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Who has been the Portland Trail Blazers’ X-factor this season?

By Ty Delbridge

Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images /
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(Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
(Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) /

Defense

Al-Farouq Aminu is arguably the best defender the Blazers have on their team. He is also one of the main reasons they are ranked seventh in the NBA in defensive rating.

Aminu has the physical tools and skills to defend every position on the floor, 1-5.

He can defend, switch onto guards and wings who are out on the perimeter. In the pick-and-roll, Aminu can switch onto the ball-handler and defend them in a one on one situation. He also can hang back and guard the rolling man and guys trying to score in the post. Aminu can read what the offense is doing and react with his long arms to deflect passes or contest a shot.
He can defend, switch onto guards and wings who are out on the perimeter. In the pick-and-roll, Aminu can switch onto the ball-handler and defend them in a one on one situation. He also can hang back and guard the rolling man and guys trying to score in the post. Aminu can read what the offense is doing and react with his long arms to deflect passes or contest a shot. /
He has a high basketball I.Q. on the defensive side, and his physical tools allow him to roam around to get in passing lanes and help his teammates on mismatches. Aminu averages about 2.0 deflections a game.
He has a high basketball I.Q. on the defensive side, and his physical tools allow him to roam around to get in passing lanes and help his teammates on mismatches. Aminu averages about 2.0 deflections a game. /

Aminu does a ton of things on defense that doesn’t always show up in the box score. He can be a headache for opposing teams, and that forces them into bad shots or turnovers. That just gives the Blazers more chances to score in fast break situations.

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