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Seizing the moment

Blazers take steps to sign Marcus Camby

The Columbian
Published: April 20, 2010, 12:00am

The Portland Trail Blazers made it happen in Game 1.

Then they apparently topped themselves Monday by signing center Marcus Camby to a two-year contract extension.

And after two important days for the franchise, the Blazers get a chance to take a monumental 2-0 lead over Phoenix tonight in their first-round NBA playoff series.

“We got that game, and now we want to focus on getting the game (tonight),” coach Nate McMillan said. “We know this is a tough team. They can shoot that basketball, and we’ve got our work cut out for us.”

TODAY’S GAME

Game 2: Blazers at Suns, 7 p.m. at US Airways Center, Phoenix (Blazers lead best-of-seven series 1-0).

TODAY'S GAME

Game 2: Blazers at Suns, 7 p.m. at US Airways Center, Phoenix (Blazers lead best-of-seven series 1-0).

TV: Channel 8

Radio: 95.5 FM

PROBABLE STARTERS

Blazers

Position/player Ht. Gm1

G Andre Miller 6-2 31

G Rudy Fernandez 6-6 5

F Nicolas Batum 6-8 18

F LaMarcus Aldridge 6-11 22

C Marcus Camby 6-11 4

Suns

Position/player Ht. Gm1

G Steve Nash 6-3 25

G Jason Richardson 6-6 14

F Grant Hill 6-8 4

F Amare Stoudemire 6-10 18

C Jarron Collins 6-11 0

TV: Channel 8

Radio: 95.5 FM

PROBABLE STARTERS

Blazers

Position/player Ht. Gm1

G Andre Miller 6-2 31

G Rudy Fernandez 6-6 5

F Nicolas Batum 6-8 18

F LaMarcus Aldridge 6-11 22

C Marcus Camby 6-11 4

Suns

Position/player Ht. Gm1

G Steve Nash 6-3 25

G Jason Richardson 6-6 14

F Grant Hill 6-8 4

F Amare Stoudemire 6-10 18

C Jarron Collins 6-11 0

Game 1 was a 105-100 road victory for Portland, as point guard Andre Miller outplayed Phoenix’s Steve Nash, a two-time league MVP. Miller controlled the paint and the tempo, pouring in a game-high 31 points and knocking down all 10 of his free throws as the Blazers seized homecourt advantage in the series.

A strong performance by reserve point guard Jerryd Bayless also helped cover up for injured All-Star guard Brandon Roy. Bayless scored 18 points on 6-of-10 shooting from the field, including nine consecutive points for the Blazers during a three-minute stretch that bridged the third quarter with the fourth.

Meanwhile, energetic efforts by Camby (17 rebounds, three blocks) and forward Nicolas Batum (18 points, five rebounds) offset a lackluster performance by guard Rudy Fernandez (five points on 2-of-7 shooting), who started in place of Roy.

Camby could bring more energy for the Blazers next season — a sports website reported Monday that Portland and the 14-year veteran are close to agreeing on a two-year contract extension worth about $20 million.

Media reports said the deal is awaiting only league approval. Camby was acquired in February from the Los Angeles Clippers in exchange for Travis Outlaw and Steve Blake. If he does not re-sign with the Blazers, he will be a free agent during the offseason.

With centers Greg Oden and Joel Przybilla out for most of this season, Camby’s arrival has given Portland a legitimate center and made the Blazers a dangerous playoff team.

That was evident Sunday, as Portland defeated a team that was among the hottest in the league throughout the second half of the season.

A tenacious Portland defense slowed down a Suns offensive attack that led the league with 110.2 points per game

“I thought we were a shade of ourselves,” Nash said. “We’ve got a lot of improving to do if we want to win the series.”

The Blazers limited the run-and-gun Suns to just four fast-break points. In addition, Phoenix was held to 41.8 percent shooting from the field and 34.4 percent behind the 3-point line. All three numbers fell far below Phoenix’s season averages.

Portland slowed the game down by controlling the paint. The Blazers scored 44 points in the box. And while Miller attacked, LaMarcus Aldridge (22 points) pounded.

“We weren’t committing so much from the weakside on penetration or post-ups like we need to, and they got inside,” Nash said. “I think when they got inside, they were able to make a high percentage of tough shots.”

Meanwhile, Portland’s shapeshifting defense plagued Phoenix. As Camby locked down on Suns star forward Amare Stoudemire, everyone from Miller and Batum to Martell Webster placed as much emphasis on slowing down Phoenix as putting the ball in the basket.

Troubled by Camby’s long arms and shot-blocking prowess, Stoudemire never found a groove. He finished with 18 points. But the All-Star forward also committed four turnovers, got to the free-throw line just three times, and fouled out in the fourth quarter.

“Amare is going to have to step it up and find ways to score for us. And we’ve got to get the ball to him in a good location,” Suns coach Alvin Gentry said. “It’s one game, and now we’ve got to find a way somewhere in this series. We’ve got to take care of business, and go to Portland and win one of those games.”

The Blazers have other ideas.

The first move has been made. And while Phoenix will likely answer with a variety of adjustments and improved execution, a proud Blazers team has already set the tone in the playoffs.

“It’s big. Especially how (Phoenix has) played the second half of the season, going into the playoffs,” Miller said. “They have probably been the hottest team in the league. That right there says a lot about our effort.”

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