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NBA Player Power Rankings: Russell Westbrook Pushing for MVP

By Maxwell Ogden

Mar 29, 2016; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) gestures from the court during the first quarter against the Detroit Pistons at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 29, 2016; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) gestures from the court during the first quarter against the Detroit Pistons at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 26, 2016; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) brings the ball up-court against the Philadelphia 76ers at Moda Center at the Rose Quarter. Mandatory Credit: Jaime Valdez-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 26, 2016; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) brings the ball up-court against the Philadelphia 76ers at Moda Center at the Rose Quarter. Mandatory Credit: Jaime Valdez-USA TODAY Sports /

8. Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers

Last Rank: No. 6

Position: Point Guard

Slash Line: .423/.379/.892

Season Averages: 35.9 MPG, 25.4 PPG, 6.9 APG, 4.2 RPG, 0.9 SPG, 3.1 3PM

Damian Lillard has slowed down from a scoring perspective, but he continues to lead the Portland Trail Blazers’ improbable push for the postseason. He’s embracing the role of a facilitator and thriving as a decoy, thus creating openings for his teammates.

With Portland closing in on an unexpected season above .500, Lillard deserves praise for leading this improbable success story.

Lillard is No. 5 in the NBA in points per game, and No. 8 in assists per contest. Between the points he scores and creates via assists, Lillard accounts for 42.1 per outing—good for 40.3 percent of the Trail Blazers’ total scoring output.

That’s quite the number for a team that’s riding its explosive offense to its current level of success.

Portland is 39-36 with seven games remaining on the schedule, and Lillard has been the star of the show. This past week, he scored 27 points in a victory over the Dallas Mavericks, and nine assists in 29 minutes during a win against the Sacramento Kings.

Lillard has been fantastic for the Trail Blazers in 2015-16, and that cannot be overstated.

Next: Doing Everything