Spurs dominate Trail Blazers, cruise to Game 1 victory

Well, the San Antonio Spurs scouted the Portland Trail Blazers pretty damn well, and it allowed them to embarrass the upstarts 116-92 in Game 1 of their second round series on Tuesday.

Primarily, the Spurs kept the Blazers off the arc - Portland was third in the NBA with 25.3 3-point attempts a game this season, a number that inched to 25.7 in the first round of the playoffs. On Tuesday, they managed just five attempts in the first half and 16 for the game. 

If Damian Lillard and LaMarcus Aldridge are unable to create the pressure that opens up shooters (Aldridge had a great night, Lillard less so), or the Spurs are unwilling to give in and get out of rotation, then the Blazers' offense is going to sputter. Hopefully they figure it out for Game 2, because this one was ugly.

Star Performer

Tony Parker took full advantage of Portland's below-average defensive guards, picking the Blazers apart for 33 points on 13-of-24 shooting, adding nine assists for good measure. Lillard is inexplicably a below-average defender and Mo Williams struggles with quick point men, as well, but putting a lengthy wing on Parker would create problems elsewhere on the floor for Portland.

Turning Point

With 3:40 to play in the first quarter, the sparsely used Aron Baynes checked in for the Spurs. He averaged just 9.3 minutes this season and has played just 632 minutes, total, in two years with the team, playing just 6 minutes in the opening round. Well, the Aussie was a difference maker with a quick four points and three rebounds, eventually wrapping with 10 points and seven rebounds for the game.

Highlight Reel

It was a surgical Spurs victory, and you're looking for highlights? Haven't you been here before? Here is a "highlight," if we're stretching that definition:

Okay, fine, there were some, including Parker's brilliant passing:

And it's not a highlight, but here's a nod to Tim Duncan's playoff excellence:

Quote of the night

"Marco Belineli's back." - Tony Parker

Those were the words from Parker on the floor immediately after the game, referring to teammate Marco Belinelli, who shot 7-of-9 for 19 points in the game. The Italian struggled in round one, averaging just 3.1 points on 37.5 percent shooting, and that follows a rough April that saw him shoot just 35 percent in seven games.

A useful Belinelli makes the Spurs' wing depth more formidable, giving them yet another option to help trade triples with the Blazers.

Oh, also: "We'd rather win than lose." - Gregg Popovich at the post-game presser.

Series at a Glance

Game 1: SAS 116, POR 92 (Spurs lead 1-0)
Game 2: Thursday, May 8, 9:30 p.m. (ESPN2)
Game 3: Saturday, May 10, 10:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Game 4: Monday, May 12, 10:30 p.m. (TNT)
Game 5*: Wednesday, May 14, TBD (TNT)
Game 6*: Friday, May 16, TBD (ESPN)
Game 7*: Monday, May 19, TBD (TNT)