Portland Trail Blazers: 3 goals for their playoff run

Portland Trail Blazers playoff goal No. 3: Keep working with Normal Powell

When the Trail Blazers traded for Norman Powell, it was going to be interesting to see his fit. Standing 6’3″ Powell is a similar size to both Lillard and McCollum. This presents some potential issues defensively but this did not worry coach Terry Stotts.

Powell started all 27 games as a part of a three-guard lineup. He averaged 17.0 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 1.3 steals in 34.4 minutes per game. He was efficient, going 43.3 percent from the floor, 36.1 percent from deep, and 88.0 percent from the line.

In the first two games of the playoffs, Powell only averaged 12.5 points, 2.0 assists, and1.5 rebounds. He is shooting 40.0 percent from the floor and 88.9 percent from the line. However, his efficiency from deep has dropped off in the first two games.

He has only gone 1-of-7 which is just 14.3 percent. If this continues throughout the series then it is unlikely that the Trail Blazers are unlikely to advance. However, Powell is a member of the 2019 NBA championship Toronto Raptors team and knows what it takes to win.

He has the potential to bounce back in a major way and should do well when back on his home floor. The Trail Blazers’ future in this series may depend on it.