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PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Distressed by his team’s performance against the New York Knicks, Portland coach Nate McMillan gathered his players to ask point-blank what was wrong.
Guard Jarrett Jack spoke up.
“Everyone’s not playing,” he replied, but didn’t point fingers or name names.
It could have been any number of players in Portland’s dispirited 99-81 loss to the Knicks. It was the team’s fourth straight loss, the sixth in their last seven games.
The slump came after a five-game winning streak, the team’s first since Feb. 18-24, 2004.
All of it left McMillan searching for answers.
“I’m not sure how to reach these guys,” McMillan said. “We know we can play better than this. Somebody has to take charge. We’ve just got to try different combinations and players who play well and scrap. We need to fit those guys into the rotation somehow.”
Said rookie Brandon Roy: “He is struggling to reach us. We need to continue to work and get better.”
McMillan’s recent theme is that the Blazers lack a vocal leader who can take over on the floor.
“I think it’s experience you’re looking for, that leadership,” McMillan said. “That leader. That captain. That player to step up and say ‘We’re going to get through this.’ “
Jack, for his part, vowed to step up.
“I’m going to try everything: try to be more aggressive, play in-your-face defense, give words of encouragement, anything I can do.”
———
<b>WHERE’S RANDOLPH?:</b> Forward Zach Randolph didn’t play in the fourth quarter of Portland’s 99-81 loss to the Knicks. And he didn’t practice the day before because of soreness in his surgically repaired knee.
That led to questions about how healthy he is.
Randolph said his fourth quarter rest had nothing to do with the knee — coach Nate McMillan was merely trying different things.
Of the knee, he said: “It’s good.”
McMillan said he’s being cautious with his top scorer.
“What I really want to know is how sore it is — because if it is, we need to sit it,” McMillan said.
Randolph had microfracture surgery on his right knee in 2005.
———
<b>MUCH ADO:</b> Boston coach Doc Rivers complained that the Celtics were at a disadvantage coming into Portland because one night they were using the NBA’s “new” ball in Seattle and the next night they were switching back to the “old” ball against the Blazers.
Players were critical of Spalding’s microfiber composite ball, introduced this season. The complaints and an unfair labor practice charge forced NBA commissioner David Stern to bring back the old leather balls starting Jan. 1.
The back-to-back with the different balls didn’t hurt the Celtics in the end: They beat the Blazers 89-81 on New Year’s Day.
“I could care less about the ball,” Rivers said afterward.
———
<b>HEAT HOBBLE TO THE ROSE CITY:</b> The Blazers host the hurting Miami Heat on Sunday.
Stars Shaquille O’Neal (knee) and Dwyane Wade (wrist), and even coach Pat Riley (hip), are injured. Forwards Antoine Walker and James Posey were not traveling to Phoenix for Miami’s game Friday night against the Kings because their body fat levels are 1 percent over team orders.
“We’re not talking about something that’s major,” Walker said. “We’re talking about 1 percent. It’s not a far-fetched goal. It’s something I can get to fairly quickly and hopefully rejoin the team in a couple days.”
Wade might also be back in time to face the Blazers. O’Neal could be back later this month. Riley has stepped aside indefinitely, replaced in the interim by Ron Rothstein.
Guard Jarrett Jack spoke up.
“Everyone’s not playing,” he replied, but didn’t point fingers or name names.
It could have been any number of players in Portland’s dispirited 99-81 loss to the Knicks. It was the team’s fourth straight loss, the sixth in their last seven games.
The slump came after a five-game winning streak, the team’s first since Feb. 18-24, 2004.
All of it left McMillan searching for answers.
“I’m not sure how to reach these guys,” McMillan said. “We know we can play better than this. Somebody has to take charge. We’ve just got to try different combinations and players who play well and scrap. We need to fit those guys into the rotation somehow.”
Said rookie Brandon Roy: “He is struggling to reach us. We need to continue to work and get better.”
McMillan’s recent theme is that the Blazers lack a vocal leader who can take over on the floor.
“I think it’s experience you’re looking for, that leadership,” McMillan said. “That leader. That captain. That player to step up and say ‘We’re going to get through this.’ “
Jack, for his part, vowed to step up.
“I’m going to try everything: try to be more aggressive, play in-your-face defense, give words of encouragement, anything I can do.”
———
<b>WHERE’S RANDOLPH?:</b> Forward Zach Randolph didn’t play in the fourth quarter of Portland’s 99-81 loss to the Knicks. And he didn’t practice the day before because of soreness in his surgically repaired knee.
That led to questions about how healthy he is.
Randolph said his fourth quarter rest had nothing to do with the knee — coach Nate McMillan was merely trying different things.
Of the knee, he said: “It’s good.”
McMillan said he’s being cautious with his top scorer.
“What I really want to know is how sore it is — because if it is, we need to sit it,” McMillan said.
Randolph had microfracture surgery on his right knee in 2005.
———
<b>MUCH ADO:</b> Boston coach Doc Rivers complained that the Celtics were at a disadvantage coming into Portland because one night they were using the NBA’s “new” ball in Seattle and the next night they were switching back to the “old” ball against the Blazers.
Players were critical of Spalding’s microfiber composite ball, introduced this season. The complaints and an unfair labor practice charge forced NBA commissioner David Stern to bring back the old leather balls starting Jan. 1.
The back-to-back with the different balls didn’t hurt the Celtics in the end: They beat the Blazers 89-81 on New Year’s Day.
“I could care less about the ball,” Rivers said afterward.
———
<b>HEAT HOBBLE TO THE ROSE CITY:</b> The Blazers host the hurting Miami Heat on Sunday.
Stars Shaquille O’Neal (knee) and Dwyane Wade (wrist), and even coach Pat Riley (hip), are injured. Forwards Antoine Walker and James Posey were not traveling to Phoenix for Miami’s game Friday night against the Kings because their body fat levels are 1 percent over team orders.
“We’re not talking about something that’s major,” Walker said. “We’re talking about 1 percent. It’s not a far-fetched goal. It’s something I can get to fairly quickly and hopefully rejoin the team in a couple days.”
Wade might also be back in time to face the Blazers. O’Neal could be back later this month. Riley has stepped aside indefinitely, replaced in the interim by Ron Rothstein.
