Turmoil for Blazers? Brandon Roy fights off tears, complains about playing time vs. Mavericks

Brandon Roy is the face of the Blazers' franchise, but he was fighting off tears Tuesday night.

But he played just eight minutes in Portland's Game 2 loss to the Mavericks and missed the only shot he took from the field and missed both of his free throws.

Roy was the Blazers' last substitute -- chosen to play after Nicolas Batum, Rudy Fernandez, and Patty Mills.

"There was a point in the first half, and I was thinking 'You better not cry,"' Roy told The Oregonian. "I mean, serious. I mean, there was a moment where I felt really sorry for myself. Then I was like, nah, you can't be sorry for yourself. I'm a grown man, but there was a moment there that I felt sorry for myself. Especially when I think I can still help.

"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little hurt, or disappointed. ... I just always thought I would be treated better. That was a little disappointing for me."

Roy has been besieged by injuries. He had two knee operations this season.

"I come in the last sub of the first quarter … then OK, I'm in there for (2:36), then I play, then it's the end of the quarter," Roy said. "Then I start the second and Bam! I'm right back on the bench again. I mean, I don't know what I could have done! Then I sit, and he puts Patty and Rudy in before me. I know physically I have to play, but mentally, how do I just go …"

Blazers coach Nate McMillan said after the game that he didn't play Roy more because he wanted a better ball-handler in the game.

"Our bench hasn't been able to score," McMillan said. "Tonight we wanted to get Patty [Mills] in to get another ball handler in there. They had been pressuring Brandon [Roy] and Rudy [Fernandez] bringing the ball up the floor. We tried to get Patty in to get us a flow. Our first unit was playing well so I ended up going back to those guys subbing pretty quickly to get them in tonight."

Roy played 26 minutes in Game 1 and missed six of seven shots from the field, scoring just two points.

Roy told the Oregonian that he and McMillan had not spoken, and that he didn't plan on approaching McMillan on the team's long flight home.

"I think my nature I've never been one to confront. Never been the one to create controversy," Roy said. "I think coach is comfortable with his guys and it's hard for him to get me back in there. If that's what he is comfortable with, then I'm going to try and support the team. And if he can get us past (the first round), then he can. I just always thought I would be treated a little better, but … it is what it is. I'll be all right. I'll go home see my kids, and be happy."

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