Portland Trail Blazers: 3 X-factors for success in NBA's Orlando restart

Portland Trail Blazers: 3 X-factors for success in NBA’s Orlando restart

PORTLAND, OR - FEBRUARY 07: Jusuf Nurkic #27 of the Portland Trail Blazers reacts against the San Antonio Spurs in the first quarter during their game at Moda Center on February 7, 2019 in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images) /

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Portland Trail Blazers Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images /

2. Gary Trent Jr. time

In his last game before the season paused, Gary Trent Jr. played 18 minutes against the Phoenix Suns and scored a grand total of zero points. It was not the ideal way to go into the break (although the break was not yet expected at that point).

When the season resumes, Trent Jr. is going to be hungry to display his talents. Behind Lillard and McCollum, Trent Jr. averaged slightly less playing time than fellow bench guard Anfernee Simons, but Trent Jr. made more starts (eight) and proved to be the better all-around player.

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Trent Jr. is averaging 7.7 points per game, shooting 38.8 percent from three-point range, better than McCollum and Carmelo Anthony and nipping at Lillard’s heels. He’s also one of the better wing defenders on the team. Per Basketball-Reference, his defensive box plus/minus easily outpaces McCollum, Anthony, and Simons, who finishes last on the team in that metric.

Trent Jr. is a shooting guard, but he’s actually played about half of his minutes at small forward this season. Anthony is going to draw the start in Ariza’s absence, but if Trent Jr. continues to be a better defender and better three-point shooter, Stotts is going to turn to his young guard in key minutes at the end of games.

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