The boys in red, white, and black will be squaring off against the Denver Nuggets at 7pm tonight. It is rumored that our very popular center Robin Lopez will be back in the lineup, and boy is that a relief. Robin has been out of action since December 15th after suffering a right hand injury while playing the San Antonio Spurs.
Over the last 10 games, Portland has won 2 out of 9...with 1 game postponed due to inclement weather in the Northeast. While it is hard to point to one primary reason for the skid, having 3 of your front court players suffering injuries is never good (Robin Lopez, Joel Freeland, Lamarcus Aldridge). While Lamarcus Aldridge has chosen to forego surgery on the torn ligament in his hand, he is still playing hurt. The best part is, you wouldn't be able to tell. He has been regularly scoring 30+ points a night, and has been doing it all while refusing to shy away from inside contact.
The good news is, we all know how much having Robin Lopez on the court benefits Lamarcus. Lopez is a solid interior defender, with the ability to change and alter shots close to the rim. When he is out of the lineup, Portland struggles to contain shots in the paint. In addition, having Lamarcus guard bigger players when Chris Kaman is on the bench is problematic. When Lamarcus plays the "5" position, he is subject to more punishment inside, which leaves him vulnerable with that injured hand. I am very happy to have Robin back because it will allow Lamarcus to play his natural power forward position.
Aside from his defensive savvy, Lopez brings a quirky and vibrant personality to the team. You can tell from his infamous "Lopez bench celebrations" that he genuinely cares about his teammates. Plus, if you can win games and have fun while doing it...that is a win-win situation. I am optimistic that having Lopez back in the fold will be critical for righting the ship and getting the team back on course. My keys to the game tonight for a Portland win?
1.) Strong perimeter defense on Utah's top scorer Gordon Hayward. Look for Nic to step up and have a strong defensive performance tonight.
2.) Control the boards-keep Kanter and Favors off the glass and limit Utah to one shot per possession if possible. This is where having Robin Lopez back will be extremely valuable.
3.) Fuel the fire- Damian Lillard being snubbed from the All-Star game must fuel his performance for the second half of the season. Capitalize on the rookie Dante Exum at the point guard spot, and look for 3-point field goals in transition.
No comments:
Post a Comment