Portland making a push

Damian Lillard and co. have been impressive as of late, going 2-1, including wins over Memphis and Houston. The return of Jusuf Nurkic has been a huge help for Terry Stotts and with Melo, Lillard, and McCollum continuing to produce, this team is one to watch as the fight for the postseason heats up over the next week.

After suffering a gruesome leg injury last May, the hiatus has given Nurkic the opportunity to fully recover. He’s come back with a bang, averaging 22 points and 12.3 rebounds per contest in three appearances so far, including a 30-point performance over the Boston Celtics on Sunday.

Hassan Whiteside has handled his new role like a professional, knowing that once the Bosnian was healthy that he would step into the starting role. Nonetheless, Whiteside has played his part off the bench, contributing solid numbers.

With Lillard and McCollum forming one of the best backcourts in the NBA, it’s hard to imagine these two not guiding the Blazers to the postseason. With a seasoned vet in Anthony also making some huge shots down the stretch in these first few games in Orlando, it’s going to be exciting to see if Portland can make a push.

They will have several tough meetings ahead though, with Denver, the Clippers, the Sixers, and Mavericks left on their schedule.