Trail Blazers: Who is the biggest threat in the basement playoff battle?

The Portland Trail Blazers are currently surrounded by similar teams below .500, all battling for that supposedly final playoff spot.

Whatever expectations we had for the Portland Trail Blazers this season, we’re here now and simply have to run with it.

What we’ve been given is a slightly underwhelming battle to make the playoffs, I say underwhelming as a record of 17-22 will currently get you into the postseason. However, the Blazers have shown no sign of wanting to ‘tank for picks’, so it’s safe to assume that the Blazers will once again want to compete in the playoffs.

With so many other teams surrounding Portland right now, who sit in 10th spot with a 16-23 record, I decided to take a look at each of them, and how they shape up for the second half of the season.

No. 8: Memphis Grizzlies

Record: 17-22

The kids in Memphis are absolutely rolling right now. Ja Morant is turning out to be everything that Memphis wanted and more, and they’re riding an impressive 4-game win streak.

Morant isn’t the only ‘kid’ in Memphis is balling out either. Dillon Brooks, Jaren Jackson Jr and Brandon Clarke are all enjoying impressive years; the Grizzlies average age for their roster ranks third in the NBA at 24.6, meaning they are certainly building something exciting for the future.

Ja is looking like the second coming of Russell Westbrook, with his speed, athleticism and passing ability already taking the NBA by surprise (sorry, Aron Baynes). Away from Morant, Memphis’ other first-round draftee has been quietly making an impact as well.

I was seriously hoping Brandon Clarke would fall to Portland at #25, and could not believe it when teams continued to pass up on him. The Grizzlies eventually took him with the 21st pick, and Clarke has gone about making teams who didn’t take him look foolish. The power-forward simply looks like a seasoned vet on both ends of the floor, and is averaging a neat 12 and 6 on 63 percent from the field.

Memphis will be sniffing around this playoff spot right down to the wire, and will show no intentions of pulling out. It’s important to the franchise, and the kids will play hard each night, so Memphis are a serious candidate for this eighth spot.

No. 9: San Antonio Spurs

Record: 16-21

It’s been a weird year in San Antonio. After constant years of seemingly playoff immortality, it seems like the Spurs are finally approaching a dead-end.

I say that, and end then they go and beat the Bucks and Celtics back to back. Gregg Popovich is still chugging along with his old-school philosophies, and ironically has two players who are resistant to shoot threes as his main source of offense.

I actually had higher hopes for this Spurs team this year, even in the stacked West. I’m very high on their young players, in particular Lonnie Walker, and I thought a few of them would make a bit of a leap. This coupled with LaMarcus Aldridge, DeMar DeRozan and Pop, they felt like a solid playoff team.

They still could be, but they’ve definitely been underwhelming, especially defensively. In stats such as opponent made field goals and opponent total points, they rank in the bottom five, extremely uncommon for a Gregg Popovich team.

The one thing on the Spurs’ side is experience; they’ve been to the playoffs a record 22 times (tied with the 76ers), guys like Aldridge, DeRozan and Patty Mills who have seen it all before, and Pop, who is well, Pop. Don’t count the Spurs out but personally, I think it’s finally their year to drop off.

No. 11: Minnesota Timberwolves

Record: 15-22

The Timberwolves started off 10-8, and looked like a playoff team fueled by an MVP-like Karl-Anthony Towns and a resurgent Andrew Wiggins.

However, Towns hasn’t played in the last 13 games, and the Timberwolves have suffered. They have now slipped to 11th in the West, albeit just a game adrift of the playoffs.

The Timberwolves situation is different to the first two teams I mentioned though, for a few reasons. Firstly, Towns is reportedly unhappy. Trade rumors have been swirling, and Minnesota may struggle to keep ahold of their star if they continue to show little progress.

Towns isn’t the only one. Jeff Teague, Robert Covington and even Wiggins have all been linked to mid-season trades, and the Timberwolves have the feel of a team that may look to move a few pieces around, especially if KAT’s future is unclear.

Regardless of this, they won’t be making the playoffs if Towns cannot get healthy. 13 games is a worrying amount to miss in a row, and they look unsurprisingly dysfunctional without him, even given Gorgui Dieng‘s impressive play. For me, the Wolves aren’t a threat.

No. 12: Phoenix Suns

Record: 15-23

The Phoenix Suns were definitely the biggest surprise early in the season, as they posted a number of impressive wins. Adding Ricky Rubio in the summer seemed to unlock the full potential of Devin Booker, taking a lot of creative pressure off the young guard.

Deandre Ayton‘s suspension then halted this early promise slightly. Ayton was done for 25 games, and the Suns missed their center, despite Aron Baynes doing a splendid job in his absence. The Suns stagnated, but not enough to fall out of the playoff picture, and now that Ayton is back, the Suns are looking to build some momentum again.

I honestly really like this Phoenix team. Booker is continuing to improve, Kelly Oubre is looking like a fringe All-Star, and they seem to have a good blend of youth and experience. Their recent win over Orlando was one that could spur them on; they didn’t play particularly well, but two Booker threes in the last-minute saved the day.

These sort of shots are happening more and more because of Rubio, his savvy knowledge of managing an offense has let other talented youngsters flourish. The Suns are a threat for this last spot, and they’re also looking to be active in the trade market; Kevin Love was recently linked to them.

Watch Phoenix take it to the wire as well.

No. 13: Sacramento Kings

15-24

That excitement I get from the Suns and the Grizzlies? I really, really don’t with the Kings. And that seems unfair but, it’s just not there.

That’s strange too, because I’m a huge De’Aaron Fox guy. But this roster, there seems to be so many ‘meh’ players. They’ve took on Harrison Barnes for way too much money, Ariza is past it, Harry Giles and Marvin Bagley haven’t really lived up to expectations.

Bogdan Bogdanovic is now on the trade block too, and I’m getting the feeling that this group of young players isn’t going to workout long-term. I’m not saying they’ll blow it up, but I see them exploring other options, such as Kyle Kuzma. Point being, I’m not sure this group is good enough for the playoffs, and they don’t really have a star to drag them there.

So unfortunately for Sacramento, I see them extending that awful, awful streak, and missing playoffs once again. The stats aren’t pretty (bottom 10 in key defensive and offensive tables) and they don’t have a star to pull them over the edge, whereas other rivals do.

No. 14: New Orleans Pelicans

Record: 14-25

Now the Pelicans, on the other hand, are still in with a shot. After an extremely poor start, they’ve put together a nice little run, winning 7 of their last 9.

I was high on the Pelicans coming into the year, and still am, even if we remove Zion Williamson from the picture. Brandon Ingram is an All-Star, and is finally turning into the all-around scorer we all saw he could be. Ingram is the #1 guy now, and is handling that responsibility superbly, he’s even developed a consistent and dangerous three-point shot.

In recent weeks we’ve also seen Lonzo Ball starting to show out, in the right situation I still believe Lonzo is a starting PG in this league. The Pelicans also have a good blend of youngsters and vets, and Jrue Holiday has done a terrific job holding this unit together.

However, despite all of this, the Pelicans still sit in 14th place, albeit only a few games back of the playoffs. The reason I still give them a great chance? Same guy I removed from the picture earlier. Zion Williamson, a rookie, is that good. I’m sure of it.

Zion is still yet to play an official NBA game, but the rookie is now nearing a return, and I believe he’ll have an instant impact. His presence on the court will give Ingram even more room to maneuver, and Williamson is also an élite lob threat for Ball and Holiday.

The Pelicans, along with the Suns and the Grizzlies will run it extremely close, and will be a threat all season long for the Blazers. Don’t forget about the Spurs either, their experience is as big a weapon as any in this sort of race.

But the Timberwolves and the Kings, I wouldn’t worry too much. They’ll likely be lottery teams, and not a concern for the Blazers in their playoff hunt.