Blazer Beef
The Blazers had another fourth quarter collapse this week in their loss at home to the Dallas Mavericks. They blew a seven-point lead with under two minutes left. Once again, the Blazers were paralyzed offensively.
Lillard Time is one of the most fun times in the NBA when he gets going, but the Blazers can’t just simply watch Lillard go to work. Too often late in games, the Blazers abandon the movement that leads to so much offensive success, giving Lillard few options to but to try and take over.
The Blazers will ultimately go as he goes. That’s the NBA. Your best player often dictates the team’s overall performance. Lillard has been spectacular and put himself in the discussion to go to the All-Star Game for the third straight season.
But what made the Blazers so tough to stop late in games over recent years was that they had other shot-makers in addition to Lillard. CJ McCollum has done well in that role, but for the Blazers to have sustained success late in games, they need other guys outside of their dynamic duo to start hitting shots when it’s winning time.
The Blazers are shooting 29 percent on 3-pointers in the fourth quarter according to NBA.com, way down from their season average of 36 percent.
Blazer Bravo
Through just 21 games, Allen Crabbe is eight points shy of matching his scoring total from the entirety of the past two seasons.
Crabbe has been Portland’s most consistent bench scorer a quarter of the way through the season. He’s averaging over nine points per game while shooting over 40 percent from long-range. Crabbe usually draws the toughest defensive assignment when he’s on the court. Crabbe is also shooting a career-best 52 percent on 2-point shots.
Crabbe’s growth has been a plus for the Blazers this year and it has given Terry Stotts more options when considering who to close games with.
By The Numbers
5 — The Blazers have the fifth best offensive rating in the league, scoring 105.9 points per 100 possessions, according to Basketball-Reference.
1 — The Blazers are a game out of the eighth and final playoff seed in the Western Conference at 9-12.
7 — The Blazers have the seventh best net-rating in the Western Conference, being outscored -0.2 points per 100 possessions.
The Week Ahead
Monday at Milwaukee Bucks (5 p.m., CSN): The Bucks were an up-and-coming playoff team last season, thanks in large part to a dynamic defense. Following the departure of Zaza Pachulia and the arrival of Greg Monroe, their defense is 29th in defensive rating after being sixth last year.
Tuesday at Cleveland Cavaliers (4 p.m., CSN): After a solid start, the Cavs have lost three straight games as injuries have started to catch-up with them. But LeBron James should be well rested after sitting out the team’s last game in Miami.
Friday at Phoenix Suns (6:30 p.m., CSN): The Suns dominated the Blazers in back-to-back games in the first month of the season. Phoenix’s backcourt of Brandon Knight and Eric Bledsoe outplayed Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum in both outings.
Saturday vs. New York Knicks (7 p.m., CSN): The 2015 rookie class has had a lot of bright spots, but few are shining brighter than New York’s Kristaps Porzingis.
