Hoops Habit
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NBA: Biggest Overachievers of 2015-16

By Maxwell Ogden

Apr 2, 2016; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) reacts after scoring a three point basket in the first quarter at Moda Center at the Rose Quarter. Mandatory Credit: Cole Elsasser-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 2, 2016; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) reacts after scoring a three point basket in the first quarter at Moda Center at the Rose Quarter. Mandatory Credit: Cole Elsasser-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 5, 2016; Sacramento, CA, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) and guard C.J. McCollum (3) walk up the court during the fourth quarter of the game against the Sacramento Kings at Sleep Train Arena. The Portland Trail Blazers defeated the Sacramento Kings 115-107. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 5, 2016; Sacramento, CA, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) and guard C.J. McCollum (3) walk up the court during the fourth quarter of the game against the Sacramento Kings at Sleep Train Arena. The Portland Trail Blazers defeated the Sacramento Kings 115-107. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports /

Portland Trail Blazers

Four of the Portland Trail Blazers’ starters from 2014-15—LaMarcus Aldridge, Nicolas Batum, Robin Lopez, and Wesley Matthews—are playing for other teams in 2015-16. Arron Afflalo, who replaced Matthews in the starting lineup after his season-ending achilles injury, also departed.

Despite losing five starters from the previous season, and replacing them with career role players, Portland has completed a historically improbable return to the playoffs.

The numbers don’t lie; this is pure overachievement.

Damian Lillard has put forth one of the greatest seasons in franchise history, averaging 25.1 points and 6.9 assists for the overachieving Trail Blazers. According to Basketball-Reference.com, Lillard joins Clyde Drexler in 1991-92 as the only players in franchise history to average at least 25.0 points and 6.5 assists.

Joining Lillard with prolific production is shooting guard C.J. McCollum, who’s averaging a career-best 20.9 points per game.

The rest of Portland’s roster consists of under-the-radar players who provide solid and steady contributions. The likes of Al-Farouq Aminu, Allen Crabbe, Ed Davis, Maurice Harkless, Gerald Henderson, Meyers Leonard, and Mason Plumlee have all played vital roles in the Trail Blazers’ shocking success.

More hoops habit: Is the next Damian Lillard waiting in the wings of the 2016 NBA Draft?

Previously believed to be a contender for the No. 1 overall selection in the 2016 NBA Draft, Portland is right back where it was a year ago, when it had significantly more star power: in the playoffs.