With about six minutes remaining in the second quarter of the Portland Trail Blazers’ 111-92 win Friday night over the Los Angeles Clippers, Norman Powell found himself on the weakside covering his man in the right corner.
The Blazers led 36-26 at the Moda Center and Clippers forward Paul George was running a pick and roll near the top of the key with 7-foot center Ivica Zubac.
Blazers center Cody Zeller blitzed George after he moved past the pick and that allowed Zubac to shoot into the lane uncovered. George elevated over Zeller and made a two-hand pass to Zubac, who appeared to have an easy path to a dunk.
That was before the 6-3 Powell, who missed the team’s previous two games with a knee injury, made his move to the lane. He left his man in the corner when he saw the pass to Zubac and moved into position to defend the rim. Both men elevated at the same time but Powell with his long reach got higher and blocked Zubac’s dunk attempt.
That play highlighted a second quarter for Powell in which he scored a team-high nine points on 3-of-5 shooting with three threes. He finished the game with just 12 points on the night but his presence was felt throughout the evening.
“It was great to have Norm back out there,” Portland coach Chauncey Billups said. “He’s such a knockdown shooter.”
Powell didn’t much enjoy being sidelined for two games after injuring his knee in the second quarter of the team’s 134-105 win over Phoenix on Oct. 23.
“I really hate sitting out for whatever reason,” Powell said. “I always think I can play. But I trust in the medical staff and trust in the process and making sure that I’m 100%.”
He had hoped to return for the team’s win Wednesday over Memphis after missing Monday’s loss at the LA Clippers.
“It was up in the air, we talked about it,” Powell said with a smile.
Billups told Powell prior to the Grizzlies game that he appreciated his optimism. Powell tested out the knee before the game but said that the team’s medical staff thought it best to sit out one more game which would mean two more days of rest.
By Friday, he felt fully ready to go with no limitations. However, at one point in the third quarter, Powell began limping.
Billups asked: “Are you alright?”
Powell replied, “Yes,” and asked why he asked.
“Every time I see you limping, I’m scared,” Billups told Powell. “Like, I’ve got to take you out.”
Scared because Billuups knows the Blazers need Powell to be that third scorer on the floor who takes some of the pressure off of Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum. Also to be that third guy on the court capable of both hitting outside shots or getting to the basket. And, of course, playing defense both on his man and coming from the weakside to block the dunk attempts of big men.
Powell expects bigger games ahead, but after missing two outings, he is simply glad that the injury wasn’t more serious.
“It felt good to be back out there and compete with the guys again,” Powell said.
The Blazers start a three-game trip Sunday at Charlotte (4-2).
-- Aaron Fentress | afentress@Oregonian.com | @AaronJFentress (Twitter), @AaronJFentress (Instagram), @AaronFentress (Facebook).
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