After sending away the likes of Norman Powell, Robert Covington and CJ McCollum before the deadline, almost everyone assumed that the Portland Trail Blazers would swoop down in the second half of the season, competing with the Houston Rockets, Detroit Pistons and Orlando Magic. As a result, I did not expect that the Blazers had a new atmosphere, and the young players and new players in the squad were all holding their breath to prove themselves and show amazing combat effectiveness.
Against the Memphis Grizzlies, who are third in the West and have a neat lineup, they did not expect the Portland Trail Blazers to be upset again and laughed to the end. Since Lillard was injured, backcourt youngster Anfinni Simmons has started on top, but he did not expect him to perform really well, against the Grizzlies Anfinney Simmons again scored 31 points and 6 assists, showing the style of a general; starting center Nurkic also re-proved himself, efficiently cutting 32 points and 8 rebounds; even Justis Winslow, who has been plagued by serious injuries in recent years and does not play much, has scored 16 points, which is a dumpling. Of course, we can't forget Josh Hart, who scored 20+ points in three consecutive games against the Memphis Grizzlies, Josh Hart had a comprehensive stat of 22 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists, and the plus-minus of +19 was also the highest of all the players on both teams.
Everyone may have heard a saying, called the Lakers production, must be a boutique, and Josh Hart was in the early days of his career to play for the Lakers. In the 2017 draft, Josh Hart was selected by the Jazz with the 30th pick in the first round and was subsequently sent to the Lakers. Although he was a substitute in his rookie season, Josh Hart averaged 7.9 points and 4.2 rebounds per game, shooting nearly 50% from the field and more than 40% from three-point range. Although the 18-19 season suffered some ups and downs, and the Lakers were also worried about internal and external troubles, Josh Hart could still average 7.8 points and 3.7 rebounds per game, as a substitute player, it was decent.
Only in the summer of 2019, the Lakers and pelicans finally reached an agreement, "thick eyebrow brother" Anthony Davis still came to the Purple and Gold Army, while Josh Hart was packed and sent to the Pelicans with Langzo Ball, Brandon Ingram and multiple first-round picks, he just entered the NBA, experienced the cruelty of the business alliance. Of course, after joining the Pelicans, Josh Hart's performance is still very good, averaging 10.1 points and 6.5 rebounds per game in the 19-20 season, the improvement is very obvious, and he averaged double figures for the first time in his career. And last season Josh Hart's performance was also decent, averaging 9.2 points, 8 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game, to know that Josh Hart's height is relatively poor, and most of the time he plays the second position, but Josh Hart's rebounding ability, in the league's same position players, should be the top existence.
Josh Hart's rookie contract expired last summer, he became a free agent for the first time in his career, and most teams didn't lack his type of role at the time, so Josh Hart was snubbed and eventually renewed a three-year, $37 million contract with the New Orleans Pelicans. With the departure of the likes of Ronzo Ball and Eric Bledsoe, the Pelicans' backcourt position was vacant, so the team made Josh Hart in the starting lineup in the first half of the season, which was also the first time in his career for the latter. Josh Hart was particularly competitive, averaging 13.4 points, 7.8 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game, a career-high.
However, before the deadline to get CJ McCollum, Josh Hart was once again abandoned by the team as part of the chip, this time the new owner became the Portland Trail Blazers. Although he only played 3 games after joining, Josh Hart was really brave, making his debut against the New York Knicks, Josh Hart scored 23 points. Immediately after the Trail Blazers against defending champion Milwaukee Bucks, Josh Hart shot 10-of-16, including five three-pointers, and blasted 27 points, seven rebounds and five assists throughout the game. Coupled with the game against the Grizzlies, since Josh Hart joined the Blazers, he can average 24 points, 5 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game, Josh Hart shot more than 60% from the field, 52% from three-point range, and the Blazers have not lost a single game. Josh Hart, 26, seems to be getting to his peak, and the Blazers have found a fairly good piece of the puzzle.
This season's competitive situation in the West is not as intense as in the past, except for the top 6, the strength of other teams is somewhat average, and the gap in record is not so large. The Trail Blazers have cemented their 10th place in the West with a winning streak during this period, and according to the current ranking, they are eligible for this season's playoffs. And the Blazers will now look scrappy, coupled with the Los Angeles Double Male Lakers and Clippers are seriously injured, the Minnesota Timberwolves are too young to drop the chain, theoretically the Blazers even have the opportunity to continue to improve the ranking. In that case, the Blazers will also become the most surprising team in the league, not only gaining some future assets, but also allowing the league's young players to grow rapidly, and their competitiveness is not too bad.