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

Damian Lillard

The playoff aspirations of the Portland Trail Blazers rest heavily on the shoulder of their sublimely talented point guard. Despite the team struggling, Lillard has had an incredible year averaging 29.5 points and 7.9 assists per game. Both of these numbers are career highs.

Lillard has scored 60 or more points in a game twice, has four games where he has scored 50 or more and seven games where he has scored 40 or more points. In these games, the Trail Blazers have gone 4-3. However, taking a deeper dive into these numbers tells us a lot more.

When Lillard goes for 40 or more points and 10 or more assists the Blazers are 3-0. This just shows that Lillard is the beating heart of the Portland Trail Blazers offense. In the recent run of success for Lillard he collected his first career triple-double in a win.

When Lillard has ten or more assists in a game the Trail Blazers have a 9-6 record. When Lillard has a double-double with  30 or more points and 10 or more assists the Blazers have an 8-2 record. Lillard also has a sense of occasion about him.

Lillard is a big-time player who owns the fourth period. When the game is on the line he is the type of player who wants the ball in his hands. It is very hard to forget the shot which ended the Oklahoma City Thunder’s playoff run last season, a 30-foot attempt as time was expiring.

Lillard hit the shot and the Trail Blazers advanced through the playoffs, where only the Golden State Warriors could stop them. Lillard is big time and is one of the hardest players to guard. The season is on the line, this means that it is Dame Time. Never count out the Portland Trail Blazers with Damian Lillard running the team.