Rip City Project
Fansided

Blazers: 7 Reasons for the 2015-16 Season

By Spencer Gordon

Feb 19, 2016; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) reacts after hitting a three point shot over during the fourth quarter of the game against the Golden State Warriors at the Moda Center at the Rose Quarter. Lillard scored 51 points as the Blazers won 137-105. Mandatory Credit: Steve Dykes-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 19, 2016; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) reacts after hitting a three point shot over during the fourth quarter of the game against the Golden State Warriors at the Moda Center at the Rose Quarter. Lillard scored 51 points as the Blazers won 137-105. Mandatory Credit: Steve Dykes-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 8
Next
Mar 18, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Allen Crabbe (23) leaps to save a ball from going out of bounds during the second quarter of a game against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 18, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Allen Crabbe (23) leaps to save a ball from going out of bounds during the second quarter of a game against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /

7. Allen Crabbe

For all of the players who returned from last year, Allen Crabbe was given the least amount of attention. Damian Lillard, C.J. McCollum and Meyers Leonard were supposed to be Portland’s new core and lead the team for years to come, with Crabbe doing what he could as a solid defender and sharp shooter.

Instead, Crabbe has stepped up as the bench’s leader. Through his experience in coach Terry Stotts’ system, he’s helped build one of the best second units in recent Portland memory, but also one of the best in the NBA.

From his clutch steals in crunch time, to his sweet stroke from three that can get hot at any minute, “that one guy with the hair” has embraced leadership in a way that nobody saw coming. There could’ve been some inner team politics (even I thought he should’ve started at one point in the season) but he took his role to heart and made it great and indispensable.

There is no way Portland makes the playoffs without Crabbe’s bench leadership.

Next: Number Six