(Photo by Jaime Valdez/USA TODAY Images)
The Blazers put the pieces in place.
After struggling and somewhat experimenting in the first two games in this seven-game first round series against the Los Angeles Clippers, the Blazers finally broke through the mental wall and not only made the right adjustments, but hit the shots that were hard to come by in game two.
Despite the Clippers making it interesting down the stretch, the Blazers’ backcourt saved the day and Portland answered with a spirited performance to keep this very much a series. The Portland Trail Blazers beat the Clippers 96-88 on Saturday night. The Clippers now lead the series 2-1.
There was going to be a chance simply due to the fact that the series was shifting back to the Moda Center for game three. No matter what issues a team is facing or how poorly a team is playing, the energy from the home arena provides something that those adjustments and tactics cannot provide.
Portland certainly looked like a different team emerging from the locker room. Damian Lillard, in particular, finally broke free from the traps being set by the Clippers and scored 12 points in the first quarter on 5-of-8 shooting, 2-of-3 from three.
Immediately, there was a different attitude, a different aura surrounding a team that had drawn the short straw in the first two outings. All the aspects for the Blazers to be successful never truly happened when they needed to the most.
Game two saw the adjustments that Portland made and they were crisp and the perfect areas to change, but Portland was their own worst enemy in missing shots. Lillard has gone 13-of-39 in his last two games, combining to score 38 points. He finished with 32 points in game three on 10-of-20 shooting, 3-of-8 from beyond the arc.
It’s the Lillard Portland has been waiting for. Chris Paul has done his part in stifling and making it difficult for Lillard to find open space. GAmerica three featured the Blazers setting multiple screens and switching. Al-Farouq Aminu was seen guarding Paul on multiple defensive possessions, which forced Paul to pick up someone else on the other end, besides being attached at the hip to Lillard.
It may have been a delay of a few seconds, but for this Blazers’ offense, that is all that it takes to get an open look or to simply feel comfortable within the flow of a game.
C.J. McCollum had himself a game as well finishing with 27 points on 11-of-22 shooting, 2-of-5 from three with one steal, one block, two assists and five rebounds. McCollum was crucial in the Blazers keeping Los Angeles at bay. In the fourth quarter, one memorable moment stands up. With the Clippers threatening and using their veteran leadership to their advantage, the Clippers took a four-point lead with 3:51 remaining as Jamal Crawford completed a three-point play.
It seemed all was falling apart, the momentum and lead that Portland had worked so hard to build thanks to offensive rebounding, defensive intensity and the stellar play of Mason Plumlee had vanished and Portland was in that spot that had plagued them early on in the season.
McCollum nipped that in the bud as he swished a 26-footer to pull the Blazers to within one. Then Lillard responded with another punch making a tough jumper to give the Blazers a one-point lead. With the momentum shifting and Portland’s defense forcing missed shots, it culminated in Mo Harkless, capping off his ten-point seven-rebound performance, emphatically dunking after nabbing an offensive rebound, giving the Blazers a five-point lead with 0:55 remaining, all but sealing the game.
It was the perfect ending to an energetic and determined Blazer squad, something that was missing from their two previous games in the series.
What is proving to be helpful is using Plumlee as a third point guard of sorts. In many possessions, Lillard or McCollum would throw to Plumlee has he bound for the middle of the paint. Plumlee would then facilitate immediately, either to McCollum or Lillard or to a wide-open shooter. Literally using Plumlee as a middle-man, the Blazers are finding ways to get defenders off of the backcourt duo and simply confused.
Speaking of Plumlee, he had perhaps his best game as a Blazer as he finished with just six points on 2-of-5 shooting, but grabbing 21 rebounds, dished out nine assists and had one steal. It was all the adjustment that head coach Terry Stotts made, not only to challenge Plumlee on being physical, but also using him as a shortcut in getting open shots for Portland’s guards.
It worked like a charm, even causing DeAndre Jordan, who shows hard out on the perimeter whenever McCollum or Lillard bring the ball up, to run back and get caught in no-man’s land, hindering his rebounding ability and presence.
Still, the Blazers have some work to do. For one, the three-point shot is still evading the Blazers as they went just 6-of-25 from the field from beyond the arc. The Clippers were even worse going 3-of-18 from beyond the arc.
Perhaps the most urgent problem is Portland’s lack of bench productivity in this series. What was such a massive boon for Portland has turned into one of their main issues. Gerald Henderson, Allen Crabbe and Ed Davis combined to score eight points on 3-of-14 shooting. Crabbe has scored just six points in this series, going 2-of-12 from the field. It is no secret that the Blazers need Crabbe’s offense, the question is, will it come in time?
The Blazers made this a series in a must-win game at home. The Clippers will make adjustments of their own, but Portland needs to continue to adapt. J.J Redick and Blake Griffin will certainly not combine to go 7-of-26 from the field with just a combined 17 points. Aminu and Harkless need to continue provide a dose of offense just to keep the opposition honest on defense. Regardless, Portland has changed the dynamic in this series and has the potential to even the series and head back to Los Angeles all tied up at 2-2.
Next up, however, game four at the Moda Center on Monday night at 7:30 p.m. PST.
Stay tuned!