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NBA Power Rankings: The Boston Celtics are back, baby

By Ian Levy

BOSTON, MA - DECEMBER 6: Gordon Hayward #20 of the Boston Celtics looks on before the game between the Boston Celtics and the New York Knicks at TD Garden on December 6, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - DECEMBER 6: Gordon Hayward #20 of the Boston Celtics looks on before the game between the Boston Celtics and the New York Knicks at TD Garden on December 6, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
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PORTLAND, OR – DECEMBER 8: Jusuf Nurkic #27 and Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers talk with the media after the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on December 8, 2018 at the Moda Center Arena in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OR – DECEMBER 8: Jusuf Nurkic #27 and Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers talk with the media after the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on December 8, 2018 at the Moda Center Arena in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images) /

. 15-11. Previous: 19th. Portland Trail Blazers. 11. team. 34

The Trail Blazers went through a dramatic slide, losing eight of 11 games, before bouncing back wtih two consecutive wins to end this week, over Phoenix and Minnesota. Playing against the Suns can cure a lot of what’s ailing a struggling team but, as usual, it was Damian Lillard leading the charge to help the Blazers get right.

In his three games this week (those two wins and a nine-point loss to the Mavericks), Lillard averaged 28.7 points, 7.3 assists and 7.0 rebounds per game, shooting 40.9 percent from the field. He continues to be Portland’s ace of trump, the one player on the roster with the ability to catch fire and dig them out of any hole. Getting where they need to go in the playoffs is going to take him being at his best, and the depth playing as well as they did early in the season.

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