December 30, 2013
NOTES
• In the first quarter, with his 4th point, LaMarcus Aldridge tied Jim Paxson for fifth place on Portland's franchise scoring leaderboard (10,003).
• Portland's top 5 scorers in team history: 1. Drexler-18,040; 2. Porter-11,330; 3. Robinson-10,405; 4. Kersey-10,067; 5. Aldridge-10,007.
• With four 3-pointers tonight, Damian Lillard now leads the NBA with 97 3-pointers made this season.
• Robin Lopez has tied a career high with six blocked shots (twice before).
• Starting at the 9:16 mark of the second quarter, the Pelicans used full court pressure and effective execution in transition to real off a 12-0 run and take a 44-33 lead midway through the second quarter. Ultimately, the Pelicans led 56-49 through the 2Q.
• The Blazers had the largest discrepancy between points in the paint scored for and points in the paint against in the league coming in to the game at -13.0 ppg. In the first half, the Pelicans exploited this weakness, outscoring the Blazers 40-18 in the paint.
• In the third quarter, the Blazers shot 3-6 from beyond the arc and got to the free throw line 12 times (making 8 of them), yet the Pelicans still maintained their seven point lead behind 22 points in the paint in the quarter. After three quarters it was 89-82 Pelicans. The squadron looked to pick up their 10th win when leading after three.
• The Blazers began the fourth quarter on a 7-0 run to draw the game even at 89-89 at the 9:15 mark. Out of a timeout Jrue Holiday broke the run with a three. Holiday has a double-double in the game with 31 points and 13 assists (it is Holiday’s 9th double-double of the season, the Pelicans are 8-1 when he records a double-double.)
• After sinking a three-pointer just two possessions in to the game, Ryan Anderson has now notched a three point basket in every single appearance this season (20) and has made one in 26 straight.
• With 20 points tonight, a Pelican reserve has scored 14+ points in 23 of 29 contests for the Pelicans. The Pelicans entered the game 8th in the NBA in fast break points scoring 15.7 per game, the Pelicans surpassed that with 16 in the first half (to the Blazers 0), and ultimately they finished the game with 20 fast break points to 10 for the Blazers.
• Between Aminu (15) and Davis (12) the Pelicans had two players record 10+ rebounds in a game to mark the 9th time this season and second consecutive.
• The Pelicans bench is outscored the Blazers bench 28-18.
• Pelicans season-high for points in the paint with 68, (prev: 60 at PHI 11/29). Also, Jrue Holiday recorded a season-high for points with 31 (prev: 26 vs. DAL on 12/4). It’s Jrue’s first 30 point game since 2/24/13 and just four shy of his career-high.
On What The Team Can Do To Improve:
“It’s a lot of stuff. This was just a game that we couldn’t pull out our best abilities. We just need to learn from this game and use it a way to win our next one.”
On Team's Defensive Skills:
“We just have to do a better job of improving it. It’s something that we care about, but in order to win more games we need to get it under control.”
On Tonight's Game:
“We have 24 wins. Two consecutive loses aren’t going to keep us down. We’re going to make mistakes, but at the same time we aren’t going to act like this is the best we can do.”
On Team's Defensive Skills:
“We have good defense, we just have trouble aligning with our offense. The offense isn’t going to come with you every night.”
Terry Stotts
On Tonight's Game:
“I thought we defended in the 2nd half, even though the numbers don’t show it. I thought New Orleans made a lot of mid-range jump shots. We did a much better job of limiting points in the paint, and limiting transition, 2nd chance points; all those things in the 2nd half. We made a good shot, they made a good shot. It was just another tough one to lose at the end.”
On Defensive Issues In The First Half:
“I really don’t like saying too much after the game. I like to watch the video. It’s not one thing. When you give up 40 points in the paint, there is a lot of cause. Its penetration, it’s not helping out one another, its transition. There is a lot of different areas that we didn’t do well in the 1st half.”
On The Pick And Roll Connection Between Jrue Holiday And Anthony Davis:
“I thought Holiday made a lot of tough mid-range shots. I thought we defended decently in the 2nd half, and forced them to take shots out of their comfort zone, but he (Holiday) made some good shots. I didn’t necessarily think he got to the rim, as he did in the 1st half.”
Tyreke Evans
On Making Game-Winning Shot:
“I just came down. I knew I had to be aggressive and make a tough shot. I had to keep my confidence up and shoot the ball.”
On Jrue Holiday's Contributions Tonight:
“He was excellent in the fourth quarter. He was in control, he made big shot, that’s what he’s here for.”
Jrue Holiday
On Tonight's Game:
“They came out in the second half and started coming back, but we kept fighting.”
On Morning Shoot-Around Conversation:
“It was all about coming out tonight and playing hard and just keep fighting. We know that Portland was one of the favorites in the west and we wanted to show what we can do.”
On Taking Charge Offensively:
“I knew that I could come out and hit my shots. I just felt good and it came at a good time.”
Monty Williams
On If The Play Of The Team Tonight Is What He Expected Of Them All Season:
“The thing about having young guys is helping them understand how to make in-game adjustments and execute. We have to put them into those positions so they can learn how to do it and why we do it. It starts with Jrue on the ball. Him and Brian [Roberts] and Austin [Rivers] were tough on [Trailblazers guard Damian] Lillard. It’s a credit to our guys for being able to make in-game adjustments.”
On Tyreke Evans' Game-Winner:
“When we are in that situation, it is good to just go and not give them a chance to set up and put defensive guys in, switch and take you out. I felt like we had some advantages because we had our offensive guys in. We think we have two-way players, so we feel we have an advantage at times. So sometimes we just say go. I would much rather see him go to the basket, but he felt he had a shot and took it with confidence and we’re thankful it went in.”
On If This Win Is A Turning Point For The Season:
“Yes and I temper it with this: When you have young guys, it is extremely difficult to get them to understand how to win games against really good teams. I know we can be this and more. I thought our defense could have been better as far as covering up a few three-pointers. I think this is where we can be and more. We didn’t have Eric [Gordon] tonight or Jason [Smith]. We have had signature wins this year but for me it is how we respond. We have this win against maybe the best team in the NBA, how we approach tomorrow’s practice and how we approach our shoot around the next day will be important.”