August 24, 2020 – 6:00 pm PT
Blazers injuries: Rodney Hood (out), Trevor Ariza (out), Nassir Little (out), Zach Collins (out), Caleb Swanigan (out)
Lakers injuries: Rajon Rondo (doubtful), Avery Bradley (excluded)
How can you watch TV? NBCSNW, TNT (or check out Fubo for your streaming needs)
Radio: 620 AM
SBN Affiliate: Silver screen and roll
The Portland Trail Blazers look to avoid a 3-1 hole against the Los Angeles Lakers and rally to even the series.
Game Three was a testament to how low the Blazers are across the board. With so many key players missing, Portland was visibly exhausted throughout the second half, in which the Lakers turned a three-pointer into a seven-point lead after three points. Damian Lillard did what he could, scoring 34 points but going cold in the fourth quarter. LeBron James had 38 points, including 12 on the free throw line, because the depths of the Blazers were enormously tested by early foul problems.
What to see
- Find the middle ground. The Blazers need poor clarification from the front office of the NBA League about what constitutes a foul. The only times during Game Three where the talks went to Portland’s came when Gary Trent Jr. would take an elbow to the face and defend LeBron James and fall to the ground. If the Blazers can’t stop a James or Anthony Davis drive without fouling, there’s not much hope left.
- Attack the Rim. Jusuf Nurkic slipped and slithered in the wet grass. His usual rapid runs were nowhere to be seen today. Nurkic tried to even things up by sending a long ball towards the centrally placed strikers, but the visitors’ defense got the best of this rather direct style of play. Nurkic has been in dire straits at the time, and Davis gets more than a lion’s share of the charge of offenses against him, but Nurkic has to hit the target right away. Otherwise, there’s no reason for him to defend himself, putting too much pressure on Lillard and CJ McCollum.
- Find a place for Carmelo. Carmelo Anthony played well in the bubble games, but has struggled en masse in the Lakers series. He scored 20 in Game Three, but on a very inefficient 9-of-20 shot. Overall, he has shot 35.1% of the field in the series so far. Anthony clearly does not want to be shown off by his fellow 2003 NBA Draft pick and friend LeBron James, but Anthony forces shots from bad angles. He has been at his best on the catch-and-shoot of reach lately, and would have to return to it to find success.
What they say
Christian Rivas of Silver Screen and Roll spoke about the Lakers ‘game plan to slow down the Blazers’ offense:
In the 55.4 share possessions, Lillard is defended by Caruso, he shoots 41.2% of the field, according to NBA.com. For context, Lillard has shot 63.6% of the field in the 43.1 share possessions he has defended by Caldwell-Pope.
