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Andrew LopezESPN
NEW ORLEANS – Another night, another clutch performance from Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard.
Of course, this one sealed another bucket of Lillard for the game – his 25th game goal or running field goal in the last 20 seconds of the fourth quarter or overtime, the most in the NBA since entering the league in 2012-13. – but the 126-124 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday and the recent success for the Blazers is about more than just Lillard’s individual success.
With the missing time of CJ McCollum, Jusuf Nurkic and Zach Collins, the Blazers’ six-game victory and eighth win in nine games is a ‘joint effort’.
“I think the beauty in what we do now and why it was so fun and so special, like last season, that I had a run where I scored ten games like 48 per game, and then the bubble I scored 48, 50, 60, with just great performances, but we did not play so well, ‘said Lillard.
“We did not stop. We did not move the ball. It was not as collective as it is at present … Everyone comes in and does their job. I’m not saying this just to give people away. It looks like “It seems, because everyone comes in and does their job. Without CJ, Nurk and Zach, we will not win these matches if it is not collective as it was.”
Lillard named each Blazers rotation player by name when discussing how “fun” the team is experiencing this time around. But of course it does not hurt if your superstar scored 43 points and also connected his career with 16 assistants.
Despite New Orleans’ output, Lillard says he can see the defense for the Blazers – who were 28th in defensive efficiency after Wednesday’s games – starting to turn.
“I think lately we’ve just been locked up in it,” Lillard said. “We’re a lot sharper for longer periods of time. Teams are going on, it’s happening, we’ll fall here like every team. Tonight I thought we played really defensively and physically and smartly and they had 124 I just think our urgency “We’re communicating. We’re taking on a challenge. Every man commits to playing defense and making the effort.”
Portland coach Terry Stotts said he thinks the team has improved defensively by winning back after a win over Philadelphia on February 4th. In the last eight games, the Blazers have finished 13th in the league.
“The numbers do not benefit us, but we have always made the effort,” Lillard added. ‘I said that earlier in the season. We have always not been on the same page in terms of communication. ‘
Communication was of the utmost importance for Portland on Wednesday, especially as the Pelicans had a chance to level the game or send in the final possession in overtime.
After Lillard and-1 were 16.5 seconds ahead of the Blazers, it was clear that the Pelicans would try to get the ball in the hands of Zion Williamson or Brandon Ingram.
“We researched some of their plays after the end of the game, and it mixed a bit like in the previous play after which they went to Zion,” Stotts said. “You knew it would be in one of their two hands.”
The Pelicans tied the ball to Josh Hart, who passed it to Ingram. Williamson went up to set up a screen for Ingram, but their defenders switched and Derrick Jones Jr. put on Williamson and Robert Covington on Ingram.
Covington beat Ingram on the ride, forcing a pass on Lonzo Ball for a deep try. Hart turned the ball back and it found Ingram in the corner. Ingram dribbled and put up a controversial 14-pointer against Carmelo Anthony that did not fall as Portland claimed the win. A team wins – that is, defense.
“I think it’s a big win for us, but I do not think it’s the biggest win for us this season. We played well defensively and we played offensively well. We just had to be a little bit more on the defensive side close that’s what we did, and I’m glad we did, ” Jones said. “We’ll continue to learn this victory and get back to it.
“We just undertook this road trip to keep our line going, and we’re going to keep it going. We’re just going to go there every day and play the right way. We know how to play and we just have to go there every day. and play the right way. As long as we do, the air is the limit for us. “