By Jim Taylor
TrailBlazers.com
LAS VEGAS, Nev. -- Going into Friday night’s NBA Summer League opener versus Boston, much of the hype centered on the debut of Portland’s imposing frontline duo of 7-foot rookie center Greg Oden and 6-11 forward LaMarcus Aldridge. In the end though, Aldridge had the monster night, while Oden was plagued by foul trouble and the result was a 74-66 loss to the Celtics before a capacity crowd at Cox Pavilion.
Aldridge was impressive pouring in a game-high 26 points (10-17 FG, 6-7 FT) to go along with 11 rebounds and three blocked shots. Oden finished with six points, two rebounds and two blocked shots before following out with 10 fouls with 2:47 left in the game.
"I didn’t play too well and I didn’t play hard enough," said Oden. "When you don’t play hard enough you don’t win."
Summer league rules differ from the regular season where players foul out with six. Summer league rules allow players 10 fouls before fouling out.
"It is a different game and they call it a lot different here," said Oden comparing the college game to the pros. "There is a lot of hand checks and movements that you can’t do on this level."
When asked how it felt to be tossed with 10 fouls Oden quipped, "It’s amazing. I usually get thrown out at five."
Leon Powe paced the Celtics attack with 19 points (7-13 FG) and nine rebounds, while Gerald Green added 14 points (5-11 FG).
"We’ve got to be much more aggressive than that," said Trail Blazers head coach Nate McMillan who watched the game from the stands, while assistant coach Monty Williams handled the head coaching duties. "We’ve got to have more of a sense of urgency. I know it’s summer league basketball, but that team pretty much took it to us the entire 40 minutes."
Martell Webster, who struggled the first three quarters, got his game going in the fourth finishing with 18 points (5-11 FG, 6-6 FT) and eight rebounds.
Another bright spot for Portland was the play of rookie guard Taurean Green, who had seven points (3-12 FG), seven rebounds, three assists and three steals in 30 minutes of action.
Portland will practice Saturday before returning to summer league play Sunday afternoon when they take on the Dallas Mavericks.
