PORTLAND — The Portland Trail Blazers have staggered into the postseason like an out of shape runner in a marathon.
However, it’s a new season, and amidst their uninspiring end to the season, they’ve found some confidence in their big men when LaMarcus Aldridge hits the bench.
Their first round opponent, the Memphis Grizzlies, have a host of big men that caused Portland problems in the regular season.
Memphis dominated Portland, sweeping the season series and being 10.2 points better per 100 possessions in those four games according to NBA.com.
Aldridge averaged 40 minutes per game in last year’s playoffs and the Blazers will likely count on him to play those minutes again.
They’ll also need him to be equally, if not more, dominant.
If Portland can find any success when Aldridge hits the bench it gives them more than a puncher’s chance.
Every minute and every move counts in the playoffs.
Aldridge can play with anybody. He keeps everything together on both ends for Portland and allows head coach Terry Stotts to make these tweaks.
Chris Kaman and Aldridge were getting outscored before the All-Star break when they were on the court together.
That story flipped itself down the stretch Kaman and Aldridge finished the season outscoring their opponents by nearly four points per 100 possessions.
“He’s a good passer,” Aldridge said of playing with Kaman. “And I think we kind of help each other out, out there. So, I don’t have a problem playing with him or RoLo.”
CJ McCollum’s emergence has been a silver lining in the close to the season but another young player is primed to be a factor in Portland’s playoff success: Meyers Leonard.
Stotts has paired Leonard more and more alongside Robin Lopez and done so even more so since the injury to Dorell Wright.
The two combine for a devastating double-pick and roll on the offensive end with Leonard’s 3-point shooting (42 percent on the season) and Lopez’s ability to roll to the rim.
Leonard also creates more room for Lopez to operate and more room for Portland’s ball-handlers to attack.
Leonard’s confidence is as high as it has ever been in his career and he set a career high in points against the Thunder earlier this week.
Lopez makes up for mistakes Leonard makes on defense, though Leonard has improved his defense.
“I really like the way Meyers and Robin play together,” Stotts said. “I think they complement each other well. It allows Chris (Kaman) to get more minutes on the court with LA.”
In their first minutes the Blazers were breaking even but the Lopez-Leonard front court has outscored their opponents, mostly other bench units, by 8 points per 100 possessions.
“I enjoy playing with the second unit,” Lopez said. “I haven’t gotten a lot of burn with them this year. I’m enjoying my time immensely so far.”
Nicolas Batum plays with both combinations.
“When Kaman and LA play together we are going to have one match-up for sure,” Batum said. “Because LA likes the left block and CK loves the right block. So they mirror each other.”
This new rotation has caused one issue for Stotts.
“Who finishes the half? Whether it’s Chris or Robin (alongside Aldridge),” he said. “I think trying to take advantage with how the big man complement each other has worked out well so far.”
The odd man out in this situation has been Joel Freeland and if Kaman is back for Game 1, there’s no indication that Stotts will change that.
Health is going to be the main concern for both teams in this series, especially on the perimeter.
Mike Conley and Tony Allen have been battling injuries while Batum and Arron Afflalo are fighting off injuries of their own.
But because of their bad health, Portland may have stumbled on something because that makes them a friskier out against a big and bruising opponent.
