What’s up with the Trail Blazers?
Damian Lillard was recently honored in Portland this week for being the franchise’s all-time leading scorer. He surpassed Hall of Famer Clyde Drexler who had roughly 18,000 points during his time as a Trail Blazer legend.
Lillard, 32, has spent 10 seasons in Portland and continues to be the primary reason why his team always has a fighting chance to enter the postseason. He’s averaging 27.5 points on 44.1 percent shooting, on top of 3.8 rebounds and 7.2 assists. Known to be a premier shotmaker, he’s knocking down a personal-best 4.2 triples per game. This is a comeback season for him after playing just 29 games the year before due to injury.
It’s easy to dismiss the Trail Blazers as a one-man show but they have strong foundational pieces. Anfernee Simmons, the closest thing to a co-star to Lillard, is still just 23 years old. He’s a flamethrower himself with the ability to put up huge scoring binges on any given night. The ever-versatile Jerami Grant has had his moments this season and is the team’s third-leading scorer with 22.1 points per game.
They’re young and talented with a franchise player who can single-handedly win them games. However, it wouldn’t be farfetched to say that they’re also rebuilding with the lack of star power and playoff experience. They’re still a middle-of-the-pack type of team who can use a hard-earned win against the better teams in the West like the Warriors.
The Trail Blazers hold an 18-16 record, fresh off a win against the Charlotte Hornets. They are one of the better teams on the road (10-10) as they visit the Chase Center in San Francisco.
What’s up with the Warriors?
The Warriors haven’t been the best team to watch in the absence of Steph Curry who has missed the last seven games because of a shoulder injury. But credit to the defending champions, they’ve managed to string a couple of wins without their superstar. They still have a .500 record with 18 wins and 18 losses.
They are in the midst of an eight-game homestand and have won their last three over the Grizzlies, Hornets, and Jazz. They’ve had some pretty impressive showings from their bench. This is a crucial stretch for them because they’ve been a subpar squad on the road. And without Curry, they’ll need all the help they can get from their home crowd.
There is some good news coming out of Golden State as Andrew Wiggins is inching closer to his return to the court. Wiggins, a vital piece for the Warriors’ championship run last season, has missed the last 12 outings. He returned to practice this week but head coach Steve Kerr said he is still doubtful.
The Warriors won’t have the same star power as the Trail Blazers and Lillard but there’s no shortage of firepower in their ranks. Without Curry, expect Jordan Poole and Klay Thompson to attempt to shoot their way to victory.
Where to watch
Expect some early fireworks tomorrow as the Portland Trail Blazers visit the Golden State Warriors at 11:00 AM on NBA TV Philippines, available via Smart LiveStream and Cignal TV.
