotta put that behind us and get tomorrow’s game."

    Blazersedge: Nate McMillan's Comments On Brandon Roy's Emotional Game 2 Post-Game Statements
    "The last guy -- if you're coming off the bench, you're coming off the bench. What's the difference? In Wesley's case he was in foul trouble the first game so Nicolas ended up because of a match-up. But coming off the bench, what difference does it make which guy? You're coming in at your normal rotation or your normal position."

    Sports Illustrated: Blazers need complete turnaround vs. Mavs
    "The Blazers have received a combined nine points and three field goals in two games from Rudy Fernandez and Brandon Roy, two of the three guys, along with Nicolas Batum, guaranteed to get any playing time off the bench. (Patty Mills floats in and out of the rotation.) The consensus coming into this series was that Portland, given the size of its guards, would be able to produce offense by posting up J.J. Barea and Jason Terry or at least shooting over them. Roy and Fernandez have failed in that regard, and Mavs coach Rick Carlisle has felt fine playing Barea and Terry together for extended stretches. Barea has shot only 3-of-14 but his quickness and ability to use Dirk Nowitzki as a screener/decoy have caused Portland major problems, and the Blazers have not been able to tilt the balance in their favor by exploiting Barea on the other end."

    ESPN: Fact or Fiction: The Blazers will even up the series in Games 3 and 4.
    "Fact. Portland is too good to go down 3-1 or (gasp!) get swept. In fact, not only will the Blazers even it up, they'll bounce back to win the series in seven. Maybe even six. It depends how much help LaMarcus Aldridge gets from the likes of Matthews, Miller and Fernandez. I suspect plenty. Rick Carlisle called Dirk one of the toughest players he's seen. Note to Carlisle: Blazers will prove tougher."

    The Basketball Jones: Steve Blake debuts headband, looks great
    "I agree with Chris Paul."

           

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