Motivated Blazers Get Pointed Revenge Against Newest Rivals
The Trail Blazers didn't need any extra motivation on Wednesday against the Memphis Grizzlies.
Not only were major playoff implications at stake, but facing the same team for the third time in five days inevitably sparks some additional competitive fire. Portland needed to prove its mettle versus Memphis after being out-classed in these teams first two matchups, too.
But just in case the Blazers were at risk of failing to meet the Grizzlies challenge again, Dillon Brooks all but ensured his team would be in for a major fight. After Sunday's game, Memphis' brash, loud-mouth wing publicly stated his team was going for the sweep versus Portland – all the bulletin-board material Norman Powell and company needed.
"We saw the quote that Dillon Brooks put out about wanting to sweep us," he told NBC Sports Northwest's Brook Olzendam following Wednesday's game. "We couldn't allow that to happen."
They didn't.
The Blazers put together their best performance of the season on Wednesday, blowing out the Grizzlies 130-109 at FedEx Forum. Powell, Damian Lillard and C.J McCollum combined for 73 points, playing with aggression and intensity from the opening tip that helped set the tone for their teammates defensively.
McCollum almost seemed apologetic for the shellacking Portland gave Memphis after the game, indirectly jabbing Brooks for his frequent trash talk.
"Some of those younger guys, they don't know no better," he said. "They were excited. They played hard, they kicked our ass, so they had a right to talk and say some of the things they said and do some of the things they did. And we came on their court and kicked their ass."
Carmelo Anthony, who scored 18 points off the bench Wednesday night, admitted the Blazers were seeking "revenge" after getting shown up twice at Moda Center.
"They came on our home court and they came and got two wins, back-to-back. Tonight was our chance to get some revenge, get on their homecourt, and we really wanted this game tonight. You could see that."
Tension between Portland and Memphis existed before last week. As much respect as these teams gained for one another in last year's play-in game, the Grizzlies haven't forgotten just how close they came to beating the Blazers last August in the bubble. Brooks alluded to it while calling for the sweep.
But it's also undeniable this three-game series ratcheted up that competitive pressure, pushing Portland and Memphis to fully embrace basketball's newest rivalry.
Brooks poked the bear, and the Grizzlies, finally, paid the consequences. Don't expect the Blazers to react any differently should they meet Memphis again.