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Trail Blazers: Interesting X-Factors to look out for in the NBA Bubble

By Ryan Gaskin

PORTLAND, OREGON - OCTOBER 08: Jusuf Nurkic #27 of the Portland Trail Blazers smiles from the bench against the Denver Nuggets in the fourth quarter during their preseason game at Veterans Memorial Coliseum on October 08, 2019 in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OREGON - OCTOBER 08: Jusuf Nurkic #27 of the Portland Trail Blazers smiles from the bench against the Denver Nuggets in the fourth quarter during their preseason game at Veterans Memorial Coliseum on October 08, 2019 in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /
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Carmelo Anthony, Portland Trail Blazers (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
Carmelo Anthony, Portland Trail Blazers (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /

Throwback Melo?

You’d do well to find an NBA fan that doesn’t want to see Carmelo Anthony back in the playoffs.

Despite traveling with the Blazers to Orlando, Melo is yet to completely confirm his involvement in the NBA’s restart. Add in COVID-19 concerns to his important role in the Black Lives Matter movement, it’s not hard to understand why the former All-Star is still a little hesitant on returning to the court.

However, the fact he is with the team seems to suggest he will be playing, and that is an extremely exciting thing for Blazers fans.

After taking a year out, Melo made his return to the NBA with Portland, and pretty much hit the ground running, averaging 15.3 points and 6.3 rebounds on 42 percent from the field. Impressive for a 36 year old who hadn’t touched an NBA court for 12 months, to say the least.

Now, the Portland Trail Blazers are on the brink of the playoffs, and if they can turn it around, it’ll be Melo’s first real (I’m not counting that OKC nonsense, sorry) playoff stint since 2013 with the Knicks.

In his playoff career, Carmelo Anthony  has averaged 24.5 points and 7.1 rebounds per game, and led a couple of impressive teams. True, this is younger Melo were talking about, but could a playoff environment bring out a bit of throwback Carmelo Anthony? I certainly wouldn’t bet against it.

If Anthony can get hot and bring some of his playoff savvy to this Blazers roster, it’s enough to win a few games on his own, whether that’s from the starting lineup or the bench.

Next. 3 ways Jaylen Adams can help the Portland Trail Blazers. dark