Trail Blazers tied for Best Record in NBA Western Conference
The Northwest division of the NBA has two of the top three teams in the Western Conference. The first place Portland Trailblazers and the second place Oklahoma City Thunder.
On Friday, the Portland started a string of four tough games versus conference opponents. The Trailblazers faced the San Antonio Spurs Friday and the Dallas Mavericks Saturday and will face the Houston Rockets on Monday and Oklahoma City on Wednesday.
This is to be one of the biggest tests of the season for Portland to see how they stand against the rest of the powers in the West. Thus far, they have not disappointed their coaches or fans.
On Friday, they defeated the Spurs in San Antonio even after the Spurs overcame a double digit deficit to take the lead in the fourth quarter. Portland battled back to win 109-100 to tie the Spurs for the best record in the West.
On Saturday, the Trailblazers also allowed Dallas to fight back in the third quarter to within one point. However, the Trailblazers scored 41 points in the fourth quarter to coast to a 127-111 win.
Portland was led in their wins over Portland and Dallas by their talented inside and outside duo of forward LaMarcus Aldridge who had 25 points and guard Damian Lillard who scored 21 against Portland. Aldridge scored 30 versus Dallas, while Lillard had only 14 points, but dished out 10 assists.
Portland might not be a strong defensive team and its critics have said during the playoffs their lack of defense will due them in. However against San Antonio they held the Spurs to just 40% shooting in the decisive fourth quarter and in one stretch held San Antonio scoreless in five straight possessions.
Some will say the Spurs have had injuries with both Danny Green and Tiago Splitter missing the game and Tony Parker battling a shin problem.
However, that does not take away from Portland’s win and then for them to turn around and defeat Dallas in Dallas shows the team is the real deal.
Thus far, through after nearly half the season, the Blazers are 8-2 against teams with 25 wins or more. In comparison, San Antonio is just 3-8 against that same competition. That in itself is enough to give the Blazers elite status in the NBA.
Of course, they now face Houston and Oklahoma for two games in three nights and have the second half of the season to play. Nevertheless, Portland is a team that should be respected by all its opponents.
Portland must tighten up its defense in the paint and not be so reliant on the three point shot on offense. A cold night by its top shooters could do them in.
This run of four games in six nights on the road is what makes or breaks a young team on the verge of becoming a title contender. Thus far, Portland is weathering the storm quite well but this week’s Houston and Oklahoma City games will give them their biggest tests.
