J-Speaks: Surging Trail Blazers and Their All-Star Lead Guard

At the close of the first month of 2018, the Portland Trail Blazers were seven games over .500 at 29-22 with a 124-108 win versus the Chicago Bulls (24-44) on Jan. 31. They began the month of February though with four losses in their first six games. Right before the All-Star break though, they earned a huge 123-117 win versus the defending NBA champion Golden State Warriors close out the unofficial first half of the 2017-18 NBA campaign. The Trail Blazers have not lost since and their current winning streak has not only vaulted them to the No. 3 Spot in the Western Conference, but their All-Star lead guard into the MVP conversation. 

With their latest victory, 113-105 versus the struggling three-time defending Eastern Conference champion Cleveland Cavaliers (39-29) on Thursday night, the Trail Blazers (42-26) earned their 11^th straight win, and their 17^th win in their last 18 games at home since Dec. 28, 2013. The Trail Blazers split the season series with the Cavs 1-1, as the visitors defeated them 127-110 at Quicken Loans Arena back on Jan. 2.  

“I don’t know about momentum, but I think we’re playing well,” Trail Blazers head coach Terry Stotts said of his team’s longest winning streak since Nov. 2013. “Each game is a challenge. But obviously, to string together the wins that we have been, we’ve been doing good things at both ends of the floor and I think tonight was an example of that as well.”

The dynamic backcourt of CJ McCollum and three-time All-Star Damian Lillard led the way for the Northwest Division Leading Trail Blazers, with 29 and 24 points respectably. 

While he did not shoot the ball particularly well from the field going 7 for 20, including 1 for 8 from three-point range, Lillard, the reigning Western Conference Player of the Week was 9 for 9 from the free throw line with nine assists. 

Since Feb. 1, only All-Star forward/center Anthony Davis has averaged more than the 31.6 points of Lillard, who is the first Trail Blazer to average 30 points during a 10-game winning streak, where the former Weber State product is averaging 32.5 during the first 10 games of the streak.

To put this into context, the franchise has had 11 double-digit winning streaks in its history and no player ever had averaged 30 points a game during one of those winning streaks. Not Hall of Famer Bill Walton or Clyde Drexler, nor All-Stars or notable former Trail Blazers like Terry Porter, Clifford Robinson, Rod Strickland, the late Jerome Kersey, the late Kevin Duckworth, current San Antonio Spur LaMarcus Aldridge or Brandon Roy to name a few.

In the Trail Blazers eighth win of this winning streak, a 111-87 win versus the dismal New York Knicks (24-45) on Mar. 6, the Lillard passed Robinson to move into the No. 4 spot on the team’s all-time scoring list.

Van Pelt had a college coach say time earlier this year that his best player is wired to compete. That when it gets to crunch time that player is at his best. In Lillard’s case the past couple of seasons particularly, he has been at his best in the fourth quarter. 

So much so that when he makes a field goal at a key point in the fourth period, he takes his first finger on his right shooting hand and points it to his left wrist on his guide hand signaling that it is “Lillard Time.” 

That was the case for head coach Terry Stotts squad in their 106-104 win at the Phoenix Suns (19-51) Feb. 24 when he hit the game-winning shot layup with 00.9 seconds left that completed a rally from 15 points down with 7 ½ minutes left, and capped a night where he scored 40 points, with 10 rebounds and five assists, on 13 for 27 from the field and 11 for 15 from the charity stripe.

Lillard did it again on Mar. 5 scoring 19 of his 39 points in the fourth quarter in leading the Trail Blazers to a 108-103 win at the Los Angeles Lakers (31-37), which included 15 points in a row in the final period, the seventh of the streak. 

“Usually when we get to that point, the only thing that’s on my mind is what’s happening right now,” Lillard, who averaged 31.4 points in February, the highest scoring average for a Trail Blazer in a single month in team history said to Van Pelt. “All that matters is that that moment. What can we do to help your team win the game, so I trust try to lock in to the moment, and I got 100 percent confidence in myself to make that effort.”

On this night, Lillard showed that when his shot is not going, he can find other ways to beat you and that he has trust in the likes of McCollum to pick up the slack at the offensive end. 

“I think the best explanation is probably just experience,” the 27-year-old said to Scott Van Pelt on the early morning Thursday edition of ESPN’s “Sportscenter” about his stellar play where he has averaged 34.5 points the last 12 games, leading “The Association.” 

“Time has passed, and I take it very seriously as just getting better each and every year. Over the summer, I’m constantly trying to find ways to improve. Ways that I could last longer and play stronger for longer periods of time. And this season I think I’m just getting results from the time I’ve put in, and it’s also mental. I think my mentality has gone up to a different level, and that helps a lot.” 

A big part of that mentality has included having trust in not just McCollum, but the likes of starting forward Maurice Harkless, who had 17 points, five boards and two steals on the night, on 6 for 10 from the field with a couple of three-pointers versus the Cavs. The other starting forward Al-Farouq Aminu had 11 points, hitting 3 for 6 from three-point range with nine boards and swingman Evan Turner off the bench had a stellar all-around game with 11 points, seven rebounds and five assists. 

The team has also gotten contributions from starting center Jusuf Nurkic, who despite having just seven points, with 10 boards on Thursday night, he has really stepped up his play with averages of 14.2 points and 10.3 boards the last 10 games. So far in March, he is averaging 13.7 points and 10.6 rebounds. 

Rookie Zach Collins, has had his moments like having 10 points and four rebounds in 16 minutes off the bench in helping the Trail Blazers to a 115-99 win versus the Miami Heat (36-33) on Monday night on ESPN, the 10^th of their 11 straight wins. One game prior in the team’s second win versus the Warriors during this streak, the No. 10 overall pick, whose rights were acquired by the Sacramento Kings in the June 2017 draft had 12 points in 26 minutes, along with another four rebounds. 

Backup forward Ed Davis has provided rebounding, energy, and solid screen setting, and he was solid against the Warriors with sixth double-double of the season with 10 points and 15 rebounds in 26 minutes. 

In the minutes that they do give Lillard and McCollum a blow, third-year guard Pat Connaughton and fourth-year guard Shabazz Napier have been steady off the bench. 

Against the Knicks, Napier had 12 points and four assists off the bench, going 2 for 3 from three-point range and 6 for 6 from the foul line. Three nights later versus the Warriors, he chipped in with 10 points in 16 minutes. 

Even with this hot streak that the Trail Blazers have been on, which is the fourth longest in team history that has again vaulted them into the No. 3 Spot in the rugged West, they still have not gained that respect nationally of a team that is a force to be reckoned with come playoff time, which starts next month. 

“It hasn’t,” Lillard said to Van Pelt about the Trail Blazers feelings towards their rise in the West. He added by saying, “And the reason it hasn’t because it’s kind of expected.” 

“The position we sit in right now, I don’t think many people saw it coming, so they may think it’s a fluke or they think it’s just the way it is right now.” 

One person who does not see what Lillard and his squad are doing as a fluke is LeBron James, who shared those feelings before his team’s tilt at the Trail Blazers on Thursday night. 

“I mean he’s playing at the All-Star level that he’s shown obviously when he was at the All-Star game,” James, who had a game-high 35 points, with 14 rebounds and eight assists on Thursday said. 

“But listen man, the guys a superstar man in our league and he’s showing that right now, leading this team obviously where a lot of people thought they’d be at the beginning of the season.”

Lillard in response to that praise said to NBA Sports Northwest’s Brooke Olzendam, “It’s obviously a great compliment from a guy whose very arguably the best player in this league. Has had a lot of success and I really appreciate it. I think it’s him recognizing what I’m doing. I really appreciate the compliment.” 

What should also be recognized is that the surge Trail Blazers are on is familiar when you look at how in each of the last three seasons they have put their play into high gear following the All-Star break. 

Their 17-11 mark from Feb. 19, 2016 close the 2015-16 season was tied for the ninth-best mark in the NBA that got them into the playoffs, and they upset the higher seeded Los Angeles Clippers in the opening round 4-2. Last season, the Trail Blazers 18-8 finish to the season was tied for the second-best mark in the league following that All-Star break that got them into the postseason, where unfortunately were swept by the eventual NBA champion Warriors 4-0 in the Quarterfinals. 

Coming out of the All-Star break this season, the Trail Blazers have yet to have a set back going 10-0, which is tied for No. 1 in the NBA. 

Along with the play of Lillard and McCollum, and the contributions from the rest of the team, the Trail Blazers have risen in the West because of their consistent play at the defensive end, holding the opposition to 99.7 points during their winning streak entering their tilt versus the Cavs, as well as them sharing the basketball. 

In their win versus the Cavs, their fourth straight against them at the Moda Center, the home team had 26 assists on 43 made field goals. The team improved their record 22-6 this season when they register 20-plus assists in a game, and a 4-1 mark when they have at least 26 assists. That is a big reason why the Trail Blazers have averaged 112.0 points in the first 10 games of their 11-game winning streak, on 38.7 percent from three-point range.  

While the Cavs shot 51.2 percent on the evening from the field, the visitors were just 11 for 33 from three-point range. Were out-rebounded by the guys of “Rip City” 58-47, including 13-2 on the offensive glass and held the Cavs to just 17 assists, with just six from James, who came in averaging a career-high 9.0 per game. 

It is because of the Trail Blazers consciousness to keep the rest of the Cavs in check offensively, only Kyle Korver, Jeff Green and Jordan Clarkson off the bench were the only other Cavs to score in double-figures with 19, 16 and 14 respectably. 

Even with that, the Cavs cut a 15-point lead down to three at 105-102 in the fourth before the Trail Blazers restored order. 

“We had a couple of let downs, back doors, easy buckets in transition,” McCollum said after the win to Olzendam. “We got to a better job of tightening down the stretch, but overall we got enough stops down the stretch to win. Guys made some big plays for us. We’re lucky enough to come away with a win at home.” 

There comes a moment for certain teams when the light switch comes on and they understand what they need to do to be in the conversation as a force to be reckoned with. The 2017-18 Portland Trail Blazers have flipped that switch since Valentine’s night and show no signs of slowing down. Their floor general Damian Lillard has gone from a talented player to a serious MVP candidate who wants to lead his team as far as his right hand, focus and sheer will can carry them, whether they have support outside of Portland Oregon or not. 

“All we can do is control what we can control, and that’s continue to have the right mentality,” Lillard said to Van Pelt Continue to play together, and try to focus on winning games, and I think as long as we do that, it will come a time where people have to face the facts.” 

Information, statistics, and quotations are courtesy of 3/16/18 6 a.m. edition of NBATV's "Gametime," presented by Kia with Rick Kamla, Caron Butler and Kevin McHale;  3/15/18 1 a.m. edition of ESPN’s “Sportscenter,” with Scott Van Pelt; 3/15/18 10 p.m. contests Cleveland Cavaliers versus Portland Trail Blazers on NBC Sports Northwest with Kevin Calabro, Lamar Hurd and Brooke Olzendam; www.espn.com/nba/team/schedule/_/name/por/portland-trail-blazers; www.espn.com/nba/team/schedule/_/name/por/year/2017/2016; www.nba.com/games/20130315/CLEPOR#/matchup/boxscore/recap; www.espn.com/nba/player/gamelog/_/id/6606/damian-lillard; www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/2530780/shabazz-napier; www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/4259/ed-davis; and www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/4066650/zach-collins.