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Blazers bury Bad-News Bulls

From start to finish, it's a 'whupping'

By Kerry Eggers

The Portland Tribune, Nov 19, 2008, Updated Oct 30, 2009

JAIME VALDEZ / THE PORTLAND TRIBUNE

Chicago's Drew Gooden tumbles over LaMarcus Aldridge in Wednesday's lopsided game.

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The Chicago Bulls have enjoyed some glorious times over the years. Wednesday night at the Rose Garden wasn’t one of them.

Leading from start to finish, the Trail Blazers administered one of the all-time shellackings in franchise history, pounding Chicago into submission 116-74.

Unless they have a macabre sense of humor, the folks watching on ESPN tuned this one out early. It was the most one-sided Portland win since a 120-75 rout of Dallas in November 1997.

The biggest margin for the Blazers (7-5) in their previous six victories was eight points.

“In pregame, we said we need to go out there and whup up on somebody,” Portland center Joel Przybilla said. “All of our games have been grind-’em-out games.”

This one was grind-’em-down – the Bulls, that is. The Blazers, coming off a 111-106 loss at Golden State Tuesday night, were very good. The Bulls (5-7), going without injured starters Luol Deng and Kirk Hinrich a night after a 116-109 loss to the Lakers in L.A., were awful.

“It wasn’t easy,” said Portland rookie Greg Oden, who made his home debut a successful one with 11 points, 10 rebounds and three blocked shots in 17 minutes off the bench. The Bulls “didn’t just come lay down. We still had to play hard each possession.”

Wasn't easy? This one looked like the '92 Dream Team against Angola at Barcelona.

Portland jumped in front 12-1 and never looked back, making 13 of its first 18 shots from the field. The lead was 34-13 after one quarter, increased to 62-37 at the half and grew to as many as 47 points in the final period.

“From start to finish, our guys responded to last night’s game, just coming out and being about business,” Portland coach Nate McMillan said. “Offensively and defensively, we were pretty sharp for 48 minutes. Great job coming off a back-to-back by our guys.

“We knew Chicago is a scrappy team. (The Bulls) lose a lot when Deng is out, but it wasn’t about Chicago. It was about us coming out tonight and getting this game before we go out on the road again.”

Portland dominated nearly every statistical category. The Blazers shot superbly – .506 from the field, .438 from 3-point range, .806 from the foul line – and held Chicago to .346 shooting, including 2 of 15 on treys. Portland ruled the backboards 49-33, turned 21 Bull turnovers into 27 points and had a big edge in points in the paint (52-34) and fast-break points (19-11).

“We wanted to push the ball, not set up as much as we’ve been setting up,” McMillan said. “We were able to get out and get some easy baskets.”

Six Blazers scored in double figures, led by Brandon Roy with 20, his sixth straight 20-point outing.

“We came out from the jump and made it an easy game,” said Roy, who was 7 of 13 from the field and 6 of 6 from the line in his 28-minute stint. “I’m proud of the guys in this locker room for bouncing back off a tough loss. Nobody hung his head. Everybody was ready to go tonight.”

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