3. Perimeter defense remains a concern
The Blazers got lucky tonight. Dallas scored 71 through two quarters, and that three-point line was WIDE. OPEN. Forget Porzingis hitting stepbacks on Zach Collins, the Blazers are still not getting out and defending the perimeter.
Last year, the Blazers would constantly force teams into difficult, contested twos, but three games in this year, all three of the Blazers opponents have got unnecessarily hot from three point range. Fortunately for Portland, Dallas cooled off dramatically tonight, and struggled to close, but the Blazers didn’t need to be in a game as tight as this one tonight.
The Blazers have got to stop starting so slowly. The defensive communication is still being worked on, but better teams than Dallas won’t let Portland back in a game like this; see the Nuggets a just few days ago.
Great ball movement leads to a @MaxiKleber corner 3! pic.twitter.com/kXf5T7LtoN
— Dallas Mavericks (@dallasmavs) October 27, 2019
My point is highlighted perfectly here. Doncic brings the ball up, with the Portland Trail Blazers’ defense already out of position. Granted, Whiteside wants to help on the mismatch, but he and Collins miscommunicate, leading to a wide-open three for Maxi Kleber.
However, this turned into a very good win. As I said earlier, these wins can be huge for a new roster, and the Blazers will take confidence into tomorrow night. If they work out their perimeter defense, the Blazers offense looks plenty good enough to win a lot of games this season.