But after shooting 50 percent or better in six straight games, Holiday’s insanely hot shooting may be due to finally cool off.
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By the looks of things, they would meet the Golden State Warriors in the second round, and while the Warriors outmatch almost anyone, Holiday’s play adds an interesting dimension for the Pelicans. Portland never got closer than 11 the rest of the way. However, the Trail Blazers won 49 games during the season and are capable of going on a streak at any moment. “I said it coming into this series: He doesn’t get a lot of credit because he’s playing with [Davis], and I think you’re starting to see how good he truly is on both ends of the floor”.
“New Orleans fans are the best in the country”. Scored 62 points in the paint and 32 on fast breaks.
The Trail Blazers average 13.7 second chance points per game, which ranks sixth in the National Basketball Association.
New Orleans has taken a commanding lead in this series as they continued their late season momentum with a beatdown of Portland in their first home playoff game of the season.
Fans looked tried and defeated on their way out of the Moda center on Tuesday, but many of them also know that this team has faced tough odds all year long. Lillard will need to come out playing like he has for most of the season of the Blazers are nearly certainly going out in the first round.
Golden State will have a hard time playing small ball. The team has shot 52.9 percent on 3-point attempts that come directly off a Rondo dish this postseason, up from 47.1 percent on catch-and-shoot threes during the regular season overall.
The 6-9 Harkless returned from knee soreness in Game 2 and scored 11 points in 27 minutes.
“We had some bad turnovers, they converted on them”.
Since then, Mirotic has been on a tear and is arguably one of the major reasons as to why the Pelicans are now holding a surprising 3-0 lead over the higher seeded Portland Trailblazers. The Pelicans rank 28th in second chance points allowed per game (13.9).
Jrue Holiday added 16 points and seven assists and Playoff Rajon Rondo showed up again, finishing with 16 points, 11 dimes and five rebounds.
The Trail Blazers, however, are proving to be the flawless matchup for Rondo’s unique skill set. Portland hasn’t adapted to the New Orleans defensive schemes, at least not to a strategy that has worked.
“I think that’s what makes us so great, we play every game with desperation”.
The Trail Blazers are 44-19 when they score more than 100 points, while the Pelicans are 46-22. The Trail Blazers have to wonder if Evan Turner can go in Game 4: he missed Game 3 with a toe contusion that proved too painful to play through. This type of efficient bench scoring will need to be an integral part of the game for Portland, should they wish to not go down 3-0.
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Charles Barkley at halftime: “This is ironic. they call this a “live look-in, but this is a dead look”.
