Player grades and analysis from the Trail Blazers huge 96-88 Game 3 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers
Starters
Damian Lillard: 32 points/2 assists/5 rebounds
If you (for some reason) doubted Damian Lillard’s ability to perform in the playoffs, last night’s game certainly put those fears away. Many expected him to respond in a big way after such a disaster in the first two games of the series and boy did he deliver. Lillard shot a fantastic 50% (10-20) from the field, which included three 3PT shots. That’s big considering he went 0-6 from downtown in Game 2. It looks like he has finally figured out how to score against this pesky Clippers defense, which was huge if the Blazers wanted any chance at getting back in the series. To avoid going down 3-1, Lillard will have to shoot just as good at he did last night, or better, especially with how terrible the bench has been so far in the first three games. Grade: A+
CJ McCollum: 27 points/2 assists/5 rebounds
While Lillard’s struggles have been more heavily discussed in the media, McCollum had certainly had his own issues coming into last night’s game. Much like Lillard though, he came out on fire and never relinquished the flame. Portland went into the locker room up by nine in large part to McCollum’s 17 first half points. That number alone is a higher total than he had in either of the first two games in the series. He played a game high 42 minutes in the win, so it will need to be a quick turnaround for a player the Trail Blazers need at 100% if they want to extend the series even longer. Grade: A+
Al-Farouq Aminu: 9 points/7 rebounds/1 block
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In a game that found many players elevating their performance, Aminu held steady with another modest night. Even though his nine points and seven rebounds don’t jump out in the box score, it’s games like this that have made the Trail Blazers so successful this season. The philosophy is simple: squeeze whatever offense you can out of him and enjoy his physical and lengthy efforts on defense. Aminu was also one of only three players in the game to collect a steal and a block and that was his first time doing so in the series. Grade: B
Maurice Harkless: 10 points/7 rebounds/1 block
What a difference one player makes. Imagine if Terry Stotts had stuck with Noah Vonleh in the starting lineup. This series would almost certainly be 3-0 Clippers with a high probability of a sweep. That is how important Maurice Harkless is to this team. He supplies Portland with energy and effort on every single possession and that trend didn’t stop last night. Harkless was flying around the entire game and his rebounding stats show just how active he was. Seven rebounds looks good on any stretch power forward, but when five of them are offensive, it makes it that much more impressive. I didn’t know Portland had the personnel to crash the boards alongside Griffin and Jordan, but Harkless has single-handedly made me rethink my position. Grade: A
Mason Plumlee: 6 points/21 rebounds/9 assists
If it were any other player, I would be absolutely dumbfounded of the stat line that Plumlee put together last night. Nevertheless, he’s proven all season long that he has the skill set to play like a big man on one possession and a point guard on the next. I’m not sure when the last time a player had over 20 rebounds and 9 assists, but I guarantee it hasn’t happened in a very long time. A career performance could not have come at a better time for Plumlee, as the Trail Blazers have been undermanned on the glass in both of the first two games in the series. He also may have had the dunk of the year for Portland with a massive spinning put back slam midway through the third quarter. Grade: A+
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Sixth Man of the Game
Ed Davis: 6 points/5 rebounds/1 steal
It was another poor performance for the Trail Blazers bench, scoring a combined 12 points. Davis made for half of those points and also pitched in a respectable five rebounds. If Portland wants to win this series, Lillard and McCollum are going to need help – specifically from Gerald Henderson and Allen Crabbe. Up to this point, neither of those players have been able to find a rhythm with the latter failing to even make a basket in the last two games. It’s step up or give up time for Portland’s reserves. Grade: D+