Head Coach: Terry Stotts (8th Season)
Record: 29-37 (9th in Western Conference)
All-Stars: 1 (Damian Lillard – 5th)
Scoring Leaders: Damian Lillard (28.9 PPG), CJ McCollum (22.5 PPG), Hassan Whiteside (16.3 PPG)
Rebounding Leaders: Whiteside (14.2 RPG), Carmelo Anthony (6.3 RPG), Skal Labissiere (5.1 RPG)
Assists Leaders: Lillard (7.8 APG), McCollum (4.3 APG), Zach Collins (2.0 APG)
Offense: 113.6 Points Scored/Game (8th)
Defense: 115.2 Points Allowed/Game (26th)
Key Wins: Raptors (101-99, Jan. 7), Rockets x2 (117-107, Jan. 15; 125-112, Jan. 29), Lakers (127-119, Jan. 31), Heat (115-109, Feb. 9), Jazz (124-107, Feb. 1), Thunder x2 (102-99, Oct. 30; 136-119, Nov. 27)
Season Summary: It’s been a turbulent season for the Trail Blazers, who have taken a step back after a terrific 2018-19 season that saw them reach the Western Conference Finals for the first time since 2000. Despite some incredible individual performances from superstar guard Damian Lillard, Portland enters the season restart in ninth place in the Western Conference, 3.5 games behind the Grizzlies for the final playoff spot. The Blazers remain one of the better offensive teams in the league, ranking eighth in points per game (113.6) and fourth in 3-point percentage (37.2). But it’s defense and rebounding where Portland has struggled. The Blazers have allowed opponents to rack up 47.5 rebounds per game, including 11.8 offensive rebounds, both of which rank last in the NBA.
Portland made national noise when they signed Carmelo Anthony in November, and the 36-year-old forward has contributed 15.3 points and 6.3 rebounds in 50 games so far this season. CJ McCollum remains a stellar backcourt complement to Lillard with his ability to play both on and off the ball and score from multiple levels. The Trail Blazers will reportedly be without the presence of veteran wing Trevor Ariza in Orlando, who will forego the bubble to remain with his child.
Memorable Moment: What do Wilt Chamberlain, Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, James Harden and Damian Lillard have in common? Well, after Lillard’s performance on January 20, those are the only players in NBA history to have scored 60 points in a game twice in the same season. Lillard secured his spot in the record books with a 61-point performance against the Golden State Warriors on Martin Luther King Day. He shot 17-for-37 and hit 11 of 20 3-pointers in that game. Lillard joined the 60-point club on November 8th, in a loss to the Brooklyn Nets. Dame reached 60 on 19-of-33 shooting, including 7-of-16 from 3-point range. He now owns the top three scoring games in Trail Blazers franchise history (61, 60, 59).
Player to Watch: Damian Lillard – In addition to having joined the elite scoring company, Lillard is having perhaps the best statistical season of his career. The eight-year pro is averaging career highs in points (28.9), field goal percentage (45.7), 3-point shooting percentage (39.4) and assists (7.8). He ranks sixth in the league in Player Efficiency Rating (26.25). Lillard has authored some of the more memorable moments in NBA playoff history, and Blazers fans are hoping he’ll have the chance to add to that this season.
