The Portland Trail Blazers crushed the Cleveland Cavaliers in a 129-110 romp tonight, a game that was never close. If you want an overview of the quarter-on-quarter promotion, check out our instant summary here. When you’re done with that, here are ten observations of the win
Winning instinct
As they did against the Orlando Magic on Tuesday night, the Blazers faced an underpowered opponent and refused to play with them. Portland jumped out to an early lead, extended it and never let the Cavaliers rally again. Cleveland and Orlando have an agreement: they cannot score. That certainly helped the Blazers maintain double-digit margins. But Portland has played with more than one bad opponent this year. Leaving this new sheet of opponents behind is a welcome sight.
Speed factor
The Blazers aren’t the fastest team in the league, but Cleveland makes them look like sprinters. Portland had a speed advantage in almost every position and paid dividends. The Blazers took to the track and made mistakes … qualities that were missing in many matchups. It was fun watching the whistles go to Portland.
It was also nice to see how the Portland defense functioned optimally, especially in the beginning of the game. This is an angle that not many people talk about. Some say Portland has a bad plan, others say they have bad defenders. Neither explanation is entirely satisfactory. What if Portland’s plan is fairly solid and their defenders are adequate, but opponents have a speed / agility advantage in multiple positions that makes the Blazers vulnerable no matter what they solve or line up on paper?
The long ball
Portland shoots more threes on average than 28 other teams in the league. Tonight they didn’t … at least not when it counted. Once they got rid of Andre Drummond’s massive frame, the Blazers showed they could attack the rim, even on the half lane. They tried lobs, went for short range jumpers and generally caused a nuisance inside. That was unusual and perhaps a ray of hope for a more balanced attack.
Lillard’s passing
Every time you think Damian Lillard has shown you his game-winning repertoire, he pulls another trick. The 9 assists appearing in the box score under his name do not begin to tell the story. They were earned in shorter minutes. After a certain point, he did not have to occupy the ball. BUT … Lillard put the win in the freezer, not by scoring, but by splitting up an overly committed defense with passes. The Blazers were already in the lead when Dame started working his magic, but his series of passes in the second quarter helped push the lead from a good enough 11 at one to an insurmountable 21 to the half. He found Enes Kanter, Gary Trent, Jr., and anyone open on the floor somewhere. It was a brilliant performance by the point guard.
Lead with the left arm
The shove-off has become an important part of Lillard’s offensive repertoire when he invades. When the defender’s body rises, Dame pushes back and the defender eventually slides across the floor, waxing the hardwood with his shorts. The move has been accepted by the referees, giving him a free pass to drive if necessary. If Lillard wasn’t already unguarded, this makes him infallible. It is now right there with the three-point foul for a Lady Lexicon foul. #star power
Kanter beats Drummond
Enes Kanter is not often the fastest center on the floor. He was with a mile tonight and he took full advantage. When Andre Drummond entered, Kanter ran across the floor. When someone else was playing, Kanter threw weight into the paint and owned the glass. Kanter finished the game with 21 points and 13 rebounds, 7 offensive. Drummond had 8 points, 5 boards and 4 errors.
Gary Trent, Jr .: Difference Maker
Gary Trent, Jr. led the Blazers with 26 points despite attempting the third-most shots on the team. The young shooting guard has become a barometer for the Blazers. If he plays well, they succeed. His brutal efficiency tonight (8-12 shooting, 4-6 from range, 6-6 from the line) make him a must-cover for a defense already struggling to cope. The other players form the base, but Trent, Jr. is the difference maker right now.
Big Times Three
Carmelo Anthony followed his 24-point burst against the Philadelphia 76’ers last night with 23 points in 20 minutes against the Cavs. For those who count, this is his third consecutive 20+ point outing.
Harry Giles stands tall
Harry Giles III has been looking a bit more comfortable with his minutes in recent weeks. He’s not an overwhelming presence, but he’s always doing something. Tonight he provided 10 rebounds and 2 assists in 20 minutes. He made four mistakes, which reflected a problem for his entire career. It feels like he is now leaning into playtime and hitting the runway for even more.
Anfernee Simons fires away
No one has benefited more from injury-inspired minutes – and the accompanying green light – than Anfernee Simons. The Streak hit 4 out of 10 shots, all marks from the three-point arc. He added 4 free throws for 16 runs, total. He only scored 1 assist in 30 minutes, but the campaign for him must be shifted to shooting guard minutes anyway. If he’s confident, he’s deadly.
Box score
The Blazers are now hitting the road for the Dallas Mavericks at 4:30 am, Pacific this Sunday.