Le Journal

The Portland Trail Blazers, coming up short in another spirited comeback, fell 110-106 to the Orlando Magic on Tuesday night. The Blazers spent the entirety of the first half at a deficit. A continued lack of ball handling, shooting, and creativity allowed the Magic to maintain a healthy lead. Aside from some bright Yang Hansen minutes – in which a creative dime and a blocked shot had us all visualizing his eventual MVP ceremony – the first 24 minutes featured little to write home about. Then came the second half. The third quarter featured much of the same: the Blazers were able to convert enough shots and get enough stops to maintain a puncher’s chance. As soon as the Blazers were able to gather any momentum, though, the Magic would extend a timely stiff-arm to stave off the run. In the fourth quarter, Deni Avdija and Caleb Love provided the foundation for yet another comeback. Shots and stops led the Blazers to a clutch time situation. Down two with 38 seconds left, Shaedon Sharpe arrived at the line with a chance to tie the game. Consistent with recent trends, he left the first one short, leaving the Blazers trailing by one. Desmond Bane would go on to be the hero of the game, yet again, blocking Donovan Clingan’s dunk attempt, preventing the Blazers from taking the lead. This would be the final consequential action of the game, and the Magic would seal it down the stretch. Once again, the Blazers faltered late. In the last two contests, the Blazers have made inspired comebacks and subsequently waned in the closing minutes. These losses could be attributed to the Blazers lacking a “dude” (depending on your feelings about Deni Avdija), or perhaps they are just expending too much energy clawing back into the game. Observations Marathon or Sprint? The Blazers have found themselves in eerily similar spots across the past two games. Early in the game, they dig a very deep hole. As the game progresses, they channel their inner Braveheart and produce a spirited comeback. Finally, in crunch time, they run out of steam and fizzle out (likely from the free throw line). This type of play, though fun in the moment, is not sustainable. If nothing else, the Blazers have shown significant resiliency across the past two contests. Same-Old Same-Old. The box score reveals a simple, yet damning, discrepancy: the Blazers shot 28% from the three-point arc and the Magic shot 45%. More Statistical Trouble. Combining poor shooting with 17 turnovers, the Blazers are not compiling a win-worthy stat-sheet. Their losing qualities are the same qualities they’ve possessed all season: turnovers, poor spacing, and dishonorable performances from the stripe. The good news is, all are issues that a good point guard (or any point guard at all) can help alleviate. The Next Guy Up. Beyond the usual cast of injuries, the Blazers also found themselves without both Jerami Grant and Robert Williams. Typically the Blazers require one or two back-of-the-rotation players to step up and convert buckets. Tonight Caleb Love heeded the call, dropping 17 points on 7-of-13 shooting. Love’s skill lies in his propensity to get shots up. They may not all go in, but on a team as offensively-deficient as the Blazers, such an ability is more than welcome. Love remains the front runner for Most Confident Trail Blazer. Rotations. I imagine being a head coach is much harder than critiquing one. That said, in the first quarter Blazers coach Tiago Splitter deployed a lineup of Caleb Love, Rayan Rupert, Sidy Cissoko, Toumani Camara, and Yang Hansen. That lineup converted one bucket and conceded two turnovers before the coaching staff realized what they had created. In a winnable game, and in a season that the general manager labeled “winning time,” the Blazers should do a better job managing the number of capable ball handlers on the floor. In all fairness to coach Splitter, the Blazers are on the second night of a back-to-back and do possess an injury report longer than a rental car…

Portland Trail Blazers welcome the Orlando Magic to the Moda Center tonight for the last game in Portland’s pre-Christmas schedule. The first half is over. What furious flurries will the final two quarters hold? Talk about the action here! Here’s what you need to know as you prepare to watch the game: Portland Trail Blazers (12-17) vs. Orlando Magic (16-13) – Fri. Oct. 31 – 7:00pm Pacific Where to watch via antenna or cable: See your options on the Rip City Television Network Where to stream: BlazerVision in Oregon and Washington; League Pass everywhere else. Where to listen: Trail Blazers Audio Network Trail Blazers injuries: Scoot Henderson, Jrue Holiday, Damian Lillard, Matisse Thybulle, Blake Wesley, Jerami Grant, Robert Williams III (Out) Orlando injuries: Colin Castleton, Jalen Suggs, Franz Wagner, Moritz Wagner Out; Tristan da Silva Day-to-day This is your thread to talk about the second half with fellow fans! Here’s what we ask in our discussion threads: Stay on the topic of the game during official Game Day threads. We ask that the focus be a little tighter because everyone is gathering for the same reason, the game that unites us all. Don’t troll. Talk about basketball, not other commenters. Be smart and charitable—or at least honest and relatable—in the discussion. Friction happens, but treat this like your living room, not an anonymous message board. (Also avoid the classic internet trolling techniques: overt snark, comment repetition, etc.) Obviously no language that diminishes people based on race, gender, orientation, and the like is allowed. If you’re going to insult the L*kers, at least be creative. Blazer’s Edge is a non-profanity site. Yes, even though referees exist. Thanks for being a part of the discussion. Enjoy the game and join us after for analysis and more!