--Portland normally defends Hornets G Chris Paul with a "wall," committing three players to Paul and the Hornets' pick-and-roll play. At halftime, coach Nate McMillan made an adjustment.
"We went to 'push-up-and-get-through-it,' which is a two-on-two defense where the center and guard work together so we can stay home on the (perimeter) shooters," McMillan said. "That helped, and our bench responded. Their bench outplayed our bench in the first half; the second half, our bench got aggressive at both ends of the floor." --G Brandon Roy, after scoring a season-low eight points in Wednesday's rout of Miami, had one of his biggest games of the season with 25 points (on 11-of-16 shooting) to go with a season-high 10 assists and six rebounds in 38 minutes.
Roy's performance "was solid," coach Nate McMillan said. "He allowed the game to come to him. He was able to score and create opportunities. It wasn't something where he totally dominated. He allowed the game to come to him. He was efficient."
QUOTE TO NOTE: "They're a really good team. Me and coach (Byron Scott) talked about it at halftime. They have a lot of great shooters. Outside of Przybilla and Greg Oden, everyone can shoot, and even to the 3-point range. They space the court well, and that's what gives Brandon Roy an opportunity to go to work." -- Chris Paul on the Trail Blazers.
