Blazers Impress NBA with Strong Performance

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Joel Simmons, Staff Reporter

The Blazers are impressing the nation as they dominate the NBA. With a record of 30-9, they are currently in third place in the entire league. The Blazers are just one game ahead of last year’s record after playing thirty nine games. “With the way the Blazers are playing right now, they will be unstoppable. The only thing we are going to have to worry about are injuries,” says Mike O’Keefe, the founder of the Instagram page BlazerNation.

The Blazers bench has had to step up this season after suffering many injuries to some key players. After Robin Lopez broke his hand on Boris Diaw’s head on Dec. 15, Chris Kaman has stepped up along with Meyers Leonard. Kaman and Leonard both have added a physical, defensive and scoring presence to make up for the loss of their starting center.

With the Blazers winning some big games this season against the Indiana Pacers and the Toronto Raptors, two of the top teams in the NBA, the rest of the season is looking promising. The Blazers are ranked sixth overall for points scored per game and ranked number one overall with rebounds per game. Damian Lillard, Lamarcus Aldridge, and Wesley Matthews are leading this team to victory and being clutch in very important moments in the games. With two of the leading three point shooters in the league, it has been very beneficial to the team. Along with the two best shooters in the NBA, Portland has one of the power forwards as well. Aldridge is averaging twenty two points a game and when healthy, can be very effective.

The Blazers have some very important and tough games coming up. They face the 24-16 Spurs and then the 27-11 Grizzlies on a two game road trip this Friday and Saturday. Coming out of these games with wins could give the Blazers a lot of momentum heading forward.

If the Blazers continue playing the way they are then they will make it far in playoffs. They are playing team basketball and many players are stepping up in big moments. A key part in the Blazers’ success also has to do with Rip City. The fans here in Portland are unlike any other and believe in the Blazers. As Blazer fans, we cannot wait to watch and support our Blazers and we look forward to seeing them go far into the playoffs.