(Photo by Cole Elsasser/USA TODAY Sports Images)
Like nothing ever happened.
Looking back on this season for the Portland Trail Blazers, it is hard to comprehend that it went so smoothly. After losing four of the five starters from last season, it was set up to be a team destined for the lottery and 20 wins.
What transpired was a team that was locked in from the jump and not only made it to the playoffs, but surged up the Western Conference to grab the fifth seed.
Tonight’s tilt against the Denver Nuggets was pegged as a must-win for the Blazers if they wanted to seal up the coveted fifth seed, however, with a little help from the San Antonio Spurs in their victory over the Dallas Mavericks, Portland knew before the game even started that they had locked up the fifth seed.
It was a good chance to give the bench players more time and to look forward and analyze the impending match-up against the Los Angeles Clippers in the first round of the playoffs.
The Blazers finish the season with a victory over the Denver Nuggets, 107-99 in a wild and unpredictable game as both coaches experimented and changed rotations to give their important players more rest heading into the playoffs or off-season.
Portland’s backcourt duo did their damage and did it efficiently as Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum scored 21 and 17 points respectively, both on 8-of-17 shooting.
Brian Roberts and Allen Crabbe provided a combined 30 points from the bench on 10-of-16 shooting, 3-of-6 from three. Ed Davis was one point and one rebound shy of a double-double as he finished with nine points on 4-of-7 shooting with nine rebounds, four offensive.
It was a tune-up game of sorts. The adjustment in the pressure that this game held shook the Blazers slightly in the first quarter, but they regained their composure in the second and third quarters. To top it all off, they were able to nab the victory with McCollum and Lillard both playing under 30 minutes.
It was a win-win for head coach Terry Stotts as Portland took care of business in a game that was meaningless.
The fun begins on Sunday as Portland takes on a team that they have developed a minor rivalry with over the course of the season, even dating back to Portland’s massive collapse in the preseason against the Clippers. From the hack-a-DeAndre Jordan strategy that Stotts utilizes, to McCollum being left off the active roster and, finally, to the J.J. Redick game-winner in Los Angeles, each Clippers’ game has been entertaining.
While the Blazers sport a 1-3 record against the Clippers this season, they have been competitive and fiery. Expect a rough and ugly series as playoff basketball tends to get more physical. Portland will obviously be the underdog as the Clippers have won 53 games; however, if there was a team that Portland could realistically beat, it would be the Clippers.
Los Angeles is a team that has featured plenty of veterans and an impressive starting line-up, but they have underperformed in the playoffs, never going past the second round. Their depth was always called into question and their consistency. Portland is playing a team that could be drastically different on a night-to-night basis. Does their defense show up? Will the Clippers famed emotions get in the way?
One thing is for certain, however, which is that the Blazers will have their hands full with Chris Paul who has dissected Portland’s perimeter defense and used crafty veteran moves to get the edge. But, from the other perspective, this is the first time that Paul and Lillard will face each other in the playoffs, which proves to be an impressive match-up.
It is going to take other players to help take the load off of McCollum and Lillard. Obviously, the game plan will be shutting down the backcourt, but can Al-Farouq Aminu and Mo Harkless take the pressure off? Going small might benefit Portland as the Clippers start Jordan, but it will shifting line-ups and players like Gerald Henderson to hit a crucial mid-range jumper.
This series ultimately will be won on the defensive end. The Clippers are not exactly known for their suffocating defense and Portland fluctuates defensively. The Blazers will be able to score, but the Blazers will have to figure out how to stop the offensive onslaught of Redick, Blake Griffin and Paul.
Despite the results of the upcoming series, the Blazers have already overachieved and are back to where they essentially were last season, in the fifth seed. It is incredible and a ride like this should not be taken for granted, but celebrated.
The playoffs begin on Sunday for the Blazers at 7:30 p.m. PST in Los Angeles.
Stay tuned!