Blazers overhaul Raptors, win ninth straight

Roy, oh boy

By Kerry Eggers

LocalNewsDaily.com, Dec 19, 2007, Updated Oct 30, 2009 (6 Reader comments)

Couldn’t the NBA just retire the Western Conference of the Week award in Brandon Roy’s name?

The reigning NBA Rookie of the Year did his thing again Wednesday night at the Rose Garden, posting Jordan-eque numbers in leading the Trail Blazers to a 101-96 victory over Toronto.

Roy contributed 25 points, nine rebounds and eight assists as Portland (14-12) ran its NBA-best winning streak to nine games against an opponent that didn’t go quietly.

Toronto (15-12) came into the game as the league’s best 3-point shooting team (.426), and the Raptors displayed their prowess, shooting .556 from the field through three quarters, including .545 from 3-point range.

The guns went blank in the fourth period, however, as Portland outscored the visitors 25-13 to move past Utah into second place in the Northwest Division, only a game behind leader Denver.

There’s no hotter team in the league than Portland, and Roy is the biggest reason. The 6-6 guard is the conference player of the week two weeks running, the first time a Blazer has done that since Clyde Drexler two decades ago. The way he’s going, Roy might make it three straight.

“He is playing about as good as a player can play,” teammate Steve Blake said.

Even in the guard-strong West, it’s time to think about Roy as a candidate for the All-Star game.

“No question, (his play) is All-Star-caliber,” Portland coach Nate McMillan said. “He didn’t do it by himself, but for us to win these nine games, he was a big part of each one of them.”

1 | 2 Next Page >>

Facebook	Digg	Del.icio.us
Newsvine	Stumbleupon	Reddit