Trail Blazers look to make history against the Nuggets...
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Highlights from the winning streak!
By Chris Helgeson
The last time the Denver Nuggets squared off with the Portland Trail Blazers, there was a heavy amount of doubt within the minds of the Trail Blazers fans. The Nuggets are one of the NBA's most star-studded teams and, typically, they beat most opponents on experience and intimidation alone.
Someone, however, forgot to the tell the Trail Blazers.
Instead of shrinking away from the bright spotlights of Allen Iverson and Carmelo Anthony, the Trail Blazers chose to attack the Nuggets right at the heart of their defense when the two teams met just 5 nights ago. They chased loose boards and cashed in on uncharacteristically bad one-on-one defense. But most of all, the youngest squad in the NBA taught one of the more seasoned squads a thing or two about preparation.
Coach Nate McMillan's zone defense, which he has used with regularity throughout the Trail Blazers current 9-game winning streak, smothered the Nuggets and forced them into hurried attempts from the perimeter. The result was an astounding 5.7% difference in shooting percentage between the Trail Blazers, who shot 54.4%, and the Nuggets, who stumbled in at 48%.
There is one small difference, however, between Friday night's game and the one last Sunday.
Besides the fact that this time the Nuggets will have to square off against the Trail Blazers inside the friendly confines of the Rose Garden, this game has quite a bit more historical perspective behind it than just a normal regular season game.
With a win, the Trail Blazers will push their winning streak to 10 games, making it the longest winning streak in the history of the NBa...
Ok, actually, it'll be the longest winning streak in the history of the NBA after a team received the number one pick in the previous year's draft, but it's especially impressive because Portland's number one pick hasn't even made his regular season debut yet!
In order to make history this Friday night, the Trail Blazers must do their best to limit at least one of the 'Melo - AI combination. Last Sunday, the Trail Blazers let Allen Iverson explode for 38 points and 6 assists, but they did an excellent job of frustrating his running mate.
Carmelo finished with 19 points on 6 of 17 from the floor.
Offensively, the Trail Blazers need to continue riding the energy of their "white unit." James Jones, Travis Outlaw, and Jarrett Jack combined for 41 points in the most recent meeting between these two teams and if they can continue to remain aggressive, it will go a long way in wearing down Denver's veterans.
It'll also be interesting to see how Denver will recover from their double overtime game against the Houston Rockets. The Nuggets managed to knock off Houston 112 - 111.
THE BREAKDOWN
Allen Iverson has averaged 29 points and 6.5 assists in his two games against the Trail Blazers this season... Joel Przybilla might just be Marcus Camby's kryptonite- "The Thrilla" has held Camby to an average of just 4.5 points per contest on the season... The Nuggets should consider themselves lucky, Brandon Roy only averages 18 points, 8 assists and 5.5 rebounds against them... LaMarcus Aldridge played in the first meeting between the two teams and finished with 15 poins and 9 rebounds... With a win, the Trail Blazers would move one step closer to claiming the Northwest Division lead. Currently, they're 1 and a half games back...
Come help make it 10 in a row at the Rose Garden! Tickets are still available, but if you can't make it to the game, catch all the action on Comcast Sports Northwest - High Def or via radio broadcast on 750am KXL.
Don't miss a minute!
By Chris Helgeson
The last time the Denver Nuggets squared off with the Portland Trail Blazers, there was a heavy amount of doubt within the minds of the Trail Blazers fans. The Nuggets are one of the NBA's most star-studded teams and, typically, they beat most opponents on experience and intimidation alone.
Someone, however, forgot to the tell the Trail Blazers.
Instead of shrinking away from the bright spotlights of Allen Iverson and Carmelo Anthony, the Trail Blazers chose to attack the Nuggets right at the heart of their defense when the two teams met just 5 nights ago. They chased loose boards and cashed in on uncharacteristically bad one-on-one defense. But most of all, the youngest squad in the NBA taught one of the more seasoned squads a thing or two about preparation.
Coach Nate McMillan's zone defense, which he has used with regularity throughout the Trail Blazers current 9-game winning streak, smothered the Nuggets and forced them into hurried attempts from the perimeter. The result was an astounding 5.7% difference in shooting percentage between the Trail Blazers, who shot 54.4%, and the Nuggets, who stumbled in at 48%.
There is one small difference, however, between Friday night's game and the one last Sunday.
Besides the fact that this time the Nuggets will have to square off against the Trail Blazers inside the friendly confines of the Rose Garden, this game has quite a bit more historical perspective behind it than just a normal regular season game.
With a win, the Trail Blazers will push their winning streak to 10 games, making it the longest winning streak in the history of the NBa...
Ok, actually, it'll be the longest winning streak in the history of the NBA after a team received the number one pick in the previous year's draft, but it's especially impressive because Portland's number one pick hasn't even made his regular season debut yet!
In order to make history this Friday night, the Trail Blazers must do their best to limit at least one of the 'Melo - AI combination. Last Sunday, the Trail Blazers let Allen Iverson explode for 38 points and 6 assists, but they did an excellent job of frustrating his running mate.
Carmelo finished with 19 points on 6 of 17 from the floor.
Offensively, the Trail Blazers need to continue riding the energy of their "white unit." James Jones, Travis Outlaw, and Jarrett Jack combined for 41 points in the most recent meeting between these two teams and if they can continue to remain aggressive, it will go a long way in wearing down Denver's veterans.
It'll also be interesting to see how Denver will recover from their double overtime game against the Houston Rockets. The Nuggets managed to knock off Houston 112 - 111.
THE BREAKDOWN
Allen Iverson has averaged 29 points and 6.5 assists in his two games against the Trail Blazers this season... Joel Przybilla might just be Marcus Camby's kryptonite- "The Thrilla" has held Camby to an average of just 4.5 points per contest on the season... The Nuggets should consider themselves lucky, Brandon Roy only averages 18 points, 8 assists and 5.5 rebounds against them... LaMarcus Aldridge played in the first meeting between the two teams and finished with 15 poins and 9 rebounds... With a win, the Trail Blazers would move one step closer to claiming the Northwest Division lead. Currently, they're 1 and a half games back...
Come help make it 10 in a row at the Rose Garden! Tickets are still available, but if you can't make it to the game, catch all the action on Comcast Sports Northwest - High Def or via radio broadcast on 750am KXL.
Don't miss a minute!
