New Orleans Pelicans: 3 takeaways from Game 2 vs. Blazers

2. Home-court a huge advantage now

During the regular season, the Blazers posted a stellar 28-13 record at the Moda Center, making their home-court one of the toughest places to get a win. The Pelicans clearly didn’t get that memo, as they stole not one, but both games from the Blazers in their building.

With these two games in hand, the Pelicans have little to no pressure in Game 3. If they win, they go up 3-0 in the series, virtually guaranteeing an appearance in the second round. If Portland is able to win Game 3, the Pelicans still hold a 2-1 lead with Game 4 in their house.

A pressure-free environment does wonders for a player, as it allows them to play with more freedom while not having to worry about things outside the game of basketball.

At least for Game 3, the Pelicans won’t have to worry about losing their home-court advantage, as it’ll take multiple victories for the Blazers to earn that back. Portland is also a mediocre 21-20 away from home this season.

Expect the Pelicans to come out wheeling and dealing in Game 3, playing with a lot more flow and swagger in their house, as all the pressure in the world will be on the Blazers to avoid such a monumental first round upset.