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Portland Trail Blazers: 5 Things That Will Help Clinch 8th Seed

By Raymond Simms

Mar 28, 2017; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers center Jusuf Nurkic (27) huddles up with teammates against the Denver Nuggets during the fourth quarter at the Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Craig Mitchelldyer-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 28, 2017; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers center Jusuf Nurkic (27) huddles up with teammates against the Denver Nuggets during the fourth quarter at the Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Craig Mitchelldyer-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 25, 2017; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Allen Crabbe (23) slaps hands with guard CJ McCollum (3) during the second half in a game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Moda Center. The Trail Blazers won 112-100. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 25, 2017; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Allen Crabbe (23) slaps hands with guard CJ McCollum (3) during the second half in a game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Moda Center. The Trail Blazers won 112-100. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports /

2. The Bench Must Make Solid Contributions

The Portland Trail Blazers bench is not the most potent in the league. Their 30.7 bench points per game this season is 27th in the league. They actually averaged fewer bench points in March — 29.8 points per game — but their league ranking improved to 25th.

But considering how powerful the trio of Lillard, McCollum and Nurkic is, the bench doesn’t have to be formidable like the Rockets’ or Miami Heat‘s. Instead, they simply need to make solid contributions when the time is right.

The current four-man bench unit of Al-Farouq Aminu, Allen Crabbe, Meyers Leonard and Evan Turner is all capable of having big nights. Aminu has a season-high of 26 points, Crabbe’s is 30 points, Turner put up 24, and Leonard’s best this year is 17.

The key to each player having a big night is dependent on the matchup. Teams could struggle if they fail to cover Allen Crabbe on the perimeter. Aminu can guard a team’s best wing and then get his own points under the basket or off a catch-and-shoot.

Evan Turner is currently struggling as he recovers from a fractured hand. However, he has the confidence and IQ to pull off a big night when he’s fully heathly. Meyers Leonard is also hobbled by hip and back injuries. However, he can still stretch the floor and knock down a key threes.

These four don’t have to put up big scoring numbers all at once. But the Blazers can present problems if one of them gets going in addition to Lillard, McCollum, and Nurkic.

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