PORTLAND, Ore. — It will be up to Houston’s physical tandem of Ron Artest and Shane Battier to stop Brandon Roy, Portland’s top scorer and team leader heading into the upstart Trail Blazers’ first playoff appearance since the 2002-03 season.
Bring them on, Roy says.
“I think that just like they’re getting excited about shutting me down, I’m getting excited about not letting them,” he said.
Roy, a two-time all-star, has been steadily grabbing the league’s attention since his debut in 2006-07, when he was named rookie of the year.
He is averaging 22.6 points, 4.7 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game this season. He’s had 55 games with 20 or more points, and 12 with 30 or more.
The 24-year-old’s steadiness, however, may be his greatest contribution to the Blazers. If he’s not hitting his shots, he’s able to get the ball to a teammate who is. If Portland falls behind, he redefines the team’s focus.
“He has a great understanding of the game for a young guy and a great feel for the game,” Battier said. “When you add his athleticism and his ball control, that’s a tough guy to stop. It’s going to be a long series for Ron and me.”
The series gets underway tonight when the Blazers host the Rockets at the Rose Garden. Portland surpassed expectations and earned the fourth seed in the Western Conference and home-court advantage in the first round.
The Blazers, the youngest team in the playoffs, went 54-28 this season and claimed a share of the Northwest Division title with the Nuggets.
The Rockets, the West’s fifth seed, finished 53-29, second to the San Antonio Spurs in the Southwest Division.
But while Portland is the higher seed, its youth and inexperience have put it in an underdog role for the playoffs.
Like many teams, the Blazers have historically had trouble with Houston center Yao Ming, but centers Joel Przybilla and rookie Greg Oden could slow him if they don’t get into foul trouble.
Oden, however, did not practice Friday because of a sinus infection. He is considered a game-time decision for the playoff opener.
Roy faces perhaps the toughest challenge in Battier and Artest, who are both taller and bigger than him. Artest outweighs Roy by 50 pounds. Both are considered among the best wing defenders in the league.
“They’re big and they’re physical,” Portland coach Nate McMillan said. “We’re a little smaller and we have more speed. So we’ve got to use our speed to match their physical play. We’ve got to beat them to spots, beat them to the ball.”
