| 16 March 2011
Some nights at the Rose Garden, you simply have to let the play and the players speak for themselves.
With Portland coming off the road from a two game skid and the Dallas Mavericks coming off a month where they posted an 11-1 record in February, Tuesday night was one of those nights.
For Portland, it never hurts beating a team that has beaten you 21 of the last 26 meetings. Make that 21 of the last 27 meetings. But that's what happens when the old Brandon Roy - not to mention another big game from LaMarcus Aldridge - makes a new impact and timely appearence for the Blazers.
Time to let the guys do the talking and walking.
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"We've been talking about challanging each other and encouraging each other and staying together. I thought they did that tonight and found a way to get this win." - Nate McMillan on Portland beating the Mavericks 104-101
The Blazers are now 38-29, which is one game behind their 67-game record from last season. Back then, Portland went on to win 50 games and finish as a sixth seed heading into the postseason.
"He's a great player. It's the third game where he's really hurt us. We used different coverages on him, different guys, and his ability to score inside and then pop out and hit shots makes it really tough." - Rick Carlisle on LaMarcus Aldridge dropping 30 points on Dallas
Aldridge led all scorers with 30 points, marking his 11th game this season where he's scroed 30 points or more and grabbed eight rebounds along the way.
"He looked like the 08-09 Brandon. He's making big plays for us. He stepped up and that's what we needed him to do." - Wesley Matthews on Brandon Roy, who finished with 21 points and played his best game of the season since returning from double-knee surgery
Roy scored 16 of his 21 points in the final 14 minutes of the game, which was his highest point total since December 10 at Phoenix.
"I just wanted to be aggressive, and I feel like I'm getting a little more bounce back and I'm able to create some space. That's helps keep the defensive guessing if I'm going to go to the hole or pass the ball. That's my biggest strength is being able to attack the basket or shoot the mid-range, and tonight I felt I was clicking. It's a process. It's good to be back in the moment like that." - Brandon Roy on contributing to a much needed win for the Blazers
"Rudy (Fernandez) came in and I thought he was the difference. His pressure in that second half on the ball, we started to get pressure and started to get stops. I thought everybody got into it after that." - Nate McMillan on Rudy Fernandez, who guarded both Jason Kidd (1 point, 14 assists, 5 rebounds) and Jason Terry (no points in the third quarter) during stretches of the second half
"We didn't get enough shots, and they kept us off the offensive glass. For the most part I think we were pretty much getting what we wanted, but they just more shots than we did and hit that 100 mark first. It was like whatever teams hits the 100 mark first wins." - Shawn Marion on the Mavs' losing, despite shooting 60% from the field
Dallas suffered their fourth loss of the season when scoring 100 points. Portland is now 24-6 on the season when they score 100 points or more.
They're going to be tough to beat in the playoffs whoever they play.'' - Dirk Nowitzki on the Blazers with Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge
"Nate (McMillan) called us a bunch of guys with no chests, so he said we had to go fast and crash the boards -- we're not stocky, so we have to use our length and quickness. Tonight, I think we did that." - LaMarcus Aldridge on overpowering Dallas and forcing 15 turnovers that led to 22 points for the Blazers
"I want to carry it home so I can talk to it...." - LaMarcus Aldridge while cradling his player of the month trophy which he received at half time
photo: oregonian/bruce ely
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