Fansided

NBA games of the week: Blazers can’t be stopped

By Chazz Scogna

LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 30: Portland Trail Blazers Guard Damian Lillard (0) and Portland Trail Blazers Guard CJ McCollum (3) look on during an NBA game between the Portland Trail Blazers and the Los Angeles Clippers on January 30, 2018 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 30: Portland Trail Blazers Guard Damian Lillard (0) and Portland Trail Blazers Guard CJ McCollum (3) look on during an NBA game between the Portland Trail Blazers and the Los Angeles Clippers on January 30, 2018 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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Monday, Mar. 12: Miami at Portland, 10:30 p.m. ET

Over the last nine games, did you expect Portland and Miami to have the best and sixth-best net rating in the league? Portland’s defense has suffocated teams during their win streak, ranking second behind only the ridiculous Utah Jazz, who are giving up 93.9 points per 100 possession.

The first matchup between Miami and Portland was opposite to the Blazers’ game against Golden State. Instead of allowing Durant to get his in hopes of stalling the offense like Portland, the Heat hounded Damian Lillard to force him to get the ball out. He finished with only 18 points in the game, but seven came in the final three minutes. The difference between the two teams is Portland has two stars to Miami’s zero.

The Heat are 4-2 in their last six games, including two wins over the Sixers, who still can’t seem to get out of their own way. Perhaps the best thing about Miami this season, other than their Miami Vice jerseys, is Dwyane Wade’s resurgence. Even at 36, the man is still as smooth as they come. Few things in basketball make me more excited than seeing Wade exude his veteran dominance on some unsuspecting whippersnapper.

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