Editorial by Graydon Fox

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Top 5 winners

1. vonroda***@yahoo.com (367 PTS)
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5. kegdogg***@gmail.com (334 PTS)

Overview:

On Tuesday, April 17^th, the New Orleans Pelicans will take on the Portland Trail Blazers in game two of their Western Conference Playoff Series.  The Pelicans hold a (1-0) series advantage.

The Crowd:  

“The Crowd” is projecting a final score of Trail Blazers 106.2 – Pelicans 102.2 with an over/under of 208.4.

Statistical Breakdown (2017-18 season):

Point differential: Trail Blazers +2.6 (9^th) > Pelicans +1.3 (13^th)

Points per game: Pelicans 111.7 (3^rd) > Trail Blazers 105.6 (16^th)

Points allowed per game: Trail Blazers 103.0 (5^th) > Pelicans 110.4 (29^th)

Field Goal Percentage Offense: Pelicans 48.3% (2^nd) > Trail Blazers 45.2% (20^th)

Three Point Percentage: Trail Blazers 36.6% (11^th) > Pelicans 36.2% (13^th)

Field Goal Percentage Defense: Trail Blazers 44.7% (4^th) > Pelicans 45.4% (9^th)

Turnovers committed per game: Trail Blazers 13.0 (8^th) > Pelicans 14.4 (24^th)

Turnovers forced per game: Pelicans 13.8 (11^th) > Trail Blazers 12.3 (29^th)

Rebounds per game: Trail Blazers 45.5 (3^rd) > Pelicans 44.3 (10^th)

Assists per game: Pelicans 26.8 (3^rd) > Trail Blazers 19.5 (30^th)

Summary:

Portland find themselves trailing in the series after suffering 97-95 loss at home in game one.  Nothing went right for the Trail Blazers on offense as they were held to just 37.8% shooting.  Portland won the rebounding battle and had fewer turnovers but simply couldn’t make a shot.  The lack of ball movement and overreliance on isolation basketball plagues the Trail Blazers all season and was evidenced once again by their low assist total.  Damian Lillard scored 18 points on an ugly 6-23 shooting while C.J. McCollum added 19 points shooting 50% from the field.  Portland really lacks a third scoring option as they really struggle when Lillard and McCollum aren’t playing to their usual high standards.  The Trail Blazers average 105.6 points per game (16^th) and allow 103.0 (5^th).

New Orleans continues to prove the doubters wrong as they went into Portland’s arena and stole a close game one.  You can’t help but to wonder how deep of a playoff run would be possible if All-Star center DeMarcus Cousins were healthy.  The Pelicans shot 47.7% from the field and racked up 26 assists in the victory.  The Trail Blazers had no answer for Anthony Davis who scored 35 points and grabbed 14 rebounds.  Jrue Holiday scored 21 points on 50% shooting while Nikola Mirotic added a double double.  Rajon Rondo dictated the tempo and put together a dominant performance with 17 assists.  The Pelicans average 111.7 points per game (1^st) and allow 110.4 (10^th).

Bottom Line:

It was clear that the Trail Blazers had no answer for Anthony Davis who is the best player in this series by far.  Rondo and Holiday surprisingly outplayed Lillard and McCollum in game one and that can’t happen if Portland has any hopes of winning the series.  I expect Lillard and McCollum to shoot much better and bounce back with a  game two victory at home.

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