Clippers VS Trailblazers (Game 1)

Clippers lead series 1-0

The Clippers had a dominant game. Chris Paul was dominant, DeAndre Jordan was dominant, and Blake Griffin, he was dominant! The Clippers really took it at this team offensively. Part of this had to do with the interior defense of the Portland Trailblazers. Harkless and Plumlee can't guard DeAndre and Blake. That is where the Blazers don't matchup well with the Clippers and their big just need to step it up.

C.J. McCollum needs to score. Portland has the advantage in their backcourt and they need to use it. Chris Paul and J.J. Redick outscored McCollum and Lillard. That just can't happen for this Portland team if they are going to win. They need scoring from their backcourt. One positive for this team is that Gerald Henderson played really great. I think they should probably insert him into the starting line-up to provide a big lift at the beginning of the game. That should open up things a little more for Dame and McCollum.

If you watched the highlights from this game, you might think that the Trailblazers really got beat in transition, but the Blazers actually did a really great job with their transition defense, only allowing the Clippers to get 8 fastbreak points. Damian Lillard and McCollum made sure that they got back on defense and Chris Paul can't run like he used to.

Really, the Blazers shot pretty poorly and they just are going to have to step it up on offense next game. they also need their bigs to step it up on defense. The Clippers are really doing great. This is going to be a fun series to watch once Damian Lillard and McCollum start hitting more shots.