Tra Il Blazers Stun Establishment

JO-THE BEACON, ebruary 12, 1971 Tra il Blazers Stun Establishment By JOHN LOWRY Sports Editor Watch out Establishment. The Portland Trail Blazers are for real. The Blazer trail ran directly over three of the best know members of that elite group, the Es- tablishment of the NBA, last week. Worst of all, the upstart Blazers showed no respect whatsoever for not only the Atlanta Hawks and the San Francisco Warriors, but also for none other than Lew Alcindor and the Mil- waukee Bucks. When the Blazers put together a hot streak in late December and early Jan- uary, topping the crown with a win over the World Champion New York Knicks, everyone in Port- land was temporarily agog. But when the Blazers lost five of six on a recent two week road trip, it seemed the Blazers' status as just another expansion Rookie of the Year candidate Geoff Pistol Pete Maravich. Petrie out- team had been revived. Petrie starts to drive past Atlanta's scored Pistol in head to head battle. No longer were they mov- ing on offense or running of being blown off the forward in the NBA. The intimidating others away the fast break at every court by the powerful fast break hasn't suffered from their route to the opportunity, the keys to Bucks and Alcindor, the as a result of Gregor's bottom of the net. Stan their previous success. Blazers made up their bulk. Despite his size McKenzie continues to Suddenly last week, a minds to play the good Gary often gets down play the D he has always complete about face occur- D. Everyone worked at court as part of a three been noted for, and Jim red and the Blazers not only stopping not only their on two break as does center Barnett and Dale Schlueter defeated the Establish- man but also at keeping LeRoy Ellis. give it all they've got. ment, but completely wiped the ball away from Al- Others also deserve men- Certainly the Blazers them off the court. What cindor. - tion. Geoff Petrie proved have come a long way in then, has been responsible When it was all over and he has defensive potential the last week. If they for this sudden charge? the realization finally hit by holding Pistol Pete aren't careful they'll lose In terms of team play, them, the Blazers had con- Maravich to 13 points while their shot at a coin flip for defense must be consider- vinc.ed themselves that netting 24 himself in a first pick in the college 6d the vital key. Most of tough defensive pressure head to head battle for draft. the season the Blazers doesn't necessarily hinder Rookie of the Year. Maybe the Blazers don't have been able to put to- their offensive production Shaler Halimon, who have as much talent as gether a high powered and and can even be the per- once beat the Pilots with some of the established exciting fast break offense. petrator of a better fast a last minute jumper, has teams, but their team But only at the expense break. been all over the court play, bustle, and together of a solid defense at the But, certain individuals much like Adelman. More- ness go a long way towards other end of the floor, an have been the real key to over, Shaler has regained overcoming that obstacle. end hardly known at times. the change in mental the shooting confidence he Keep it up Blazers! Everyone literally saved philosophy. seemed to lose when his Trail blazings: Sunday's their physical strength Rick Adelman, belittled name popped up in trade win over Cleveland was the Jim Barnett for the offensive end. earlier in the year because rumors. fourth in a row for the prepares to flip up a typical Barney Rebounding problems al- his man continually left LeRoy Ellis has become Blazers, running their set shot from 25 feet out. Barney scored 27 ways abounded. him directing traffic, has somewhat of a force under- record to 21-39 . - - The in win over Bucks. Almost by sheer threat now become a main cog in neath, blocking shots and Blazers now have 10 wins directing not only the against the Establishment offense but in spearheading the defense. In the three big wins Adelman streaked all over the court, lurking in the depths of the backcourt to pick off careless passes, chopping rebounds out of the hands of the big men underneath, and picking the ball from the hands of Pete Maravich just as Pistol was about to score on a driving layin. Heading the improved rebound attack was a revived Gary Gregor. In- jured most of the year, Gregor at 6-7, 225, has been the big addition the Blazers have needed most. Pre- viously, Coach Rolland Todd had resorted to a four guard offense to com- pensate offensively for what the Blazers lacked de- fensively. Needless to say the big, powerful forwards in the league had been going wild. But Gregor has corrected that. He can outmuscle the best corner men in the NBA, block opponents off the boards, and pull off his legs at full speed. missed shots and turn hands around a rebound. Shale; them into fast break op- specializes in fancy fast break drib- portunities as well as any Center LeRoy Ellis hauls down a rebound .

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