Oregon Sports Live

The Unlikely "MVP"

The wacky, heart-wrenching, and bizarre year couldn’t have ended on any other note for the Portland Trail Blazers.  The Blazers bounced back from Monday’s loss to the 76ers with a victory over the Los Angeles Clippers, but they almost frittered away a double digit fourth quarter lead in the process.

Oh, and franchise pillar LaMarcus Aldridge sprained his ankle after just six minutes of play.

You get the feeling the Blazers will sign “Auld Lang Syne” in the New Year’s dawn.

“This has gone past crazy,” head coach Nate McMillan said about the team’s rash of injuries.

McMillan calmly steadied his crutches on the Blazers press conference wall before talking about yet another Blazer injury.  He said it’s”nerve-wracking” anytime his players step on the court.

It’s not clear when Aldridge (arguably the team’s most indispensable piece) will return in the new year.  He wore a protective boot after the game, but McMillan thinks it’s just a precautionary measure.

The rest of the Blazers showed extraordinary grit and heart to pull out another victory.

They were led by (who else) Brandon Roy.  Roy hit left handed floaters, layups, up-and-under makes, and a variety of mid-range jumpers on his way to 25 efficient points.

Despite carrying a double digit lead, the game seemed headed to a nail-biting finish.  Then Roy drilled an elbow jumper to make it 103-97, and  the Clippers never got within four points.

Coach McMillan credited his two rookie second round picks (Dante Cunningham and Jeff Pendergraph) for “huge” and stellar play in lieu of Aldridge.

He also anointed one of the league’s oldest players as the team MVP thus far.  McMillan said Juwan Howard is having a profound influence on Pendergraph and Cunningham (click here for McMillan talking about Juwan).

Howard had 10 points and 9 rebounds in 38 minutes of action.

The wily veteran talked about his young post players like a proud father.  Howard credited Pendergraph’s “basketball IQ” for enabling him to produce on such short notice (click here for more audio).

The rookie Pendergraph ripped down a career high 14 rebounds.  In the locker room he was asked if he foresaw this much success this year considering his preseason surgery.  “Heck no, I was broke.  I didn’t know I would play at all,  I thought I might miss the whole season.”

Pendergraph said he couldn’t pinpoit specific advice from Howard.  Howard  just encourages the rookie  to enjoy playing the game (click here for more audio).

Jerryd Bayless provided more spark off the bench for the Blazers.  He added 14 points and 8 assists.  Remarkably, the Blazers are in a tie for first place in their division with the Denver Nuggets.

Other Notes:

- McMillan said halftime was a bizarre experience.  He saw a “whole bunch of empty seats” and he said the team couldn’t help but laugh “for about a minute” at the ridiculous string of injuries and his depleted roster.

- Pendergraph said he didn’t do anything special before the game.  He said he felt really tired.  He should be tired more often.

- Dante Cunningham had some nice mid-range jumpers.  He said his shot is feeling good.  I asked him about Howard’s influence.  He said a lot of it centers around how he carries himself.  You know, fashion (click here for more audio).

- McMillan said he hates saying it, but the team is playing good basketball right now despite the loss of so many key players.

- Howard said Derrick Smith (assistant coach when he was with the Bullets) served as his mentor and taught him the little things about being a professional.

- Howard’s New Years resolution: “I probably just need to try and read more books.”  He said he needs to “stay away from the USA Today all the time.”  I agree with the USA Today thing Juwan.