TUALATIN, Ore. — The Portland Trail Blazers feel as though they’re starting to be more consistent defensively and the next few games will be an opportunity to prove that they have.
Following their third straight win of 15 points or more, the Blazers now turn their attention toward doing something they haven’t done all season: have a win streak of four games or more.
They’ve played improved defense over the homestead by shutting down Charlotte and Sacramento while also blowing out the Lakers, who don’t even attempt to play defense.
It’s clear that the Blazers have had a heightened focus on attention to details, even changing schemes from game to game.
Their change in scheme Friday to adjust for the shooting ability of Charlotte’s big men led to confusion early on and a few open shooters.
But over the course of the rest of the game, the Blazers adjustment in scheme and execution of said adjustment led to a well below-average night for the Hornets offense.
“I think we’re getting better as far as player personnel, tendencies, having a plan individually and collectively,” Blazers coach Terry Stotts said.
The added practice time has helped the Blazers have more time to put their strategies in practice.
“We’ve had more practices in the last 10 days than we’ve had in the entire month before,” Stotts said. “They’ve been good, competitive, practice live. You’re able to work on things rather than just talk about things.”
It also could be that the Blazers are benefiting from being at home.
They’ve gone 8-5 over the course of a home-heavy January and have not played good defense, but improved defense after a brutal December where they posted a defensive rating of 107.8.
“I think we’re becoming a little more physical, being a little more in tune,” Stotts said. “The difference between good defense and average defense is consistency. That’s been our goal all season — to become more consistent.”
They’ll have a couple of more chances to show if that consistency can hold up against a couple of below average offenses in Minnesota (Sunday) and Milwaukee (Tuesday) before taking on the Raptors (Thursday) who are sixth in the NBA in offensive rating.
Tightening the rotation
Moe Harkless has been the odd man out of Stotts’ rotation in the last three games.
Although Stotts has been hesitant to make any definitive declaration about a rotation, it’s evident by his substitutions that Harkless in the odd man out.
In Harkless’ stead, there has been an increase in minutes for starting power forward Noah Vonleh and for Gerald Henderson.
Harkless got his first “DNP” of the season on Friday against Charlotte.
He was diagnosed with right knee tendonitis a few weeks ago during the team’s East Coast road trip. But as he’s not been listed on subsequent injury reports. He’s simply been a healthy scratch.
