The Trail Blazers’ Playoff Push Continues With Recent Success

Amid all the promising performances, Donovan Clingan has been the biggest star during the Blazers’ playoff push. He is already superb defensively, but he has shown his improvements on the offensive end. The second-year big man has been superb in all of his recent matchups, even against Rudy Gobert.

Moving forward, the Trail Blazers have a successful model. They have defensive pillars with Clingan and Toumani Camara. Offensively, Henderson, Avdia, Grant, and Jrue Holiday have all done well. If they can get Sharpe back soon, the Blazers could be dangerous when the Playoffs roll around.

Grant’s Contributions Are Becoming More Important

Grant showed his veteran savvy on Friday against Minnesota. Acting head coach Tiago Splitter’s rotations meant he was the sharpshooter most of the time. He did well in his role because the Blazers kept the Timberwolves on their toes.

Most people know the Timberwolves to be a tough team to score against, especially with Gobert and Jaden McDaniels. Fortunately for the Blazers, they had many awesome performances. Grant was the star of the show with 26 points, but Clingan and Avdija combined for 46 points.

The Blazers’ performance looks promising because they are competing against the best teams. Of course, there is a caveat with Edwards’ absence, but the Blazers’ offense looks cohesive recently. With all of Portland’s offensive struggles this season, this is a good look ahead of the Blazers’ playoff push.

Grant’s contributions are a welcome surprise. Most people do not see him as the most optimal player for the roster because of his contract. However, he is doing his best to keep up and show that he is a legitimate contributor to Portland.

Splitter’s Rotations Are Now More Consistent

Another promising development during this recent stretch has been Splitter’s rotations. Amid all of Portland’s injuries this season, he has had trouble with his squad. Avdija playing as a makeshift point guard, Kris Murray playing the small-ball center, and many more.

With Avdija, Henderson, and Holiday healthy, the Blazers have a steady rotation of ball-handlers. Amid the Blazers’ playoff push, they want to have a more cohesive system. Now, they have a steady rotation of players taking charge, while the others settle into their roles.

Camara is more focused on his defense these days, as he does not have to create for himself often. The same goes for Sidy Cissoko, who is thriving in his role as a spark plug off the bench. Clingan has had an uptick in his offensive contributions as well because he is thriving with optimal teammates.

As the Trail Blazers continue to develop well, they should be a dangerous matchup for any team. They look primed for the Play-In Tournament, and any team should be wary of them.