The Portland Trail Blazers faced the Bulls on Saturday night. The game was too close for comfort, but Damian Lillard dazzled with a spectacular performance.
Damian Lillard scored early and often leading the Portland Trail Blazers to a comfortable first half. Zach LaVine and Lauri Markkanen dissolved that impressive first-half lead as Chicago turned the Blazers double-digit lead into a two-point deficit by the closing seconds of the game.
The Blazers held a solid lead heading into the second half and just needed to hold it. The team struggled to do so, however, and were nearly the victims of a comeback.
The offense and the defense both struggled in the second half, which led to the Bull’s resurgence. This thrust the Blazers into the backseat, where they had to climb back uphill.
It’s no secret that the Blazers’ defense is in question. The lack of natural defensive ability on this roster, paired with recent injuries, makes it no surprise.
A similar statement can be made about the offense. Obviously, the team would take a step back without CJ McCollum but the hope was that the rest of the roster would rally and keep the team afloat.
It was nice to see quality games by both Gary Trent Jr. and Enes Kanter. Of course, the performance that stood out was that of Damian Lillard (more on that later).
The complete game needs to be talked about, though. Anfernee Simons and Robert Covington were solid but not much more, while Carmelo Anthony was throwing up shots like they were going out of style.
It’s far from the first game like this Melo has had, and it’s likely the last. No one expected him to be the star of Denver or NY, but he has taken a noticeable step back.
What’s going on with Carmelo Anthony?
When the Blazers resigned Anthony in the offseason to the veteran minimum, it was viewed as a critical move for the team, and it still can be.
Melo’s comeback season was a big part of a seesaw season that ended with the team making a wild run into the playoffs. The Anthony of last season could be an enormous help to this team, but where exactly is he?
It’s likely the drop in efficiency is due to the increased responsibility Anthony is seeing. While his three-point percentage (36.1%) is down from last season, it’s actually above his career average (34.9%). The issue isn’t his outside shot; it’s anything inside the arc.
Anthony is shooting a meager 38.5% on two-point field goal attempts this season. Just how bad is that? Bad enough for him to rank 251st in the league among 273 qualified players.
What’s really curious is that the volume of his two-pointers has dropped. It’s not as if he’s forcing too many mid-range jump shots.
Melo’s issues can likely be attributed to the unique season this pandemic has presented us with. Without a proper offseason and “normal” team practices, preparation has been a struggle for many players, not just Anthony.
It’s a major issue for Portland because Anthony’s role has only increased so far this season out of necessity. Even though he’s coming off the bench more often than not, he’s looked to as one of the offensive leaders.
Anthony can find his old form; in fact, it might just be a matter of time. Hopefully, if he does turn things around, it happens sooner rather than later because the team certainly needs him.
The team needs re-enforcements
As a reminder, Anthony 251st in the league among 273 qualified players in 2P%. A not so amusing fact is that Anfernee Simons, Robert Covington, and Rodney Hood all rank below him.
The fact that the team has four of the league’s worst two-point shooters is beyond troubling, especially when you consider they’re all supposed to contribute to the team.
It’s clear the team needs reinforcements but what isn’t clear is why they haven’t yet.
The Blazers are 17 games into the season, and yet they still have an open roster spot. While there is a good reason for that, no reason is good enough not to address the team’s lack of depth.
If the team were fully healthy and every player was playing like themselves, this likely wouldn’t be an issue, but that’s not the reality we live in. There are holes at every position in one form or fashion.
The team needs a perimeter defender and/or another consistent shooter in a bad way.
It’s rather difficult for the team to make a trade between Zach Collins’ injury and the fact that Rodney Hood cannot be traded until after February 18th.
Between the open roster spot and the team’s trade difficulty, the obvious choice is free agency. There are some options: Isaiah Thomas, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, and Dewayne Dedmon, to name a few.
Yes, entering the luxury tax for a consecutive season is something to think about, but when healthy, this team has the ability to contend. One or two additions, and this team could make some noise in the playoffs, but if they stay pat, they risk losing so many games that the team could end up in the play-in tournament.
Lillard does it again
While there are some negative takeaways from tonight’s game, the team still pulled out the win. That is completely thanks to their superstar, Damian Lillard.
The Blazers would have had absolutely no chance tonight (nor any other night) if it weren’t for Lillard. He is the heart of this team, and they will go as far as he can carry them on his back.
Tonight was a great example of this. Not only did Lillard go off for 44 points, but he willed this team to victory, specifically in the closing seconds.
Lillard has a long history as one of the NBA’s most clutch players; he even has a shoe line to prove it. Lillard’s clutch gene cannot be questioned, and it’s what separates Lillard from the competition.
There are so few who can rise to the occasion as Lillard can. Only the greatest in the game can claim that type of ability, and Lillard can certainly be counted in their numbers.
Statistically, Lillard among the top players in the league; his clutch ability only further cements his status.
While Lillard’s ability is well documented, the fact remains that basketball is a team sport. Lillard was enough for tonight, but that won’t always be the case.
The Blazers will need to help Damian Lillard complete, or he’ll follow the paths of Steve Nash and Allen Iverson. An outcome no NBA fan wants.