Aldridge, Oden crush Bobcats in Blazers blowout win
Weary after needing two overtimes to dispose of the Los Angeles Lakers the night before, Emeka Okafor (left) and the Bobcats didn't stand a chance against Greg Oden's Blazers
Eight minutes and eleven seconds remained in the second quarter when Portland Trail Blazers guard Rudy Fernandez pulled off what appeared impossible. ‘El Mago,’ or the The Magician,’ as he is nicknamed, stole the ball away from Charlotte Bobcats point guard Sean Singletary. This is when El Mago lived up to the name, passing behind his back, through the smallest crack in between two defenders, to his Spanish sidekick Sergio Rodriguez, who drove into the lane and shoveled the ball to center Joel Przybilla, who proceeded to make a layup. It was a miraculous, but not surprising, as it summed up the Blazers night.
Portland’s first half couldn’t have been any more entertaining. Power forward LaMarcus Aldridge continuously knocked down his patented jumper, but also mixed in a jump-hook and an up-and-under move rarely seen by him. He kept the Blazers large lead intact with help from his bevy of talented teammates, particularly Greg Oden, Jerryd Bayless, and Brandon Roy.
After an ineffective performance in the Blazers previous game against the Bobcats, Oden dominated in this one. He was everywhere and did everything. His first half statistics were brilliant, 7 points, 7 rebounds, 2 blocks, and only one foul, but even those numbers don’t begin to tell the story. He made life miserable for nearly every single Charlotte player, affecting numerous shots, snatching offensive rebounds, and dunking with authority. I was on Portland’s fan forum, and came across a post with the title “Who is this Greg Oden?,” I replied “I guess he ate his Wheaties.” My response was cliche, sarcastic, and incorrect. It was simply the healthy, powerful version of the player the Blazers drafted first overall in the 2007 NBA Draft. This fan was bewildered by Oden’s energy and production, but I wasn’t as shocked. I have seen what an impact he can make when he isn’t straddled with fouls. He was extremely beneficial, and was a big reason why Portland won so handily, finishing with his 14th double-double of the season with 14 points and 14 rebounds, including 8 offensive.
Jerryd Bayless provided a spark, livening up an already hot-shooting Blazers team, scoring nine first quarter points, including a acrobatic layup at the buzzer. While he looked to score, Rodriguez looked to pass, dishing seven assists. They were, and have been for some time, a great duo. Performances like this, especially Bayless’s, are desperately needed for Portland, who is missing starting point guard Steve Blake, who re-aggravated his shoulder injury a game prior. Bayless and Rodriguez’s styles contrast each other, which is perfect for this team, and will continue to be for years to come.
Roy, for once, was able to have a quiet night, at least by his standards. He scored 13 first half points and finished with 17, happily taking a back seat to Aldridge, Oden, and Bayless. With as much talent as the Blazers possess, this will happen from time to time. Especially if Portland stays on the roll they are currently on.
