Norman Powell, Portland Trail Blazers.
After seeing CJ McCollum and Jusuf Nurkic finally return from injury combined with the Portland Trail Blazers moving Gary Trent Jr and Rodney Hood to Toronto for Norman Powell, there is a clearer picture as to who this team is moving forward.
As we move into the final month of the NBA regular season, here are five goals the Blazers should have. Then they can maximize their potential and set themselves up for a sustained playoff push.
This already looks like a goal that’s being accomplished. I love the idea of Norman Powell starting primarily because he is such an efficient scorer while not sacrificing on defense. The rest of the starters are getting better looks because opposing defenses can’t double as easily.
Powells ability to attack the basket and shoot the three-ball at a high percentage has opened up the court on offense. Not to mention having an angry playing, savvy veteran with a championship under his belt is exactly what this team was missing. All of this adds up to potentially the best offensive Blazers team in history. And what appears to be a decent defensive one, as well.
The Bosnian Beast isn’t quite matching Kanters’ production on the offensive end quite yet, but we already see Jusuf Nurkic’s impact on the defensive end. Nurkic has often been on the floor when we’ve seen the team lock up opponents on defense in recent games.
I firmly believe as his minute restriction goes up, Nurkic will round into his 2019 form. To me, Nurk looks better than the out-of-shape version he was at the start of the season. For this team to seriously make noise in the playoffs, his Interior play on both ends is an absolute necessity.
One thing I was worried about when Kanter returned to the bench was whether or not we’d see the same defensive lapses as we saw earlier in the season when he was paired with Carmelo. I think Derrick Jones Jr. plugs in some of those holes. His athleticism allows him to play almost the same “Disruptor” role that Covington plays, except Derrick is the bench’s version of it.
Derricks’ high-energy efforts and ability to crowd passing lanes are exactly what was previously missing from the teams’ bench defensively. Where a player like Trent was a solid defender at the backup two-guard position, Jones can do a more all-around job on defense. Jones Jr off the bench will allow Carmelo and Kanter to do what they do best, score and rebound.
Zach Collins is the Portland Trail Blazers forgotten man. Once again, he’s out with a long-term injury (ankle fracture). But there is a chance he can make it back for the playoffs. They’ll need him.
When healthy, Collins is an above-average defender, which this team is still desperate for. He has the height and ability to defend down low while still having the lateral quickness to stay in front of quicker perimeter players.
Collins shoots the three-ball at a higher percentage than either Nurkic or Kanter, making him a nice option to have in a playoff series. That skill set works very well when the Blazers face an opponent with a slower center they can exploit.
This goal might be the most important of the five goals. Everyone knows this team starts and ends with its Team Leader and MVP candidate. I watched a nicked-up Damian Lillard struggle in the final two rounds of the 2019 playoffs against Denver and Golden State. In 2020, Lillard missed part of Game 4 and all of Game 5 against the Los Angeles Lakers. It would be in the team’s best interest not to rely on Dame putting in excessive minutes to win every game down the stretch.
As fans, we all know how Lillard leaves it all on the court. Sometimes it seems like his health is also left on the court. Several times in recent weeks, I’ve seen Lillard limping from an awkward fall or holding his hand after a hard foul. Every time I see it happen, I wince and hope it’s nothing serious. This team can stay afloat, missing other players. They can’t do it without Damian Lillard.
A more efficient offense, along with increased production from role players, will allow Lillard to be the best version of himself come playoff time. A fresh Dame is a nightmare for any Western Conference foe in the playoffs regardless of seeding or home court.
What do you think about these Portland Trail Blazers goals? Let us know in the comments section below or on social media.