Portland Trail Blazers
The 2019-20 Portland Trail Blazers can be defined by overcoming a litany of injuries in the pre-pandemic regular season and blazing through the bubble all the way to the Bubble Playoff Play-In Game and an improbable playoff berth.
What did we learn?
Season 5 of the Lillard-McCollum era faced a lot of challenges, mostly in the form of injuries.
Zach Collins injured his shoulder in the third game of the season and shoulder surgery kept him out all the way until the bubble.
Rodney Hood tore his Achilles on December 6th and had season-ending surgery a few days later.
Nurk was out entirely until the bubble, still recovering from his broken leg in March of 2019.
The injuries forced the Blazers hand. GM Neil Olshey finally pulled the trigger and brought in…
MELOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
We learned what we thought was probably the case: Melo can still ball! In the right environment and with the right expectations. At 35 years old, many suspected he might be washed for good, but Melo proved that he can still contribute to winning basketball. Melo actually shot 38.5 percent from three, his best three-point percentage since 2013-14 and his third best season from three in his 17-year career. Here is a stat for you: Melo has made 17 go-ahead field goals in the final five seconds of the fourth quarter or overtime, four more than any player since 2003-04. (Also, we LOVE the 00, but it would be SO much better if Kanter hadn’t just worn it the year before. There should be a rule that you can’t wear the same number that somebody had the year before.)
Mel00 was a treat, but the real show here was Dame D.O.L.L.A. It was Dame Time almost all of the time. Logo Lillard was a constant threat to ignite at any moment, launching thirty-footers with ease, taking over games and leading Portland back from the wilderness time and time again. Dame’s shots often looked like heat-seeking missiles. And just when you thought he would for sure be pulling up from 3 again, he’d blast off to the basket, knifing through the lane for tightrope finishes at the rack, and even with several power dunks to boot! In the late game on MLK Day, Dame dropped a career-high and franchise-record 61 points, an MLK Day Record. Dame scored 50+ points six different times and had three games of 60+ points! (61, 61 and 60.)
Dame averaged career-high numbers across the board: 30.0 points, 8.0 assists and 40 percent from three on 10 attempts (!!) per game, all while leading the league with 37.5 minutes per game. Who was #2 in the NBA averaging 36.5 minutes per game? None other than Dame’s longtime counterpart, CJ McCollum, who continued to be a reliable side-kick more than capable of rising to the occasion. McCollum scored 30 or more points 11 times and continuously could be counted on in the clutch and in the mid-range.
The Bubble Blazers with Nurkic and Z-Co both finally back in the lineup were an exaltation, a completely different team than the regular season shorthanded Blazers. Nurkic was a beast (the Bosnian Beast!) and the backbone that Portland had been lacking all year. Gary Trent Jr. in the bubble became “The Man Possessed.” All of a sudden, Gary Trent Jr. was a three-point marksmen, dialed in and dangerous.
Dame took his game to another level in the bubble. The Bubble MVP a.k.a. “Wilt Disney” scored 40+ points in four out of the last five games, all must-wins with Portland’s season on the line. One dribble inside half court and Dame was within comfortable range, always cool, calm and collected while the rest of us were losing our minds watching his ridiculousness. And who was there down the stretch in the bubble play-in game when the Blazers needed him most? Mr. Reliable, CJ McMidrange.
Alas, Zach Collins never played in the first-round series against the Lakers and Dame eventually got injured, too.
But against all odds, the Blazers persevered to make it as far as they did.
Dame and CJ found a way, just like they always do.
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What are the answers to our Season Preview Final Questions?
Can some regression be expected for Portland during their adjustment process?
There was some regression, but all of the injuries sure didn’t help things, at all.
Will the new surrounding talent be a spark for RIP City?
Whiteside was inconsistent as hell, yet his blocks and defense were certainly a spark.
Just like signing… MELOOOOOOOO!!! Melo hit the game-winning shot against the Raptors in Toronto on a random Tuesday night in January. And in the ultimate redemption against his former team, Melo hit the dagger three against the Rockets in a must-win game for the Blazers in the bubble.
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Would our preseason Over/Under prediction have hit?
The roster shake up is a good risk with the expiring contracts providing flexibility while the same successful core is here. We think Portland will be good again. Dame and C.J. always find a way. We just wonder if they will be great in a loaded West. We are leaning UNDER 45.5 wins. (55% winning pct)
2019-20 Blazers final record: (35-39) 47% winning percentage
YES, our preseason Over/Under prediction would have hit!
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What’s Next?
Get healthy!
Whiteside and Melo are both unrestricted free agents. You gotta bring Melo back. You GOTTA. But Whiteside? Eh…
Get the youngin Anfernee Simons back on track after an underwhelming year.
We have long thought that The Rooster would help Portland.
Find some defense. The Blazers had the third most efficient offense, but the 27th ranked defense.
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Favorite Blazers Highlight from the 2019-20 Season:
A cascade from Dame redolent of 2015-16 Steph Curry.
