The Portland Trail Blazers crushed the Cleveland Cavaliers tonight in a 129-110 dispute, a game that was never close. If you want an overview of the term-by-term action, consult our immediate summary here. Once you are done with that, there are ten observations of victory
Weninstink
As they did Tuesday night against the Orlando Magic, the Blazers stood up to an opponent on the rags and refused to play with them. Portland jumped ahead early, expanding it and never letting the Cavaliers pull together. Cleveland and Orlando have one thing in common: they can’t score points. This has definitely helped the Blazers maintain double-digit margins. But Portland has played with more than one bad opponent this year. This new leaf to leave opponents behind is a welcome sight.
Speed factor
The Blazers are not the fastest team in the league, but Cleveland makes them look like sprints. Portland had a quick advantage in almost every position and he paid dividends. The Blazers got on the field and made mistakes … traits that are missing in many games. It was nice to see the whistles go through Portland’s corridor.
It was also nice to see the Portland defense perform, especially early in the game. This is an angle that is not talked about much. Some say Portland has a bad plan, and others that they have weak defenders. No statement is entirely satisfactory. What if Portland’s plan is reasonably sound and their defenders are adequate, but opponents have a quick / moving advantage in various positions that make the Blazers vulnerable, no matter what they solve or set up?
The long ball
Portland averages more tries than 28 other teams in the league. Tonight they did not … at least not if it counted. After putting the huge frame of Andre Drummond out of the way, the Blazers showed they can attack the edge, even in the half. They tried lobes, looked for short jumpers and generally made a nuisance of themselves. It was unusual and perhaps a glimmer of hope for a more balanced attack.
Lillard’s Passing
Every time you think Damian Lillard has shown you his repertoire for the game, he pulls out another trick. The 9 help that appears under his name in the box does not start to tell the story. They were earned in shortened minutes. After a certain point, he does not have to occupy the ball. BUT … Lillard put the win in the freezer, not by scoring, but by cutting an overly dedicated defense with passes. The Blazers were already ahead when Dame started working on his magic, but his run in the second quarter helped them push the lead from a nice enough 11 to one to an insurmountable 21 at halftime. He found Enes Kanter, Gary Trent, jr., And anyone else who was open all over the floor. It was a brilliant performance.
Lead with the left arm
The repulsion became an important part of Lillard’s offensive repertoire as he penetrated. When the defender gets up, Dame pushes back and the defender finally slips across the floor and leaves the hardwood with his shorts washed. The move was accepted by refs, giving him a free pass to ride in distress. If Lillard hadn’t been unattended yet, it would have made him a fool. It’s now up there with the three-point lean for a violation in the Lady Lexicon. # star power
Kanter breaks Drummond
It is not often that Enes Kanter is the fastest center on the floor. He was a mile away tonight and took full advantage. When Andre Drummond was in, Kanter rushed down the floor. When someone else is playing, Kanter throws weight into the paint and he owns the glass. Kanter ends the game with 21 points and 13 rebounds, 7 offensively. Drummond had 8 points, 5 boards and 4 fouls.
Gary Trent, Jr .: Difference Maker
Gary Trent, Jr., led the Blazers by 26 points despite trying to make the third most shots in the team. The young shooting guard became a barometer for the Blazers. If he plays well, they succeed. His brutal efficiency tonight (8-12 shooting, 4-6 from distance, 6-6 from the line) makes him an essential cover for a defense that is already having problems. The other players form the foundation, but Trent, Jr., is currently the difference.
Big Times Three
Carmelo Anthony followed up his 24-point game assurance against the Philadelphia 76ers last night with 23 points in 20 minutes against the Cavs. For those who count, this is his third consecutive 20+ point trip.
Harry Giles stands tall
Harry Giles III has seemed more comfortable with his minutes over the past few weeks. He is not an overwhelming presence, but he always does something. Tonight he gave up 10 rebounds and 2 assists in 20 minutes. He made 4 mistakes, reflecting a career-long issue for him. It feels like he’s now leaning into playtime and getting even more on the court.
Anfernee Simons shoots away
No one benefited more from injury-inspired minutes – and the corresponding green light – than Anfernee Simons. The Streak hit 4 of 10 strokes, all the factories out of the three-point arc. He added 4 free throws for a total of 16 points. He only got 1 assist within 30 minutes, but the campaign for him needs to be moved to the shooting guard minutes anyway. If he is confident, he is deadly.
Goal scorer
The Blazers are now heading for the Dallas Mavericks at 4:30, Pacific this Sunday.