Blazers Now Only One Game Behind Memphis for 2nd Seed in Western Confernce

Saturday, March 14, 2015

Andrew R Tonry, GoLocalPDX Contributor

BLAZERS 118, PISTONS 99

In their final home game before embarking upon a five city eastern road-trip, the Blazers took care of business, blasting the reeling Detroit Pistons 118-99.

Coming into Friday's contest, Detroit had lost their previous eight, and from the opening tip there was little doubt that Portland would deal them their ninth.

Led by Damian Lillard, the Blazers came out scorching. Lillard scored 13 points in the first quarter and added four assists. He had a hand--either scoring or assisting--in 9-of-Portland's-12 field goals in the period.

By the end of the quarter the Blazers were up 11. They led comfortably the rest of the way.

And while Lillard's 28 points were a game-high, practically every player in a Portland uniform was excellent, Friday. Six Blazers scored in double-figures, and no starter played more than 30 minutes.

As a team, the Blazers shot an astounding 57.5% from the field and 52.4% from three.

The did it by sharing the ball. Of Portland's first 21 field goals, 19 were assisted.

Indeed, Friday's efficient, seemingly effortless drubbing of the Pistons is precisely what the Blazers wanted before heading out on their last extended road trip of the season.

They're healthy, confident, and clicking--and just one game behind Memphis for the two-seed in the Western Conference.

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A	LaMarcus Aldridge Along with Lillard, LaMarcus Aldridge came out firing in the first quarter, where he scored 10 of his 22 points. Aldridge made 9-of-16 attempts from the field, drilled his only three-point attempt, and added seven rebounds. All in all, a very solid performance in which he only played 28 minutes.
B	Nicolas Batum In recent months, that Batum took only four shots (and made just one) would be cause for cursing. Not tonight though--everyone else was clicking and Batum simply went a long for the ride. He didn't get in the way, and his team didn't need him to score. He grabbed eight rebounds, dished two assists, and that's that.
B	Robin Lopez Another solid offensive game for Lopez, who made 5-of-8 attempts, good for 11 points in 26 minutes. His rebound numbers were down, mostly because Detroit's Andre Drummond was a monster on the glass (Drummond grabbed 17 boards, nine of which came on the offensive end). Still, the way the Blazers were rolling offensively, they got what they needed out of RoLo.
B+	Arron Afflalo After a miserable offensive outing against the Rockets where he went 2-13, Afflalo found his shot Friday. He made 5-of-9 overall and 2-of-4 from deep to finish with 15 points. Moreover, he seemed to be a bit more relaxed, and wasn't pushing to be Wesley Matthews. Friday, Afflalo let the game come to him. Surely it helps that the opponent was the lowly Pistons, but still.
A+	Damian Lillard Lillard was simply on fire, Friday. He started out hot and kept it going all night. And when Detroit forced Portland to put the starters back in midway through the fourth quarter, Lillard quickly slammed that door closed. Some of his three's were ridiculously deep--like 27 and 28 footers. Making 5-of-7 from behind the arc and 9-of-12 overall, Lillard's 75% shooting from the field was his best performance of the season, as well as his most efficient. Scoring a game-high 28 point while taking just 12 shots is obscene. And while he couldn't miss, Lillard continued finding his teammates--he dished nine assists as well.
A	Meyers Leonard A second-straight ruthless offensive outpouring from Leonard, who scored 15 points in 20 minutes. He made 6-of-7 from the field, 2-of-3 from distance, while sucking up 7 rebounds. He also added a thunderous dunk. Indeed, Portland's sharp-shooting stretch-four is really beginning to bloom.