i was very encouraged by this game. it was very fun to watch but there were a lot of other good signs imo.
1) i think the team has finally forgotten tj ford, or at least is not waiting for him anymore. we're learning to play with our (far) more reliable floor general leading the way and that's important. you can't grow as long as you're waiting to first plug a hole.
2) i thought chris did a half-decent job of going to the basket throughout the game, despite just two first half ft's for the team. the blazers were playing matador defense down low early on, and it would've probably been harder to get fouled than simply go inside and finish. that said, he did settle several times but that's what he does- he settles. but he's getting better. he looked like a superstar in this game.
3) the team looks healthy. finally. it took only two and a half months. leo hit the nail on the head: bosh looks much better. why it takes his legs this long to get in gear is beyond me. something we need to prevent in the future. i think the sheer talk of injuries was hurting the team early in the season, they were looking for them (= self-fulfilling prophecies)- it really is contagious- and now they look solid, ready to go. they're not waiting for them anymore. if they're waiting for anything, it's for bargnani to contribute. but even that's clearing up a little bit. they're forgetting about him like they have tj. so important.
4) moon gives this team another layer, which is key given how predictable the rest of the team is. i thought the putback dunk that he missed terrified the blazers- i think those sorts of attempts themselves have value, "geez, look what this guy can do"- and the foul on outlaw was not as criminal as some make it out to be. i thought he could've blocked the shot, actually, if he weren't thinking about
not fouling the shooter, and if i were him i would've just let my instinct take over- block the shot. you've already left your feet, j. if you foul, foul, but don't let the ball go. i don't know what this team would do without his ability to help defend (and delfino's to swipe the ball in the lane).
5) chris was given two good looks to win the game. that's fantastic. he missed on both, but there was no doubting that he was going to get the ball. that's important. portland, meanwhile, weren't as sure about themselves. ok, roy hit the deep three to tie- but a lot of people are forgetting that that was off a long rebound, it was a second chance basket, a heave from 23 feet away. mcmillan did not draw that play up in the huddle. bosh is our go-to guy, that much is clear, and despite the misses i thought he learned from this game (as did our team). his reactions were generally positive, imo. his numbers might've been misleading- the guy played five quarters, really, with
every single play going through him for the last 'quarter'- but that's ok. he deserves some good press.
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portland did not give us this game. we won it. that alone is enough to encourage me. and when bargnani becomes comfortable enough to leave his stamp on the floor, we'll be far more dangerous. he's not there yet.
peace
Portland (22-13) at Toronto (19-17) Sunday January 13, 2008. 12:30 EST
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