The Portland Trail Blazers finished off a four-game road trip undefeated! That sentence loses pizazz when you realize all four opponents were Eastern Conference teams, all well below .500. Thought, four straight wins is impressive no matter who you play in the NBA. Those easy wins also gave the team time to incorporate a recently healed Jusuf Nurkic, and newly acquired Norman Powell.
Much of the play had fans clamoring for a three-guard lineup which would feature Lillard, McCollum and Powell in the backcourt. The Athletic’s Jason Quick isn’t so sure that’s the best path.
“I don’t know if this three-guard lineup is sustainable in the playoffs,” Quick told Isaac and Suke during his Thursday hit. “I think they need Derrick Jones Jr. in there just from a defensive standpoint. Particularly if they’re playing someone like the Clippers of Lakers.”
Jason also alluded to a more difficult schedule to come, which might test Portland’s new lineup. “There’s only 25 games left in the regular season,” he said. “So they have to start forming things here, and get an idea of the direction they want to go, pretty quick.”
Portland is a score first team that looks for Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum for big points down the stretch. There are times it can work effectively.
Jason says if that continues to be the case, the Blazers may take a ‘if it ain’t broke don’t fix it’ approach. “The Blazers are only a half-game back behind the Lakers right now.
There’s a realistic chance they could leap frog them.”
