| 19 March 2010
During a recent home game at the Rose Garden, Nate McMillan spent the majority of his pregame Q and A answering questions about Portland’s defense this season – or lack thereof in some cases.
McMillan was like a preacher at his pulpit.
“Our defense has been a work in progress all year long,” McMillan began. “That has been a concern.”
With 13 games left in Portland’s regular season, when will concern develop into application on the court for the Blazers?
How about now.
Cleaning out my notebook for the Portland Sentinel today, I stumbled upon this little defensive stat:
- The Blazers are allowing the fewest points per game (95.2) of any team in the Western Conference and have held opponents under 100 points in 48 games. That is the most by any team in the West.
Obviously, the addition of Marcus Camby has solidified those numbers, as has the overall timely defense of Nicolas Batum. And maybe, just maybe, this team is actually beginning to pick up what McMillan is putting down. Looking back on the last two seasons, it’s worth asking if Portland is a better defensive team this season than they were last year at this time?
You lose Greg Oden and Joel Przybilla, but you gain Camby and Howard – two proven vets not afraid to get after it.
Travis Outlaw was often dubbed a defensive liability. Batum is growing into a certified specialist on both ends of the floor. And we know this: there are no open floor layups for other teams with this kid on the floor. Very LeBron James-esque like that.
After the middle and on the wing, what about the point? Andre Miller ranks 46th in the league in steals, but over the last seven games Miller has picked the oppositions pocket 11 times over while maintaining a 13.7 points per game scoring average. Management brought him here to do just that.
Portland's defense may be a work in progress, but at least lately they are showing progress.
It might not be much, but McMillan will take it.
Better late than never.
photo: fotoglif
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
