Surging Trailblazers beat Raptors, extend win streak

Toronto, Nov 18 (IANS) Portland Trail Blazers defeated the Toronto Raptors 118-110 in overtime in NBA action to extend their winning streak to six games.

With the victory Sunday, Portland improves to 8-2 in the season and second place in the Western Conference, trailing just the 9-1 San Antonio Spurs, reports Xinhua.

“We’re really confident. We got to understand that we work hard in practice and we stay together during the course of each game,” said point guard Damian Lillard, who recorded a team-high 25 points against the Raptors.

The 8-2 start is Portland’s best in 13 years when the team started the 1999-2000 season 9-1.

“We got to keep that mindset going into every game so we can try to continue the success,” said Lillard.

Lillard, the reigning NBA Rookie of the Year, is the cornerstone of the franchise that had significant changes made in the off-season by general manager Neil Olshey to improve the team’s depth.

Olshey added to the team’s existing core of forwards — LaMarcus Aldridge and Nicolas Batum — in the off season with the signing of All-Star Mo Williams. He also gained veteran experience with the signings of forward Dorrell Wright and guard Earl Watson.

Additionally, centre Robin Lopez and forward Thomas Robinson were acquired by trade to give the team depth in the middle.

Head coach Terry Stotts has taken this roster and placed an emphasis on 3-point shooting.

“We’ve got enough good shooters that if you give them shots, they will make their fair share,” said Stotts, following the victory over the Raptors in which the team hit 15 3-pointers.

The team entered the game ranked fifth in the NBA in 3-pointers made and 3-point percentage.

“We are who we are. We have to play our style of game. 32 threes (point attempts) in an overtime game; that’s about right,” said Stotts.

The focus on outside shooting has helped the team achieve their longest winning streak since February 2011. That season, the team finished 48-34 and reached the first round of the playoffs.

Aldridge, who was part of the 2011 team, believes that the current roster is more talented and has higher expectations than the first round.

“I think we have a lot of guys on this team that can score in a lot of different ways. We have more weapons. We have guys on any given night that can go off for 20 or 30 points,” said Aldridge, who also credits the coaching style of Stotts for the team’s quick ascend in the past season.

“He’s given guys freedom and put guys in position to do their best. That’s been big for us.”

Aldridge and the rest of the Trail Blazers will be in Brooklyn Monday to try to extend their streak to seven games. The franchise record is 16 consecutive wins, set in 1991.