Game 79: Blazers 77, Mavericks 83

Tonight Blazer fans witnessed perhaps this season's most ugly and disappointing loss whose end saw the referees quickly whisked out of the arena surrounded by security guards.

Yes, it was that type of game. Where the fans were so incensed, the teams so amped up and the officiating so bad that the officials had to be escorted from the arena for the sake of their physical safety.

Welcome to today's NBA: Where Incompetent Officiating Happens.

I really want to be able to write about tonight's game with objective analysis but I just can't. I would be lying if I said I wasn't upset the Blazers lost and it would be completely dishonest to pretend that the atrocious job by the referees did not impact the game's overall outcome.

By the time the final horn sounded, which was immediately preceded by roughly 400 three point attempts by everyone on the Blazers' team, the Mavericks had secured the victory. The final score: 83 to 77.

Tonight's contest between the Portland Trail Blazers and the Dallas Mavericks was a prime example of what this year's playoff atmosphere will be like.

Coach Nate McMillan acknowledged in his post game comments to the media, which were broadcast on Comcast Sports net, that the team has to learn to deal with calls not going their way. This is true and in some sense I feel it is good the Blazers got a taste of this type of treatment before the playoffs start.

Perhaps the Blazers can take this game as a lesson in how to maintain poise and composure when the referees have evidently lost their collective minds.

Sadly, the Blazers could have used a win tonight as a means to gain momentum going into Sunday's contest against the Lakers. Despite the terrible officiating, they couldn't get their offense in gear and had trouble creating a second option when Roy couldn't get a shot after almost immediate double coverage.

Yes the refs were bad, but at times the Blazers were worse. Ultimately this game's outcome is product of some questionable coaching and the bad play by All-Star Brandon Roy.

Brandon Roy finished the game shooting four for 14 from the field and zero for four from the three point line. 13 points from a team's All-Star is almost always an ominous sign.

This is becoming a trend now as teams are playing heavy D on Roy and forcing him to miss his spots and take less than ideal shots. It will be interesting to see whether McMillan will make any noticeable changes in the remaining games to address this problem.

In complete contrast to Roy's dismal outing, LaMarcus Aldridge played brilliantly tonight and he did his best to carry the team offensively. Ultimately his 27 points were not enough, but certainly Aldridge's play was key in keeping the Blazers competitive until the final five minutes of the game.

Aldridge was tough tonight, played aggressively and is showing increased intensity. He was all over the boards and moved around on defense with more authority than he's known for. Perhaps he has ramped up his play in preparation for the post season or maybe he simply recognizes the urgency in these last few games. In any event, I am loving this style of play from Aldridge and I hope to see it continue.

Marcus Camby continues to be one of my favorite players because he moves so well. I noted on twitter once tonight that it is nothing short of amazing how well Camby can move laterally on defense considering his height and age. Tonight he grabbed 18 rebounds and blocked two shots.

And how about Rudy Fernandez huh? Finally he was able to come in and hit his trademark three. That stroke looked fluid and he shot the ball with more confidence than I have seen in many games. When he sat out during the fourth quarter I caught myself wondering if Rudy should really be sitting on the bench as the Blazers were struggling to score.

If I am calling for Rudy to come back in, you know he must have been playing well. I guess that karate chop to the neck early in the game knocked him out of his slump. I sincerely hope Rudy can keep up his shooting game, the Blazers desperately need him to come in and score off the bench.

Mr. Fernandez finished the game with 22 minutes, 4-7 shooting , going 3-4 from behind the arc, grabbed 4 rebounds, had one blocked shot and was called for one completely undeserved technical foul. Bravo.

The rest of the bench provided nothing to celebrate, in fact I am getting tired of having to criticize them. When will McMillan start taking minutes away from guys that can't find their spots on defense and are trigger happy on offense? Would not Dante Cunningham have been perfect for tonight's matchup?

Bayless, Howard and Webster were no where near acceptable and down right embarrassing at times. At least Howard can fall back on his reputation as "the crafty veteran" who shows no qualms about starting wrestling matches with opposing players.

Webster was spastic and out of control as usual and aside from a drive to the basket in transition, Bayless shot quick jumpers and was rendered useless the second he was forced left. He finished with seven points, Howard had four and Webster laid the big goose egg.

The Mavericks on the other hand played like a team on a mission. The Blazers were ready to sweep the season series and the Mavericks did not let that happen. With tonight's win, Dallas clinched the Southwest Division and they now sit at second place in the Western Conference.

Dallas shot 33.8% from the field but outscored the Blazers 25 to 18 in the final quarter to get the win. Of course , they were aided unabashedly by the you-know-who's, but in the end got the victory thanks to timely shooting from Dirk Nowitzki. His dagger three late in the fourth quarter solidified the win and Dirk finished the game with 40 points and 10 rebounds.

The old adage "both teams played hard" most certainly applies to tonight's loss. As furious as I am with the officiating and as troubling as Roy's lackadaisical play is, the Blazers were competitive for much of this game and if not for a completely understandable meltdown, they could have won.

Indeed for much of the game, the Blazers seemed ready and able to compete in this type of playoff atmosphere, even if their star wasn't playing well and their shots weren't falling. Despite the loss, their energy and intensity tonight is a great sign.

It is unclear whether the NBA will offer a statement addressing the horrific officiating tonight. What is certain however, is the Blazers will need another high energy effort to win on Sunday night.

Hopefully they are motivated by tonight's atrocities and parlay that into some much needed mental toughness as next up they face potential first round opponent, the Los Angeles Lakers.

Now if only I can calm my nerves enough to get some rest.

Sophia Brugato | Twitter | Email