Watch Live 6PM PDT - ESPN2
Total game impression:
Key contributions from Clingan, Murray, Rupert, and McGowen closed a 20 point gap to 4 points and made the Spurs sweat at the end.
Clingan was forcing shots that lead bricks. But his defensive contribution was able to show why he was a lottery pick. The 5 blocks and 13 rebounds showed gives me hope that his skills will translate at the NBA level. His conditioning is not at an NBA level yet, But he shouldn’t be playing much as a back up.
3rd Quarter impressions:
Murray was more visible this quarter.
It was nice to see Clingan dive for the ball, and able to disturb shots at the beginning of the quarter. He phoned it in on defense at around the 5 minute mark,
They pulled all the Blazers big names around the 3 minute mark, and let the bench play.