NorthWest Sports Blog brings you daily features on Oregon, Washington State, and BC amateur and pro sports teams.
Jason Hartzog previews the Portland Trail Blazers’ April 17 matchup against the Golden State Warriors. Damian Lillard versus Stephen Curry is a fun match-up to watch. These two guys can fill it up on any given night. They have had some great games against each other already. LaMarcus Aldridge, Nicolas Batum and Wesley Matthews have all missed the past few games. Jason is hoping the all come back soon.
NWSB Insider and Portland Trail Blazers Blogger breaks down what you can expect with PDX officially out of the playoffs. Following the loss to James Harden, Jeremy Lin and the Houston Rockets, Portland is officially playing for a spot in the lottery. The team will certainly rest injured players such as Nicolas Batum, so expect to see youngsters Meyers Leonard and Victor Claver earn more time. LaMarcus Aldridge should continue to be the leader, as Damian Lillard’s inexperience could be a problem while staying motivated.
Bryant Knox breaks down what we learned about the Portland Trailblazers during their recent five-game road trip. Despite going 2-3 on the trip, we saw more good things than bad. LaMarcus Aldridge is playing like the best power forward in the NBA, as he’s more well-rounded than Blake Griffin and Kevin Love is sidelined with an injury. This team is going to fight no matter what its record is, but there’s no denying that the final month of the season is going to be tough when it comes to making the playoffs.
Bryant Knox previews the five biggest games remaining in the Portland Trail Blazers’ season. The Blazers began the year exceeding expectations, but they’ve since lost momentum, including a seven-game losing streak in the month of February. If the team wants to play past April, they’ll have to find wins against the Utah Jazz, Los Angeles Lakers, Oklahoma City Thunder, Golden State Warriors and yes, the Charlotte Bobcats.
NWSB Writer Bryant Knox states why the Blazers will make the 2013 NBA Playoffs. Portland had one of its most disappointing seasons in recent memory in 2012. But with a new point guard, a new coach and a new outlook on things, the team can get back to the postseason much sooner than some may have anticipated. Damian Lillard was selected with the sixth overall pick by the Trail Blazers for a reason. To Lead!
