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Portland Trail Blazers: Damian Lillard is having a huge finish to the season

By Stevie Cozens

PORTLAND, OREGON - MAY 07: Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers warms up before the game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Moda Center on May 07, 2021 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 Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OREGON - MAY 07: Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers warms up before the game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Moda Center on May 07, 2021 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 Steph Chambers/Getty Images) /
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The Portland Trail Blazers have had a quick change to their fortunes over the last two weeks.

After a four-game losing streak at home, they’ve turned things around with a stream of impressive wins. At the forefront, of course, is Damian Lillard.

Dame has had another All-NBA fringe MVP season, and the last few weeks have been at a very high level. After a tough few weeks in April where he was battling some niggly injuries and getting used to new personnel, Dame and the Blazers have turned it around on the road.

Though this seems strange, Dame has always shown up when his team needed him most. The win over the Los Angeles Lakers was a big win as it gave them the tie-breaker and moved them away from the play-in game.

Dame, as a high-volume shooter, will go through stages where he goes cold from deep. But, he is consistent from season to season with his production, where you know he will shoot 38 percent from three and average at least 28 points a game. When Dame had a quiet April, we all knew he was going to bounce back.

In May, Dame decided to kick into gear, which timed well with the Blazers entire squad being at full health. Though they were on the road, it hasn’t mattered, as they salvaged what could have been a sticky situation, to now be sitting in the fifth seed.

Damian Lillard’s excellent month of May, has been a big part of this.

Five wins, one loss.

32.2 points, 4.7 rebounds, 8.5 assists

55 percent from the field, 50.8 percent from three, 95 percent from the line,.

74.9 percent true shooting.

Dame, in combination with strong CJ McCollum shooting, and then the all-round game of Jusuf Nurkic, have got the Blazers in a position where they could grab the fifth seed.

Obviously, some other results may have to go their way on top of winning at least 50 percent of their remaining games, but they now share the fifth seed, which is huge.

Dame has also only averaged 35 minutes a game in this stretch, great news considering the load he has carried this year and last year.

As their best player, Dame is likely to have a massive finish to the season as the Blazers look to avoid not just the play-in tournament but to secure the five-seed.

Next. Portland Trail Blazers: Ranking Neil Olshey’s best and worst moves as GM. dark