Blazers Continue Ascension in Playoffs Race
Portland Trail Blazers spent a week as the darlings of the NBA. Beating Golden State by 32 points will do that for you. Damian Lillard joined a short list of no one to out duel Steph Curry this season. After receiving little to no coverage during the first half of the season, the Blazers were on everyone in the NBA’s radar the past week: Coach Terry Stotts is deservedly getting love as a Coach of the Year candidate, Lillard’s snub as an all-star is turning into a national mockery, and C.J. McCollum is now one of the more popular topics for an article.
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Make no mistake, the Golden State win will be the signature moment of the season; we are witnessing the greatest team in history at their peak – and Portland smashed them. However, the wins that provide more excitement going forward were the Jazz and Bulls games. These wins came after an emotional high beating the Warriors and an emotional low after collapsing against the Rockets. Both games were a struggle. Earlier in the season, the Blazers would have found a way to lose in the closing minutes. Something strange is happening with this team. The fact that McCollum shot 1-12 from the field and the Blazers comfortably won on the road means this team underwent a transformation. They are a legitimately good team.
Five Teams, Four Spots
*RCP Playoffs % is a complex algorithm that consists of watching NBA games and making partially educated guesses.
Memphis Grizzlies: 35-24 LW: 4-2 RCP Playoffs % = 96% (+1%)
Everything looked fine without Marc Gasol this past week, until Saturday. A loss to the tanking Phoenix Suns is a major letdown. The fact that Alex Len looked like a modern day Bill Russell against the Grizzlies raises a few red flags going forward about their lineup without Gasol. Fortunately for Memphis, they are eleven games over.500, but they are probably the weakest team on this list without their big man in the lineup. It is hard to see them left out of the playoffs with their current record, but it is even harder to imagine them with a winning record in their remaining games.
Dallas Mavericks: 32-28 LW: 3-2 RCP Playoffs % = 78% (unchanged)
he now plays for a Western Conference Rival, it is not fun watching post-ruptured-achilles Wesley Matthews struggle to shoot the rock. Rip City Project always wishes the best for “Iron Man”… unless he plays the Blazers. On a positive note, their new acquisition has discovered a revolutionary diet… no alcohol! Congrats, David Lee.
Related Story: Trail Blazers Player Power Rankings
Portland Trail Blazers: 32-28 LW: 4-1 RCP Playoffs % = 74% (+8%)
The most exciting thing about the Portland Trail Blazers is their depth. Now that Meyers Leonard has some confidence in his shot, they go nine players deep. (Ten if Maurice Harkless is given a chance) It seems that Stotts might have fixed his one coaching vice: Building a consistent bench. Suddenly, it’s tough to gauge how good this team really is – they just keep winning. It’s been pointed out before, but the Blazers schedule is about to ramp up significantly. Tonight is the start of a tricky road back-to-back for Portland. Then again, they just won back-to-back road games.
Utah Jazz: 28-31 LW: 2-5 RCP Playoffs % = 65% (-5%)
The Utah Jazz made a smart move at the trade deadline, getting an underrated Shelvin Mack to fill the massive void at point guard.
They now have a complete starting lineup and have everyone back relatively healthy. That’s what makes Saturday night’s failure so confusing. The Jazz could not take care of the hapless New Jersey Brooklyn Nets at home. After their 31st loss of the season last night, the Jazz are running out of time and excuses. They are now forced to make up ground in the playoff race this week away from the friendly confines of Joseph Smith Arena Vivint Smart Home Arena.
Houston Rockets: 29-31 LW: 2-2 RCP Playoffs % = 65% (-5%)
Houston might have saved their season in Portland Thursday night, erasing a 21 point deficit to beat the Trail Blazers. They have a relatively easy slate of games this week to potentially turn a disappointing season around. But just as you talk yourself into the Rockets making a run, they get beat up by the Bucks last night. One night James Harden looks like and MVP candidate again, and the next night just looks homeless with his beard. How did this team make the conference finals last year?