The injury bug has taken a bite out of the Portland Trail Blazers recently and in a big way.
Not only did they lose their starting center, Robin Lopez, yesterday they also lost their All-Star forward LaMarcus Aldridge and now they might have lost their do-it-all wing forward, Nicolas Batum last night against the Boston Celtics.
Not like them losing in the last second wasn’t bad enough.
From Eric Grundersen of the Columbian.
Nicolas Batum wearing a brace on his right wrist following the game.
— Erik Gundersen (@blazerbanter) January 23, 2015
This just straight up stinks for Portland. It’s horrible to seem as talented as the Blazers having to fight off all these injuries and forcing guys who usually aren’t starters to step in and take big roles. Chris Kaman, Thomas Robinson and Allen Crabbe are all going to have to step in the starting lineup while their back court duo of Damian Lillard and Wesley Matthews will have to step up immensely in the absence of these main guys from the team.
They currently sit at third in the Western Conference standings after the loss last night but they need to tread lightly in the ever tough Western Conference as a slip in 5 games could move them from number a 3 seed all the way down to an 8 seed or even out of the playoff picture all together.
Lillard time is now and Damian is on the clock.
