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Portland Trail Blazers: Keys To Overcoming Wesley Matthews Injury

By Gerald Bourguet

Mar 5, 2015; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Wesley Matthews (2) grimaces in pain in the third quarter against Dallas Mavericks at Moda Center at the Rose Quarter. Mandatory Credit: Jaime Valdez-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 5, 2015; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Wesley Matthews (2) grimaces in pain in the third quarter against Dallas Mavericks at Moda Center at the Rose Quarter. Mandatory Credit: Jaime Valdez-USA TODAY Sports /
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Portland Trail Blazers
Jan 28, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Portland Trail Blazers forward LaMarcus Aldridge (12) celebrates with guard Damian Lillard (0) in the third quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports /

Dynamic Duo

Let’s be honest though. This team’s chances of contending for a title this season were always going to hinge on Portland’s dynamic duo of LaMarcus Aldridge and Damian Lillard. LMA has been playing at a high level all season long; Lillard…not so much.

Aldridge’s rebounding numbers are slightly down from last season, but he’s still having a career year averaging 23.3 points, 10.5 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game. Not only that, but he’s also shooting 45.2 percent from the floor despite adding a three-point shot to his arsenal. That three-point stroke has become pretty darn consistent too (37.7 percent on 1.3 attempts per game).

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    • He’s a master of the mid-range, he’s played through a nasty thumb injury and he’s been the leader this team needs. He’ll need to step up even more with Matthews out, especially if Lillard continues to struggle with his consistency.

    In the basic box score, Lillard is having his best season yet, increasing his averages from 20.7 points, 5.6 assists and 3.5 rebounds per game last year to 21.2 points, 6.1 assists and 4.8 rebounds per game this year. That being said, his struggles from three-point territory have marred his efficiency.

    Lillard has increased his field goal percentage from 42.4 percent last year to 43.1 percent this season, but his three-point efficiency has plummeted from 39.4 percent to 33.9 percent — despite an increase in long range attempts.

    In February, Lillard started to find his consistency again, shooting 47.1 percent from the floor, but he only converted 26.3 percent of his attempts from downtown. He hasn’t shot better than 28 percent for a month since December.

    Lillard’s increased efficiency inside the three-point arc is noteworthy, but he’s going to need to find his stroke from behind the line again to help make up for Matthews’ absence. Rip City just lost another superhero, and it’s going to be up to Batman and Robin to carry the load just like they’ve been needed to all along.

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