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NBA: The Blazers and Pelicans are crashing the Western Conference party

By Trey Flynn

PORTLAND, OR - OCTOBER 24: Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers exchanges words with DeMarcus Cousins #0 of the New Orleans Pelicans during the fourth quarter of the game at Moda Center on October 24, 2017 in Portland, Oregon. The Blazers won the game 103-93. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OR - OCTOBER 24: Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers exchanges words with DeMarcus Cousins #0 of the New Orleans Pelicans during the fourth quarter of the game at Moda Center on October 24, 2017 in Portland, Oregon. The Blazers won the game 103-93. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images) /
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The New Orleans Pelicans and the Portland Trail Blazers are changing post-season predictions for the Western Conference

The New Orleans Pelicans and Portland Trail Blazers got the right stuff, just gotta take it step by step.

Shout out New Kids on the Block, what a reference.

The Pelicans haven’t won a playoff game since they were the New Orleans Hornets in the 2010-11 season. The Portland Trail Blazers lost an embarrassing four games series to the eventual NBA champs, Golden State Warriors.

Now both teams have surreal MVP candidates for the first time in Anthony Davis and Damian Lillard.

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Prior to the 2017-18 NBA season, the New Orleans Pelicans and the Portland Trailblazers were predicted to miss the playoffs, badly. According to several individuals, the Pelicans were predicted to be the 10th seed, while the Blazers were around the 11th seed before the season. As we get down to the final stretch of the NBA’s regular season, give or take 20 games, those predictions will most likely be false.

Currently, the Blazers are sitting in the third seed, and the Pelicans are in the fourth seed. Although, the conversation around the Warriors and the Rockets owning the Western Conference is unanimous, but there is a tight battle for the best of the rest in the West.

What is helping the Pelicans and Trail Blazers quietly take the reins of the Western Conference (excluding top two seeds)?

What is the reason for the Pelicans late-success?

Timing?

The New Orleans franchise record for regular season games won in a row is sitting at ten games. That ten game 1998 win streak came at the hands of Glen Rice and Vlade Divac (Current GM of the Sacramento Kings) for the Hornets, back in Charlotte.

(The Hornets moved to New Orleans in 2002, then becoming the New Orleans Pelicans in 2013)

The timing of that ’98 win streak is almost deja vu: February 21, 1998 – March 10, 1998 was the record ten game win streak.

The 2017-18 Pelican win streak is tied with their franchise record at ten, which began on February 10th, 2018. If New Orleans can somehow break that twenty-year record, expect a mini Mardi Gras somewhere by the arena.

New Orleans plays at home against the Washington Wizards on Friday, March 9th.

Besides the incredible timing of the Pelicans streak, what else is keeping them ahead of the rest in the Western Conference?

Anthony Davis.

Davis is averaging 35.3 Points per game, 13.9 rebounds, 2.7 steals, 2.5 blocks, around 38 minutes a game, all over his past ten games (Excluded March 7th game against Sacramento Kings, Anthony Davis rolled his ankle).

The Brow’s stats led the Pelicans to their current ten game win streak and a complete turn-around since the unfortunate DeMarcus Cousins injury.

Thankfully, due to the amazing performances by Jrue Holiday, E’Twaun Moore, Nikola Mirotic, as well as other role players, this could be a Cinderella ending for the Pelicans. Expect a great first round performance for the Pelicans, barring anymore injuries or end-of-season woes.

Will the Trail Blazers continue their valiant efforts?

Looking at their recent history … probably not, but I hope so.

The Trail Blazers are currently on an eight game win streak, which is their longest streak since the 2014-15 NBA season. Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum had more help back then with LaMarcus Aldridge and Nicholas Batum. This Terry Stotts Blazers team is more full of role-players and a couple of RipCity stars.

The Blazers are known for going on small spurts of greatness lead by Lillard and McCollum, but this one may have some longevity.

Lillard is averaging 35.4 points per game, 5.3 assists, 3.7 rebounds, 1.3 steals, and around 38 minutes a game; This was all done over the past ten games, winning the past eight in a row.

Just like Anthony Davis for the Pelicans, Lillard and co. have helped put the Blazers on top of the Western Conference for the first time, in a long time. Expect the Trailblazers to continue their streak throughout the last 20 regular season games, hopefully getting to their franchise win streak of 16 games.

Must Read: In an uneven East, the Toronto Raptors stand tall

Is Lillard somehow still underrated? He’d be more appreciated in the Eastern conference, the West is pretty spoiled.

Win streak and Lillard’s greatness aside, if the Blazers can do better than getting swept in the first round (a la 2017 playoffs against the Warriors), they’ll be more than happy.

We’ll know soon enough, on March 9th the Blazers are playing at home against the Golden State Warriors, who are on a six game win streak (must-watch TV).

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