Friday, December 20, 2013

J-Speaks: The Hot Starts by the Pacers, Spurs and Trail Blazers

When you fall one game short of reaching the NBA Finals like the Indiana Pacers did, one game short of winning another title like the San Antonio Spurs did or when a 13-game losing streak to close the season that ended the smallest chance of just making the postseason like the Portland Trail Blazers did a season ago, the question is how will you bounce back the next season. In the case of these three small market teams, they have comeback in a big way.

After losing in the Eastern Conference Finals in seven games to the back-to-back champion Miami Heat (19-6) a season ago, the Pacers (20-5) came into this season with a chip on their shoulder.

They have used that to fuel them to the best record in the East so far this season. Their nine straight wins out the gate is their best in franchise history, which dates back to their days in the American Basketball Association.

Their success has been predicated on three things. First their amazing ability to play great defense night in and night out.

The Central Division leading Pacers lead the league in points allowed per game at 90.2 and field goal percentage allowed at 41.5 percent. Opponents have shot just 33.6 percent from three-point range against the Pacers, ranked 6th in the league. The Pacers have the 6th best rebound differential in the NBA at a plus 2.8 and they are 10th in the league in total boards per contest grabbing 43.7. They are 4th in block shots per conetest at average 6.2 block shots per contest and starting center Roy Hibbert (12.6 ppg, 8.6 rpg) is second in the league averaging 2.9 blocks.

The second reason the Pacers have gotten off to their amazing start this first month of the season is the continued emergence of their star player swingman Paul George.

The first-time All-Star and the Most Improved Player a season ago has taken his game to an even higher level this season averaging 23.8 points per game, which is ranked 7th in The Association, to go along with 5.8 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 2.0 steals per contest.

To put George's start to the season into context, in the Pacers aforementioned first nine games of the season, all wins, George scored 20 points or more in all of them. That is the best start individually for a Pacers in franchise history, surpassing Hall of Famer and NBA on TNT color analyst Reggie Miller, who did it the first six games of the 1990-91 season and former Pacer and CBS College Basketball analyst Clark Kellogg who did it the first seven games of the 1985-86 season.

It is not just the fact that George has established himself as the Pacers best offensive player, he has become their go-to scorer when the game is on the line.

He demonstrated that poise ability to come through in the clutch on national television at the New York Knicks (8-17), when he scored 21 of his 35 points in the fourth quarter and overtime in the Pacers 103-96 win on Nov. 20 at Madison Square Garden.

What makes the performance even more incredible is that he was the complete opposite in the Pacers first loss of the season four days prior. He registered just 12 points on 3 for 14 shooting in the 110-94 loss at the Chicago Bulls (9-16), more on them later.

He had a tough performance last Saturday 99-94 win versus the Charlotte Bobcats (12-14). George had just 10 points on 2 for 12 shooting.

While George has been the pillar on offense for the Pacers, the team is not where they are today if not for a couple new editions and the improvement of a couple of key cogs.

One of the weaknesses of the Pacers a season ago was their inability to get consistent production from their bench as well as the inconsistency of the starting backcourt of Lance Stephenson and George Hill.

The Pacers addressed their bench this off-season by acquiring veteran forward Luis Scola (8.8 ppg, 4.4 rpg) and guard C.J. Watson (6.3 ppg) who have been a solid edition and has added depth to the frontcout of the Pacers.

Stephenson and Hill have gone from players who showed up here and there to ones that have come through game in and game out. In the case of Stephenson, he is averaging career-highs of 12.9 points, 6.6 boards and 4.9 assists per contest.

In fact he is the only player to have multiple triple-doubles this season. His first came in a 95-79 win versus the Memphis Grizzlies (10-15) on Nov. 11 where he had 13 points, 11 rebounds and 12 assists. Stephenson's second triple came in a 97-82 win at the Celtics (12-15) 11 days later, where he registered 10 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists to go along with four steals.

In the aforementioned win the Pacers had last Saturday versus the Bobcats, Stephenson came close to his third triple-double of the season with 20 points, 11 boards and seven assists. Hibbert registered 18 points and 11 rebounds. Forward David West had 14 points and eight rebounds. Hill had 13 points.

With the emergence of George, an improved bench, consistent play from Hill and Stephenson and a identity around playing strong defense, the Pacers have shown going 15-1 in November, that if they do meet the Heat, who have been great themselves to start this season, the games they play during the regular season, will have major implications in the standing and will serve as notice of what could happen if they meet in the postseason this spring.

They won the first of their four meetings this season 90-84 five days ago, to improve their mark to 5-2 to start the month of December. One of those losses though was at the Oklahoma City Thunder (21-4) where they lost 118-94, their largest margin of defeat of the season.

In their 24-point setback, the Thunder, who scored the most points in a game against the Pacers this season, shot 61 percent from the floor, where out-rebounded 46-29 and the dynamic duo of Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook were remarkable. Durant had 36 points, 10 rebounds and five assists and Westbrook had 26 points, 13 assists and seven rebounds.

They have had lost their last two games however. The first was their first setback at home to the Detroit Pistons 101-96 this past Monday. That was followed by a 97-94 loss at the Miami Heat, where they blew a 15-point lead in the second half.

While the Heat are the "Top Dogs" of the East as well as the entire league, the Pacers have shown that they are for real. With that being said, the season is still young and head coach Frank Vogel and his squad have to continue to improve so that if they do meet in the Eastern Conference Finals, they can have that Game 7 if it comes to that on their home court.

While the East has one contending team trying to get to where they Heat finished a season ago, another team trying to recapture that glory is the Southwest leading Spurs (21-5).

After last season's disappointing finish in the Finals where the Spurs blew a 3-2 series lead to fall to the Heat in seven games, main thought that the Spurs chances of contending for a fifth title were down the Alamo River.

They have proven once again that underestimating themis a big mistake. They once again are in the thick of the Western Conference.

They went 14-3 in the first month of the season, which included an 11-game winning streak from Nov. 5, to Nov. 25, which unfortunately came to an end two days later when they were defeated by the Thunder 94-88.

With that being said, the team has played great led by the amazing "Big 3" of forward Tim Duncan (14.0 ppg, 9.0 rpg-lead team, 1.7 bpg-leads team), guards Tony Parker (17.5 ppg-leads team, 6.0 apg-leads team, 51.7 FG%-lead team) and Manu Ginobili (11.5 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 4.7 apg).

The word that describes the Spurs as a team is consistency on both ends of the court. They are 8th in the league in scoring at 103.1 points per game and their second in assists per game at 24.8. They rank fourth in points allowed at 94.7 and tied for sixth in field goal percentage allowed at 43.4 percent.

This consistency on both ends is not just a product of the great coaching from Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich and the remarkable greatness of Duncan, Parker and Ginobili, but the stellar play from the likes of starting small forward Kawhi Leonard (12.3 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 1.8 spg-leads team), who is getting better and better by the day.

Guards Danny Green (7.4 ppg, 40.6 3-Pt.%), Patty Mills (8.4 ppg, 43.4 3-Pt.%) and Marco Bellinelli (10.2 ppg, 53.2 3-Pt.%) are big reasons why the Spurs rank third in the league in three-point percentage at 40.2 percent.

Starting center Tiago Splitter (8.4 ppg, 6.6 rpg) has been very steady for the Spurs in the paint and on the glass and forward Boris Diaw (9.7 ppg, 3.3 rpg) whether starting or coming off the bench provides steadiness on the perimeter or inside.

While they understand that they need to be peaking in the months of March and April as playoff time approaches, they understand that getting off to a solid start is just as important and their strong beginning in the first month of the season. As mentioned they went 14-3 in November and have 7-2 mark so far in December proving once again that they are a title contender and they are still a force for the likes of the Thunder and the Los Angeles Clippers (18-9) to deal with.

With their stellar mark through the first 23 games of the season, that would be enough to put them a top of the West. That is not the case because the aformentioned Thunder are a top the West and right behind them is the real surprise of the Conference and the league so far this season, the Portland Trail Blazers (22-5).

Last season, the Trail Blazers had a surprising start to the season going 20-15 in the first 35 games. The team unfortunately finished 13-34 to finish this season, which includes a 13-game losing streak to close the season.

A big reason for the slide is the fact that Trail Blazers' had a stellar starting five, their bench averaged just 18.5 points per contest, ranked dead last a season ago.

This offseason, the Blazers front office went to work to take care of the team's main weakness and added a huge missing piece that solidified the starting five.

This summer, the Trail Blazers signed guard Mo Williams (9.3 ppg, 4.5 apg, 37.0 3-Pt.%) and forward Dorell Wright (5.1 ppg, 39.2 3-Pt.%) and acquired forward Thomas Robinson (5.2 ppg, 3.6 rpg). In the draft, the team selected at the No. 10 spot C.J. McCollum out of Lehigh, who is yet to play this season because of a broken foot and they drafted in the second round (No. 31 overall) swingman Allen Crabbe out of University of California, who has shown flashes of what he can do when he has been given the chance to play.

When last season's starting center J.J. Hickson (12.7 ppg, 10.4 rpg last) turned his stellar season into a three-year, $15 milllion contract with the Denver Nuggets, their was a major void in the starting center spot.

In a three-team deal with the Sacramento Kings and the New Orleans Pelicans, the Blazers acquired center Robin Lopez. While the numbers have been solid, 9.3 points, 8.4 rebounds, 1.4 blocks, they have been worth their weight in gold, in particular to his starting front court mate LaMarcus Aldridge.

With a true center alongside him, the eight-year veteran out of the University of Texas Aldridge is having a break out season leading the Blazers with career-highs in scoring at 23.3 points and 11.1 rebounds on 47.9 percent from the field. He has had 16 double-doubles (points and rebounds) so far this season, tied for 5th in the league with Houston Rockets' center Dwight Howard. Lopez has recorded 11 double-doubles so far this season.

When the Trail Blazers drafted their starting lead guard Damian Lillard at the No. 6 spot a season ago out of Weber State, not many did not know what to expect out of him. Well all he did was win Rookie of the Month every month last season and his amazing season where he averaged 19.0 points per outing and 6.5 assists earned him Rookie of the Year.

He has continued that amazing play in his second season as the Trail Blazers second leading scorer at 21.3 points per contest, 5.9 assists and 3.7 rebounds per game on 42.8 percent from three-point range.

He especially this season has shown a boldness to make shots in the closing moments that break the heart of the opponent.

At the start of the week, Lillard hit a fade away jumper in the closing seconds of overtime that gave the Blazers a 111-109 win at the Pistons. The Blazers' lead guard had 23 points and seven assists to go along with three steals.

Lillard followed that up by hitting the game-winning three-pointer in the closing moments two nights later giving the Blazers a 119-116 win at the Cleveland Cavaliers (9-15). Lillard nearly had a triple-double with 36 points, eight rebounds and 10 assists going 11 for 23 from the field, including going 8 for 12 from three-point range. He out played the other emerging lead guard in the Cavs Kyrie Irving, who had 25 points and 10 assists.

The stellar play of Aldridege and Lillard and the presence of Lopez has allowed the wing players of the Trail Blazers starting quintet in small forward Nicolas Batum and Lillard's backcourt mate in Wesley Matthews to have break out seasons themselves.

Each year that Batum has been in the league, he has grown by leaps and bounds and this season is no different. He is averaging the second highest point production of his young career at 14.1 points to go along with career-high averages of 6.3 boards and 5.2 assists, which is second on the team. He is shooting 47 percent from the field and 40.4 percent from behind the three-point line.

After a one season with the Utah Jazz where he played very well averaging 9.4 points, Matthews, who was not drafted back in 2009 when he came out of Marquette University, signed a very front loaded five-year $34 million offer sheet with the Blazers on July 10, 2010. Being a restricted free agent, the Jazz had seven days to match the offer. Four days later, they decided not to offer a matching contract and Matthews became a Trail Blazer.

In his first three season in the Pacific Northwest, Matthews averaged 15.9, 13.7 and 14.8 points per contest on 40.7, 38.3 and 39.8 percent from behind the three-point arc respectably. This season, he has shattered those numbers averaging a career-bests 16.2 points per contest on 50 percent from the field and 44.2 percent from three-point range.

The balanced attack from the starting five to the reserves is why the Trail Blazers are leading league in scoring at 108.3 points per contest; 5th in assists per contest at 23.5; 10th in field goal percentage at 45.7 percent and No. 1 in three-point field goal percentage at 41.1 percent.

In their game this past Saturday nigit, a 139-105 win at the Philadelphia 76ers (7-19), the Trail Blazers went 21 for 37 from three-point range. The 21 three-pointers made, set a new franchise record and were two shy of the NBA record set by the Orlando Magic in the 2008-09 when they hit 23 three-pointers in a game at the Sacramento Kings.

The 139 points the Blazers put up are the most in a road game since 1992. The Blazers got 60 points from their bench with Wright leading the way with 15 points on 5 for 5 from three-point territory. Williams had 14 points and Robinson had 10.

The Trail Blazers took over this game in the third quarter where they turned a seven-point lead at intermission, 71-64 into a 111-79 lead after three. They outscored the Sixers 40-15 in the third period, going 7 for 12 from the three-point line, garnering 13 boards to the Sixers eight and accumilating 14 assists to the Sixers 2. The Blazers had 41 assists for the game, falling eight shy of the team record that was set in a game versus the Denver Nuggets back in the 1990-91.

The victory was the team's ninth versus the East and so far they have had 11 wins in 11 tries against the rival Conference.

A season ago, the Trail Blazers were one of the worst defensive teams in the league ranking 21st in points allowed at 100.7; next to last (29th overall) in field goal percentage allowed at 47.4 percent and 24th in the league in rebounding at 40.8 boards per game.

While they still rank at the bottom in points allowed at 101.9 per game, they are ranked 16th in field goal pecentage allowed giving up 45.3 percent shooting and they are 4th in the league in rebounding per game at 46 boards per contest and are 3rd in rebounding differential at a plus 3.3 per game.

To put the Trail Blazers supreme start into perspective, their 20-4 start through the first 24 games is the second best in team history. They went 22-2 in their first 24 games to start the 1990-91 season. Of their first four losses, two came at the hands of the Phoenix Suns (14-10), who have defeated the Trail Blazers two of the three meetings this season. Their third loss came at home on Dec. 7 versus the Dallas Mavericks (15-10), when guard Monta Ellis hit the game-winner at the buzzer to give the Mavs a 108-106 win.

Their most recent set back was a 120-109 defeat at the Minnesota Timberwolves (13-13) on Wednesday night. It was the back end of a back-to-back and the fourth game in five days for the team.

In the early part of this season, especially during their 11-game winning from Nov. 8 to Nov. 25, the Trail Blazers were able to rise to the moment when called on to do so.

Their overcame a 21-point deficit to defeat the Bulls 98-95 on Nov. 22 in a game that will be remembered as the one that Bulls' guard Derrick Rose tore the meniscus in his right knee that will keep him out the rest of the season.

Despite a poor performance by Aldridge who went just 4 for 20 from the field scoring just 12 points, Matthews had 28 points on 12 for 19 from the field, including going 4 for 8 from three-point range. Lillard had 20 points and six assists. Batum added 17 points, eight boards and five steals and Lopez had 13 points and a career-high 16 rebounds.

The next night at the Golden State Warriors (14-13), they used a 42-22 run that turned a 12 point deficit into a 113-101 win. The run also came on the heels of a scuffle between Warriors starting center Andrew Bogut and Trail Blazers' center Joel Freeland. Matthews and Williams also got involved in the scuffle and were ejected as a result.

Following a 120-106 loss at the Suns on Nov. 27, which ended their 11-game winning streak, the Blazers finished the month at 13-3. The questioned coming into December is how would they fair against tougher competition.

After a 114-108 win at the Los Angeles Lakers (11-12) to start the month, they pulled a 106-102 victory over the East leading Pacers on the back end of a back-to-back. Aldridge lead the way with 26 points and 10 boards. Lillard also had 26 points.

After scoring just 20 points in the first period, the Trail Blazers put up 25, 27 and 34 points the next three quarters and overcame a 43-point performance by George, who hit 7 for 15 from three-point range.

Two nights later, the Blazers registered another comeback as they trailed by as many as 12 versus the Thunder and an 11-point deficit at intermission to a 111-104 win.

Aldridge was spectacular again scoring 38 points on 17 for 28 from the field to go along with 13 boards, five assists and two steals. Batum had 14 points and six rebounds. Lillard also had 14 points. Matthews had 13 and Lopez had another double-double of 12 points, 10 boards and four block shots.

They followed that big win, with a their largest margin of victory, a 130-98 one versus the Utah Jazz (6-20), where they went 17 for 23 from three-point range, setting a new NBA record for three-point percentage at 73.9 percent, according to Basketball-Reference.com and at the time set a new franchise record for triples made.

Following the aforementioned loss at the buzzer versus the Mavs, they won at the Jazz two nights later 105-94. Three days later, they defeated the Houston Rockets (16-9) 111-104.

Aldridge had a game to remember with 31 points, 25 rebounds, two steals and two blocks to lead the Blazers. He registered his fourth 30-plus point and 20-plus rebound game of his career, which is also a new franchise record. He also registered his fourth 20-point, 20-rebound game of his career, tying the father of Warriors' guard Klay Thompson, Mychal Thompson for the most in franchise history. Sidney Wicks has the second most 20/20 games in franchise history with six and Hall of Famer Bill Walton has the most with eight.

Matthews had 18 points. Lopez had another double-double of 16 points and 10 rebounds to go along with two blocks. Batum had 15 points, six boards and six assists. Williams had 13 points off the bench for the Blazers, who scored 100-plus points for the 10 straight contest, which is the most since the 1993-94 season, where they scored 100-plus points for 13 consecutive contests. Earlier in the week, they have surpassed that streak and have scored over the century mark for 14 consecutive contest. They have gone 11-3 in this stretch.

The Trail Blazers have gone from the bottom of the West to the very top so far. When this month concludes, head coach Terry Stotts team will have a clear idea of where they are at as they will face the Clippers the day after Christmas on TNT. Two days later, they will face the back-to-back champion Heat and on New Year's Eve will be at the Thunder.

A year ago, the Pacers were at the door of making the Finals, but fell in Game 7 at the Heat. The Spurs seconds away from winning their fifth title in franchise history, but could not close the deal in Game 6 and ultimately fell in Game 7. The Trail Blazers missed out on the playoffs all together because of their unproductive bench. The Spurs and Pacers have comeback this season on a mission to get back to where they were a season ago and finish the deal. The Blazers are trying to just get back into the postseason, where they have not been since 2011 and see what they can do.

While these three small market NBA teams are at different stages in terms of their expectations, they have three things in common. First they have identities that have helped them win a high level of games. Second, headline players that have made their teammates better and third they have made smart decisions in terms of personnel. They have the right coaches who have put their respective players in a position to perform at high levels. The headline players are all about winning and the role players on each team know their roles and play them to perfection.

The Heat are back-to-back champions and look every bit the part of a team trying to win a third consecutive NBA championship. The two opponents who they defeated on their way to the title in the Pacers and Spurs are priming to meet them again and trying to take them down. The Trail Blazers have shown to this point that they are among the best in the West. The season is still very young and they have a lot to prove.
Information and statistics are courtesy of the NBA statistics, standings and team section of espn.go.com; www.basketball-reference.com/teams/POR/2013.html; en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Portland_Trail_Blazers_seasons; 11/21/13 1 a.m. edition of "NBA Tonight" on ESPN 2 with Cassidy Hubbarth and Avery Johnson; 11/23/13 1:30 a.m. edition of "NBA Tonight" on ESPN 2 with Cassidy Hubbarth and P.J. Carlesimo; 11/24/13 2:30 a.m. edition of "NBA Tonight" with Alfredo Lomeli and P.J. Carlesimo; 11.24/13 9 a.m. edition of NBATV's "Gametime" with Jared Greenberg, Dennis Scott and Mike Fratello; 12/7/13 2 a.m. edition of NBATV's "Gametime" presented by State Farm with Vince Cellini, Steve Smith and Mike Fratello; 12/13/13 1 a.m. edition of TNT's "Inside the NBA" presented by KIA with Ernie Johnson, Shaquille O'Neal, Kenny Smith and Charles Barkley; 12/14/13 8 p.m. contest between the Portland Trail Blazers versus Philadelphia 76ers; 12/14/13 7 a.m. edition of NBATV's "Gametime" presented by State Farm with Vince Cellini, Steve Smith and Isiah Thomas; 12/15/13 7 a.m. edition of NBATV's "Gametime" presented by State Farm with Matt Winer, Dennis Scott and Isiah Thomas.

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