1 — Who finishes games for the Portland Trail Blazers?
There’s been quite the uproar about who opens games once Portland returns to play. But if we’ve learned anything about the Blazers, that’s seldom become the factor that decides the result.
Four days ago, Portland’s Zoom conference provided us with an idea of what the starting five could look like; if Damian Lillard has his way, he and CJ McCollum will share backcourt duties, with Carmelo Anthony and returnees Zach Collins and Jusuf Nurkić anchoring the frontcourt firepower.
And obviously, that’s fun. But, on the season, the Blazers own just a +0.2 point differential after the first quarter, No. 13 in the NBA. And then, when those same starters return after the half, they have a -1.7 point differential in the third quarter.
They must find solutions to that, but even more critical that they’re able to nip the question of who closes out games in the bud early. There has to be somewhat of a moxie about it; the Blazers’ margin for error in their battle for the final seed won’t allow for much shuffling when the “real” season begins.
Everything about Portland’s initial lineup design feels matchup based. Specific teams will able to feast on the Nurkic-Whiteside pairing, just as they could with the Anthony at the small forward decision. But the positive, though, is that the Blazers will have tons of flexibility about who finishes these games off.
Heading into the stoppage, the Blazers ran a ton of Whiteside-Anthony-Ariza-McCollum-Lillard, with Gary Trent Jr, emerging as a viable fourth-quarter threat. Since Feb. 1, Trent ranks No. 2 in fourth-quarter minutes played (he’s also the only player to play in every game since then. But that sort of harmonizes with what those close to the team believe, too.
I had the opportunity to throw the question out to Jason Quick of The Athletic, and he said he would prefer the Lillard, McCollum, Trent, Collins, Nurkic lineup. And, that sounds like fun.
Since joining the team, only Hassan Whiteside and Trevor Ariza have a higher +/- than Anthony (+52), and he’s generated a reputation as a late-game virtuoso with the ability to go vintage from time-to-time.
Still, it remains the question of the hour. Only five teams in the NBA have a better point differential than the Blazers. And seeing whether or not the Blazers toggle with that feels must-watch.