Ranking the Trail Blazers' 10 Best Highlights of the 2014-15 Season So Far

With their methodical offense and tight defense, the Portland Trail Blazers don’t exhibit a ton of highlight plays. A few gems can be found here and there, but this squad doesn’t regularly display the attraction a team like the Los Angeles Clippers or the Golden State Warriors do.

As such, it makes those precious moments of entertainment all that more cherished.

We’re only about a quarter of the way through the season, so there’s plenty of time left to bear witness to more highlights, but let’s take a look at the 10 best from Portland early on.

The highlights are ordered in terms of their significance, while the overall entertainment value acts as the presiding factor to separate everything after that.

Some are key in-game moments, while others are of a completely different nature.

But whatever category you’d place them under, they’re all highlights from your Trail Blazers.

Let’s take a look.

10. Robin Lopez's Bench Celebrations

David Zalubowski/Associated Press

Move over, Kent Bazemore.

The Atlanta Hawks guard was renowned for his bench celebrations during his tenure with the Golden State Warriors, even to the extent that the folks over at 2K Sports called him up to do some motion-capture work for the release of NBA 2K14.

Next up to do some mo-cap should be Robin Lopez.

Over the past few weeks, Lopez has been caught in various acts of celebration. Some have been as casual as a slow clap, while others have been as wild as this weird scissor-kick or just straight up losing his balance.

But through it all, the big man has pulled them off while lying on the sideline with a couple of towels. It doesn’t look overly comfortable, but to each their own.

There are many games ahead, so keep an eye on Lopez the next time a three-point shot or a dunk ignites Portland’s offense. Lopez will probably do the same for the crowd.

Albeit, on the bench.

9. Wesley Matthews Goes for 28 Points on 6 Threes

It's like the saying goes: All good things come in threes.

The above video highlights just one game, but Wesley Matthews was on fire to close out November.

Over his last three games of the month, Matthews averaged 25.7 points and on 61.4 percent shooting, with his best work coming from three-point range.

The aggressive 2-guard knocked down 19 three-point field goals over that span, averaging 6.3 makes on 61.3 percent from beyond the arc.

He currently ranks No. 2 in both three-point field goals made and attempted, en route to a career-best 17.1 points per game. In addition, Matthews leads all NBA guards with at least 100 field-goal attempts in shooting percentage inside the arc, per ESPN.

Matthews’ shooting has been key for the Blazers all season, as he’s emerged as a true scoring option for the team. His outside touch and an underrated post-up game have allowed Portland to spread the offense every time down.

Matthews is entering a contract year, with his deal expiring at the end of this season. With play like this, his phone is sure to be abuzz with contract offers.

Let’s just hope the most enticing one comes from the Blazers.

8. LaMarcus Aldridge Drops 39 Points on the Denver Nuggets

LaMarcus Aldridge might be shooting a career-low 44.1 percent this season, but you wouldn’t know it from games like this.

After crushing the Denver Nuggets by double digits in two other contests this season, Portland needed every one of Aldridge’s 39 points on Dec. 2. There wasn’t any select play that was a highlight, rather that the big man’s play over the course of the game was just as spectacular as any highlight.

The Nuggets struggled to contain the All-Star’s offense, not quite learning to close out on his jumper. Time and time again, Aldridge swished through attempts on a night where he shot 16-of-30 from the field.

He even (spoiler alert for down the track in our list) dropped a pass inside to Robin Lopez for the game-winning shot.

Aldridge has struggled here and there this season, but it’s imperative for him to remain that scoring presence for the Blazers, as to keep the offense running smoothly. He’s just too proficient scoring in the post and shooting from the outside, as opposing defenses just can’t afford to sag off in case he gets going.

From there, his teammates can get theirs too. But against Denver, Aldridge was determined to score.

And that he did.

7. Damian Lillard and LaMarcus Aldridge Combine for 54 Points

Man, it must be nice to be the Blazers.

There aren’t too many game-changing talents in the NBA, but Portland is able to boast two of them in its grasp.

Damian Lillard and LaMarcus Aldridge are both dynamic scoring options, changing the flow of the Blazers offense and the opposing defense. It always seems that if one is having a cold shooting night, the other is able to get hot.

The Charlotte Hornets saw both of them get hot on Nov. 11, as Portland’s All-Star tandem combined for 54 points in a comeback 102-100 victory.

A 27-point fourth quarter brought the team back to win, with Lillard and Aldridge running circles around Charlotte’s defense. They combined to shoot 22-of-42 on the night, with the Blazers point guard going 5-of-8 from beyond the arc.

Aldridge also snagged 14 rebounds as Lillard picked up seven assists in an effort that exhibited the true skill of Portland’s best players. There’s little doubt both will once again make appearances during the NBA’s favorite weekend this season, but there’s still a ways before that.

Until then, we can bask in plenty of joint performances like this.

6. Allen Crabbe Posterizes Tony Snell

Allen Crabbe had a relatively quiet start to his NBA career. But no more.

Not after his slam over the Chicago Bulls’ Tony Snell.

The swingman played in just 15 games last season, but has surpassed that total already with 17 games played this year. Crabbe has become a regular rotation player for the Blazers in C.J. McCollum’s absence, chipping in 4.8 points on 46 percent shooting from the field, 40 percent from three-point land and 87.5 percent from the free-throw line.

After a perfect outlet pass from Wesley Matthews, Crabbe rubbed Chicago’s nose in their 20-point deficit by dunking over Snell. He looked to come down hard after the play, but was fine afterwards.

Per Basketball Reference, Portland ranks just No. 22 in total dunks at 53 for the season.

But courtesy of Crabbe, this was one to remember.

5. Damian Lillard Throws It Down off the Inbounds Pass

Speaking of dunks…

It’s rare to see this type of play in the NBA, let alone from a point guard. We’ve grown accustomed to seeing power forwards or centers look to dunk it through from an inbounds pass, normally with too little time left on the shot clock to run a play.

But with 18 seconds left in the possession, Portland went for it.

And it worked.

Credit to head coach Terry Stotts for having the buoyancy to draw it up, as opposed to running a set play out of the timeout.

Nicolas Batum’s lob to Damian Lillard connected perfectly, much to the dismay of the Minnesota Timberwolves’ home crowd. The Blazers point guard has long been known for his athletic ability around the rim, especially as a dunker.

Don’t forget (or do forget depending on your opinion of the format), Lillard was a member of the Slam Dunk Contest last season. With more plays like this, he could potentially make a return.

That is, if the NBA figures out what format to stick with.

4. LaMarcus Aldridge Becomes No. 2 All-Time Scorer for the Blazers

“I want to be the best Blazer — ever.”

In his own words, per Joe Freeman of The Oregonian, LaMarcus Aldridge made it clear what goals he keeps while he wears a Portland uniform. He absolutely has the ability to do so, and inched closer to a milestone on Dec. 9 against the Detroit Pistons.

On a step-back trey to end the first quarter, Aldridge moved into second place on the Blazers’ all-time scoring list. The big man surpassed historic guard Terry Porter on the jumper, breaking a tie for No. 2 as he now stands alone behind Portland’s leading scorer in Clyde Drexler.

Aldridge presently trails “The Glide” by 6,683 points, courtesy of Basketball Reference, but could feasibly reach that milestone before his career is over. At age 29, he still has a decent amount of basketball left before he hangs ‘em up.

Aldridge spoke about the record and his future with the team, per Freeman:

"

If I stay the rest of my career, I should be able to catch Clyde by then. I should be able to leave a mark on a big-time franchise that is going to be seen forever. And I will be able to say I played here my whole career. This city has embraced me and grown with me. I have so much history, it just makes sense to stay.

"

With all the Blazers’ recent success, you’d have to be optimistic that the big man opts to remain with the team going forward. Especially given Aldridge’s mindset to the game and the city of Portland.

3. Robin Lopez Hits the Game-Winner for Portland

Remember that spoiler alert from earlier?

LaMarcus Aldridge carried his team to the finish line, before letting Robin Lopez do the formalities and pass over it.

Credit to Aldridge for the pass, but an even bigger nod to Lopez for handling the nearly-intercepted pass and gathering himself before laying in the game-winning shot.

Once again, the play set up by Stotts worked excellently.

The majority of the NBA world would have expected Aldridge to attempt one of his patented mid-range shots to win, but he immediately looked to pass down low courtesy of what his coach had drawn up.

Portland has won quite a few close games this season, whether it’s been by means of a comeback or just staying the course until the final buzzer. Lillard and Aldridge have had their share of game-winning shots (here’s looking at you, Houston), but the Blazers had someone else get the job done this time around.

And it just happened to be RoLo.

2. Robin Lopez Slams It Home over Andrew Bogut

There he is again.

Robin Lopez has fit right in since joining the Blazers, and continues to win the fans’ approval. Doing all the little things like hustling, rebounding and defending will do that for you.

Dunking all over the opposing defense can’t hurt either.

Lopez was left all alone at the top of the key on this play, and rather than waiting for one of his teammates to emerge for an open shot, he took things into his own hands.

The result was a heavy slam over Golden State Warriors center Andrew Bogut, which even drew a reaction from the Warriors’ bench (if you watch closely).

Lopez, despite ranking No. 31 in total dunks this season, per CBS Sports, isn't usually known as a dunker. Due to his relative lack of speed and low-to-the-ground game, this slam definitely took everyone by surprise.

Though he would later be a victim of a dunk by Golden State’s Klay Thompson, Lopez was sure to provide some clarification between the two. 

Protip: Don’t use the word “steamrolled” around RoLo.

1. Steve Blake Loses Evan Turner...Twice

Ah, poor Evan Turner.

It’s one thing to embarrass a player by crossing him up. It’s another thing to do it twice in the same game.

Especially when he’s 26 years old, and you’re hitting 35 in the next few months.

The Blazers’ Steve Blake took the Boston Celtics’ Turner to school in Portland’s 94-88 victory on Nov. 23.

Blake lost Turner on a crossover before ducking inside and passing to fellow reserve Chris Kaman for an easy layup. He then used the exact same move in the exact same spot the very next possession down, but this time the veteran pulled up from beyond the arc to knock down a jumper and close out the third quarter in style.

Portland surely didn’t expect Blake to pull off such moves when signing him, though he’s been a terrific reserve for the Blazers so far.

His 4.5 points and 4.4 assists on 36.5 percent shooting don’t look like much on paper, but Blake leads all reserve players in assists, per Basketball Reference, with a total of 97. Manu Ginobili of the San Antonio Spurs checks in at No. 2, but a little ways behind at 84 assists.

In addition, Blake currently checks in with the 10th-best assist-to-turnover ratio in the NBA at 3.34. An assist-to-turnover ratio measures how many assists a player can dish out before a miscue. In short, Blake has been one of the league’s top distributors to this point.

That might go unnoticed though.

What Blake did to Turner’s ankles (and self-esteem), however, did not.