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Portland Trail Blazers: 3 takeaways from nail biter win over Dallas

By Ryan Gaskin

DALLAS, TX - OCTOBER 27: Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers handles the ball against the Dallas Mavericks on October 27, 2019 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)
DALLAS, TX - OCTOBER 27: Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers handles the ball against the Dallas Mavericks on October 27, 2019 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Portland Trail Blazers
(Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /

Rodney Hood’s offense keeps improving

Despite the national media continuing to hark on about the Blazers losing Al-Farouq Aminu and Maurice Harkless, the decision to re-sign continues to look better and better as Rodney Hood is clearly proving why he is in fact a major upgrade.

On road games like this one, the Portland Trail Blazers will usually need a significant third scorer — Hood filled this void tonight. 20 points on 66 percent field goal, with 14 of these points coming in the first quarter. Hood kept the Blazers in it through the Mavericks’ hot start, and continues to look like a terrific scoring wing.

Tonight’s offense reminded me of the Denver series; Portland would often get Hood the switch onto the smaller guard, which led to his reliable post and fade. Hood torched Jamal Murray with this move last postseason and gave the small Dallas guards a similar feeling tonight.

https://twitter.com/NBCSNorthwest/status/1188611726536855553

When Dame, CJ and Hood are all shooting well, the Blazers become a very tough team to guard. Add Nurkic into the mix late in the season, and Portland holds host to one of the league’s most formidable offenses. Hood’s scoring has the ability to elevate Portland, and he showed just how important he is tonight.