Some post-game thoughts (Cavs edition)

Well, that was a typical Blazers-Cavs game, close until the very end and then the Cavs pull away in final minutes . . .

• The Blazers have played a number of games since Joel Przybilla went down, but this was the first where, as a fan, you were acutely aware the entire game that the Blazers were playing without a center.  Playing Shaq has a way of doing that.  I'm actually surprised that the Cavs didn't try to exploit the mismatch more.  Shaq looked like he could have scored at will, but somehow he only came away with 11 points.  


• Lebron was Lebron.  The dude is the best basketball player alive, and it's not close.  He had 41 points, 10 rebounds and 8 assists.  Martell Webster did a decent job covering James in one-on-one situations, making him take tough contested shots.  But in transition, Lebron is unstoppable.  And when he's hitting threes, there's not much you can do either.  He can get a jump shot off against anyone.  


• For the Blazers, Roy put up another strong effort, finishing with 34 points and leading the Blazers back from a 17 point 3rd quarter deficit to tie the game halfway through the 4th.  Unfortunately, once the Blazers switched to the Roy-at-point crunch time offense, the offense completely stalled and the Cavs went on a 9-0 run.  As good as Roy is, I'm not convinced that it's a good idea to have Roy lead the offense in crunch time.  It just seems that whenever that happens, all offensive movement stops and everyone just stands around.  That's fine when you're holding for the last possession, but when there's still five or six minutes left in the game, it's a recipe for stagnant offensive play and forced jump shots.  


• Andre Miller had a pretty solid game as well.  He had 14 points and 8 assists and really kept the offense flowing.  The team looked better when he was out there, which is probably why he played for a season high 41 minutes.  


• Steve Blake, who played for the first time since being hospitalized, was in the game for only 7 minutes and looked rusty.  He missed is only field goal attempt badly.  And in just 7 minutes, he had the worst plus/minus of any Blazer at -13.  At this point, when Blake isn't shooting, he's just taking minutes away from someone who is more likely to score.  


• That person tonight was Jerryd Bayless, who played just 15 minutes.  Bayless scored just 4 points on 1-6 shooting, but he was aggressive and probably could have done some damage if he was in the game longer.  As more guys become healthy, the minutes crunch will only become more acute.  Tonight, Bayless played 15 minutes and Blake played 7.  Both probably felt they should have played more.  Now imagine how it's going to be when Rudy Fernandez and Nic Batum are back.  Unless the roster is thinned through injury or trade, there aren't going to be nearly enough minutes to go around.   


• As noted above, Martell Webster had easily the toughest defensive assignment tonight, and he acquitted himself reasonably well.  Lebron was just on fire in the first half.  He made Lebron work for his shots in half-court sets.  On offense, Martell had 12 points, but he was only 2 for 9 from 3-point range.  He was the only Blazer with a positive plus/minus (+1), though, so overall, he was not the problem tonight.  He contributed.


• LaMarcus Aldridge had an excellent night statistically.  He had 18 points (on 8 for 11 shooting) and 13 boards.  But watching the game, I got the sense that he was not being nearly aggressive enough offensively.  Most of his shots seemed harder and farther from the hoop than they need to be and he seemed to pass up a lot of opportunities around the hoop.  I still think his ankle is hurting him and preventing him from making any explosive moves.  


• The difference in the game was probably the rebound differential.  Cleveland out-rebounded Portland 42 to 32.  This was a close game until the very end.  A few more possession here and there and the Blazers might well have pulled it out.  


• All in all, the Blazers shouldn't get too down about this one.  Cleveland is a really good team and they were hitting everything early in the game.  The Blazers, short-handed as they were, managed to claw back from a 17 point 3rd quarter deficit to tie things up.  They just couldn't quite get over the hump.