PORTLAND, Ore. – Fresh off their first game back in town, a 112-99 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies, the Blazers welcome rookie phenom Andrew Wiggins and the Minnesota Timberwolves to the Moda Center Sunday night.
One could argue that the Blazers, who had won nine in a row before Friday’s loss, could be ripe for an upset. Unfortunately for the T-Wolves, playing in Portland hasn’t exactly been hospitable as of late.
Dating back to April of 2012, the Blazers have won five in a row at home, and are 39-11 all-time in the Rose City against the Timberwolves.
On paper, at least, the lopsidedness seems likely to continue.
The two teams could not be off to more polarizing starts this season. Portland, winners of nine of their last 10, is 12-4, and leads the Northwest division comfortably. Minnesota, who had lost four straight before defeating the Lakers Friday night, sit at 4-10 and are deep in rebuilding mode.
Like the Blazers, the Timberwolves trot out a good starting lineup, led by Kevin Martin and Wiggins. They feature a bruising center in Nikloa Pekovic, a dynamic wing in Corey Brewer, and a veteran off the bench in ex-Blazer Mo Williams.
The problem is, the talent has not translated into wins.
After dealing All-Star Kevin Love to the Cavaliers – you may have heard something about it – and acquiring Wiggins and former No. 1 pick Anthony Bennett, the Timberwolves took a step back, expectations-wise. Losing Love will do that.
Now, throw in injuries to starting point guard Ricky Rubio, and you have their disappointing start.
For Portland, things have been exactly the opposite. Seemingly gelling by the day, the Blazers know who they are, where they’re going, and are feasting on teams who don’t – which is a category Minnesota falls deeply into.
Led by LaMarcus Aldridge and his 21 points per game, Portland is scoring at a Terry Stotts-esque pace (104 per game), and have seemingly found an identity on defense. Before the Memphis game, Portland had been allowing their opponents to shoot just 42% from the field, good for third in the league.
It hasn’t been one thing or another that has worked; this is just a team firing on all cylinders.
They have shooters (Damian Lillard and Wesley Matthews are both top-5 in the league in 3-point shooting), bolstered by a steady bench led by Chris Kaman (11 points) and Steve Blake (nearly 5 assists). More than anything, however, they know each other.
It is exactly what the organization envisioned when the season began. The plan was to simply build on the success of last season. They tweaked instead of over-hauled. They grew within instead of disrupting chemistry. Most of all, they trusted in the system, the GM, the coaches and the players.
While it’s still early, all appears to be going to plan. And taking care of business at home, against a Timberwolves squad that is only 2-5 on the road, is just one more step in the maturation process. Elite teams get it done when expected, and that is Portland’s next goal – to be elite.
Sunday night, while still early in the season, is the type of game that goes a long way toward deciding what type of team the Blazers can be.