He rarely blocks anybody or makes a key defensive play, while Lillard usually takes all the late game clutch shots. Definitely something to build on for McC.
In the next series v. GS, McC shot 39% and POR was swept.
Which has been POR's standard fate in the Lillard-McC era.
Lillard & McC have been the West Coast edition of Lowry & DeRozan. A competitive regular season duo who fade in the playoffs. Last year was an exception (though they did flame out in a sweep). Size, iffy defense and streaky shooting undermine them. I think POR got a bit lucky last year to get a very good but inexperienced DEN team. With Hood and Zach giving unexpectedly good support.
Going forward, losing Mo Hark and Aminu will hurt their defense and chemistry. Whiteside not exactly known as a great teammate.
Will need Hood and Zach to be consistent.
Their bench looks awfully thin (Bazemore and a few young guys).
The Nurkic injury set them back.
47 W's is my call.
Whiteside and Bazemore are both big endings contracts, but the days of flipping those for value seems gone. And POR can't really afford to add more long-term money.
I feel, Bo, like you're doubling down because you feel you have to. And in the process, making quite a lot of rather iffy statements. Like your ridiculous assertion that Lowry played poorly in these playoffs. I won't say everything is dead wrong (and I'm fine with your conclusion of 47 wins as a projection, although injuries tend to determine such things) - but there's a certain defiance despite, as I said, some of these statements being rather debatable.
"while Lillard usually takes all the late game clutch shots. " - Go watch G7 against the Nuggets and that super long multi-OT game. CJ was taking (and making) the late game clutch shots. Dame is smart, he defers when CJ is cooking. Sometimes it is Dame, sometimes it is CJ.
"A competitive regular season duo who fade in the playoffs. " - CJ increased his PER the last two seasons from the regular season to the playoffs. Dame didn't, but he certainly had some spectacular moments during this playoff run (while generally struggling with his efficiency).
"I think POR got a bit lucky last year to get a very good but inexperienced DEN team." I'd say maybe they were lucky to avoid Houston, but at worst they were the 3rd best team in the W when all was said and done. Probably at worst the 6th best team in the league. That is still very good.
"Whiteside not exactly known as a great teammate" He's not my type of player either, but I'm actually optimistic that Portland is a good spot for him, and expect a bounce-back season. Dame is known as brilliant in the locker-room.
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