Jusuf Nurkic's untimely season-ending injury is one that could stop the crucial momentum the Portland Trail Blazers have built upon winning four games in a row, yet leader Damian Lillard won't let this setback or CJ McCollum's stop this team from its mission.
“We have to move forward and continue to get the job done; I think that’s all we can do,” said Lillard, according to Jason Quick of The Athletic. “We don’t have time to feel bad for ourselves and stuff like that. We have to get tougher.”
The Blazers have yet to lose a game while their starting shooting guard has been sidelined, something Lillard envisions would continue without their starting center.
“Guys have stepped up majorly when CJ was out,” Lillard said, noting the team is 4-0 since McCollum strained his knee in San Antonio. “Now, Nurk is going to be out, and Zach is going to have to play more. Meyers is going to have to play more. Enes is going to have to play more. What each of those guys can do — a little bit here, a little bit there — all together is going to have to equal what we are missing. We are going to have to trust each other that they can do that.”
Lillard's confidence and spirit are all one can hope for, coming from a leader. But the reality of losing not only two starters, but the second and third leading scorers of this team makes a grim prospect as Portland faces these last nine games.
The Blazers should be able to get McCollum back at some point before the start of the playoffs, but losing a big man in the middle like Nurkic is a cruel reminder of how fragile a team's chances are, holding by the thread of lady fortune.
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