The Portland Trail Blazers 2017–18 were built around the dynamic backcourt of Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum, whose scoring and shot creation fueled one of the league’s most efficient offenses. Jusuf Nurkić provided interior scoring, rebounding, and rim protection, while Al-Farouq Aminu added defensive versatility and work on the glass. The statistics reflect a balanced team that combined efficient offense with strong defensive play and disciplined execution.
Offensive engine for the 2017–18 Portland Trail Blazers, ranking top-five in MVP voting while commanding elite on-ball usage. His deep pull-up range (3.1 3PM per game) forced high pick-and-roll coverage, stretching defenses beyond standard drop schemes. Shot .916 from the line, maximizing late-game efficiency and closing value.
MVP-4, All-Star, All-NBA First Team
CJ McCollum
Starter/Star [1.1]
36.1
High [1.2]
21.4
4.0
3.4
1.4
79.46
Primary perimeter shot creator alongside Lillard; leveraged mid-range footwork and off-dribble scoring to punish switches. His 39.7% three-point shooting maintained spacing symmetry in dual-guard lineups and stabilized half-court sets.
Jusuf Nurkić
Starter/Star [1.1]
26.4
Medium [1.1]
14.3
9.0
1.8
2.2
65.58
Interior anchor who provided rim protection (1.4 BPG) and physical screening presence. Anchored paint defense and facilitated elbow actions in Terry Stotts’ offense, creating inside-out balance for perimeter shooters.
DPOY-15
Al-Farouq Aminu
Starter/Star [1.1]
30.0
Medium [1.1]
9.3
7.6
1.2
1.7
47.67
Defensive specialist deployed against top wings; improved perimeter volume (4.9 3PA) to space the floor. Strong defensive rebounding (6.2 DRB) supported transition flow and lineup versatility.
Evan Turner
Key Contributor [1.05]
25.7
Medium [1.1]
8.2
3.1
2.2
1.0
33.15
Hybrid forward-guard used as secondary facilitator; operated in mid-post isolations and bench playmaking units. Provided lineup stability during staggered guard rotations.
Shabazz Napier
Key Contributor [1.05]
20.7
Medium [1.1]
8.7
2.3
2.0
1.3
32.80
Backup point guard who supplied scoring bursts and perimeter shooting (37.6% from three). Added ball pressure defensively (1.1 SPG), enabling tempo shifts in reserve units.
Ed Davis
Key Contributor [1.05]
18.9
Low [1.0]
5.3
7.4
0.5
1.1
29.82
Elite rebounder off the bench; offensive glass activity (2.3 ORB) generated second-chance scoring. High-efficiency finisher (.582 FG) within limited offensive scope.
Maurice Harkless
Key Contributor [1.05]
21.4
Medium [1.1]
6.5
2.7
0.9
1.5
26.75
Two-way wing contributor; 41.5% from three on moderate volume provided spacing lift. Defensive stocks (1.5) highlighted role in switch-heavy alignments.
Zach Collins
Bench [1.0]
15.8
Medium [1.1]
4.4
3.3
0.8
0.8
20.46
Rookie big integrated for developmental minutes; flashed weak-side rim protection and pick-and-pop spacing within structured second units.
Pat Connaughton
Bench [1.0]
18.1
Low [1.0]
5.4
2.0
1.1
0.6
18.20
Athletic reserve wing; provided transition finishing and perimeter depth while maintaining rotational defensive assignments.
Noah Vonleh
Bench [1.0]
14.4
Low [1.0]
3.6
5.1
0.4
0.5
19.20
Depth rebounder whose physicality supported interior defense; limited offensive usage centered on put-backs and short roll touches.
Wade Baldwin
Bench [1.0]
11.4
Low [1.0]
5.4
1.1
0.7
0.4
15.20
Small-sample guard minutes; aggressive downhill driver with efficient shooting in limited appearances.
Meyers Leonard
Bench [1.0]
7.7
Low [1.0]
3.4
2.1
0.5
0.2
12.40
Stretch-five option; high eFG% (.660) reflected selective perimeter attempts and pick-and-pop spacing role.
Caleb Swanigan
Bench [1.0]
7.0
Low [1.0]
2.3
2.0
0.5
0.3
10.20
Reserve forward utilized for physical rebounding stints; development-focused rotation role.
Georgios Papagiannis
Bench [1.0]
4.0
Low [1.0]
2.0
1.0
0.0
2.0
10.00
Brief appearance showcased interior size and shot contesting in extremely limited minutes.
Jake Layman
Bench [1.0]
4.6
Low [1.0]
1.0
0.5
0.3
0.3
4.20
End-of-rotation wing; developmental floor spacer in minimal usage role.
TOTALS
—
240.9
—
105.6
45.5
19.5
12.2
—
The 2017–18 Blazers built a guard-centric offensive model around high-volume pick-and-roll creation and perimeter shooting (36.6% team 3PT). Balanced interior defense and rebounding (45.5 RPG) supported a 49-win season driven by backcourt scoring gravity and structured half-court execution.
Operated as the primary offensive engine in this 2018 Western Conference First Round series for the Portland Trail Blazers against the New Orleans Pelicans. Generated elite shot quality off pull-ups and mid-range isolations, posting a .591 eFG% while absorbing top perimeter defensive attention. Functioned as the only consistent half-court scorer when trapping schemes forced the ball out of high pick-and-roll actions.
Damian Lillard
Starter/Star [1.1]
40.5
High [1.2]
18.5
4.5
4.8
1.3
76.03
Faced aggressive blitz and trap coverage from Jrue Holiday and Anthony Davis in this playoff matchup, limiting efficiency (.415 eFG%). Despite suppressed scoring efficiency, maintained primary creation responsibilities, spacing gravity beyond the arc and initiating nearly all late-clock actions. Turnover spike (4.0 TOV) reflects defensive pressure applied to Portland’s central offensive hub.
Al-Farouq Aminu
Starter/Star [1.1]
32.8
Medium [1.1]
17.3
9.0
1.3
1.5
70.18
Delivered high-leverage two-way production, stretching the floor at 43.3% from three while anchoring defensive rebounding (9.0 RPG). Operated as a release valve against trap-heavy schemes, capitalizing on kick-out spacing opportunities and maintaining defensive versatility across frontcourt assignments.
Jusuf Nurkić
Starter/Star [1.1]
23.5
Medium [1.1]
11.8
8.0
1.0
2.8
57.23
Interior presence provided physical screening and rim protection (1.3 BPG), but struggled with matchup mobility versus New Orleans’ pace-and-space alignment. Offensive role centered on paint touches and second-chance creation (3.0 ORB), with limited perimeter involvement.
Evan Turner
Starter/Star [1.1]
29.0
Medium [1.1]
9.3
4.0
3.3
1.3
43.08
Utilized as a secondary initiator to relieve ball pressure on Lillard. Functioned in mid-post and short-roll playmaking actions, contributing connective passing (3.3 APG) but with limited scoring efficiency (.394 eFG%). Defensive versatility allowed cross-matching across wing positions.
Zach Collins
Bench [1.0]
17.5
Medium [1.1]
7.0
3.0
1.5
1.3
28.16
Rookie frontcourt contributor provided weak-side rim contests and pick-and-pop spacing (3.5 3PA per game). Defensive activity (0.8 SPG, 0.5 BPG) reflected rotational energy role within second units.
Maurice Harkless
Key Contributor [1.05]
26.5
Medium [1.1]
8.0
4.0
2.0
0.5
28.02
Two-way wing tasked with defending multiple perimeter matchups while supplying opportunistic scoring. Efficient inside the arc (71.4% on twos) and functioned primarily as a cutter and transition finisher rather than a primary spacer.
Ed Davis
Key Contributor [1.05]
17.8
Low [1.0]
2.8
8.0
0.0
0.3
23.33
Elite rebounding specialist off the bench, generating second-chance possessions (1.3 ORB per game in limited minutes). Offensive role restricted to rim runs and put-backs, with defensive value anchored in positional interior containment.
Shabazz Napier
Bench [1.0]
17.5
Medium [1.1]
5.5
1.0
1.5
1.5
20.90
Backup guard inserted to provide ball-handling stability against perimeter pressure. Defensive activity (1.5 SPG) notable, though turnover rate (3.0 TOV) reflected high-risk playmaking in compressed playoff rotations.
Jake Layman
Bench [1.0]
8.0
Low [1.0]
6.0
1.0
1.0
2.0
20.00
Limited appearance but flashed athletic finishing and transition impact, converting all field goal attempts. Defensive event creation (2.0 SPG) occurred in small-sample minutes.
Pat Connaughton
Bench [1.0]
14.8
Low [1.0]
4.0
1.0
1.5
0.6
14.20
Depth wing providing floor spacing and rotational perimeter defense. Role centered on maintaining structural spacing in bench-heavy lineups rather than primary scoring.
Meyers Leonard
Bench [1.0]
4.0
Low [1.0]
4.0
2.0
0.0
0.0
12.00
Extremely limited deployment; utilized as a stretch big in short stints, converting all attempts but without sustained rotational impact.
Caleb Swanigan
Bench [1.0]
8.0
Low [1.0]
3.0
2.0
1.0
0.0
12.00
Brief frontcourt minutes emphasizing physicality and rebounding fundamentals; offensive contribution derived primarily from free-throw opportunities.
Wade Baldwin
Bench [1.0]
4.8
Low [1.0]
1.0
0.8
0.8
0.6
6.40
End-of-rotation guard minutes; limited usage with sporadic perimeter attempts and low-possession impact profile.
TOTALS
—
240.0
—
105.5
43.5
19.0
12.1
—
The 2018 playoff series exposed Portland’s guard-centric offensive dependency. New Orleans’ trapping scheme disrupted primary pick-and-roll flow, forcing secondary creators into expanded roles. Despite efficient wing shooting and strong defensive rebounding stretches, half-court stagnation and turnover pressure defined the series outcome.
