PORTLAND — If you’ve ever taken a college entrance exam, you know about the sample question.
Before you’re forced to bubble in the definition of lugubrious, they throw you a softball like: Which of the following doesn’t belong: A) Red, B) Green, C) Blue, D) Georgia.
This was a sample-question game for the Blazers. Now the real test begins.
Portland dismantled the Wizards 111-76 Tuesday, offering a thorough explanation as to why Washington is 1-32 on the road.
The lead was 17 at halftime and 32 after three. The only real suspense lay in which Blazer would push his team over the 100-point mark to give the crowd free chalupas (it was rookie Chris Johnson, who said post-game that he was completely unaware of the Taco Bell promotion).
Gerald Wallace scored a game-high 28 points — his highest total with the Blazers, and LaMarcus Aldridge pitched in 22, all coming in the first half.
Smart of him not to waste any points. Portland is going to need every one of them.
The Blazers (41-30) host San Antonio on Friday before going on a three-game road trip that pits them against the Thunder, Spurs, and Hornets. They will then return to host Oklahoma City and Dallas.
The combined record of the aforementioned opponents is 198-89, and all four are among the top seven teams in the Western Conference.
So what’s the mindset?
“My mindset is easy — try to win every game” Wallace said. “You gotta come out and compete and do what you gotta do every game.”
Wallace certainly competed Tuesday night, going 10 for 14 from the field while adding eight rebounds in 32 minutes. He was the recipient of multiple alley-oop passes and forced an array of turnovers that allowed Portland to get out in transition.
The concern upon his acquisition from Charlotte was how the Blazers would acclimate him into their system. Now? It’s safe to say he’s found a home in Portland … even if he’s still looking for a place to live.
“I’m comfortable, except for the hotel,” Wallace said.
Aside from a couple of hiccups in the first quarter, which allowed the Wizards (17-52) to take a 16-12 lead, the Blazers had little to fret about Tuesday. Nicolas Batum posted 22 points, Andre Miller had 11 assists, and Portland kept Washington to 37.1 percent shooting from the field.
But if the Wizards were left with anything to feel good about after the crushing defeat, center JaVale McGee provided the material.
When Wesley Matthews beat John Wall baseline midway through the second quarter, it looked as though he had a guaranteed jam. Then, McGee leaped up, used one arm to rip the ball out of Matthews’ hand mid-flight, and glared at him upon landing.
Everyone wearing a jersey was impressed.
“I saw Wesley had his steps together, so I was like ‘OK, this is going to be a top-10 dunk.’ And then it was a top-10 block,” Aldridge said. “I was just like ‘Wow, OK.’ Then when he talked to him after he blocked it, that made it even better for me.”
Walking into the locker room from the showers after the game, Matthews made a preemptive strike, knowing he’d at least be asked, if not ribbed, about the highlight.
“It was amazing!” yelled Matthews, who did manage 15 points.
What wasn’t so amazing Tuesday was Brandon Roy’s performance.
Since dropping a nostalgic 21 points in 27 minutes against Dallas last week, the Portland shooting guard has combined for 17 points in the four ensuing games. Washington held him to one point on 0 of 6 shooting. It was his lowest point total since Nov. 10, 2006 — his fifth game in the NBA.
Nevertheless, he insists he’s OK.
“I wouldn’t look into it,” Roy said. “Physically, I haven’t taken any steps back.”
Jordan Crawford led the Wizards with 12 points. Wall added nine points and seven assists.
