Rip City Project
Fansided

What’s shakin’ as Cavs come to town and Blazers seek their 11th straight win?

PORTLAND, OR - MARCH 12: Damian Lillard
PORTLAND, OR - MARCH 12: Damian Lillard

You’d think winning 10 in a row would create enough of a cushion to make any team feel comfortable. But this is the West, where only greatness is good enough. Fortunately for the Portland Trail Blazers, they have Damian Lillard.

Three of the things I like best about the Portland Trail Blazers’ Damian Lillard:

First, he’s not a worrier. (He’s said as much, on more than one occasion.)

Second, he understands that the NBA is a long, often tortuous slog. Although every game is important, what happens in December may not necessarily reflect what’s going to happen in March.

More from Blazers News

Who among us thought the Blazers would eventually hightail it to the upper reaches of the Western Conference after watching them wishy-wash their way through the early parts of the season?

Finally, Lillard knows that springtime is the right time to catch fire. If the cherry trees are flowering in Tom McCall Waterfront Park, you can pretty much count on the fact that the Blazers are across the Willamette River stomping opponents inside the Moda Center.

Lillard Time

The Blazers are — or at least are becoming —a team in their leader’s image. Lillard’s steady demeanor, evident both on the court and in his interaction with journalists, drives this team.

Of course, it doesn’t hurt to know that Lillard can take over a game — that he can quite simply will his team to victory — just about whenever he wants.

When asked about Lillard’s late-game heroics against the Lakers on March 5, Blazers assistant coach David Vanterpool expressed it thusly:

"“He knows that’s going to happen. What he just did, that’s not by mistake. Mentally, he’s already seen it. He’s prepared, he’s put in the work, and that’s why it’s not a surprise to him. He already feels it, he already knows it. What he did tonight is more like him finishing a movie he has already seen in his mind.’’"

Although the Blazers have rounded into a more complete team than they were in December, Lillard remains the spark that drives them. He’s grown into the kind of player who feels his way through a game and determines what he needs to do to make his teammates better and to walk away with a victory. In that respect, he’s a lot like LeBron James.

Cavaliers vs. Trail Blazers

The Blazers have won 10 in a row. They’re currently 41-26 (third in the Western Conference). But despite their long winning streak, they remain at risk of dropping out of the playoff picture altogether.

The Western Conference ain’t no joke.

The Cavaliers (39-28; fourth in the Eastern Conference) are fighting to stay in contention for home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs. Cleveland, which is on the tail end of a six-game road trip, has certainly had a tumultuous season. But they remain right in the thick of the playoff race.

That’s because of James, natch; he makes any team dangerous, no matter who’s injured and no matter which scrubs comprise the Cleveland roster. In their victory Tuesday against Phoenix, James had 28 points, 13 rebounds, 11 assists, three steals and two blocks. In James’ last 10 games, he’s averaging 28.4 points, 10.5 rebounds and 9.5 assists.

Next: Portland Trail Blazers road to a 50-win season

Wins and losses count for more this late in the season, especially this season — and especially out West, where even a mini losing streak can send a team tumbling out of contention.

So what’s shakin’? Well, the Blazers have got to keep rollin’. It’s that simple.

There is still very little room for error.

Tip-off Thursday is set for 7 p.m. PDT.