The Pelicans played great, no doubt about it, but I think Dame being a brand new father had a greater impact than has been stated. And Dame would never admit that because he doesn't make excuses, but the timing kind of sucked for basketball.
A good Friend on the German nba Page (Pistons Fan) asked me during the playoff series against New Orleans, why Stotts was not able to run other plays for Lillard to get him eaysier shots or to Stop the double Team by holiday and Davis after 100 Pick and Rolls, and i had no answer for him. I definetly think that we would have gotten a better result with a different coach. Maybe we would have lost the series anyway, but no sweep
To get Lillard better shots you have to make them pay for doubling and trapping him. This is simple basketball. Nobody made a shot. They begged Aminu to shoot the ball. Turner was no threat from distance and Harkless was hurt. The First game set the tone and the rest is history.
Serious question: why are we still trying to make excuses and rationalizations over that series? Blazers were outplayed, outcoached, and just flat got owned. A team with pride and the desire to get better would be angry and embarassed and would use that for motivation.
