The Portland Trailblazers were able to clinch a playoff spot for the third consecutive year with the win over OKC last night.
The Blazers entered this season having lost four starters and a solid backup: LaMarcus Aldridge signed with the Spurs, Wesley Matthews signed with the Mavericks, Robin Lopez and Arron Afflalo signed with the Knicks, and Nicolas Batum was traded to Charlotte for Noah Vonleh. With losses like that and the lone starter being a 25-year old in Damian Lillard, Vegas odd-makers had the Blazers at around 27 wins on the season, which would mean a final record of 27-55 after a 51-31 record last season.
But Lillard and his new Blazers have defied the odds and come together as a unit and clinched a playoff spot and can climb all the way to the fifth seed in the West. They currently sit at 43-37 with two more games left in their season. A lot of credit is also due to their head coach Terry Stotts, who will definitely be in the running for Coach of the Year for leading these young Blazers to the playoffs.
After clinching, Lillard took to Instagram to congratulate his teammates and take a shot at everyone who counted them out with a D.J. Khaled photo.
Everyone who counted the Blazers out basically played themselves, and led by the backcourt duo of Lillard and C.J. McCollum, the Blazers are looking to make some noise in the postseason.
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