As the Spurs put the finishing touches on their fourth quarter three-point ambush last Tuesday, I found the scene in the stands to be a real spectacle.
I never thought one man could control nearly 16,000 people alone, but Manu Ginobili did just that in the waning moments of the Spurs’ 99-94 victory. Like a puppet-master, the Spurs’ flop-happy guard transformed cheerful faces into melancholy scowls with the flick of a wrist, directing my attention away from the floor and into the seats.
Portland controlled Ginobili and company the entire game, giving the fans reason to jump out of their seats and scream at the top of their lungs. Once Ginobili caught fire with just over two minutes remaining in the final quarter, all reasons to cheer were gone.
Five straight triples from the boys out of San Antonio turned a 10-point lead into a five-point deficit. Erasing the fans’ recollection of the previous 46 minutes of play in an instant.
Forgotten was Fred Jones’ reverse alley-oop dunk off a spectacular feed from Sergio Rodriguez. Eliminated from the fans’ minds was Brandon Roy’s sensational 19 points, nine-assist performance. And, lost in the rubble was also a tremendous defensive outing, complete with blocks, steals and plain old scrappy play.
Amidst this flurry from behind the arc, fans, players and coaches alike failed to remember the sheer domination of Portland throughout the first 46 minutes. The Blazers shot 50 percent from the field, pulled down seven more boards and took quick control of a team no one expected them to beat.
Overshadowed by the mistakes in the final 120 seconds were all of the positives. For the first time this season, I watched the Blazers play legitimate “Nate Basketball.” They only turned the ball over nine times. They moved the ball well and created many open paths to the hoop. Above all, Portland’s defensive intensity was the best indicator that this team has really turned a corner.
“I thought we did a good job on defense the first 46 minutes. They just played like champions down the stretch,” said Roy. “This is a tough loss, but we have to bounce back and continue fighting. People expect us to fold-I’m not going to fold and I don’t think anyone else will.”
Despite being young and owning the seventh worst record in the NBA, the Blazers’ mentality is to fight, fight and fight some more. This is a young, talented team playing with conviction. And that is a scary combination for the rest of the Association.
There will be better days in the Rose City. There will be days where the Blazers band together in the final minutes and refrain from choking away a signature win.
It seems like everywhere I look this season someone is saying, “Portland is on the cusp of great success.” But, after watching this game, I am going to throw my hat into the mix. The Blazers are like a rough sketch of a masterpiece. They have all the tools and the right attitude, but just need to do a bit of refining to become a formidable squad and playoff contender.
While most of the fans in the stands will have a lasting image of the carnage at the end, I recall a team who outplayed a veteran team with All-Stars Tim Duncan and Tony Parker.
Don’t forget the 46 minutes of positives that came out this game. If you want to forget something, make it the final score. Win or lose, this was a great game for Portland. That is what we should remember.