5 Reasons for the Blazers' 10-Game Win Streak
It's that time of the year and here they come once again.
The Portland Trail Blazers hardly did any business in the 2017 offseason, which prompted all the pundits and analysts to predict yet another 5th-8th seed for them with their best case scenario being a second-round loss in the Playoffs. While the Playoffs prediction might still be true, they've definitely overperformed so far with respect to the standings in the West.
For the third year running, the Blazers have gone on a hot streak in the second half of the season to save their campaign and have played competitive basketball with the best of the best in the league. Since January 15th of this year, they've gone 19-5 (including the current 10-game win streak) to propel them to the third seed in the West with a respectable lead of 1.5 games over the fourth-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder.
However, this isn't the first time the Blazers have peaked when it really matters. Two years ago, in the 2015-16 season, they went 29-14 over their last 43 games to finish as the fifth seed despite losing an All-Star like LaMarcus Aldridge in the summer of 2015. Last year, a season marred by injuries, it was yet another inspiring second-half run, (17-6 in the last 23 games) fueled by a trade for Bosnian center Jusuf Nurkic, that saved their season.
A week back, there were five win streaks in the league including the Blazers' (three in the West - Houston Rockets, Golden State Warriors, New Orleans Pelicans and the Toronto Raptors). Of those, only two remain - Portland (10 straight) and Toronto (9 straight).
The Raptors have dominated the East and with their new offensive playing style look like legitimate title contenders but for now, let's focus on the team from the NorthWest and the reasons behind their win streak:
#5 Health
The Blazers have been blessed with good health over the past couple of month (*Touchwood*). They've hardly had to report/announce any major injury to any of their key rotation players in the past few weeks and even if they have, it hasn't led to that many missed games.
Al-Farouq Aminu or "The Chief" is an underrated essential and integral part of Portland's rotation. Last year, in the 21 games he missed, they went 8-13 (38.1%) but they were 33-28 (54.1%) in the games he donned the jersey. While the percentages are slightly better without him this season, he is still a net positive - In Aminu's absence (9-4: 69.2%) and when he plays (33-22: 75%).
In general, as well, there were multiple players that were forced to sit through the first couple of months of this season. Not being able to consistently depend on an established rotation, saw the Blazers register a record that was only marginally above .500 till mid-January.
Things have turned since then.