Mailbag: What the Trail Blazers must do to become champions

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Well, a lot more goes into a championship than the strengths and weaknesses of individuals, but you know that, and each Trail Blazer certainly has room to improve. I think narrowing the scope to what each player needs to do in the playoffs may help us arrive at a more productive answer. After all, riddling off points of vulnerability I would like to see fortified is just idle dreaming without team cohesion in mind. So, to speak more accurately to your question, I think it best to refine the parameters. Perhaps you had that in mind already.

What does each individual on the roster have to do in the playoffs to get Portland a ring?

Damian Lillard – Lillard needs to be more cognizant of his own pacing. He has a tendency to start off slowly in order to conserve energy for the fourth quarter, but sometimes a more balanced attack is necessary to quell opponent runs. Momentum is hugely important in late-game situations and I would like to see him be more proactive about preventing the need for a comeback, even if it means easing up on “Lillard Time” later on.

Steve Blake – Blake has the tremendous responsibility of getting the bench going. Many of his teammates are young and without noteworthy postseason experience. He needs to facilitate with the youngsters in mind, making their jobs as easy as possible, so they can establish comfort under pressure. Otherwise; the Trail Blazers’ new depth could end up being ineffectual.

Wesley Matthews – Okay, this one is a bit more preparatory. Matthews is already doing just about everything he will need to do except make his free throws. He cannot be splitting pivotal pairs down the stretch in a playoff series. He is presently Portland’s ninth best free throw shooter, but the team needs him on the floor when the game is on the line. Matthews needs to fix whatever kink has worked its way into his free throw game before April.

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C.J. McCollum – McCollum needs to step forward as a leader in the second unit. That is a monstrous burden for a second-year player to bear, but I think he is capable. I am talking about double-digit scoring to ease the pressure off the starters. If he can put up 10-12 points nightly like he has been lately, the Trail Blazers may find themselves keeping up with deeper teams that have given them trouble in the past.

Allen Crabbe – Crabbe probably won’t see much of the court in the postseason unless injuries necessitate his contribution. In which case, he needs to make better snap-decisions. No more ill-advised threes, but also no waiting on threes that should be taken; especially above the break. He is a good enough shooter to make life easier for his teammates when he plays with purpose.

Will Barton – Barton falls into the same usage category as Crabbe, but there are still things he can do. He needs to be ready to run his butt off. Sheer hustle from just one bench player in one game can make or break a series. Anyone remember James Posey with the Boston Celtics? Probably not, but the Los Angeles Lakers sure remember his 18-point explosion in Game 4 the 2008 NBA Finals. That is the kind of wild card energy the Trail Blazers need from Barton.

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Nicolas Batum – I think a lot of people would like to see Batum resolve his shooting problems and become a dependable scoring threat again, but I am more interested in him playing hard defense. The Trail Blazers have plenty of scoring options, but they only have one forward with Batum’s length and speed. He has to be able to body guys like Kevin Durant or Kawhi Leonard when called upon in order for the Trail Blazers to advance to the Finals.

Dorell Wright – Wright needs to capitalize on his pump fakes if he is going to start each move with one. This, I suppose, stands for any game he plays. He does occasionally get a defender to bite, but following up with one dribble and a pass off just eats clock unless there is a plan of action. He needs to be more assertive when putting the ball on the floor, but should not actively look to do so if he has a catch and shoot opportunity.

Victor Claver – Claver needs to fill the towel waving void that Patty Mills left in our hearts. I would love to see him get meaningful minutes, but, realistically, he will not see the court in any playoff game that has not already been decided.

Dec 10, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Portland Trail Blazers forward LaMarcus Aldridge (12) against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center. The Timberwolves defeated the Trail Blazers 90-82. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

LaMarcus Aldridge – Aldridge needs to stay healthy. As much as a “well duh” as that seems, it remains the most important thing he can do. From a basketball standpoint, he is playing at a champion’s level. He must not only be able to play in the postseason, but be able to play with the fewest physical restrictions possible. With his left thumb already in need of surgery, I worry deeply about Portland’s odds of winning a title if any more injuries, however minor, befall Aldridge.

Thomas Robinson – Robinson needs to look for his teammates before looking for the basket. He does a stellar job of grabbing rebounds and affecting shots on the other end, but I do not want to see him shoot the ball in a playoff series unless the shot clock displays a number lower than three and no one is open. He is a powerful weapon, but can damage both wielder and foe when he does not show restraint.

Meyers Leonard – Like Robinson, there is something I would like Leonard to not do. Leonard needs to not pick up quick fouls. Nothing hurts in a playoff series like trying to rest the starters to no avail. Leonard has become a valuable contributor on offense and a passable defender, but his most valuable contributions to a championship run are directly tied to how much time he can buy his teammates, ideally while performing well in that allotted time.

Robin Lopez – Lopez needs to be able to contain elite, offensive big men with more success. He is a damn fine rim protector under most circumstances, but guys like Dwight Howard and Marc Gasol have a tendency to chew him up. I do not know how Lopez can accomplish this improvement, but if the seeding gods see it fit to punish Portland with an unfavorable matchup, he has to be more than ready for the worst.

Chris Kaman – Kaman has only been to the NBA playoffs one time, and that was nine years ago. He needs to play like the veteran he is without crumbling under the pressure of expectation. If he keeps the low post anchored without disappearing or, more likely, trying to do too much, the Trail Blazers will have a distinct advantage over most second unit centers.

Joel Freeland – Freeland needs to assume the role of stopper if Lopez cannot get the job done. This is tough because Freeland is not exactly a giant, but we have seen him lock down players like Al Jefferson and, to a lesser extent, M. Gasol when called upon to do so. Freeland is Portland’s last line of defense at the rim, but he is a strong one when he needs to be—and he needs to be if the Trail Blazers want a ring this year.

Next: Trail Blazers Down-The-Stretch Breakdown