All U Can Heat
Fansided

Miami Heat: Preview vs. Damian Lillard’s Portland Trail Blazers

By Trey Flynn

MIAMI, FL - OCTOBER 27: Hassan Whiteside #21 of the Miami Heat greets Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers at American Airlines Arena on October 27, 2018 in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL - OCTOBER 27: Hassan Whiteside #21 of the Miami Heat greets Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers at American Airlines Arena on October 27, 2018 in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

The 24-27 Miami Heat are struggling to find any consistency as they enter their 4-game road trip against the 32-20 Portland Trail Blazers.

The Portland Trail Blazers are on a 3-game winning streak and are 6-1 in their past seven games, hoping to continue their dominance against a porous Miami Heat team. But it is possible the Heat could pull out a win in Portland, as they are 1-0 against the Blazers this season, even if that was in the first few weeks of the regular season.

With the NBA trade deadline being February 7th, you can expect this to be the last game for at least one of the Heat players, possibly even the Blazers. However, Portland did make a move for the former-Cleveland Cavaliers’ forward, Rodney Hood, sending a bulk of assets for the swingman just yesterday.

It is quite possible that Miami could have made the very same move by sending Wayne Ellington, Rodney McGruder and a 2nd round pick for Hood’s talents, but they decided to stay silent on that specific trade front, at least, thus far.

The Heat are going to have their hands full against the Blazers, as they are coming off a 3-game losing streak and are going to be playing in the loudest environment in the league as the Blazers lead all attendance in the NBA. Aside from fans, this Heat team will also have to watch out for the All-Star backcourt in Portland.

The matchup of Justise Winslow vs. Damian Lillard will be an intriguing one, as they absolutely can’t play Josh Richardson on Lillard, with his 3-point attempts around the picks usually correlating to J-Rich fouling Lillard for 3 free throws. Aside from Lillard and C.J. McCollum, the Blazers don’t have many more offensive contributors, but somehow, Jusuf Nurkic has turned himself into a better center than Hassan Whiteside for more than half the price.

Ultimately, the Heat will need to try their best to stop the incredible Portland backcourt of Lillard and McCollum, with the hope that Whiteside and Bam Adebayo can get Nurkic off his game, forcing the rest of this average Blazers team to try and beat Miami.

Miami Heat Projected Starting Lineup:

  • PG, Justise Winslow
  • SG, Tyler Johnson
  • SF, Josh Richardson
  • PF, James Johnson
  • C, Hassan Whiteside

Injuries: PG, Goran Dragic out, SF, Derrick Jones Jr. out

Portland Trail Blazers Projected Starting Lineup:

  • PG, Damian Lillard
  • SG, C.J. McCollum
  • SF, Maurice Harkless
  • PF, Al Farouq Aminu
  • C, Jusuf Nurkic

Injuries: None

Next. 4-team trade idea that includes Blake Griffin and John Wall. dark

Tune in tonight at 10:30 PM on TNT to watch the Heat end their losing streak or the Blazers continue their winning streak.

Home/Heat News