BLAZERS RESHUFFLE LINEUP IN ROUT OF SPURS

Not happy with his team’s offensive production in the early part of the NBA season, Portland Trailblazers’ coach Nate McMillan decided to shuffle the deck.  His revamped, guard heavy starting lineup responded with a 96-84 drubbing of the San Antonio Spurs at the Rose Garden Arena on Friday night.   The Blazers improved to 3-3 on the season, while the Spurs dropped to 2-3 and are still winless on the road in the early part of the NBA season.  San Antonio has opened their season with three straight road losses for the first time in 16 years.

NBA basketball betting aficionados who took Portland as -4 home favorites were rewarded with the pointspread cover.  The Blazers evened their mark against the NBA pointspread at 3-3, while San Antonio slumped to 2-3 against the number.  The 180 points scored went UNDER the posted total of 184.  The Blazers have gone UNDER in five of their first six games this season, while the Spurs have gone OVER in 3 of 5.

McMillan went with a three guard lineup, adding veteran Andre Miller to the starting lineup along with Steve Blake and Brandon Roy.  Roy had 24 points to lead his team, while Blake added 15.  McMillan was pleased with the improved ball movement and resulting offensive production and is going to stick with it for the immediate future:

"I looked at the schedule. With the schedule the next week or two I am going to stay with it and look at it. It was a good unit tonight."

Brandon Roy approved of the move:

"It was a change of pace, maybe something we need.”

San Antonio lost at Utah on Thursday night, and looked lethargic from the start.  Their problems mounted when guard Tony Parker left with a sprained ankle late in the first half and did not return.  

Portland was coming off two straight losses at the Rose Garden—known as one of the toughest home venues in the NBA—but has looked strong on the defensive end of the floor so far this season.  Greg Oden, in particular, has responded well to his new emphasis on that phase of the game.  On Friday night he finished with 15 points, 8 rebounds and four blocked shots in another solid effort.

The Blazers will welcome the Minnesota Timberwolves to ‘The Rose City’ on Sunday before heading out on the road with games early next week at Memphis and a return engagement against the TWolves on their home floor.  San Antonio will have three games at home next week, playing the Toronto Raptors, Dallas Mavericks and Oklahoma City Thunder.