Portland Trail Blazers Must Improve Perimeter Defense

After falling into to a 0-2 hole in their first round series against the Memphis Grizzlies, it has become clear that the Portland Trail Blazers are overwhelmed and outmatched.

Most fans and analysts had low expectations coming into the series thanks to the number of Portland players on the injury report, but this is getting out of control. They have been beat in nearly every facet of the game, but the lack of perimeter defense has become the largest issue the Trail Blazers must address.

If there is one player on the Blazers that may actually benefit from this disappointment, it would be Wesley Matthews. He has always had a great reputation as an aggressive on-ball defender, but nobody realized he was the one player on the team that held this unit together defensively.

The team was ranked eighth in the league in points allowed per game (96.8) before Wes went down, and they allowed opponents to shoot only 32.0 percent from beyond the arc. Since that fateful night, the Blazers have been below-average on that side of the ball, and the Grizzlies have taken advantage.

Considering that Matthews will be a free agent this summer, he could be in for a massive payday. He has always been a great three-point shooter, but the night-and-day difference on the defensive end will make him look very attractive to number of general managers. If nothing else, it should negate the fact that he suffered a major injury.

Injuries have been a common theme for the Trail Blazers this season. On top of Matthews, Arron Afflalo, Dorell Wright and Chris Kaman have all missed time in this series. Regardless, you have to play the hand you are dealt and the Blazers are losing badly. I understand that you are going to take a step back when you lose a number of your players, but there is no reason to completely fold like a bad poker hand.

I’m going to be blunt about this — Damian Lillard, C.J. McCollum and Steve Blake have been an embarrassment on the defensive end of the floor. Mike Conley, Courtney Lee and Beno Udrih are making a mockery of Portland’s backcourt.

Over the past three seasons, I have become accustomed to seeing superhuman performances from Lillard. He has been nothing but amazing during that time, and outside of LaMarcus Aldridge, he is the face of our franchise. With Dame in the game, you never feel like you are completely out of the contest.

There were times during the Game 1 blowout (the 100-86 final score is a lot closer than the game really was) that I felt like he was going to start feeling the ice running through his veins and turn the game into “Lillard Time.”

Sadly, the moment never arrived. Despite the fact that he finished with 14 points and eight assists, he struggled with the ball in his hands. He was unable to connect from long-range (0-for-6) and he made only five of his 21 field goal attempts. As bad as that offensive showing was, his defense was even worse.

Mike Conley came into the game with a golf ball-sized hump on his heel, but if you were uninformed, you would have never guessed he was struggling with an injury in the place. After struggling out of the gate, Lillard seemed to lose his interest in guarding the man, and Conley consistently found his way to the basket, finishing the game with 16 points (Game 2 was the same story – Conley scored 18).

I understand that Lillard has never been a great defensive player and I’m not expecting him to play like Patrick Beverley, but you have to have some pride when you are the Blazers’ franchise player and the first line of defense on the perimeter. I don’t care if you are upset because you can’t find your shot, the team is getting beat up like a piñata. Body up Conley and don’t let him play you like a fool.

Lillard needs to understand that this is the NBA playoffs and it’s not the time to come across like whiner. He usually has knack for understanding what’s at stake and living in the moment. Please show some emotion and put some effort in on the defensive end of the floor. I don’t care if you have to flagrantly foul Conley – just do something besides pout as he leaves you in a cloud of dust.

As badly as Dame played in those first two games, his teammates weren’t any better. Steve Blake and C.J. McCollum have both struggled badly during their time on the floor. Courtney Lee has consistently beat McCollum off of shot-fakes that lead to made jumpers, and Beno Udrih has become the best sixth man in the league all of sudden when Blake is matched up against him.

The only player in the backcourt that seems to playing any defense at all is Allen Crabbe, and there is only so much he can do for your team.

All of this has led to the Grizzlies running circles around the Blazers like a bunch of vultures eyeing their prey. Memphis has made 44.0 percent of their attempts from three-point range, while the Blazers have struggled with the Grizzlies aggressive defense, making only 30.4 percent of their shots from beyond the arc.

While the perimeter defense has been the most obvious black mark for this team right now, there are a number of areas they need to improve on before they can think about beating the Grizzlies in a series.

Aldridge has been the one player who has played to his potential (28.0 points, 14.0 rebounds and 4.0 blocks per game), but even he has found out that scoring against this defense is no easy task. He has made only 37.0 percent of his 54 field goal attempts in this series. Regardless, he has to remain aggressive and the ball needs to continue to go through him if the Blazers are going to compete.

Defensively, he has been outstanding against Zach Randolph (13.0 points per game) over the course of the two games. If he can to continue to play stout defense and find a more efficient way to score, the Blazers may be able to find a way to win a few games.

Of course, you can’t really think about winning a few games before you win one. The Trail Blazers need to find a way to get this upcoming Game 3 at the Moda Center if they are going to win this series. No team in NBA history has overcome an 0-3 deficit to win a series (although, the 2003 Trail Blazers came close when they took the Dallas Mavericks to seven games — behind Zach Randolph, no less).

Luckily for Blazermaniacs, Arron Afflalo will be back in uniform for Saturday’s game. He will be a sight for sore eyes after watching two games of our backcourt getting consistently burned. Hopefully he will be able to contribute to a much more sound defensive effort and hopefully the Trail Blazers can climb their way back into this series. If not, we might as well start looking forward to the offseason.

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Portland Trail Blazers Must Improve Perimeter Defense To Compete

By Chris Kirby | Apr 24, 2015

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