Nicolas Batum

Nicolas Batum would pass up a three-pointer and find the veteran at the top of the key. Instead, Scottie Pippen’s reincarnation took matters into his own hands, and drained the long jumper to thrust the dagger into the heart of the New Jersey Nets. Trotting back down court, the do-it-all Frenchman paid tribute to the injured Rudy Fernandez, flashing three fingers before his teammates mobbed him. This capped a brilliant night by Batum, who is becoming one of the team’s most important players.

The Blazers came alive at just the right moment. After looking woeful in the first half, Portland came to their senses on Batum’s back. When he was drafted, Portland apparently saw him as nothing more than a wing defender. He’s proving to them that he can score as well, willing the Blazers when it appeared as if no one else could. Brandon Roy eased into the game after being held without a field goal in the first half, scoring 28 of his 31 points in the final twenty four minutes.

As Blazers’ announcers Mike Rice and Mike Barrett pointed out, the team doesn’t have five Batum’s, only the one. This was problematic, especially in the first half and early in the second, as New Jersey made shot after shot and drew foul after foul. Portland was inexcusably lifeless against a team, record-wise, they should have easily dominated. Since Roy was a non-factor early on, the pressure was put on the supporting cast to provide some intensity.