NBA playoffs: Rockets at Trail Blazers, Game 2 (Houston leads 1-0)
Well, a series that many thought was about dead even was anything but in Game 1, as the Houston Rockets destroyed the Portland Trail Blazers, 108-81 on Saturday.
How surprising was that result? It was Portland’s worst home loss this season and ended the Blazers six-game winning streak overall and six-game streak at home. The Blazers were outshot, outrebounded, out-assisted, out free-throwed, outhustled, you name it. It seemed the young Blazers were a little shell-shocked in their first-ever playoff game.
Perhaps no Portland player more so than LaMarcus Aldridge. He averaged a team-high 23.3 points in the regular season against Houston but had just seven points on 3-for-12 shooting Saturday. Aldridge blamed new defensive looks, but teammate Brandon Roy said he was a little gun shy and thinking too much.
“We need a lot out of LaMarcus, that’s not a secret,” Roy said. “I told him, ‘Don’t let this break our team, don’t let this break (you).’ Because we know what he can do, we just need him to go out there and be comfortable and play his game. I think he played into the whole playoff thing, the whole playoff hype thing. It looks like he’s a lot more focused now and if I know LaMarcus, he can’t wait to respond from a game like the one he played in the (opener).”
Oddsmakers at WagerWeb.com expect Portland to bounce back, listing the Blazers as 5.5-point favorites, with an over/under of 183.5.
Roy was about the only Blazer to show up, although even he struggled to 21 points (he is fine to play tonight after getting kneed in the head by Ron Artest during a loose-ball scrum on Saturday). Greg Oden played pretty well with 15 points and five boards, and Portland coach Nate McMillan hinted at using Oden and fellow center Joel Przybilla together to slow Houston center Yao Ming, who didn’t miss a shot Saturday (9-for-9 from field, 6-for-6 from line) in dominating.
As for Houston, pretty much everything went right in Game 1. Aaron Brooks had the game of his life with 27 points, seven assists and four rebounds. Portland guard Steve Blake simply couldn’t cover him, so look for the Blazers to make an adjustment there too.
The Blazers have played Houston four times this season, losing three. And Portland’s point total has gone down in each game: 101, 94, 88 and now 81.
WagerWeb.com Trends
* Over is 5-0 in the last 5 meetings.
* Over is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings in Portland.
* Rockets are 5-2 ATS in the last 7 meetings.
* Underdog is 7-3 ATS in the last 10 meetings.
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