NBA: 3 teams primed to make a late-season playoff push

Portland Trail Blazers

Damian Lillard has proven time and time again that he is truly a franchise player. Every year he is underrated and taken for granted. His capability to carry a franchise is undeniable, evidenced by Portland’s run to the Western Conference Finals.

This team knows how to win. For them, continuity is the name of the game. A long-standing culture of winning and consistency flows through this team. In the age of player movement and empowerment, the Blazers have kept its lethal backcourt of Lillard and CJ McCollum together and surrounded them as well as they could.

As poorly as they started the season, Portland has seemingly gotten into their rhythm thanks to the play of Lillard. He has been incredible over the last couple of months and brought Portland right back into the thick of the race.

Portland is a team that is proven, and that is what keeps my confidence in them so high. They know who they are and they know what they need to do to keep pushing themselves back into contention.