Portland Trail Blazers' Most Startling Statistics of 2014-15 Season So Far
The season is still young, but that shouldn’t discount our ability to review and reflect on the statistical numbers of the Portland Trail Blazers in the early going.
The Blazers, with an 8-3 record, remain largely underrated but have quietly become one of the league’s best teams. At least that’s what the numbers tell us. Let’s take a look at the most surprising stats from Portland’s season so far.
The Trail Blazers Defense
It hasn’t always been the case, but Portland is shutting opponents down this year.
The Blazers weren’t terrible defensively last year, but they were perfectly average. Opponents averaged 102.8 points per game on 45.1 percent shooting from the field and 35.5 percent from three-point range.
Some of that was due to the pace of Portland’s play, in addition to the Blazers not being a truly disciplined defensive squad. The points-per-game average was among the league’s worst at No. 22, while both field-goal percentages ranked No. 11 in each respective measure.
Flip the script.
Thus far this season, Portland checks in at No. 8 in opponent points with 95.9 per game on 42 percent shooting from the field and 29.8 percent from beyond the arc. Both percentages rank No. 4 in each category.
With largely the same roster, the Blazers have managed to turn it around and become a strong defensive unit. Between last season and this season, it seems this group has become more cohesive on that end of the floor.
The lanky Nicolas Batum and the energetic Wesley Matthews are well-known as skilled perimeter defenders, with the low-post defense of Robin Lopez being perhaps the most important of Portland’s schemes in keeping opponents in check.
NBA.com’s Jeff Caplan wrote in his preseason report on the Blazers: "Heading into the All-Star break, Portland ranked 23rd in defensive rating. In the final 29 games of the season, as the Blazers battled for playoff position in the rugged Western Conference, they ranked 10th, allowing 103.0 points per 100 possessions."
It’s clearly been a goal coming into the season, with head coach Terry Stotts calling more focus on defense “a commitment,” before continuing:
"We can't rely on our offense. We were first in offense in the first part of the season and then there was a drop significantly in the second half and our defense kept us in position to win games. I think everybody on our team realizes that for us to make the next step it's going to come by maintaining the level of offense that we had last year and becoming a top 10 defensive team.
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As of now, Portland has accomplished as much and then some in terms of being a top-10 defensive team. We’re barely a month into the season, but the Blazers have kept up a consistent effort defensively.
And against some of the NBA’s top competition to boot.
Whether it was keeping the Cleveland Cavaliers’ LeBron James to 11 points on Nov 4. or the 109.3-points-per-game Dallas Mavericks to just 87 points on 36.7 percent on Nov. 6, Portland is making it tough for its opponents.
It’ll be something to keep tabs on throughout the season, but the Blazers look to be the real deal defensively thus far.
Portland, We Have a Bench
This section should respectfully come with a big plywood sign bearing “Work In Progress” in bold lettering. And maybe even some caution tape.
After carting around a less than less-than-stellar bench last season (you read that right), the Blazers have had a moderately effective one thus far. But take note: The construction is still ongoing.
Per Hoops Stats, Portland’s reserve unit ranked last in minutes (13.7) and points per game (23.6) for the 2013-14 NBA season. It also checked in dead last in terms of overall efficiency with a 27.3 mark, shooting just 42 percent from the floor and 33.8 percent from three-point range.
Yet during an offseason highlighted by the signings of veterans Chris Kaman and Steve Blake along with the development of the younger players, the starting lineup has been able to rest easy (to a certain extent).
The Blazers bench is now up to No. 24 in both of the aforesaid categories, being let loose for 16 minutes per game en route to 27.4 points. The shooting has improved slightly, up to 44.3 percent from the field and a 40.3 percent mark from long range which ranks No. 1 in the league.
The biggest jump, however, can be seen in the bench’s overall effectiveness. After positioning 30th out of as many teams last year, Portland’s reserves currently place No. 15 with a 34.8 efficiency mark.
The improvement hasn’t been gargantuan (hence, keep your hardhats on), but the right tools are there for this group to build into a formidable unit.
Kaman has looked like an early Sixth Man of the Year candidate, posting his first double-double of 15 points and 10 rebounds against the New Orleans Pelicans on Nov. 17. He's averaging 10.7 points and 6.9 rebounds on 58 percent shooting for the season.
Blake, despite being 34 years of age, has been the Blazers’ best distributor so far. His shooting hasn’t been terrific, converting just 37.5 percent of his attempts, but his 36.8 clip from deep and 4.1 assists off the bench have kept the offense chugging along.
Blake currently leads all Portland players with a 2.65 assist-to-turnover ratio, ranking him 26th in the NBA in said category.
C.J. McCollum, averaging 5.9 points for the month of November, and Allen Crabbe, scoring 5.0 points per game since filling in for the injured Batum, have both been productive wing players.
Will “The Thrill” Barton and Thomas Robinson have remained their flashy, energetic selves, albeit without a high level of efficiency that would award increased or consistent playing time.
But the biggest surprise may very well be the play of third-year center Meyers Leonard.
Though he’s tied with teammate Dorell Wright for fewest games played this season at five, Leonard has shown flashes of improvement.
His No. 11 draft selection in 2012 brought high expectations, but it has taken time for the big man to develop. Though he stands an imposing 7’1”, Leonard has taken a different approach to this season.
As opposed to being the physical, back-to-the-basket big that many anticipated, he’s opted to transform his game as a stretch forward/center.
In his own words, courtesy of The Oregonian’s Jason Quick, Leonard addressed his shortcomings in certain areas:
"There was no point in trying to impress people in something that I was not that great at. I wanted to continue to work on defense and rebounding, but also be what they brought me in to do: Be skilled. Run the floor. Shoot the ball when you are open. Be athletic. Once coach started to see me shoot more threes after practice, and shoot them during camps, and in games and summer run ... that's when coach realized 'He can really help us.'
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He started in place of LaMarcus Aldridge (illness) against the Brooklyn Nets on Nov. 15, going for seven points and a career-best 12 rebounds in 30 minutes of play. Leonard also converted 1-of-3 three-point attempts on the night, playing as a shooter in the frontcourt to stretch out the Nets defense.
The big man has only played sparingly aside from his night against Brooklyn, but Leonard currently holds the team's fourth-best player efficiency rating at 19.9, trailing just Damian Lillard, Aldridge and Kaman.
It’s still early, so that mark could very well fluctuate as the season progresses. But it’s encouraging to see Leonard playing well and with confidence to commence the year, especially after two shaky seasons to start his NBA career.
In any case, the Blazers have a strong cohort of individuals coming off the bench every night. Each player brings something distinct and puts a different mark on the game, whether it’s the low-post play of Kaman, the shooting of McCollum and Leonard or the playmaking of Blake.
We’re just 11 games in to Portland’s season, though the play of the reserves has been largely consistent so far. There’s still another 71 games left on the schedule, which gives us plenty of time to toss out our protective gear and bask in the finished construction of the Blazers bench.
All Portland Trail Blazers' player stats courtesy of ESPN.com, unless otherwise noted.
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