Post by SurferGirl on Apr 10, 2018 18:19:42 GMT -8
New Orleans Pelicans at Portland Trail Blazers
OVERVIEW
The national media wants to paint this as the "Anthony Davis Playoff Series." Damian Lillard may have a bone to pick with that. Davis was selected first in the 2012 NBA Draft, but Damian Lillard was selected sixth and went on to win the 2012-13 NBA Rookie of the Year. The Blazers and Pelicans square off in the first round of the 2018 NBA Playoffs. The Blazers, having earned the third seed in the Western Conference, will have home court advantage in the series. The Blazers are making their fifth straight playoff appearance and the Pelicans are in the playoffs for the first time since 2004.
The Pelicans began their NBA tenure as the Charlotte Hornets and started playing in the 1988-89 season. They relocated to New Orleans prior to the 2002-03 season, and were rebranded as the Pelicans for beginning the 2013-14 season. The name was meant to bring a more local reference to the New Orleans area. The New Orleans Jazz were founded in 1974, but moved to Salt Lake City, Utah in 1979 and kept the name. The Charlotte Bobcats, which were founded in 2004, took back the name Hornets following the rebranding of the Pelicans. The current Charlotte Hornets are credited with the original Hornets history. Following the destruction to the area by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the team temporarily played its home games in Oklahoma City for two seasons. Alvin Gentry is in his third season as head coach of the Pelicans, compiling a 64-100 record during his time there. Former Seattle SuperSonics player Paul Silas was the first head coach in Hornets/Pelicans history. He also went on to serve as the head coach of the current Charlotte Hornets from 2010 to 2012.
The Blazers were founded in 1970 and are the first of the 1970-71 expansion teams to win an NBA Championship, which they earned in 1977. They played in the NBA Finals again in 1990 and 1992, but were defeated by the Detroit Pistons and Chicago Bulls, respectively. The Cleveland Cavaliers won their first championship in 2015-16. The third expansion team from that year, the Buffalo Braves, relocated to San Diego and then to Los Angeles as the Clippers and have yet to win an NBA title. The Blazers have been located in Portland during their entire 48-year tenure in the NBA. Damian Lillard is the fourth Blazer to have been awarded NBA Rookie of the Year honors, winning unanimously following the 2012-13 season. The other Blazers to have that honor are Geoff Petrie (1970-71), Sydney Wicks (1971-72) and Brandon Roy (2006-07). The Blazers have qualified for the playoffs in 34 of their 48 seasons, including a 21-year streak from 1977 to 1997. Former Atlanta Hawks and Milwaukee Bucks head coach Terry Stotts is in his sixth season at the helm of the Blazers. He has a 272-220 regular season record and is 11-20 in the playoffs with the team.
SERIES SCHEDULE
The following is the schedule for the series, along with the national television broadcast information. Pelicans games will be broadcast on the radio on WRNO 99.5 FM, and will be broadcast in the local area on Fox Sports New Orleans. Trail Blazers games will broadcast on the radio on Rip City Radio 620, and television broadcasts will be televised on NBC Sports Northwest. All times are pacific (Blazers); add two hours for central time zone (Pelicans).
Pelicans win series 4-0
Game 1: April 14 (at Portland) - Pelicans 97, Blazers 95
Blazers come out flat in game 1, cannot complete the rally
Pelicans - Anthony Davis 35 pts; Anthony Davis 14 reb; Rajon Rondo 17 ast
Blazers - CJ McCollum 19 pts; Ed Davis 13 reb; Damian Lillard 7 ast
Game 2: April 17 (at Portland) - Pelicans 111, Blazers 102
Blazers falter in second half, fall to 0-2 in the series
Pelicans - Jrue Holiday 33 pts; Anthony Davis 13 reb; Rajon Rondo 9 ast
Blazers - CJ McCollum 22 pts; Al-Farouq Aminu 15 reb; CJ McCollum 6 ast
Game 3: April 19 (at New Orleans) - Pelicans 119, Blazers 102
Blazers look sloppy in game 3 blowout loss
Blazers - CJ McCollum 22 pts; Ed Davis/Al-Farouq Aminu 8; Maurice Harkless 4 ast
Pelicans - Nikola Mirotic 30 pts; Anthony Davis 11 reb; Rajon Rondo 11 ast
Game 4: April 21 (at New Orleans) - Pelicans 131, Blazers 123
McCollum's 38 points not enough to save series for the Blazers
Blazers - CJ McCollum 38 pts; Jusuf Nurkic 11 reb; Damian Lillard 6 ast
Pelicans - Anthony Davis 47 pts; Anthony Davis/Nikola Mirotic 11 reb; Rajon Rondo 16 ast
HOME ARENAS
Pelicans - Smoothie King Center; New Orleans, Louisiana
Blazers - Moda Center at the Rose Quarter; Portland, Oregon
REGULAR SEASON RECORDS
Pelicans - 48-34 overall; 24-17 home; 24-17 road (6th in Western Conference; 2nd in Southwest Division).
Blazers - 49-33 overall; 28-13 home; 21-10 road (3rd in Western Conference; 1st in Northwest Division).
HEAD-TO-HEAD SEASON RESULTS
October 24 (Portland) - Blazers 103, Pelicans 93
McCollum, Blazers overcome Cousins 39 points and 13 points in early season win
Pelicans - DeMarcus Cousins 39 pts; DeMarcus Cousins 13 reb; Jrue Holiday 7 ast
Blazers - CJ McCollum 23; Ed Davis 10 reb; Damian Lillard 7 ast
December 2 (Portland) - Pelicans 123, Blazers 116
Cousins scores 38 to lead Pelicans to the road win
Pelicans - DeMarcus Cousins 38 pts; Dante Cunningham 12 reb; Rajon Rondo 10 ast
Blazers - Damian Lillard 29 pts; Shabazz Napier/Noah Vonleh 7 reb; Damian Lillard 8 ast
January 12 (New Orleans) - Pelicans 119, Blazers 113
Davis has 36 points; Cousins 19 boards in Pelicans win
Blazers - Damian Lillard/CJ McCollum 23 pts; Al-Farouq Aminu 11 reb; Damian Lillard 8 ast
Pelicans - Anthony Davis 36 pts; DeMarcus Cousins 19 reb; DeMarcus Cousins 8 ast
March 27 (New Orleans) - Blazers 107, Pelicans 103
Lillard explodes for 41 in Blazers win in the Big Easy
Blazers - Damian Lillard 41 pts; Al-Farouq Aminu/Jusuf Nurkic 10 reb; Damian Lillard 6 ast
Pelicans - Anthony Davis 36 pts; Anthony Davis 14 reb; Jrue Holiday 11 ast
NEW ORLEANS PELICANS
ROSTER
HEAD COACH
Alvin Gentry - (Appalachian St.)
ASSISTANT COACHES
Darren Erman - Associate Head Coach (Emory - Georgia)
Chris Finch (Franklin & Marshall)
Kevin Hanson (San Diego)
Fred Vinson (Georgia Tech)
Jamelle McMillan (Arizona St.)
Elvis Valcarcel (Rutgers)
TEAM STATISTICS REGULAR SEASON
Points - 111.7
Rebounds - 44.3
Assists - 26.8
Steals - 8.0
Blocks - 5.9
Turnovers - 14.9
FG - 48.3%
3pt - 36.2
FT - 77.2
TEAM STATISTICS VERSUS BLAZERS
Points - 109.5
Rebounds - 46.8
Assists - 23.3
Steals - 4.3
Blocks - 6.5
FG - 48.2%
3pt - 33.7%
FT - 81.9%
INDIVIDUAL PLAYER STATS
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS
ROSTER
HEAD COACH
Terry Stotts (Oklahoma)
ASSISTANT COACHES
David Vanterpool (St. Bonaventure)
Nate Tibbetts (South Dakota)
Dale Osbourne (South Alabama)
John McCullough (Oklahoma)
Jim Moran (William & Mary)
ATHLETIC TRAINER
Geoff Clark (Oregon St.)
TEAM STATISTICS REGULAR SEASON
Points - 105.6
Rebounds - 45.5
Assists - 19.5
Steals - 7.0
Blocks - 5.2
Turnovers - 13.5
FG - 45.2%
3pt - 36.6
FT - 80.0%
TEAM STATISTICS VERSUS PELICANS
Points - 109.5
Rebounds - 46.8
Assists - 23.3
Steals - 4.3
Blocks - 6.5
Turnovers - 15.5
FG - 48.2%
3pt - 33.7%
FT - 81.9%
INDIVIDUAL REGULAR SEASON STATISTICS
FUN FACTS
- While Anthony Davis was selected first overall in the 2012 NBA Draft, the Blazers have three of the top 15 picks in that draft on their roster. Point guard Damian Lillard was selected sixth and center-forward Meyers Leonard 11th by the Blazer. Maurice Harkless was selected 15th overall by the Orlando Magic, and was traded to Portland during the 2015 off season.
- This is the first time in the history of both franchises that they have met in the playoffs.
- The Pelicans have five players who played for the University of Kentucky on their roster. That is the most players from one school on any single NBA roster.
PLAYOFF SERIES
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Houston Rockets vs. Minnesota Timberwolves (Rockets win series 4-1)
April 15 - Rockets 104, Timberwolves 101
April 18 - Rockets 102, Timberwolves 82
April 21 - Timberwolves 121, Rockets 105
April 23 - Rockets 119, Timberwolves 100
April 25 - Rockets 122, Timberwolves 104
Golden St. Warriors vs. San Antonio Spurs (Warriors win series 4-1)
April 14 - Warriors 113, Spurs 92
April 16 - Warriors 116, Spurs 101
April 19 - Warriors 110, Spurs 97
April 22 - Spurs 103, Warriors 90
April 24 - Warriors 99, Spurs 91
Portland Trail Blazers vs. New Orleans Pelicans (Pelicans win series 4-0)
April 14 - Pelicans 97, Blazers 95
April 17 - Pelicans 111, Blazers 102
April 19 - Pelicans 119, Blazers 102
April 21 - Pelicans 131, Blazers 123
Utah Jazz vs. Oklahoma City Thunder (Jazz win series 4-2)
April 15 - Thunder 116, Jazz 108
April 18 - Jazz 102, Thunder 95
April 21 - Jazz 115, Thunder 102
April 23 - Jazz 101, Thunder 81
April 25 - Thunder 107, Jazz 99
April 27 - Jazz 96, Thunder 91
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Toronto Raptors vs. Washington Wizards (Wizards win series 4-2)
April 14 - Raptors 114, Wizards 106
April 17 - Raptors 130, Wizards 119
April 20 - Wizards 122, Raptors 103
April 22 - Wizards 106, Raptors 98
April 25 - Raptors 108, Wizards 98
April 27 - Raptors 102, Wizard 92
Boston Celtics vs. Milwaukee Bucks (Celtics win series 4-3)
April 15 - Celtics 113, Bucks 107 - OT
April 17 - Celtics 120, Bucks 106
April 20 - Bucks 116, Celtics 92
April 22 - Bucks 104, Celtics 102
April 24 - Celtics 92, Bucks 87
April 26 - Bucks 97, Celtics 86
April 28 - Celtics 112, Bucks 96
Philadelphia 76ers vs. Miami Heat (76ers win series 4-1)
April 14 - 76ers 130, Heat 103
April 16 - Heat 113, 76ers 103
April 19 - 76ers 128, Heat 108
April 21 - 76ers 106, Heat 102
April 24 - 76ers 104, Heat 91
Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Indiana Pacers (Cavaliers win series 4-3)
April 15 - Pacers 98, Cavaliers 80
April 18 - Cavaliers 100, Pacers 97
April 20 - Pacers 92, Cavaliers 90
April 22 - Cavaliers 104, Pacers 100
April 25 - Cavaliers 98, Pacers 105
April 27 - Pacers 121, Cavaliers 87
April 29 - Cavaliers 110, Pacers 96
*If necessary
All times Pacific. Home team in series is first one listed in series header.
- JBH
To share this post on social media, please go to the right side of the page (the top of the page on the mobile site) to the social media icons and choose which social media site(s) to share the thread. To comment on this thread and others on this forum, please login or register.