The Portland Trail Blazers went 2-2 this week with losses to the Orlando Magic and Los Angeles Clippers to start, then wins over the Boston Celtics and Dallas Mavericks to close it out.
There were a number
of standout performances this week, but rookie guard Caleb Love takes home the Blazer of the Week honor this time around.
Love averaged 18.3 points per game this week while shooting 50% from the field and 45.7% from behind the arc. This included a 24-point performance in the win over the Mavericks where he scored 12 points in the fourth quarter to help Portland survive a late push.
During his rookie season, Love has struggled with efficiency and shot selection. When those shots are falling, like this week, he adds a dynamic threat to the Blazers that they desperately need amid all their injuries. However, he is prone to having games where his shot is not falling. He clearly has the confidence to continue shooting even when it is not his night, sometimes to the detriment of the team, but it can also help pull himself out of a slump to contribute later in the game.
Love’s ability to go on a heater can help turn losses into wins. It happened earlier this year against the Golden State Warriors, and this week he was the only Blazer to consistently find the bottom of the basket from deep in the second half against Dallas. Having a player that can win a game as an undrafted rookie is not something to take for granted, even if most of his playing time is coming due to injuries. Whether or not Love can find a permanent spot in the rotation remains to be seen, but weeks like this are a serious point in his favor when Portland gets healthy.
This week’s honorable mention is Donovan Clingan.
Clingan averaged 13.5 points and 12.8 rebounds per game this week while shooting an incredibly efficient 69.7% from the field and making half of his 10 attempts from three. He is turning into a walking double-double for the Blazers and has continued to improve throughout the season. So far he is excelling in a roll where he is only tasked with taking easy shots off of dump-downs and offensive rebounds, while also being the formidable anchor of Portland’s defense. If he is able to add to his offensive repertoire with increased finishing abilities or post production, he will unlock another level entirely.
What Blazer impressed you the most this week? Let us know in the comments below!
