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10.18.09 TRAIL BLAZERS VS. DENVER
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By Casey Holdahl, trailblazers.com
After two games on the road and one at Memorial Coliseum, all losses, the Portland Trail Blazers have to be happy to get back to the Rose Garden for a preseason game against the Denver Nuggets Sunday night. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 pm.
The players on the floor will ultimately decide the outcome of Sunday night’s game, but those who’ll be on the sidelines with injuries figure to be main storyline as well. Both LaMarcus Aldridge (knee contusion) and Rudy Fernandez (back spasms) are out for the game against Denver, leaving Nate McMillan once again juggling his preseason starting lineup. McMillan said at practice on Saturday that he’s leaning toward a first unit of Steve Blake, Brandon Roy, Nicolas Batum, Juwan Howard and Joel Przybilla.
The Nuggets will be playing their first game since defeating the Indiana Pacers 128-112 in an exhibition game in Beijing on Oct. 11. Carmelo Anthony, playing in China for the first time since winning a gold medal in the 2008 Summer Olympics, lead all scorers with 45 points and nine rebounds in just 24 minutes.
“It’s preseason so (the Nuggets) are working out some things too,” said McMillan. “I don’t know how many guys are going to play but it’s a strong team. A very physical team. They stepped it up last year in their play with Billups and Melo, Nene. Martin is healthy. They are certainly one of the favorites this year. Being in our division, it’s a tough team.”
The Trail Blazers still have plenty of work to do with just two games left before the start of the regular season. Poor free throw shooting, shaky defense and turnovers have plagued Portland throughout the exhibition season, but a strong showing against the Nuggets could get the Trail Blazers back on track as the home opener with the Houston Rockets nears.
‘We need to continue to improve our effort and transition defense,” said Brandon Roy. “I think both of those are lacking because of our turnovers. If we can cut our turnovers down and stop easy baskets and play the game to win. We need to try and get a win and build some rhythm and chemistry out there.”
The lack of effort and rhythm have lead to Portland averaging almost 18 turnovers a game through the preseason, which is especially troubling considering Portland was one of the best teams in the league last season in terms of taking care of the ball.
“Right now we’ve got guys trying to make homerun plays because we’re struggling,” said Roy of the increase in turnovers. “Once we relax and use our teammates and make easy passes we should be fine.”
Sunday night’s game can be heard on 95.5 The Game and on all the stations of Trail Blazers Radio Network starting at 6 pm.
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