Skip to main content

Blazers return home down 2-0 to Spurs

By WTOP Staff

ANNE M. PETERSON
AP Sports Writer

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Turns out a snake in their locker room was the least of the Trail Blazers’ problems.

Portland limped home down 2-0 in the Western Conference semifinals with the Spurs, and while their digs may be snake-free, the Blazers still have to figure out how to stop San Antonio when the teams meet again Saturday night at the Moda Center.

Portland coach Terry Stotts summed it up during a timeout in Game 2, when he told the team: “We don’t have a chance if we don’t rebound and we don’t defend.”

Only 16 teams have come back from a 2-0 deficit to win a playoff series, most recently the Memphis Grizzlies against the Los Angeles Clippers last season.

The only time Portland has rebounded after a two-loss series start was the in 1977 finals against Philadelphia — which remains the team’s lone NBA championship.

The Spurs have a 3-2 advantage over Portland in the playoffs, sweeping the last meeting in the 1999 conference finals. The teams split the regular-season series 2-2.

San Antonio has dominated this one so far. On Thursday night, the Spurs built a 20-point lead and won 114-97. Kawhi Leonard scored 20 points, and Tony Parker had 16 points and 10 assists, leading a total of seven Spurs who scored in double figures.

The Blazers’ night got off to a strange start when reserve forward Thomas Robinson spied a snake in the locker room at AT&T Center.

Because the snake hissed, the team at first thought it was a rattlesnake, but it later turned out it was not venomous. Needless to say, the snake sighting set the tone for the night and the Blazers played timidly throughout the loss.

LaMarcus Aldridge, who averaged 29.8 points in Portland’s first-round series against the Houston Rockets, scored 16 points, up against unrelenting defense from Tim Duncan and Tiago Splitter.

“We know that we haven’t played our best basketball, so now we have to,” Aldridge said. “Going home, every guy has to play better, starting with me, and I think every guy will.”

Nicolas Batum led the Blazers with 21 points and Damian Lillard had 19 in the loss.

The Blazers were hurt when guard Mo Williams was pulled from the game because of a groin injury. Williams has consistently brought spark and leadership off the bench the whole season, and has capably filled in while Damian Lillard rests.

Williams played just 9 minutes in Game 2, and the Spurs’ backups outscored Portland’s 50-19.

Stotts told reporters on Friday that he anticipates that Williams will miss Game 3, so Earl Watson and Will Barton will help spell Lillard.

The Spurs routed the Blazers 116-92 in the series opener after a hard-fought seven-game series against the Dallas Mavericks.

“We did our part and won both games at home of this series, but the series starts when you win one on the road and we know it is one of the toughest arenas to play in,” Parker said. “They play really well at home and they have a great crowd, so it is going to be about how we handle these next two games. We need to play with the same energy, take care of the ball, especially on the road, and play the same defense.”

Portland advanced to the second round for the first time since 2000 by defeating the Rockets in six games, clinching the series with Lillard’s amazing 3-pointer at the buzzer at home for a 99-98 victory in the deciding game.

“I think we have a bunch of competitors. They want to win. They know we can play better,” Stotts said. “The fact that we kept coming back in the second half — I am not worried about that part. Certainly frustrating to lose and to get blown out in Game 1 and not quite have enough in Game 2. I know we will be ready in Game 3.”

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
Read Next Story

Related News

Frustration grows in Venezuela as earthquake death toll reaches 1,430

Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement with US in ‘first step’ toward peace, Rubio says

Trump-endorsed populist poised to become Colombia’s next president as rival challenges vote