The Portland Trail Blazers have surprised a lot of people so far this season.
They got off to a surprisingly strong start.
You have to remember that most people thought they’d sit toward the bottom of the Western Conference standings, but for a brief time, they were nearing the very top.
They have fallen off a bit since their explosive start and are now 7th in the West with an 11-10 record.
Still, certain players are still having All-Star seasons.
For example, Anfernee Simons has been on a tear since the start.
On Tuesday night, he sank 9 threes.
Only Klay Thompson and Darius Garland have more in a game this season, both with 10 three-pointers.
Simons has quietly and quickly become one of the most promising stars in the West.
Some people believe he is the future of Portland.
The Star Power Of Simons
With 23.9 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 4.3 assists this season, Simons is having his best year yet.
Since joining the Blazers back in 2018, he has steadily gotten better and better and is now considered the second-best guy on the squad, behind only Damian Lillard.
When CJ McCollum left the team, it was time for Simons to step up and show what he could: was he capable of being a team leader and a true starter?
It looks like the answer to that is a definitive yes.
Playing with Lillard has made Simons even better but he has now surpassed him in a few ways.
He is leading the team in three-pointers per game, with 4.2, ahead of Lillard’s 3.4
Lillard’s health has been an issue for the last few years but it has allowed Simons to step into the leadership role more and the idea of him being the centerpiece of the team in the future isn’t far-fetched.
In fact, it makes perfect sense now.
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