The "Blazers Curse" is real

Earlier in the season, we’ve dissected the Blazers struggles and why they were one of the most disappointing teams until then, despite all their talent. They’ve been plagued by injuries throughout the season, something that’s been holding them back not only performance-wise but as in the standings as well. Damian Lillard’s recent play has been nothing but outstanding, playing at a level that’s been almost untouchable, even for guys like Giannis Antetokounmpo or LeBron James, resulting in a sudden resurgence by the Blazers when it comes to the playoff race. The team who’s occupying the 8th seed at the moment, Memphis Grizzlies, has the toughest schedule according to Tankathon, while Portland has the 5th easiest one, a statistic that could prove to be essential by the end of the season. With 28 games left for Terry Stott’s team and 29 for the players led by Taylor Jenkins, will they be able to overthrow Ja Morant and company? Trailing 2.5 games behind, they’ll have a huge game tomorrow in Memphis, the first time that both these teams meet this season and where the tiebreaker could come into play in April. Trevor Ariza, who was part of a trade package from Sacramento, has been rejuvenated since joining Portland, averaging 10.2 PPG and 4.6 RPG along with above average defense. The question now is to see how the Blazers will look like with the return of the “Bosnian Beast”.

Blazers have 16 of their final 28 games against sub 500 teams, and then three games against the Grizzlies in the 28 as well. Their playoff destiny is in their hands. — Rip City Project (@ripcityproject) February 11, 2020

Jusuf Nurkic and Zach Collins

Jusuf Nurkic is a key player for this franchise. His defensive presence is immense, especially when Lillard and McCollum are not known for being great perimeter players, as they can always count on the big man’s presence to protect the rim. His offensive game is also noteworthy due to his ability to be another scoring threat but also due to his underrated passing skills, where he can set up the multiple shooters Portland possess. The only downside for his return is his condition. It’s yet to be seen how much time he’ll take to get back to his previous form after such a horrific injury. Hassan Whiteside has been playing at a very good level, although he doesn’t provide the tools that Nurkic does when the Bosnian is at his best. The 25-year-old is set to return after the All-Star break. Another expected return is the one of Zach Collins. The promising Power Forward suffered a serious injury in his shoulder on the earlier stages of the regular season and is hopeful to play in the month of March. Even though he could clearly help the Blazers, he’ll probably return on the later stages without any rhythm. If they are in a good position to make the postseason, then he could be a valuable weapon for Terry Stotts and his frontcourt. It’s safe to say that much of Portland’s success from now on, lies in the hands of Jusuf Nurkic and his return, as the team and Damian Lillard desperately need more help at this stage of the season. Even though they’re currently behind the Grizzlies, the Blazers are looking more likely to end the year claiming the last spot of the Western Conference.