Pistons Continue Playoff Push Against Blazers
By Matthew Way
The Detroit Pistons (28-31) and Portland Trail Blazers (24-34) meet at the Palace of Auburn Hills with each team looking to strengthen its playoff bid.
Sitting just a game and a half ahead of the ninth and tenth place teams in the Eastern Conference, the Detroit Pistons continue their playoff push tonight as they look to sweep the season series from the Portland Trail Blazers.
Portland coming into town has to be encouraging for much maligned starting point guard Reggie Jackson. Jackson, who was the subject of many trade rumors prior to the deadline, is now the subject of discussions over whether Jackson or Ish Smith should close the season as the starting point guard.
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Jackson looks to turn things around and solidify his spot in the starting lineup against a team he’s found much success against in the past.
In November 2015, Jackson led a furious comeback against the Blazers with 26 points in the fourth quarter alone. Earlier this year, Jackson scored 31 points in a double overtime victory in Portland.
Jackson should continue to have an easier time offensively against Portland because of the Blazers’ poor defensive back court, but his most important role for the Pistons tonight may be what he does on the defensive end.
Jackson has been especially poor defensively this year. His offensive frustrations have often spilled over, causing several defensive lapses a night.
Jackson won’t be able to afford defensive lapses against Portland’s dynamic back court. In the Pistons’ victory back in July, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope played strong defense against Damian Lillard, who scored only 20 points on 16 shots (while turning it over five times). That left Jackson on CJ McCollum, who torched the Pistons for a game-high 35 points.
In the paint, the Pistons should have a decided advantage against Portland. After some trade deadline moves, the Blazers are currently starting Noah Vonleh and Jusuf Nurkic in their front court. Neither Vonleh nor Nurkic is any real offensive threat, which should allow Andre Drummond and Jon Leuer to roam around and provide help defense for Reggie Jackson and friends.
The wild card for Portland may just be Allen Crabbe, who scored a team-high 30 points in the first matchup between the teams. Slowing down Crabbe will likely fall on Stanley Johnson, whose improved play has earned him consistent minutes in the last month.
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If the Pistons can bring energy defensively and slow down the talented Blazers’ guards and wings, they should be able to out-score a Portland team who struggles mightily on the defensive side of the ball.