3 reasons the Portland Trail Blazers still have a shot at the playoffs

Ability to beat top teams.

The Portland Trail Blazers have shown that they can take on the top teams and beat them. A big part of this relies on having the talents of Lillard on the court. Fortunately, they only face two playoff teams in the time where he may potentially be out.

This means that they have ten games where he is potentially in the lineup against playoff teams including two at home against the Grizzlies. The Blazers lost their last game against the Grizzlies but Lillard was hurt late in the game and it is safe to say that had a bearing on the result.

In the last ten games the Trail Blazers have played they have faced playoff seeded teams eight times. They have a five and three record against these teams including wins against the Los Angeles Lakers, Indiana Pacers, Houston Rockets, Jazz and the Miami Heat.

This is a particularly impressive list of teams to have beaten especially when you think of all the injury adversity they have gone through. The other positive is that the Blazers only face three playoff teams away over the final 26 games. Home court advantage is king in the run home.

One thing is for sure, if the Blazers are going to make it to the postseason they are going to need to continue this record against playoff seeded teams.