RealGM

vs




Time: 7:30pm
Place: Moda Center
TV: SNW/ESPN

GLB of the game Maggie Q

I expect Portland's guards to get eaten alive if NO plays the same way defensively that they did WITH Lillard.

Basically, except for opposing teams having a small amount of disadvantage from having to throw the Portland scouting report out the window, it's going to be hard for the Blazers to win a game without Lillard.

zzaj wrote:I expect Portland's guards to get eaten alive if NO plays the same way defensively that they did WITH Lillard.

Basically, except for opposing teams having a small amount of disadvantage from having to throw the Portland scouting report out the window, it's going to be hard for the Blazers to win a game without Lillard.

Pelicans have some really good defenders, not just Holiday. Ingram is a good defender and I was really impressed by Ball's defense in the previous game. Every game without Lillard is going to be tough, but I wouldn't assume that Pelicans will have more success defending CJ because Lillard is better and they have Lillard's number. Every player is different and CJ might present challenges that are more difficult for Pelicans than Lillard does. And, our combinations are going to be different. It might be for the worse or it could be for the better. Certainly, Lillard is our best player but that doesn't mean we can't win without him.

Well, at least we won't have to hear about how Holiday > Lillard.

1st quarter GLB pic

My feed is lagging bad. I must be 4 possessions behind live.

Pelicans are great in transition. Blazers have to understand bad shots and offensive turnovers are bad defense against this team. Pelicans are all about attacking before the defense is set.

Cj with 7 assists and 1 turnover in the first quarter

2nd quarter GLB pic

CJ plays at a slower pace than Lillard. It might not be a bad thing against this team. Make them beat you without getting the unbalanced floor they are looking for.

I thought that Simons chuck was going in.

3rd quarter GLB pic

CJ needs to help down on Zion. Zion is not going to pass out when his head is down.

Melo is trying to do too much.

Zion works hard on defense.

We are short on offensive firepower. Melo is better as a 3rd option than he is as a 2nd.

Ball's defense is really solid.

The score makes this game look closer than we are playing. Pelicans are getting better shots than we are.

We don't have a player or a combination that can get us good shots.