Point guards struggle with cold shooting in first two games
All the preseason talk about the Portland Trail Blazers’ depth at the point guard position has amounted to little positive action during the team’s first two regular season games.
While Andre Miller has looked smooth and strong running the floor at times, he is also shooting just 27.2 percent (6 for 22) from the field and has posted two straight 3-for-11 outings.
Meanwhile, Steve Blake has been even colder. Portland’s (1-1) starting point guard is averaging 3.5 points and is 2 of 9 from the floor. Blake failed to record a single point in the Blazers’ 97-94 home loss to the Denver Nuggets on Thursday, going 0 for 5 and missing several open looks.
The duo’s rough start has been magnified by impressive, big-number performances from opposing point guards.
Houston starter Aaron Brooks scored 19 points on 8-of-17 shooting in Portland’s 96-87 season-opening victory Tuesday, while back up Kyle Lowry added 12 points. Brooks and Lowry also combined for 13 assists, compared to nine for Blake and Miller.
Then, Denver starter Chauncey Billups poured in 22 points Thursday, with rookie Ty Lawson and veteran Anthony Carter contributing seven points apiece.
Billups, who scored 14 second-half points, directly aided Carmelo Anthony’s all-star caliber performance. As Anthony took the game over in the fourth quarter — he scored 19 points in the period and finished with a game-high 41 — Billups served as a steady second outlet.
“Chauncey had a real good floor game,” Nuggets coach George Karl said.
In contrast, Miller said the Blazers did not.
But he also stated that his team is still trying to find its way during an early-season run through what promises to be an endurance test.
“It was a bad shooting night for us,” said Miller, referring to his team’s ice-cold 28 of 81 field-goal performance against the Nuggets. “But we’ll just come back and see what we can do.”
Blake, Miller and the rest of the Blazers have a chance to find their touch tonight, when Portland again faces the Brooks-led Rockets in Houston.
Note
Blazers forward Nicolas Batum underwent successful shoulder surgery Friday in Los Angeles, according to the team. The surgery was performed to repair a torn labrum in Batum’s right shoulder.
Batum started 76 games as a rookie last season for Portland, and was slated to be the team’s starting small forward again this season.
He is expected to miss up to five months during his recovery.
