The Portland Trail Blazers will step onto the court tonight with more swagger than you would expect from a team that has no reason to feel good about playing at Toyota Center.
Despite having lost six in a row and 12 of their past 13 games on the Rockets' court, the Blazers suffered two close losses in Games 3 and 4 in Houston and believe the pressure is on the Rockets to keep the series from going seven games. The Blazers have home-court advantage and would host Game 7 if they can beat the Rockets tonight in Game 6 and even the series at three games apiece.
"We're going back with more confidence," Blazers guard Brandon Roy said. "We feel like Game 4 was the best we played in that building. With a couple of bounces or a couple of turnovers, it could have went our way. We definitely feel it's a place we can win, and we just have to go out and do it now."
Against the odds
Portland is trying to become just the ninth NBA team - and the first since Phoenix rallied to beat the Lakers in 2006 - to come back and win a playoff series after being down 3-1. The Blazers have been down 3-1 in a series seven times and never have advanced.
Blazers coach Nate McMillan has preached not to get wrapped up in trying to make history. The one-game-at-a-time approach worked well Tuesday when the Blazers pulled away in the fourth quarter and beat the Rockets 88-77 in Game 5 in Portland.
"They still need one game to close the series," McMillan said. "For us, it's still a one-game season. We want to try to get back to Portland and we haven't won in Houston. It's still a huge challenge for us and for them. They need one more and we need to win to stay alive."
The Rockets beat Portland 86-83 in Game 3 on Friday and survived a late scare two nights later to win 89-88 in Game 4. Portland committed a pair of costly turnovers late in Sunday's game that could have cost them a win.
The play's the thing
Portland forward LaMarcus Aldridge said the Blazers' inability to win in Houston has more to do with the play of the Rockets than a Toyota Center jinx.
"When you're at home you have a tendency to make plays," he said. "Like us (on Tuesday). We had a big offensive rebound when we needed it. I think the home team has more energy from the crowd and makes those kinds of play."
The Blazers expect nothing different from the Rockets. They know they can't turn the ball over down the stretch, and they understand how important rebounding is, having won both games in which they out-rebounded the Rockets.
"I think when you play a team this many times I don't think there are too many surprises," Aldridge said.
brian.mctaggart@chron.com
