It goes without saying that emotions might be running a tad high on the part of Blazers squad that was anticipating a deep run into the playoffs. Meanwhile the Blazers will do their best to get the series back to Portland, where they’ll potentially look to be the first National Basketball Association team to ever come back from a 3-0 deficit.
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To the Blazers credit, they came out determined and kept the game close in the first half. The Pelicans can complete a sweep with a victory at 2 p.m. PT Saturday. If Portland hopes to win Game 3 they will need both players to step up or else this series could very well be over.
To understand how the Pelicans have slowed down Lillard, you have to understand Lillard’s tendencies. Davis is pacing the Pelicans with an average of 28.3 points, followed by Holiday at 23.3 and Mirotic at 21.0. For context, James Harden didn’t even score that many points as the ball handler in pick-and-rolls in his first season under Mike D’Antoni.
It’s going to be a long summer for Damian Lillard. Rajon Rondo had 16 assists and Nikola Mirotic had 10 points and 11 rebounds.
Davis is a tough defender for anyone to score against in those situations. “They don’t stay”, Lillard explained. Anthony Davis clogs the paint, forcing Nurk to shoot from further away, a generally low-percentage shot.
If the first three contests were any indication, the Pelicans will keep their defensive focus pressed against Lillard.
Davis’ frontcourt running mate led all scorers.
Damian Lillard got right to the point.
Nurkic and Holiday traded baskets, and Davis’ dunk gave New Orleans a 110-104 edge with seven minutes to go. Jusuf Nurkic and Zach Collins will have to stand tall in the interior, keying in on stopping Davis on the inside.
That’s no fluke, either. Oh, and does Gentry really have a better guard option off the bench than Clark?
Eyebrows were raised when Jrue Holiday inked a $126 million contract with the Pelicans. Jrue Holiday was 6-of-8 for 14 points and a pair of assists in the crucial fourth quarter closing stretch, cementing his case as the breakout star of these playoffs.
Rondo has always been a terrific team player and he is a key to why the Pelicans are winning and they could reach the Finals in the tough Western Conference.
“I thought this was probably the best he’s played since I’ve been here”. And how do you think the Blazers can bounce back next season?
On the flip-side, it’s still going so horribly wrong for the Blazers. McCollum for most of the series has struggled equally.
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It’s the first playoff series victory for the franchise as the New Orleans Pelicans; they were the New Orleans Hornets when they recorded the only other playoff series victory in franchise history in 2008. He hasn’t been able to figure out the Pelicans’ defense, which has completely thrown him off his game.
