Rondo, who shared the post-game hero’s podium with Davis and Holiday, said he had come to New Orleans to play with the “Big 3” of Holiday, Davis and DeMarcus Cousins.
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In surprising fashion, the Portland Trail Blazers are out of the National Basketball Association playoffs after getting swept by New Orleans. It’s the “other” guys that have completely changed the outlook – and playoff results – for the New Orleans Pelicans this time around.
The Pelicans’ average margin of victory in their last five games has been 12.0, up from 1.7 for the season. “I think in the playoffs and in a situation like this, when a team is coming for you like that, you’ve gotta maybe go out of your way to do it back – even if that means some foul trouble or some altercations happen out there or whatever”. That starts with trading for a superstar, first they need to see if the San Antonio Spurs have Kwahi Leonard available. McCollum was Portland’s leading scorer during the series, averaging 25.3. We get to ask, “Where were you on April 19?”
Stephen Curry is creeping around Oracle Arena like Darth Vader, just waiting for his chance to re-enter the fold as the Warriors seek their fourth straight NBA Finals appearance.
The question is whether he could replicate that with a team like Orlando.
“The reality of it is, their game plan was to take me out”, said Lillard.
The Pelicans would not be the favorites against Golden State. “They played really well”. The excitement level was high around New Orleans, but expectations around the country were tepid. “Then, you have your shooters like Darius (Miller), Ian (Clark) and E’Twaun (Moore) – they’re playing well and shooting the hell out of the ball”, Rondo said.
After New Orleans won game four, the Pels’ Twitter account didn’t waste any time.
Mirotic finished 30 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, and 3 steals while Anthony Davis was in fine form once again, tallying 28 points and 11 rebounds.
Under the guidance of Rondo and coach Alvin Gentry, New Orleans has played its best when it has gotten out on the run. Fans said they expect the team to go all the way. Damian Lillard had probably the worst four-game stretch of his life, and Anthony Davis had his way with Jusuf Nurkic.
“I came here to win a championship”. Olshey emphasized on Sunday that there would be no hasty decisions, especially in light of what the team accomplished during the regular season. But Davis’ rising global star power is on full display. “We believe in each other”, Rondo continued. “He just was not gonna let us lose”.
The Pelicans did a good job taking away the Blazers’ best players on the offensive end and pushing the pace and attacking Portland when it was on defense.
That makes a four-game series sweep for the Pelicans, who become the first team to cement their spot in the second round of the playoffs.
“He’s had it hard”.
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The postseason couldn’t be going any better for The Pels. “You’ve gotta give credit where it’s due”.
