New Orleans at Portland
Time: 9:30 PM CT (TNT)
Spread: EVEN
Total: 230.5
Odds c/o 5dimes
The New Orleans Pelicans began the season 4-0, but it has since lost three straight to fall to 4-3 on the year. It will try to snap that losing streak as it visits the Portland Trail Blazers tonight. The game has the odds set EVEN, and it has an over/under of 230.5 points. It will air at 9:30 PM CT on ESPN as the second game of a Thursday night ESPN doubleheader.
N.O.
New Orleans has really been pushing the pace and excelling in transition. It ranks No. 2 among teams in scoring at 122.3 points per game, but by and large, its opponents are managing to keep up. The Pelicans surrender 120.6 points per game, so it has a point differential of just +1.7.
Anthony Davis has been his usual beast self, but the biggest surprise and difference maker has been Nikola Mirotic. After struggling his early NBA career in Chicago, he has absolutely blossomed and benefits heavily from the double teams thrown at Davis regularly. Mirotic is averaging 23 points per game while shooting 39.2 percent on 7.3 threes attempted per game. He also is just a shade under 10 boards per game, and he really seems to have found his niche and home in New Orleans. Jrue Holiday is also blossoming as a three-position defender who packs plenty of offensive punch too. Holiday may be the most versatile perimeter defender in the league, and he averages 17 points, eight assists and 1.7 steals per game.
Point guard Elfrid Payton is looking better in New Orleans than he ever did in Orlando, averaging 11 points, six rebounds, and six assists per game. And if all that was not enough, Julius Randle is making his bid for the Sixth Man of the year award, averaging 16.7 points and 7.9 rebounds in just 23 minutes a game. The Pelicans have the balance and depth to be a threat in the Western Conference, but only in the sense that it may steal a game or two from a higher seed in the opening round.
Its defense is not stringent enough, and though the loss of DeMarcus Cousins was a bit overblown (he is injured, after all), the Pelicans weakest spot is at small forward where Solomon Hill has been a massive flop in his NBA career after signing a lucrative contract to be the Pels’ “Three-and-D” player of the future. With no other great small forwards on the roster, the Pelicans could be in the market for a trade to upgrade at the 3-spot before the postseason arrives.
POR
The Portland Trail Blazers are 5-2 and 2-1 at the Moda Center where it hosts tonight’s game. Portland trails the Denver Nuggets by one-game in the Northwest Standings.
The Blazers have won two straight, after knocking off the Indiana Pacers by 10 and the James Harden-less Houston Rockets by 19. Portland has the No. 6 ranked scoring offense at 117 points per game, and it allows just 109.1 (No. 7). It is also excellent on the boards, averaging 51 rebounds per game and ranking No. 3
Damian Lillard has improved every season he has been in the NBA, and this year is no exception. The scoring point guard is averaging 29.6 points, five rebounds and six assists per game while posting a PER over 30. CJ McCollum has struggled a little next to him in the backcourt, though. McCollum is shooting just 41 percent from the field, while Lillard tops 50 percent. Jusuf Nurkic is a good 5-man, but he always faces minutes limitations and sees just 24 minutes a night.
The Blazers have been quite pleased with the progression of second-year forward Zach Collins. The sophomore is averaging 11 points, 4.7 rebounds and two blocks per night (good for the team lead in blocks). Portland also has reclaimed the career of Nik Stauskas, who is proving to be a valuable contributor off the bench. Depth has long been an issue for Portland, but it has improved that aspect on the basis of player progression mostly.
The once ineffective role players are gradually evolving into strong rotational players, and Caleb Swanigan is performing well in his second season, much like Collins. Swanigan is mostly a rebounder and defender, but he does that very well and tallies seven boards per game in just 14 minutes on average. Portland may now have the depth to pose a more serious threat in the postseason, riding on the shoulders of Lillard’s scoring heroics.
