Game Thread: Blazers at Knicks

by Tommy Dee on December 7th, 2009 at 7:47 pm

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Via NBA.com

By MIKE LIPKA
Posted Dec 07 2009 12:06AM

Just when it appeared Greg Oden was settling into a groove with the Portland Trail Blazers, the former No. 1 overall draft pick was lost for the season again due to another serious knee injury.

The Blazers will try to move on without their promising center on Monday night, when they open a four-game road trip trying to prevent the New York Knicks from their first three-game winning streak of the season.

After Portland selected the 7-footer out of Ohio State in 2007, Oden missed an entire season following microfracture surgery on his right knee, and injuries cost him another 21 games during his rookie campaign in 2008-09.

But Oden had started every game and averaged 11.1 points, 8.5 rebounds and 2.3 blocked shots this season before suffering a fractured left kneecap on Saturday night against Houston.

“I told everyone in the locker room I felt this was like a punch to the gut,” Portland general manager Kevin Pritchard said.

“The challenging part for me is sometimes life’s not fair, you know?” Pritchard added. “I’ve seen this kid work his tail off. He has put in the work. He has done absolutely everything we’ve ever asked him to do, and more.”

Oden’s departure on a stretcher put a serious damper on the Blazers’ 90-89 win over the Rockets, which snapped their three-game losing streak. Portland guard Brandon Roy, who led the team with 28 points, said Oden apologized to his teammates for the injury.

“He told us to keep fighting,” Roy said. “Greg feels he is letting us down.”
  • DaGawD_KnowLedge

    sorry i’m looking at the philly game..

    goodluck knicks

  • JASONHAYES

    Knicks doing the little things that get you wins…….I LOVE IT!!

  • JASONHAYES

    kNICKS ARE GOING TO THE BASKET MORE OFTEN….I LOVE IT!!

  • Realist_Knick_Fan

    Awesome hustle by Duhon on that steal – going up on the table – coming back in and starting the break (cannot believe I just wrote that – credit is where credit is due) – great pass by Gallo to Harrington to finish it off.

    And great charges being drawn by Jefferies. Hope the Wizards are watching this game.

    Good first half all around.

  • NoVaCaInE

    Knicks are hustling and playing DEFENSE! WOW!!!

  • Mucha

    Great defense.

    They limited the Blazers to 38 first-half points, it’s crazy. I think D’Antoni’s doing a great job these days, his coaching was absolutely terrible but he definitely made the right adjustments. The Knicks are playing better/harder as well, I think the blow-out win against the Suns had a huge impact from a psychological standpoint.

    The first-half was awesome, but they’ll have to stay focused. By the way, great hustle play by Chris Duhon. Respect.

  • Bob go knicks

    KNICKFANINMD CONTINUES THROUGHOUT THIS GAME TO BE THE PATRON SAINT OF THE SMELT FISHERMAN OF PORTUGESE EXTRACTION

  • NoVaCaInE

    Agreed. Knicks have to keep their focus and not become complacent.

  • Mucha

    I really feel bad for Greg Oden.

    He was slowly becoming their best player (along with Brandon Roy obviously), he plays 100x harder than Aldridge.

  • NoVaCaInE

    Wow all those missed put backs brought back bad memories of Charles Smith…

  • Mucha

    I guess a 23 point lead against the Blazers isn’t worth talking about… I get it, Brook Lopez is not playing tonight!

  • Boots

    Well, if you go back and look at the tape, you’ll see that Smith was obviously fouled at least three times. Many of us felt that the whistles were dliberately swallowed on that play.

    What Donehy describes in his book has been going on for a long time.

  • Realist_Knick_Fan

    Larry Hughes with inspiration again during the 3rd quarter – this time w/ some 3s to keep pushing that lead back to 13 just when you though Portland would get into single digits.

    Jefferies continuing to improve whatever trade value he may have – if any.

  • Realist_Knick_Fan

    Michigan Fab Five feels like just yesterday – man I’m getting old.

  • bartnyk

    How did Bayless look I missed most of the game.

  • ojuice

    Larry Hughes has been a new player the last couple of weeks. He disappears against good competition, but he has been really important in all 6 of their wins this year, and once again playing extremely well as they attempt to get there 7th

  • Mucha

    Good. He was aggressive.

  • Realist_Knick_Fan

    Nervous 13 point lead now.

  • Realist_Knick_Fan

    Now 11 point lead – very nervous.

  • bartnyk

    MIKE WE HAVE A FOUL TO GIVE !!!!!

  • Mucha

    D’Antoni will never understand that he has to stop the bleeding early when his team has a heavy lead. He should have called the timeout 3 possessions ago.

    By the way, Duhon and Harrington have been terrible in the 4th quarter.

  • Realist_Knick_Fan

    Huge Gallo!

  • Realist_Knick_Fan

    Back-to-back – Gallo and Hughes!!!!

  • bartnyk

    Nice steal by Bayless didn’t give up on the play.

  • Realist_Knick_Fan

    Actually bummed Jefferies fouled out.

  • Realist_Knick_Fan

    Big rejection by Lee!!!!

  • bartnyk

    David Lee with a block WHHAAA

  • Realist_Knick_Fan

    Great hustle on the second chance point.

  • Realist_Knick_Fan

    Seeing Roy play – really see what we are missing overall – that one guy – that one guy who’s got it. Gallo though w/ big dagger earlier. At least Hughes was able to drain that dagger.

  • Realist_Knick_Fan

    Glad Chandler attacking and driving to the basket – did it right there – passed up the three – than the jay – then drove it – and got fouled.

  • Realist_Knick_Fan

    To be fair – bad foul there by Chandler on Roy.

  • Realist_Knick_Fan

    THREE IN A ROOOOOOW! Never thought I would say that two or three weeks ago. And on to the Hornets. December has been a much welcomed month.

  • Boots

    Good game, a win is a win, but they still have to find a way to get Gallo more than two shots in the second half. To his credit, Gallo passed the ball setting up others and didn’t force up bad shots, but stil . . .

  • bartnyk

    Gallo should take note of Roy and his mid range game and trade for Bayless!!!!

  • mhc423

    Its amazing what a little hustle does. Great win, 3 in a row heading into a pauless hornet team.

  • Knicks fan in Taiwan

    Another good game. Are they really 4-1 in December?

    If the Knicks could only pry either Bayless or Rudy away from Portland, who even with all their injuries, have too many players/not the right mix of players. Just one of those two guys (or even Blake?) would be a coup for the Knicks.

  • bartnyk

    Bayless 14pts 2ast in 17mins nice stat line miller had 4 pts 2 ast in almost 27mis wtf.

  • Bob go knicks

    gallo will be huge if he is ever the focal pt

  • Bob go knicks

    FK IVERSON

  • Bob go knicks

    IVERSON 4-11 TYPICAL

  • DaGawD_KnowLedge

    lmao.

    it’s his first game back since march..