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#2 Damian Lillard
Damian Lillard was on fire before he suffered a groin strain. He has missed a bunch of games, and the Blazers have started to feel the heat.
The Blazers are currently sitting at the ninth place in the West, and with the Pelicans, Spurs, Kings, and Suns- all in the playoff contention, they need a winning run to make it to the playoffs this time around.
Currently averaging 29.5 points, 7.9 assists, and 1.0 steals a game, Lillard is the leader of this Blazers' group. His return to the squad will decide the fate for them.
#3 Russell Westbrook
Since Capela's exit from the Houston Rockets, Russell Westbrook has been on fire, offensively as well as defensively.
Going small-ball gives him the license to drive more to the basket and play his natural game. He has taken the load of scoring on his shoulders, giving Harden a breather.
If Westbrook continues his excellent run, the Rockets may end up in the third place on the table by the end of the regular season. Hence, giving them a chance to reach the Western Conference Finals and will prove that their small-ball experiment is successful up to much-extent.
Furthermore, people are expecting a Lakers-Clippers final in the West, but the Rockets (led by Harden- Westbrook) can shock the world by using their small-ball strategy.
