Sharp: Don't Fall Asleep on the Trail Blazers

An alarm clock just went off at Grantland.com and Andrew Sharp might have overslept on the Portland Trail Blazers for awhile. His wake-up call article came after watching the Blazers vs. Lakers on Monday night when Damian Lillard went off on a 4th quarter tear to compile 39 points and 5 assists for the game. With the Blazers sitting at 2nd best record in the West and one of the top defenses in the league Sharp has begun to see the light of day.

The Blazers' biggest weakness last season is one of their strengths nine months later. While the whole world gawks at the Warriors and Grizzlies at the top of the West playoff race, and then the Spurs and Thunder near the bottom, the Blazers are lurking suspiciously out of sight in the Pacific Northwest, with the most terrifying closer in basketball.

Another quiet tick of the clock sounded when Sharp mulled over Portland's bench.

Terry Stotts has one of the league's deepest benches, and he uses it better than just about anyone.

Hat tip to the relentless pursuit of Blazer news by Dan Graves in Fanshots.