It's only preseason, and it was only an injury-riddled Los Angeles Clippers team, but it was quite a show the Trail Blazers put on Wednesday night in their exhibition opener at the Rose Garden.
The Blazers were crisp, fast and dynamic during a 111-102 win that backed up many preseason predictions while also supporting some looming questions about this young and promising team.
And along the way, there was an encouraging surprise: a scintillating 28-point performance from Martell Webster, who at one point hit nine consecutive shots.
"I liked what I saw," coach Nate McMillan said.
As promised, the Blazers' offense was decidedly more up-tempo than the past two seasons. McMillan challenged the Blazers to average 100 points this season, and on Wednesday, they reached the century mark with 6:39 left to play.
And what made it more pleasing to McMillan was that the quicker pace didn't result in a rash of turnovers the coach had feared would accompany this new style. The Blazers went deep into the fourth quarter with seven turnovers before finishing with 11.
The Blazers were efficient in nearly every facet of the game. They shot 45 percent from the field, made 23 of 26 free throws and had a staggering 29 assists. The only bugaboo was rebounding -- an area that McMillan fears could be a weak spot this season -- as the Los Angeles Clippers grabbed 54 to the Blazers' 39.
Other than the rebounding, there wasn't much to complain about. In fact, it was so pleasing to McMillan that at one point in his postgame comments to the media, the coach couldn't stop naming players who did something positive.
LaMarcus Aldridge had 21 points and six rebounds, scoring from nearly everywhere on the floor. Newcomer Channing Frye scored 15 points while showing flashes of a bump-and-grind game, defying the "soft" tag that followed him from New York. Also, Travis Outlaw found a way to contribute even though his shot wasn't falling, by grabbing eight rebounds, and James Jones added two three-pointers.
And not to be forgotten was Sergio Rodriguez, whose hold on the No.3 point guard spot is being challenged by rookie Taurean Green. Rodriguez recorded a team-high seven assists in 17 minutes, which included just one turnover.
But even though most players could predict the Blazers would score more, and that Aldridge would dominate, and that Frye and Jones would be valuable additions, few could have predicted Webster's impressive shooting display.
"I don't think Martell even knew he was going to do that," said Jarrett Jack, who had nine points and four assists. "It was definitely a great shooting performance."
Webster missed his first shot, then made his next nine, which included three three-pointers. After his streak was broken, he hit his next shot -- another three-pointer. In all, Webster shot hit 11 of 14 from the field, including 4 of 6 from three-point range, while playing turnover-free basketball.
Webster, who has struggled in his first two seasons with confidence and consistency, was humble afterward.
"I was just shooting," Webster said. "I was trying to get into a rhythm, and I have to thank my guards for finding me. I just stayed in the corner, and they penetrated and knew where to find me. Fortunately, it was going down for me."
McMillan, however, was taking more of a wait-and-see approach to Webster's performance, citing a need to see this on a regular basis before he anoints Webster's arrival.
"We're still trying to figure it out," McMillan said. "Tonight, he got his stroke going. This is what we have been hoping for from him the last two years. We are hoping to see this type of shooting more consistently."
There will be plenty of time to see if this impressive opener is for real, or if it was merely a preseason version of fool's gold. After all, this was hardly a regular-season version of the Los Angeles Clippers, who played without established stars Elton Brand (Achilles'), Corey Maggette (thigh), Cuttino Mobley (calf), Chris Kaman (back) and Brevin Knight (coach's decision).
But for the moment, it was a good enough show to send a Rose Garden crowd of 12,933 -- which included owner Paul Allen -- home happy. Along the way, the performance enforced what the Blazers have thought all along during training camp: This team is making strides in becoming more than just a rebuilding project.
"It shows us and our fans that we are getting better and we are working hard," Aldridge said. "This was good for us, and it was good for our fans to see. We are definitely playing more exciting basketball."
Notes: Former Blazers guard Dan Dickau had 14 points and five assists for the Los Angeles Clippers. ... An indication of the Blazers' emphasis on pushing the ball up the court: The Blazers had 12 fastbreak points, well above their average last season.
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