Encouraging snippets from Quick:
It started before the opening tip. Oden went separately to Steve Blake and Roy, reminding them of last year's 102-93 loss here in a game that was out of hand by halftime. Then as the team took the court for the opening tip, he extended his hand into the chest of LaMarcus Aldridge to stop the Blazers power forward. He spoke closely to Aldridge, demonstratively pointing his finger at the court, at one point saying "We can't have it!"
"He was saying we could not let what happened last time here happen again," Aldridge said.
The Blazers had turnovers on four consecutive possessions, including three successive travelling calls. When the lead dwindled to 26-23, Oden became furious.
"LET'S GET A STOP RIGHT NOW!" he bellowed from the middle of the key. "RIGHT HERE!"
There were expletives and angry clapping of his hands mixed in, and through it all, he snarled, revealing his famous gap- toothed grill.
On that possession, the Blazers forced a 24-second shot clock violation.
"That was a big moment," Roy said. "But I remember him doing that all night. There were a lot of times he was like that."
The team knows, because they heard him loud and clear Sunday on the court and in the locker room. And it wasn't just his words. He was a force on the court, too. That combination of force -- both in action and words -- resonated with Roy.
As Roy was substituted out of the game and found his seat on the bench, he said he turned to Oden and delivered his own stern message.
"I told him, 'Greg, if you play like that every night, there ain't nobody who can (mess) with us,'" Roy said.
Oden gave a one-word response: "Gotcha."
