With the exception of the Phoenix Suns (unbeaten in the bubble but eliminated), the Portland Trail Blazers are arguably the team on the best momentum since the resumption of the bubble season. Helped by the return of injury from Jusuf Nurkic (tibia-fibula fracture in March 2019) and Zach Collins (shoulder operated in November), the Blazers recorded seven wins in nine matches in a context where he was hardly entitled to the error. “I couldn’t be prouder of my players,” said coach Terry Stotts. We had our backs to the wall in every game, nine in a row where our season was at stake. They stayed together, they fought together and they found a way. “
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The way, Portland finds it especially in attack and thanks to Damian Lillard. After his two missed free throws at the end of the game against the Los Angeles Clippers, the leader took off towards the stratosphere with performances at 51, 61 and 42 points, winning the title of MVP of classification matches. The problem is that Portland is also experiencing huge slumps in defense like their game, decisive, against Brooklyn who scored 133 points while the Nets had nothing to play. Over the last five meetings, they have always conceded more than 120 points. And while the Los Angeles Lakers, their first-round opponents, struggled attacking Orlando, the Oregon players would be well advised not to let LeBron James and his teammates find their attacking rhythm.
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Last November, Carmelo Anthony had not played in the NBA for a year after a shortened experience of ten games with Houston. He appeared to be being pushed into retirement for good by the league’s 30 general managers. And then Portland offered him a one-year unsecured contract. Nine months later, he’s happier than ever, contributing in every game with the Trail Blazers, even scoring the decisive qualifying basket in the play-off against Memphis and getting ready to challenge his best mate LeBron James in play. -offs for the first time since 2012. And if by some miracle, Portland left the Los Angeles Lakers, he would then have the possibility of taking a nice revenge against Houston or Oklahoma City, his last two teams who got rid of him bluntly.
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