Wizards (40-24) at Blazers (28-35)
March 11, 2017 at 10:00 PM Moda Center | Portland, OR TV: CSN Mid-Atlantic Radio: 1500 AM
Last time they met was..
January 16, 2017: Wizards 120, Blazers 101
What to watch:
I’m looking for perseverance from the Wizards. I’m looking to see how much longer they can sustain this remarkable level of success. They’re 40-24. This is their best stretch of 64 games since they were Eastern Conference champions. They’re 2.5 games out of first place. They’re 3-0 on this road trip.
So, how long will it sustain? For as long as they let it is all I can tell you. At this particular instance, I won’t bet against them. All jinx aside, they might even sweep this entire 5-game road trip. Who’s to say they’re not? Based on what they’ve already endured in the 3 games played on this road trip, there’s nothing to suggest they can be broken. The momentous Phoenix comeback from 22 down but the resilience of the Wizards to steal that momentum back. A similar narrative in Denver the following night where a large double-digit lead was nearly squandered to the Nuggets. And then last night in Sacramento, where the Wizards had absolutely no business winning a game where they were down by as many as 16 in the second half and the defense evidently still stuck three time zones away. But the elite combination that is Wall and Beal a.k.a. your favorite backcourt’s favorite backcourt willed the Wizards out of their muzzy state to win in overtime. The Wizards enter Portland on their second back-to-back of this unsparing road trip. Is the sustenance real?
Key Matchup:
The Backcourts!
Let's go right to the numbers:
Wall and Beal combined: 46.8 ppg, 14.8 assists
Lillard and McCollum combined: 51.2 ppg, 9.7 assists
I'd say this matchup of double-headed backcourt monsters rounds out pretty swell.
X-Factor:
The Blazers' sneaky second unit.
While Lillard and McCollum provide the the influx of Portland's points, the rotation runs deep behind them. A troop of Crabbe, Harkless, Plumlee, Aminu and Leonard each provide a sample size of points, good enough on some nights to complement their star guards. It's why they score the 6th most points per game in the league at 108. But we're not really worried about getting outlasted by another team's bench unit now are we!? Nooo.
Fun Factor:
The 2-seed is fancy. We like it here. For now.
Prediction:
The Wizards sustain!