Tonight at 9:30 p.m. ET the Portland Trailblazers will try to stay alive in Round 2 of the NBA Playoffs by winning a road game in San Antonio vs. the top-seeded Spurs on TNT. Live stream Game 5 for free by clicking this link; Spurs fans can listen to the radio broadcast on 1200 WOAI, while Blazers fans can tune in to Fox Sports Radio 620.
Despite failing to close out Portland in Game 4, Spurs point guard Tony Parker appears relaxed heading into tonight's clash. He even cracked a smile when asked about his countryman Nic Batum gashing San Antonio for 14 points, 14 rebounds and eight assists in the Blazers' lone win of the series.
"I'm happy for him. He's doing great," Parker said. "He's doing everything he can to help his team out there. You have to give him credit." Batum also played great defense on Parker, reminiscent of the defensive role LeBron James often assumes against red-hot guards regardless of size.
"I just did my job," Batum said. "My job was to slow him down. He's had a great series so far. He's a great champion. So I just tried to do my job and slow him down."
The Blazers may have built some momentum for themselves, but sustaining it will be impossible unless second-year point guard Damian Lillard rediscovers his long-range stroke. Lillard hit this postseason's iconic shot to clinch a Round 1 victory over Houston with a deep buzzer-beating 3-pointer, but has only connected on 15 percent of his treys in Round 2, despite chucking up five a game.
During the regular season Lillard hit nearly 40 percent from beyond the arc, so it is unlikely this dreadful slump witll continue. His partner-in-crime, LaMarcus Aldridge, has had a deceiving series as well. The 26 points and 10 rebounds look swell, but they mask a 40 percent mark from the field that was boosted by a nice Game 4.
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