Portland Trail Blazers Put Away Sacremento Kings, 95-88

Last night's game was one of those "lose-lose" situations for Portland.

The Blazers should win the game with the odds stacked against Sacramento. If Portland wins, ho-hum, it's business as usual. If they lose, or even look bad, then chaos ensues.

Despite hiccups and lackadaisical play early on, including being down 11 points at half time and seven after the third quarter, Nate made a decision I thought I'd never see. He let Bayless really play when it mattered. Jerryd's emotional play created a spark and the Blazers finished off Sacramento 95-88.

Box Score

The Good

LaMarcus Aldridge started off the game tentative and afraid of easy shots, as usual. I watched him take about three jumpers that could have easily been one-dribble dunks in the lane or on the baseline. No one guarded him, but he settled anyway.

I believe he began the game 1-7, but once that third quarter hit, he was lights out. Not only did he make the jumpers, but he mixed in a baseline drop-step lay-in, an easy dunk or two, and he was rolling from there.

Joel Przybilla is just as important to this team than anyone else on the Blazers. The +/- proved it with his incredible +27, but if you watched the game you knew was doing so much of the grunt work.

At one point during Portland's comeback, he took two charges, had a couple boards, and blocked a shot. All the while, the offense was clicking and Portland was right back in the game.

We can't ever let Joel leave Portland.

Jerryd Bayless finally got significant time and made an impact.

In 24 minutes of action, including pivotal late game playing time, Jerryd was outstanding. He's smart, he knows what he can provide Portland on the court—getting to the hoop, drawing fouls, closing with Brandon.

Blake and Bayless had nearly identical playing time last night, and besides the nine-point differential, it was the fact that Bayless shot 10 free-throws to Blake's zero free throws. He knows how to get to the line and finishing eight of those 10 foul shots was huge.

Keep playing Jerryd, let him loose on the NBA. It reminds me of that scene in Jurassic Park when the T-Rex is chasing the jeep.

B-Rex is coming.

The Bad

The only real issue I had with the game is our inability to dominate a bad team, although the Kings aren't as bad as they used to be.

They have a great core of young guys who are busting their tails. I don't like being down 11 at halftime but maybe that will help get the guys ready for the Suns.

The Ugly

Our perimeter defense is still pretty pathetic. How many times did Udrih get open for an easy three?

The Blazers are unable to get a full perimeter shift on defense. It usually starts with an unnecessary double team and ends up with the ball swinging to the corner for an open three.

Against Phoenix, that is going to completely destroy Portland. Hopefully they get it right by tomorrow.

Photo: AP