NBA Power Rankings week 17: OKC Thunder and peers enter break
25-31. Previous: 15th. Portland Trail Blazers. 16. team. 34.
Portland Trail Blazers:
Offense: (111.5) 11th
Defense: ( 113.3) 27th
Net: (minus -1.8) tied 19th
Results Week 17: (0-2) Won vs. Lost vs. Pelicans: 117-138, Grizzlies: 104-111
Games Week 18: (2 games) Fri vs Pelicans | Sun vs Pistons
The early news regarding Damian Lillard‘s groin injury is he’ll be out at least until early March. It’s the type of injury you can’t rush and players are in virtual no movement situations while healing.
Pascal Siakam suffered a groin injury and missed 11 games then returned and still took close to 10 games to look even remotely as strong as he did prior to the injury.
That factor alone could cost the Blazers a chance of catching the Grizzlies who hold a four game edge over Portland. At a minimum, he’ll miss five games with two against elite teams (Celtics, Pacers).
The other consideration is when Zach Collins and Jusuf Nurkic will return the former expected back in early March and the latter still with no definitive return date.
What is certain, is someone on this Blazers squad needs to step up in Dame’s absence or those four games could balloon and remove all possibility of the Blazers playoff dreams.
Oh, and the elephant in the room? Even if they do manage to catch the Grizzlies their reward will be likely getting to play the Lakers in round one.