re: Wild West Playoffs Thread 04/28 - NOP @ GSW - Game 1 - 04/28 9:30 ET on TNT #StillFlockin

the ringer

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Damian Lillard vs. Jrue Holiday Holiday has the almost impossible task of trying to slow down Lillard, who’s playing the best basketball of his life, averaging 26.9 points and 6.6 assists per game on 43.9 percent shooting while leading the Blazers to the no. 3 seed in the Western Conference. What many fans may not realize is that Holiday is playing some of the best basketball of his life too. Holiday has filled the void created by the absence of DeMarcus Cousins, averaging 19 points and 6.0 assists on 49.4 percent shooting and playing like a legitimate second star next to Anthony Davis.

Like Butler, Holiday will have to handle a massive two-way role in this series due to the defensive limitations of his teammates. He guarded Lillard on 127 possessions this season, while Lillard guarded him on only 65. The Pelicans don’t have any other options. The days of Rajon Rondo being a defensive stopper are gone, and Holiday (6-foot-4 and 205 pounds with a 6-foot-7 wingspan) is roughly the same size as E’Twaun Moore, their starting small forward. Putting a smaller defender on Lillard is a nightmare, since he can pull up off the dribble and shoot 3s from almost anywhere on the court.

Holiday’s offense could help his defense, since the easiest way to slow down a shooter like Lillard is to get into his legs and make him work on the other end of the floor. Dame has spent most of his time against New Orleans this season guarding Moore, a spot-up shooter who won’t threaten him off the dribble. If Holiday can take advantage of Evan Turner and C.J. McCollum, he could force Portland head coach Terry Stotts to abandon the cross-switch and keep Lillard, who is playing the best defense of his career, on him.

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Portland opens at -180 to win the series and -195 (4.5 point favorites) for game 1

Dame is going to get his, it may make sense to put Holiday on CJ.

Winner of game 1 wins this series.

Pels in 6

It doesn't matter who guards who, they aren't going to attack Jrue one on one. They will pick until either Lillard or McCollum doesn't have Jrue involved in the play and that person will initiate whatever offensive set they run from there.

I look forward to what defensive philosophy we will take when it comes to picks.
I say if the pick involves AD, then switch it, and i'm fine with AD covering Lillard or McCollum, and i'm fine with Jrue switching over to the big guy. Any other pick and i'd like to see a hard hedge so Jrue can stay with his man and everyone else will rotate as necessary. I'm not afraid of Portland and their guys ability to finish at the rim with AD around. Portland is a bottom 7 team in points in the paint.



I'll tell you guys right now the two keys to victory for us.
Limit your turnovers. We've all seen the games where we lose b/c we have 20 turnovers. The Blazers are dead last in the league in points off turnovers.

Keep them off the offensive boards. Blazers are 7th in 2nd chance points. We are dead last in giving up 2nd chance points.

Those are things you've got to control yourself. You cant help it if Lillard is jacking up 3's from 5 feet behind the line. When he's on, there's only so much you can do. But blocking out, team rebounding, and playing smart on offense limiting turnovers is something you can control.

and one last thing, Lillard needs to get abused down low on defense if he's guarding Jrue or Moore. Both of those guys play stronger than they look and are more than capable of finishing at will on him in a post up situation.

again, credit to @PhilJFry5



pels rotations in last 8 games (mirotic starting for okafor)

uncle Al bringing snacks for the flight out

kushner

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Good news: Fox Sports New Orleans will broadcast all of the #Pelicans first round games locally, so you can still catch @JoelMeyersNBA, @SrDavidWesley4 and @JenHale504 in addition to the national telecast.

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HP:

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Notable: If you believe in the “the playoffs slow down and there are fewer transition plays,” that’s a good thing for New Orleans. They run more transition plays relative to the league but are also worse at them than halfcourt. Plus, Portland is GREAT at transition defense

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