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3 reasons we want the Portland Trail Blazers in the playoffs

By Duncan Smith

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - AUGUST 09: Carmelo Anthony #00 of the Portland Trail Blazers and Damian Lillard celebrate a win against the Philadelphia 76ers following a game at Visa Athletic Center at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 09, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. 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 Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - AUGUST 09: Carmelo Anthony #00 of the Portland Trail Blazers and Damian Lillard celebrate a win against the Philadelphia 76ers following a game at Visa Athletic Center at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 09, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. 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 Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers
Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

The playoff picture is in focus, and Damian Lillard and the Portland Trail Blazers are in position to make a run. Here’s why we’re rooting for them.

The Portland Trail Blazers are a brand new team since the NBA’s restart bubble began at the end of July. They have Jusuf Nurkic back after almost a year and a half off following the horrific breaking of his leg in a game against the Brooklyn Nets, and Damian Lillard and the rest of this veteran squad had nearly four months to rest up and get healthy across the board.

Now, the Blazers have put it all together and are making a serious push for the playoffs after an unimpressive pre-COVID regular season. At full strength and full energy, it turns out this might be a squad to be reckoned with after all.

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Before the restart, the playoffs were the longest of long shots. The NBA had expanded their field of invited teams to 22, perhaps in order to give Zion Williamson and the New Orleans Pelicans one more chance to make a push at the Memphis Grizzlies in the Western Conference’s 8th seed, but the Trail Blazers themselves are the team to reckon with thanks to a 4-2 start.

Under the rules of the bubble, there will be a play-in series between the eight and nine seeds if there are 4.0 games or less between them in the standings. The eighth seed will have a massive advantage, only needing to win one game, while the ninth seed would need to win two games to make it into the playoffs.

Coming into the NBA restart, the Blazers likely thought the nine seed was within their grasp if everything went well, but things have gone even better than that and the eight seed itself has quickly dropped into their reach as they’re just 0.5 games behind the Grizzlies.

The Grizzlies have had a dreadful run in the bubble, going 1-5, yielding the Blazers 3.0 games in just six games played. The San Antonio Spurs have kept pace at 4-2, but the Trail Blazers have a 0.5 game edge on them in the standings. The Phoenix Suns have gone 5-0 and are a wonderful story in the bubble, but they’re a full 1.0 games back of the Blazers.

Each team has plenty to be proud of this season, but of this group, only one will make it through the play-in. Here’s why we’re hoping the Portland Trail Blazers eventually get the Western Conference’s 8 seed.

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