PORTLAND — The sullen faces that have been so widespread after losses earlier this season have given strategy to chest-bumps and excessive fives because the Portland Path Blazers experience a sustained — and considerably stunning — successful streak.
The Blazers have gained six straight and 10 of their final 11 video games, prompting maybe too-soon hypothesis a few playoff berth.
Whereas postseason goals could also be untimely, Portland actually is having enjoyable.
The younger workforce that went into the season taking a look at one other rebuilding yr is now 23-29, exceeding its win whole from final season (21). Whereas nonetheless sitting at thirteenth within the Western Convention, they’re edging nearer to these play-in spots with 30 video games remaining.
“I think it’s fun, not only with the wins and losses, but the way we’re playing,” guard Scoot Henderson stated. “That’s really fun, the way we’re playing together and sticking together.”
Portland is 4 video games again of the eighth-place Dallas Mavericks in a cluster of groups — the Sacramento Kings, Golden State Warriors and San Antonio Spurs — all jostling for the benefit.
The Blazers’ newest win got here on Thursday evening at residence in opposition to Sacramento. Anfernee Simons had 30 factors, together with eight 3-pointers, and Portland hung collectively within the ultimate quarter for a 108-102 victory.
Turning up the stress and sustaining focus within the waning minutes is new for Portland — as is the expansion of the workforce’s protection, which has ranked atop the league during the last 11 video games.
“We know that that’s the way that we’re going to be able to compete with all of these teams,” coach Chauncey Billups stated. “We got to be flying around.”
The final time the Blazers gained as many video games in a stretch was within the 2017-18 season, once they gained 13 straight.
Forward of the 2023-24 season, star Damian Lillard was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks and the Blazers went all-in on a rebuilding undertaking, dedicated to growing younger gamers, together with Henderson and Shaedon Sharpe.
Forward of this season, they made a few key additions in Deni Avdija and draft decide Donovan Clingan, becoming a member of current veterans Jerami Grant and DeAndre Ayton.
Billups, in his third season with the workforce, has been tasked with growing the children — and getting them to play collectively.
“We’ve got so many guys contributing and playing well, no longer do guys think about who is getting it done, it’s ‘Let’s make sure it gets done.’ Nobody’s really caring about who’s scoring the most, who’s closing the game, who’s starting. Nobody’s worried about that. Whatever we say we’re trying to do, let’s just try our best to do it.”
The turning level was a gathering in late December.
“Coach asked us, one by one, if each of us is able to be held accountable. And we all said yes, and from then on, it’s been like that, we’ve been playing together, playing well, and sharing the ball,” Henderson stated.
There’s nonetheless a very good chunk of the season left, and Portland’s present surge possibly gained’t proceed. However that hasn’t dampened guarded hopes that the Blazers may finish a three-season playoff drought.
Final yr, Portland misplaced 15 of their final 17 video games and turned towards the NBA draft lottery.
Common supervisor Joe Cronin didn’t make any strikes on the commerce deadline Thursday, however he stated the successful streak had nothing to do with it. He stated no potential trades made sense within the massive image.
Cronin was additionally requested if it might be honest to the workforce to set a aim of creating the playoffs.
“I think it’d be unfair to take it away from them,” he stated. “I’m so proud and so excited about these guys that the sky’s the limit, like ‘Go guys, go win. Let’s see what you can do.’ And I’m here to support it.”