We\u2019re finally seeing the Blazers of last season; a team playing with a sense of confidence and serious firepower. They ended the month of March with a 13-3 record. All of a sudden, we\u2019re seeing a team half a game back of 0.500 ingrained in the playoff picture, when not even four weeks ago they\u2019d been written off as the disappointment of the season.<\/p>\n
A huge part of these wins have come with the timely addition of 7 foot, 280 pound Jusuf Nurkic<\/strong><\/a>. Along with Damian Lillard<\/strong><\/a> and C.J. McCollum<\/strong><\/a>, these three have finally formed a trio of elite players in Portland – something that was missing all season long.<\/p>\n The Big Three\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n In the month of March, no other big 3\u2019s scored as many points combined as Lillard, McCollum and Nurkic. On offence they are a devastatingly lethal trio.<\/p>\n McCollum can\u2019t be left with even an inch of space, especially inside the 3 point line. He\u2019s gone so far as to dub himself, \u201cthe greatest shooter in the world within the 3 point line,\u201d and with reason. His 55.1% clip from inside the line comes from his ability to isolate and pull up in a split-second, along with blowing by defenders with ease.<\/p>\n He\u2019s no pushover from beyond the arc as well – his 42.1% clip was enough to enter the 3-point contest during All-Star break. One of his valuable assets is his ability to run the floor when Lillard sits on the bench. He\u2019s not a true point guard but picks up the reigns as an effective 2nd option.<\/p>\n Lillard has been on a tear since the beginning of March as well, averaging 29.1 PPG and 6.0 APG a game along with season high 3 point and regular field goal percentages. He\u2019s prone to showings of inconsistency but has been nothing short of elite lately. His month was highlighted with a 49 point, 9-12 three\u2019s performance against the Heat.<\/p>\n There is nothing Lillard can\u2019t do on the offensive end. When driving to the hoop, he has a canny ability to draw contact and <\/i>finish with strength. He\u2019s a slippery player who the defence simply cannot hang on to. Combined with his special leadership qualities that have undoubtedly motivated the rest of the roster, Damian Lillard has shown every inclination of being the franchise man for the Blazers, for many seasons to come.<\/p>\n