The Portland Trail Blazers have had a surprisingly successful season. Yes, they’re below .500 at 19-20 and just ninth in the Western Conference standings. In spite of that, they’ve managed to make the fact that the man who entered the season as their head coach (Chauncey Billups) was arrested due to allegations of being involved in an illegal gambling operation an afterthought. They’ve overcome injuries to multiple key players, including their entire point guard unit.
They’ve done this by focusing on the on-court product. Perimeter defense, paint production and player development have been the pillars of their success. Portland is now arguably the hottest team in the league, riding a five-game winning streak. For their efforts, they’re now being rewarded with tremendous news about two of their more talented pieces.
Blazers Announce Major Injury Updates For Jrue Holiday, Robert Williams III, Kris Murray
On Sunday, the Blazers announced that guard Jrue Holiday and big man Robert Williams III have been upgraded to available for their game against the New York Knicks. They also revealed that forward Kris Murray will be out indefinitely due to a “lumbar strain in his lower back.”
Holiday has been sidelined since Nov. 14, having missed the last 27 games with a right calf strain. As has become customary, Williams has been in and out of the lineup, knee soreness his most recent malady. Murray, who has played at least 62 games in his previous two seasons, has been on the mend for a week.
Jrue Holiday’s Return Is The Most Important
Of all those players, Holiday’s absence is the most notable. It goes beyond Portland’s record (13-14) since he went down, though his play was instrumental in the Blazers getting off to a fast start. In terms of his numbers, the veteran playmaker is averaging 16.7 points, 8.3 assists and 1.6 steals per game while shooting 36.5% from 3. On the court, his poise and pressure have been just as important as his production.
With Holiday available against the Knicks, he’ll provide relief for All-Star hopeful Deni Avdija, who’s frequently been asked to play point-forward this season. Avdija has acquitted himself well, averaging a career-high 7.0 assists per game (with a sparkling 32.1% assist rate). Furthermore, he’s at his best with the ball in his hands, partially due to his knack for drawing fouls. Even so, when opponents ramp up their defense, the Trail Blazers will need as many high-quality offensive players as possible.
Keep in mind that for as well as undrafted rookie guard Caleb Love has played, he’s shooting just 38.7% from the field and 32.8% from 3. Considering that Jerami Grant is currently injured, that makes Holiday’s return even more important. Grant has come off the bench for Portland this season. However, he’s one of their three players averaging at least 20 points per game.
Then there’s young building block Shaedon Sharpe. Sharpe has started in place of Holiday in several games and continues to shine as a scorer. Nevertheless, he’s not balanced enough as a player or shrewd enough as a decision-maker to be relied upon as a facilitator.
Improving The Blazers’ Defense
Holiday’s effect on the offense notwithstanding, where Portland really needs him is at the other end. Despite their staunch 3-point defense, the Blazers rank 19th in defensive rating (116.9) and 24th in opponents points per game (118.7). One area where Holiday could definitely help is at the point-of-attack, an area where neither the emergent Love nor Sharpe are spectacular.
The impact that Williams may have can’t be understated though. Of course, he’s extremely efficient and the team’s best lob threat at center. However, he’s also a mobile big man with uncanny shot-blocking instincts and tenacious on the boards. In fact, he has Portland’s highest defensive rebounding percent (27.1). That’s particularly notable with the Blazers ranking 25th in defensive rebounds per game (31.2).