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Trail Blazers must carry close-out mentality into playoffs

PORTLAND, OR - APRIL 11: Damian Lillard
PORTLAND, OR - APRIL 11: Damian Lillard

The Blazers beat the Utah Jazz Wednesday night, securing both the third seed in the West and home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs.

There was a lot to like about the Trail Blazers’ thrashing of the streaking Utah Jazz on Wednesday.

First and foremost, it meant the Blazers ended a four-game losing streak, won the Northwest Division crown and secured the third seed in the ultra-competitive Western Conference. They’ll begin the 2018 NBA playoffs at home against the sixth-seeded New Orleans Pelicans. (The series tips off at 7:30 p.m. PDT Saturday night at the Moda Center.)

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Second, Portland’s three-point shooting — a season-long strength that seemed to have abandoned them in recent weeks — returned to form. Portland shot 9/24 (37.5 percent) from three.

Blazers Close the Game Out

But perhaps the most encouraging sign was this: Despite being outscored 34-22 by the Jazz in the final quarter, the Blazers were able to put together a series of strong offensive possessions and some stellar defense to keep Utah from catching up.

This is paramount. The Blazers must be able to put teams away in the playoffs. Every team is capable of going on runs; in fact, basketball is a game of runs. The teams that fare the best in the playoffs are those teams that withstand those runs and punch back — hard.

How They Did It

With 11:04 left in the game, Shabazz Napier hit a three to put the Blazers up 85-61; it was the Blazers’ largest lead of the game.

And yet — well, we ain’t gonna say we weren’t still a little bit worried. This was the Jazz after all — one of the league’s winningest teams since the All-Star Break.

And then …

In fact — just like that! — the Jazz went on a 13-0 run to pull within 11 points. With 7:39 left in the game — and the regular season — Portland was up 85-74.

Locking It Down

Championship teams weather storms like this. And over the next few minutes of Wednesday night’s game, the Blazers, led by Damian Lillard and Jusuf Nurkic, made it clear that they have that certain something — that straight-up shutdownability, which is a word I just made up, but I like it, so I’m sticking with it.

A Brief Recap of the Lockdown.

Lillard put a stop to the Jazz’s 13-0 run by hitting a jumper to make it 87-74.

That was followed not long after by a Nurkic block on a Rudy Gobert layup attempt. On the ensuing possession, Lillard hit another jumper. The score was 89-76.

Then the Blazers played super tight defense on Rookie-of-the-Year candidate Donovan Mitchell. Portland held the young dynamo to 6/23 shooting, including 1/8 from three.

Lillard then hit another contested jumper. It was now 91-76.

There was 5:41 left in the game. There was still a lot of work to do. But already, the Jazz threat was beginning to evaporate.

After a tough, driving make by Mitchell, Lillard assisted on a driving and-one layup by Nurkic. (Nurkic would miss the free throw.) Score: 93-78.

Utah’s Ricky Rubio would then try to drive to the basket, but Nurkic blocked his layup attempt; it was Nurk’s fourth block of the game.

At the other end, Lillard hit a three-pointer with Rubio draped all over him. Score: 96-80 with 4:20 left.

The Final Nail(s) in Utah’s Coffin

Nurkic then stole the ball and — again with an assist from Lillard — made a driving layup to put Portland up 98-80.

But Utah wasn’t done quite yet. After some mild pushing and shoving between Lillard, Nurkic and Jae Crowder, and a few free throws by Rubio, the Blazers were finally able to put the Jazz away for good.

When Wade Baldwin hit a tough and contested jumper from the corner, Portland was up 102-90. After a meaningless three by Utah’s Royce O’Neale, it was over.

Final score: Portland 102, Utah 93. Lillard finished with 36 points and 10 assists. Nurkic added 13 points, nine rebounds and four blocks.

And the third seed officially belonged to the Blazers.

Summing It All Up

So what did we learn? We learned that the Blazers have the ability to shut teams down when opponents make one or two of their inevitable runs. Portland must maintain their defensive intensity for 48 minutes. Teams can’t take off any plays in the postseason.

Next: Blazers not worried about struggling offense prior to playoffs

We saw what Portland can do during their recent 13-game winning streak. And if the law of averages continues to swing back in Portland’s favor as far as three-point shooting is concerned; and if the Trail Blazers can squeeze the life out of rallying teams with a combination of shut-down defense, effective passing and shot-making — then they are positioned to make a deep run in the playoffs.

Should be fun. Let’s get it done.

Shut them down, Blazers.

Shut them all down.