THE Portland Path Blazers will want a extra coherent manufacturing of Rookie Middle Donovan Clingan That they obtained throughout Thursday night’s defeat in opposition to the Los Angeles Lakers to remain within the working for a spot within the playoffs.
Clingan began in opposition to Lakers instead of Deandre Ayton (calf) and scored six factors (3 capturing out of 4) with six rebounds and three pictures blocked in just below 17 minutes. Not dangerous. However he additionally dedicated three reversals, had two private faults and did not execute too typically for the style of the coach of the Blazers Chauncey Billups.
“I believed he was tremendous,” mentioned Billups after the match. “I believed he had had fun within the sport. Once more, I believed he had misplaced the emphasis on a few of the issues we wished to do in a defensive manner. It was one or two sluggish steps, which is why I made a decision to go someway small and alter it. »»
Clingan was not the one participant in his match within the 110-102 defeat in Moda Middle. The Blazers (23-33) had been clearly rusty after the celebs break.
The Blazers will probably be with out Deandre Ayton (calf) maybe as much as three extra weeks, putting Clingan within the function of the starter. The substitute Robert Williams III performed 25 minutes in opposition to the Lakers and scored eight factors with six rebounds.
Donovan Clingan # 23 of the Portland Path Blazers defends a Vasilije micic # 22 of the Charlotte Hornets within the second half of a basketball match on the Spectrum Middle on January 24, 2025 in Charlotte, in North Carolina. (Photograph by David Jensen / Getty Photos)Getty photos
Ideally, Clingan would offer efficiency just like its two in Denver earlier than the break. He scored 21 factors with seven rebounds on February 10 and adopted with 17 factors with 20 rebounds on February 12.
The priority for Blazers is how Clingan behaves with sooner facilities. The Lakers Jaxson Hayes and Trey Jemison III facilities mixed for 15 factors on 7 pictures out of 12 rebounds.
Williams is healthier geared up to handle extra sports activities facilities. However Clingan is an area eater inside and is usually a dominant rebounder, which the blazers want on the bottom.
The Lakers exceeded the Blazers 48-33 whereas getting into 11 offensive rebounds, which resulted in 22 second probability factors.
“Too many second probability factors for them, too many offensive rebounds,” mentioned Blazers striker Deni Avdija.
It was unacceptable in opposition to a crew of Lakers who exchanged his finest rebounder, Anthony Davis, earlier than the break.
“It’s not as if we lack DA and we’ve got no different facilities,” mentioned Billups. “We do it. So there’s actually no excuse. We simply must do a greater job. »»
The Blazers welcome the Charlotte Hornets at 7 p.m. Saturday.
– Aaron Fentress | [email protected] | @AaronjFentress (Twitter), @AaronjFentress (Instagram), @AaronFentress (Fb)
