I've got to say they've impressed me. At the beginning of this season I would've said they were washed up. Rondo looked burned out in Dallas and that was a couple of years ago. He got good assist numbers in Sac but they sucked and his defense looked gone. Meanwhile Holiday has ALWAYS been injured. So where did this come from? Holiday in particular has scored any time he wants. He's just bullying our backcourt - it's like he's moving in slow motion and just saunters to the hoop for a layup.
What I like about Rondo and Holiday is that their games are complementary. (Interpretation of this observation vis-à-vis the overlap of the skillsets of the Blazers' starting guards is entirely optional)
Holiday/Rondo are going up against perhaps the worst defensive guard tandem in the Playoffs.....that is why.
Granted, but that also shows that they are not the worst defensive guard tandem in the playoffs, which is a step up from where I had them. Rondo being useful at all is a plus, and he may be their key player so far. This would make me happy, because "Playoff Rondo" of yore is one of my fave non-Blazers ever - it's just unfortunate that he happens to be playing us. I must say: I had us losing this series before it started, but I thought it would go 6 games. Not looking likely at the moment.
Davis is going to be a handful for Draymond, and that might make him annoyed enough to do something stupid. And if he does, then Pelicans have a chance.
Does anyone believe they'll be able to hold and grab GSW's guards like they're doing in this series without being called for fouls? Honestly?
No....but partially because GS will have more ball movement and not so much ISO.....which lends itself to more opportunities to grab and hold.
This thread could have been titled, "in praise of [insert any back court facing the Blazers in the playoffs]". Seriously, though, was Holiday an elite defender before this year? I never watched a ton of his games, but I thought he was "just" somewhat above average at both ends of the court.
I think it's just a bad match up for Portland. Jrue holiday has been extremely impressive but he also isn't the guy we are focused on defense and unfortunately we don't have a jrue holiday that is good on both sides of the ball. Dame is being mauled out there with the double teams. Rondo knows his role and is a very very smart vet. Mirotic has been big for them on offense and defense. Shit, their whole team has played like they want it more. Portland reverted back to iso ball and that's just not gonna win games in the playoffs. I can't stand Dame and CJ going back and forth trying to iso but I understand we don't have players besides them who can go one on one. This is another reason CJ should be traded. Also, fuck kevin pritchard for not trading PG to us.
Yeahh...that's probably why you should watch players play first. He's always been what you've seen on the defensive end. On offense the only thing that's stopped him are injuries and his tendancy to take a back seat. Can be a very passive fellow
I'm really impressed with the Pels....team has a bright future...if Boogie re-signs with them they'll be a force
San Antonio was a bad match up, the Grizzlies were a bad match up the Warriors were a bad match up, not the Pelicans are a bad match up. So basically, we just need to play the Dallas Mavericks in their current form for it to be a good match up?
New Orleans doesn't even care about their basketball team, which makes all this that much more infuriating. Our city lives and dies with the Blazers - the Pelicans play before a half empty arena most nights. They're not even #2 in that city - LSU football comes before the Pelicans.
