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Trail Blazers: 5 Reasons They’ll Win Game 3

By Steven Dewald

April 20, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Portland Trail Blazers center Ed Davis (17) grabs a rebound against the Los Angeles Clippers during the second half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
April 20, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Portland Trail Blazers center Ed Davis (17) grabs a rebound against the Los Angeles Clippers during the second half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 1, 2016; New York, NY, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard C.J. McCollum (3) celebrates with guard Damian Lillard (0) against the New York Knicks during the second half at Madison Square Garden. The Trail Blazers defeated the Knicks 104-85. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 1, 2016; New York, NY, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard C.J. McCollum (3) celebrates with guard Damian Lillard (0) against the New York Knicks during the second half at Madison Square Garden. The Trail Blazers defeated the Knicks 104-85. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports /

Lillard and McCollum Show Up

Jacob Potter (RCP Staff Writer)

The Trail Blazers’ backcourt will actually shoot above 40 percent. C.J. McCollum has to play like ¾’s of the player he was this season. In game one he looked like a shell of himself. Terry Stotts knows that his strongest offensive options are in the backcourt. Expect him to rely on them heavily in tonight’s game. A player like Al-Farouq Aminu has shown he will not be able make enough of threes to help this team to win this game.

We all know that Lillard and McCollum each have the ability of scoring thirty or more points each, but a huge playoff performance will likely put the Trail Blazers over the top. Not only does it help their Portland teammates, but it gives a sense of doubt to the Chris Paul led Clippers.

The Los Aneles Clippers do not have the defensive back court to be able to stifle Portland’s guard tandem when they are on fire. This isn’t the backcourt’s first rodeo when it comes to the playoffs. McCollum scored 33 points with seven three pointers (NBA record off of the bench) in last year’s series against Memphis. This team has all the fire power to scare the Clippers defense in game 3. It will be tough to find easy shots to get them going, but once they do, it could mean big things for Rip City.

Next: The Clippers Bench Cools Off