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REPORT – In this January 1, 2019 photo, New York Knicks center Enes Kanter jokes with his teammates during a stoppage in the first half of the NBA's basketball game against the Nuggets in Denver. Turkish prosecutors are seeking an international arrest warrant against Knicks player, Enes Kanter, accusing him of membership in a terrorist organization. (AP Photo / David Zalubowski, File)
The Portland Trail Blazers find themselves in about the same position as last season before the last stage of the series of stars.
They have just won a victory over Golden State, which boosts their confidence.
One thing is new this year, though. Before the break, the Blazers took some decisive action to consolidate their bench and help them propel themselves into the playoffs.
Portland will resume its season Thursday at the Brooklyn Nets, the first of a grueling boom on the road. The game will probably mark the debut of Enes Kanter's Blazers, signed just before the break.
The Knicks gave up Kanter after the trading deadline. Previously, he was moving to New York, but he came out of the rotation when the team turned to young players. Central Turkey averaged 14 points and 10.8 rebounds in 115 games in two seasons.
"As for the rotation, it should be fairly homogeneous, he will have five minutes of reserve," said Blazers coach Terry Stotts. "He's a proven NBA player, he can score, he can bounce, he's played in big games, so it should not be too difficult."
Kanter will join a second unit that currently includes Jake Layman, Seth Curry, Evan Turner and another newcomer, Rodney Hood. Acquired at the trade deadline in a contract with Cleveland, Hood played four games with the Blazers, averaging 9.72 points per game.
The changes give Portland a better depth as the team tackles the critical part of the season. The Blazers are 34-23 and fourth in the Western Conference. They are seven games behind the Golden State, who won 22 points last week.
"Entering the All-Star Game and being confident, knowing that we are beating one of the best teams, if not the best in the NBA, it's huge for us," said striker Zach Collins .
There are still 25 games, but for two years, the Blazers have organized rallies after the break.
Last year, Portland was 32-26, placing sixth in the West and also winning the Warriors. The win sparked a 13-game winning streak that helped the team secure the third-seeded West for a fifth consecutive playoff run. The sequence of the team is the franchise record.
The previous season, Portland had lost three straight games before the break to 23-33, and an overtime loss to Detroit shortly thereafter put the Blazers 11 games under the .500 mark. But Portland caught fire from there and went 13-3 in March. Damian Lillard was named the conference's player of the month, averaging 29.1 points in 16 games, and Stotts was named coach of the month.
After the last win over the Warriors, Lillard said he was pleased with the team's position for the rest of the season, even though he let out a few.
"I like it, I think it's better than in the past since the break," he said referring to the team's current record. "It's a big win at the beginning of the game, so it's positive, but obviously we're looking at the opportunities we've lost, the Dallas game, the Miami home game … But all things considered, just as we are. "
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