With so many things that need to and could change for Game 2 of this first round series in the NBA Playoffs, many fans of the Clippers and Trail Blazers may be asking when the second game will be played.
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Finishing fourth in the Western Conference, they will have home-court advantage over the fifth-place Portland Trail Blazers in the first round, the best-of-seven series beginning Sunday night at Staples Center.
G J.J. Redick chipped in 17 points as the Clippers beat the Blazers in the playoff opener Sunday. The Clippers have Paul, they have Jordan, and now they have Griffin, the fallen star ready to rise again.
The Clippers outscored Portland 30-13 over both halves to lead 65-48 in the third.
On Monday, when the Trail Blazers gathered at their hotel in Marina del Rey for a media session, Damian Lillard said he and his teammates came to the conclusion that “the game wasn’t as bad as the score said it was”.
At this point, it seems as though the likelihood is that Redick will suit up for game one, but that clearly isn’t a guarantee. Stotts verbally jousted with Rivers during a preseason game, and McCollum told reporters that Rivers was protecting his son Austin when he declined to allow McCollum to play in a game between the teams in January after McCollum had inadvertently been left off the active list.
“I just wanted to uplift guys, give them confidence, show that I trust them and believe in them and just try to make the most of the season, with no pressure on us to do anything” Lillard said. The Blazers should be able to push the Clippers to the brink, if only because few teams found a way to counter Portland’s backcourt and the Clippers defensive strengths are not necessarily best suited in that regard either. With Blake Griffin back in the fold, Doc Rivers and company will be looking to match the offensive duo of Lillard and McCollum.
Aside from Jordan and the threat he poses to the Blazers, the other intriguing matchup is at the point guard position.
Dates and exact start times for the first four games of the Blazers vs. Clippers have been released by the National Basketball Association. One oddsmaker predicted Portland would win about 26 games. Mbah a Moute didn’t attempt a shot, had five rebounds and one assist in 18 minutes of chasing the Blazers’ guard. Though, that may not be enough to defeat this Clippers team. The Blazers never got untracked while shooting under 40 percent for much of the game. “They trap a lot of ball screens and switch a lot of ball screens, similar to Golden State”. DJ would make a free throw to bring Lawlers Law in play, putting the Clippers up 100-81. Lillard averaged 25.1 points in the regular season, while McCollum averaged 20.8. They still have veterans Zach Randolph and Tony Allen making their sixth straight playoff appearance with Memphis with help from Vince Carter and Matt Barnes. Now that the 16 postseason teams are officially set, we have a chance to further examine the craziness that sure to lie ahead.
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“When you look at the stretch where Blake was out, it was like everyone had their days”.
