Sharpe, Avdija Bring Blazers Big, Easy Win vs. New Orleans

SB Nation

The road hasn’t been kind to the Portland Trail Blazers lately. Losses in Miami and Orlando this week blunted an otherwise-promising start to the season. But just when you think you have the NBA Blues,

here come the New Orleans Pelicans. They hosted the Blazers tonight but didn’t suit up Zion Williamson or Jordan Poole. The result was a 125-117 victory that Portland couldn’t pass up. Full-court pressure and hot shooting made the difference for the Blazers in a win that had a different flavor than most this season.

Here are some of the factors that came into play.

Sharpe and Avdija Threes

There are lots of reasons to praise Deni Avdija’s early-season work. Tonight it’s appropriate to point out his catch-and-shoot work from beyond the arc. Avdija shot 4-8 on threes, many of them from a receiving position. He’s generally more comfortable with the ball in his hands. While it’s not unusual to see him catch-and-shoot, his deadeye gaze and complete lack of hesitation are an interesting wrinkle to his game.

Having seen Deni do it, Shaedon Sharpe started the same thing. He ended up shooting 2-7 from the arc, but his release was far quicker and more confident than we’ve seen.

Portland needs this badly too. In theory, their ability to slice through the lane with multiple players should lead to open threes and conversions on the regular. Instead it often leads to players taking turns cutting down the middle either consecutively or in place of each other. Avdija and Sharpe becoming receivers as well as an initiators will remedy part of the issue.

Deni finished the game with 32 points on 12-18 shooting, Sharpe 35 on 13-18. The Blazers shot 13-37, 35.1%, from the arc as a team. That was enough offense to win it.

Derik Queen Game

Pelicans rookie Derik Queen has had an on-again, off-again start to his NBA career. Tonight he exposed the lack of Blazers power forwards…true power forwards, that is. Queen has a combination of bulk/leverage and smoothness. He’s not fast or mobile. He’s just able to create his own tempo.

Practically speaking, the rookie was too agile for Donovan Clingan to handle, too big for Jerami Grant or Toumani Camara. This led to him getting free at short range frequently. He shot 12-18 for 26 points with 7 rebounds and 4 assists.

Jrue Holiday Third

When the Blazers created separation in the third period of this game, Jrue Holiday was at the center of the storm. He hit 3 three-pointers in the period, 5 field goals overall on his way to 17 points on 6-12 shooting with 12 assists for the game. Holiday doesn’t have to play well for the Blazers to win, but it sure gets easier when he does.

Field Goals

This was one of the ultra-rare games where the Blazers ran a field goal attempt deficit but still won. They lost the offensive rebounding battle 15-9 and forced only 10 turnovers. The result was a 91-83 field goal attempt lead for New Orleans. But the Pelicans defended so badly (allowing the Blazers 57.8% shooting from the field) that even Portland couldn’t blow the game.

Grant Ejected

Jerami Grant got into a scuffle with Yves Missi with 6:34 remaining in the second quarter. No punches were thrown. It was a grabbing match during a rebound followed by shoving. The teams gathered to pull them apart. Both were ejected, a tribute to the new, kinder NBA.

No Lead Is Safe

The Blazers made multiple runs in the third and early fourth quarters, earning rare double-digit leads. It’s endemic to their style of play that they’re going to give those back. Portland doesn’t shoot well enough to turn a campfire lead into a bonfire. They’re going to force turnovers, run out, and get to the rim or they’re going to run at a disadvantage. Over time, opponents will only let you run free for so long.

To their credit, the Blazers did get to the rim against a permissive Pelicans defense late in the game, pushing the game out of reach. But it was telling that Portland had this one won multiple times and couldn’t put away a lesser opponent.