PORTLAND — After falling behind 0-2 in their best-of-seven series against the Los Angeles Clippers, the Trail Blazers took Thursday to get themselves right.
They took a maintenance day on Thursday and plan to take the practice court again Friday at their practice facility in Tualatin, Ore.
The Blazers need to lick their wounds after losing both games by an average of 20.5 points.
The Blazers have been one of the worst offensive teams so far in the playoffs.
They have the fourth-worst true shooting percentage in the playoffs at 45.7 ahead of just Boston, Dallas and Memphis.
The Clippers defense appears to have worn them down and over the first two games, the longer the games go, the better the Clippers get.
The Blazers, thanks in large part to the Clippers, have the dubious distinction of being the worst fourth quarter team in the playoffs, with a net-rating of minus-41.3 according to NBA.com.
In the fourth quarter, the Clippers have been scoring 1.56 points per possession, which is equivalent to making a 3-pointer every other possession.
The Blazers defense improved in Game 2 but they have lacked offense in nearly every quarter of every game so far this series.
After a solid showing in Game 1, Damian Lillard got more shots but couldn’t convert.
The Blazers adjusted to the Clippers’ aggressive traps and still got quality 3-point shots.
However, the only players that are getting the good looks aren’t coming through for the Blazers.
The Blazers as a group have averaged the second-most “wide open” shots per game according to NBA.com but rank 10th out of 16 teams in effective field goal percentage.
Lillard has gotten just one “wide open” 3-point attempt according to NBA.com, meaning a defender six feet away or further, in two games.
On the other hand, Al-Farouq Aminu has gotten six wide open attempts per game according to NBA.com and he has shot 25 percent on those opportunities.
The Blazers have offense has worked hard to get good shots but have been among the worst in converting them, which is even worse when the Clippers are out rebounding them on both ends.
Allen Crabbe hasn’t made a 3-pointer and has only attempted two.
Crabbe’s struggles help illustrate a complete domination by the Clippers reserves.
The Clippers bench has been a major thorn in the side of the Blazers, outscoring them 76-52, which probably gives the Blazers a little more credit than they deserve thanks to garbage time points.
The Clippers line-up with five bench players of Austin Rivers, Jamal Crawford, Jeff Green, Wesley Johnson and Cole Aldrich has a net-rating of plus-32.1 according to NBA.com.
The Blazers are getting dominated in all phases of the series, even the ones they appeared to have an advantage in.
