That’s close to impossible. And further making it seem like it was a Pistons’ opportunity missed, Detroit fell to 13-2 this season in games where it shot 49 percent or better.
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So how could the Hornets steal Game 2? We scored 91 points because there weren’t a lot of possessions.
“Two days in between games kind of helps to at least look at the game a few more times and decide what you want to do”, Portland coach Terry Stotts said. “We knew that they would make runs, but you’ve got to answer back”, Lillard told reporters. Hassan Whiteside had 21 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks.
Wade echoed: “This was 1 game”. They finished the season 7-3 in their last ten games, having condemned the Heat to their only home loss in the month of March. Zeller, in particular, must be stronger.
All season long, Kemba Walker was the go-to guy for the Hornets. “We got to regroup ourselves”. Buzz City needs to bounce back and minimize their mistakes in Game 2 if they hope to swing the momentum back in their favor. We couldn’t guard them at all. “I thought that was the biggest difference”.
Despite lacking a rim protector like Whiteside, the Hornets they have a top 10 defense thanks to a brilliant scheme Steve Clifford designed that relies on perimeter defenders crashing down low and providing help. The game in Boston, we got up in the first half and looked great.
“Just the fact that I’m out here playing [a lot of minutes] as a rookie on a winning team, that really means a lot”, Winslow said. We were 1.02 points per possession for the year [defensively]. “I think that’s a big part of the reason why it didn’t go well [Sunday] night”.
Luol said: “As an opponent (in Chicago) I used to come in here & see all of the white, it was unbelievable”. This year brings a new offensive threat into the starting lineup as former Phoenix Suns guard Goran Dragic will make his first postseason start in his eighth year in the National Basketball Association.
Blake Griffin had his best game since returning from injury for the Clippers, finishing with 19 points and 12 rebounds in Game 1.
“It’s a blessing for me to be in the playoffs against my hometown team, and it’s a real great chapter in my life”, said Whiteside, of Gastonia, N.C.
Deng’s role over time has changed, going from a forward who would cut to the basket regularly to score.
Randolph was held to just six points on 3-for-13 shooting in Game 1. The Hawks might even consider a rotation that gets both players on the court for extended periods. Over 81 regular season games Kaminsky averaged 7.5 points and 4.1 rebounds per game in 21 minutes on average. Deng’s renaissance come out of nowhere but was brutally efficient, as he nailed jumpers from all over the floor without anything the Hornets could do to slow him down. No Hornets player had more than three assists.
Whiteside will be a force throughout the entire series, but Charlotte has to bother him more when he has the ball. It’s doubtful Miami will get 52 combined points out of Deng and Whiteside in another game in this series. He starts because he can be so good defensively. Luol Deng exploded for 31 points and seven rebounds while Dwayne Waded added 16 points, seven assists and four rebounds. The latter stretched Charlotte’s defense while knocking down 4 of 6 three-pointers.
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And another blowout could be coming on Tuesday when the San Antonio Spurs host the Memphis Grizzlies in Game 2.
