Prior to their game versus the Brooklyn Nets, Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard discussed the importance of having a completely healthy CJ McCollum in the postseason.
.@JaredSGreenberg caught up with Damian Lillard in Portland to discuss CJ McCollum and clinching a playoff spot ahead of their game vs. the Nets tonight. đź‘€ pic.twitter.com/GXoJfPspLK
— NBA TV (@NBATV) March 26, 2019
Hearing Lillard speaking about the team's health and the importance of other guys stepping up is almost cryptic at this point, considering the tragedy that eventually happened in their playoff-clinching, double-overtime win over Brooklyn on Monday.
In case you haven't heard, Blazers center Jusuf Nurkic suffered a gruesome leg injury in overtime against the Nets. Portland officially announced that the Bosnian Beast sustained compound fractures on his left tibia and fibula.
Lillard's words prior to the contest couldn't be any truer now. With two of their top three players down — and one of them already out — the Blazers have no choice but to take a “next man up” approach to keep the team afloat in the final stretch of the regular season.
While Portland has officially clinched a playoff berth, they are obviously aiming to finish in the top four so that they can have home court advantage in the first round.
Now, the Blazers have to wish that McCollum's rehab will go smoothly and that he will be ready and healthy for the post-season. The former Lehigh standout has been out of Portland's lineup for the past two weeks after he suffered a knee strain in their game against the San Antonio Spurs. They have won four straight after he went down.
The Blazers have already ruled out McCollum for their upcoming four-game road trip. It remains to be seen how they will fare moving forward, now that they are also without their man in the middle.
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