Carmelo Anthony may not be the answer for the Blazers

Carmelo Anthony made his debut for the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday, and he did not look good. The Blazers lost to the New Orleans Pelicans, 115-104, and the 35-year-old, who played in his first NBA game in over a year, went 4-for-14 from the floor for 10 points, along with a -20 plus-minus rating. Rust from a long layoff played a part, but it’s also important to consider that the Pelicans are currently one of the worst defensive teams in the league.

The Blazers are uninspired

Following the loss, the Blazers are now 5-10, with a handful of those defeats coming via second half collapses and poor showing against supposed inferior opponents. As resilient as the Blazers were in seasons past, such frustrating losses in a young season are bound to pin down a team’s morale.

Rip City’s deep dive in the standings has dropped them to 14th place in the Western Conference.

Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum

As always, the starting backcourt will be the main catalysts for the Blazers. Lillard (28.6 PPG, 7.1 APG) missed the Pelicans due to an ailing back – probably from carrying the team – but he’s expected to return for this match-up. McCollum, meanwhile, is averaging 24.2 points in his last six games.

Keep fearing the deer

The Milwaukee Bucks are 11-3 and have won five-straight games, reminding opponents everywhere that they must “fear the deer.” A win against the Blazers this Friday will give them the solo top spot in the Eastern Conference.

On Thursday, the Bucks posted their highest out put of the season and eased past the Atlanta Hawks, 135-127. Every Buck who played scored and all starters scored in double-digits, as led by reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo and Eric Bledsoe, who notched 33 and 28 points, respectively.

Bledsoe will continue remain as the second fiddle to Giannis with Khris Middleton still rehabbing a leg injury. He’s averaging 17.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, 5.2 assists on the season.

PREDICTION:

These two teams split last year’s season series, 1-1, but it was the Bucks who had the more decisive victory, which was a 143-100 drubbing in late November.

Normally, teams that are on the second night of a back-to-back doesn’t look appealing, but this is a good time to make an exception. The Bucks are in great shape while the Blazers have been a complete opposite of that.