With nearly a quarter of the NBA season over, the Trail Blazers might as well change their name to the Jekyll and Hydes. Portland is an impressive 6-1 at the Rose Garden. Everywhere else? 2-6.
The nearly mirror image records only reveal a small portion of Portland’s severe case of schizophrenia this season. In almost every major statistical category, the Blazers’ home and away disparity is larger than the dinnertime crowd at Old Country Buffet.
At home, the Blazers score 104.7 a game. Away, they put up 90. At home, the Blazers shoot a respectable 46%. Away, they barely break 41%. At home, the Blazers turn the ball over just 12 times a game. Away, Portland gives up the rock nearly 16 times a game.
In general, the Blazers have been more unwatchable on the road than an episode of My Super Sweet 16.
The good news is that Portland is one of many likely playoff teams that have not yet solved the riddle of the road warrior—neither the Lakers, Spurs, Clippers nor Mavericks have won more than 2 away from home.
The bad news is there are still 2 games remaining on this road trip.
If you’re looking for someone to blame, you can start with the backcourt. Raymond Felton and Wesley Matthews are shooting a combined 35% these last 4 games. Jamal Crawford has put up more bricks than a stonemason, shooting an anemic 26% during this road trip.
Gerald Wallace has improved upon his 0 and 1-point road performances from earlier this year, but still has not come close to resembling the manic, over caffeinated ball of energy that fans know he can be.
The one consistent player away from home has of course been LaMarcus Aldridge, but he cannot carry the team alone. Throughout the last few games, there has been a pattern of stagnant offense that is reminiscent of the slow pace, Brandon Roy days.
The rest of the team stands around as Aldridge tries to bully his way inside. In most cases, Aldridge either makes a tough shot or is forced to pass it out to the wing, where one of the guards generally misses the open jumper.
If the outside shot doesn’t fall for the Blazers than opponents will double the L-Train every time without fear of repercussion, making Portland a one-dimensional, predictable team.
The loss of Camby to an ankle sprain should not be overlooked. Unless Chris Johnson suddenly gains another 30 pounds of muscle, Camby’s presence in the middle cannot be replaced. His rebounding, defensive contributions, and intangible veteran leadership quietly hold this team together.
But this is the Trail Blazers were talking about, where injuries are as abundant as Portland food carts. The absence of Camby means an opportunity for other players to step up—injuries do not excuse losses when it comes to this team.
Nate McMillan and his coaching staff must find a way to get his team energized and ready to play in enemy territory just as if the game was in front of the raucous Rose Garden crowd.
There is no doubt that this task is made all the more difficult when playing in places like New Orleans, Houston or Atlanta. The level of animation in those arenas is pathetic enough to make Walt Disney shudder. Even so, victories away from home are the only way the Blazers can avoid having to repeat these extended road assignments come playoff time.
Luckily, there is still plenty of time to fix the kinks in Portland’s offense and get back to the aggressive, in-your-face defense that terrorized opponents in the first few games of the year. Statistically, the guard play will improve and the outside shots will fall again. But with the shortened season and another long road trip approaching in March, the margin of error is much smaller than in years past.
If this team is going to make a legitimate playoff run, Mr. Hyde must stop rearing his ugly head every time the Blazers step outside the Rose Garden.
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