Report Card: Blazers Avoid Disaster in Win Over 76ers
Player grades and analysis from the Trail Blazers narrow 108-105 win over the bottom feeding Philadelphia 76ers
Starters
Damian Lillard: 16 points / 7 assists / 5 rebounds
Lillard was not himself in yesterday’s contest, shooting just 6-20 from the field to go along with a -6 plus/minus. On the bright side, if the best player on the team is going to have an off night it might as well be against the 9-64 Philadelphia 76ers. With a combination of a great supporting cast and a below-average opponent, the Trail Blazers were able to overcome Lillard’s poor outing. Still, it’s been a tough few last games for Dame, averaging just 21 points on 33% shooting this week. If Portland wants to hold onto the six seed (and maybe climb into the five seed), he will have to have better games than he did last night. Grade: B
CJ McCollum: 25 points / 5 assists / 5 steals
McCollum starred on both sides of the court last night, leading the team in both scoring and steals. In fact, his five steals tied a career high for the young guard (a mark set in early December). Even without his outstanding stat line, McCollum would’ve drawn high remarks based solely on his clutch shot that gave Portland the win in the waning seconds of the game. With playoff time coming closer, it’s valuable to know that someone else can step up when Lillard struggles and McCollum was able to provide us with just that. Grade: A+
Al-Farouq Aminu: 20 points / 2 assists / 8 rebounds
Aminu has reason to celebrate after having one of the best games of his career. Believe it or not (believe it), it’s been over five years since he has scored 20 points. Much like McCollum’s performance, it couldn’t have come at a better time for a team starving for offensive production. A stellar game like this just further validates my frustrations/worries with Aminu. In the playoffs you need consistency from your starters – on both sides of the court. Sadly, he fails to provide that security, as who knows what he will put forth Monday against the Kings. We will wait and see if he can find any lasting success…Grade: A+
Maurice Harkless: 16 points / 8 rebounds / 1 steal
Harkless continued his stint as the starting power forward and put together another solid performance. It’s been a roller coaster of a season, but it seems like he has finally found a role (one that I’ve been calling for him to have for quite a long time). Since surpassing Noah Vonleh on the depth chart, Harkless has amassed 40 points, which is more points than Vonleh has had in his last 12 games (38 total). It’s a night and day difference between the two of them, so let’s hope that Terry Stotts keeps this lineup for the duration of the regular and postseason. Grade: A
Related Story: Filling the Meyers Leonard Void
Mason Plumlee: 8 points / 10 rebounds / 1 steal
While Plumlee narrowly missed out on extending his double digit scoring streak to six games (and a double-double), he still had a big impact in the win. Most notably were his five offensive rebounds, as he seemed to always find a way to get the Blazers another possession. With Ed Davis presumably on the cusp of the starting job at center, Plumlee has responded with some of his best games of the year. It’s no mystery that Portland will need both of these bigs to be at their best if the team wants to have any success in the playoffs. Grade: A-
Next: More From Rip City Project
Sixth Man of the Game
Ed Davis: 6 points / 13 rebounds/ 2 blocks
Davis was a monster on the glass yet again for the Blazers, leading the charge with a team best 13 rebounds. Even without a great performance scoring the ball, he was able to chip in one assist, one steal, and a block. Davis has certainly risen to the occasion ever since Meyers Leonard was shut down for the year. Grade: A-