The Portland Trail Blazers are starting to hit their stride right now. The offense is clicking (fourth in points per 100 possessions) – both the bench and starters are getting the job done. Their defense is playing like a top-10 team thus far (tied for ninth in points allowed per 100 possessions). With an 8-3 record, they have an early 3.5 game lead on the Northwest Division and hold a 3-0 record within the division.
Even with Nicolas Batum out with a knee injury the past 3 games, the Blazers have managed to win a league-leading 5 games in a row. An unfamiliar face in Allen Crabbe has filled in for the injured Batum. Crabbe has been a decent fill in, however, with his shooting ability I would have liked to see him take more shots. Now, with Batum nearing a return, news has come out that C.J. McCollum has a broken right index finger and will be out for the next four weeks.
Speaking of injuries, the only other considerable threat for the division title this year is the Oklahoma City Thunder. Well, they were until they became decimated with injuries. Kevin Durant started the season out 6-8 weeks and Russell Westbrook was injured in just their second game of the season. At that point, he was expected to miss 4-6 weeks. Not to mention a few other role players that caused them to have 7 active players at one point. It’s been a surprise that the Thunder have been able to win any games without their two best players. They currently sit at 3-9 on the season.
Portland is in prime position to take a huge lead in the division as their schedule gets much easier for the rest of the month and into the start of December. Winning the division has to be their primary goal right now. Winning the division will land them home court advantage in the first round. The Blazers were 31-10 at home last season, giving them the 7th best home record in the NBA. Although they didn’t need home court advantage in the first round last year, sorry Houston Rockets (not really), home court advantage is always the better option, especially with a crowd like the one in Rip City.
An efficient offense and improvements with bench scoring and defense should keep Portland among the top of the Western Conference this season. Without winning the division, there is only 1 spot available for home court advantage. The Blazers must make the best of this opportunity as they continue to keep it rolling.
Looking at the rest of the division, this should be clear sailing for Portland. Minnesota looks as bad as expected. Denver looks terrible. Utah has been decent, but they have a very young core, I don’t see them giving Portland much of a run for the division.
Then again, as Kevin Garnett once shouted after winning the NBA title with the Boston Celtics in 2008, “Anything is possible!” It’s a long season. Only time will tell, but this is a confident group and I am confident in saying that will win the division this year.
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