Dame Lillard and CJ McCollum combined for 51 points in a Blazers win over the Lakers Monday but that’s not the story.

Portland’s recipe for surpassing the defending champs -- defense, rebounding, and depth -- is.

Robert Covington held Anthony Davis to 13 points, LeBron James had 29 but “felt” Derrick Jones Jr.

The Blazers outrebounded LA and Gary Trent Jr.’s 28 -- led a 45-23 bench scoring advantage.

Pluvial December “Hollywood Nights” don’t define NBA success but it’s a start.