With time running out in the first half, the score was 65-46 in favor of the Portland Trail Blazers. Not only did they hang 65 points against the Golden State Warriors; they did it efficiently (130.0 offensive rating).
A combination of struggles creating advantages on offense and an inability to contain Damian Lillard — fresh off of his incandescent 71-point performance — and his teammates plagued the Warriors. It felt like it was over at the half, and the Warriors seemed like they were dead in the water.
But an end-of-quarter possession provided a glimpse of just how the Warriors could attack the Blazers and get themselves an easy source of points:
The tactic was quite simple: have whoever Lillard’s guarding come over to set a screen, force the switch, and make Lillard defend in space.