Blazer Bravos
How can you have beef with a team during a 10-game winning streak? This week we’re going to give this team an extended edition of Blazer Bravos.
During a win streak that has taken the league by storm, the Blazers have had many pivotal turning points.
Their third quarter against the Bulls may have been the Blazers’ best defensive quarter of the season. They held the Bulls to 12 points in the third quarter, which helped them comeback from 21 points down to win after they got ran off their own floor in the first half.
LaMarcus Aldridge and the Blazers also deserve a bravo for their response after the third quarter shoving match in Oakland that resulted in the ejections of Wesley Matthews and Mo Williams.
Aldridge dominated the fourth quarter with 15 points and nine rebounds, getting almost all of his points at the foul line. Earl Watson played his first minutes of the season in the fourth quarter and Robin Lopez had four blocks in the final period.
By the Numbers
3 — LaMarcus Aldridge had his third career 30-point, 20-rebound game on Saturday against Golden State, becoming the first Blazer ever to have three such games.
11th — The Blazers defensive efficiency ranking in the league. Last year they finished 26th.
7 — Out of the 10 straight wins, seven have come on the road which is the second-longest road winning streak in franchise history.
Look Ahead
Monday — vs. New York Knicks (7 p.m. on CSNNW): The Knicks are a tire fire. They have gone 2-6 since they lost Tyson Chandler to a broken right fibula and have lost five straight games.
Wednesday — at Phoenix Suns (6 p.m. on CSNNW): The Suns just snapped a four-game losing street that started with their Nov. 13 loss at the Moda Center. Eric Bledsoe has been dealing with a bruised shin.
Sunday — at Los Angeles Lakers (6:30 on CSNNW): Kobe Bryant started practicing again last week. If the Blazers are still riding their streak, what a better time for the Mamba to return than a Sunday night against the league’s hottest team in those Sunday night Laker white jerseys.
