Notes, analysis, observations, clips and more from the Trail Blazers 118-103 win over the Detroit Pistons on Saturday at Moda Center.
- Detroit sits at the bottom of the Eastern Conference for a reason, and played without Jerami Grant, its only semi-reliable source of self-created offense. This version of the Pistons is one of the least talented and experienced outfits Portland has faced all season. The Blazers can only play who's in front of them, but don't let the lopsided nature of Saturday's game fool you. More than anything else, it's just another instance of Portland taking care of business against a bad team.
- Enes Kanter absolutely owned the glass from the opening tup, finishing with a career-high, franchise-record and NBA season-best of 30 rebounds – a whopping 12 of which came off his teammates' own misses, another team record. He played with outstanding energy and his typical physicality, at times overwhelming multiple Pistons for offensive boards and finishes in a crowd. Mason Plumlee, in particular, proved not nearly strong enough to bang with Kanter. Not all of his 24 points came on put-backs, though. Kanter, as always, benefited immensely from the attention Detroit paid Damian Lillard, finishing at the rim with ease after catching pocket passes on rolls to the rim. He was committed and engaged defensively, too, occasionally playing a part in the Blazers getting stops with active hands in the paint. Kanter's warts are well-known by now, and were still on display against the Pistons. What a luxury that Portland can rest its starting center for half of a back-to-back, though, fully confident Kanter will exploit an inferior frontcourt – even if the Blazers can't quite count on him making rebounding history every night.