Portland Trail Blazers Are Still In The Hunt For The No. 8 Seed

Sporting a 13-20 record, the Blazers are just 1.5 games out of the No. 8 spot in the West and one of seven teams competing for the final playoff spot. SBNation's Tom Ziller includes theJazz,Pelicans,Kings,Nuggets,SunsandTimberwolvesalong with the Blazers inhis breakdown of why each team has a shot.

Ziller points out the West's relative lack of depth compared to recent years and the fact that the team that wins the No. 8 seed will most likely be the victim of a first-round sweep at the hand of theWarriors, but each still has something to play for. He has this to say about why the Blazers have a shot, why they don't, and why they would want to win the No. 8 seed:

Why They'll Win The Spot:Damian Lillardis a star,C.J. McCollumis legit and the Blazers have fully invested in a shooting-heavy attack that keeps them in practically every game. Also, Allen Crabbe's hair.

Why They Might Not:Broken record alert, but holy hell these teams chasing No. 8 having some bad defenses.Mason Plumleeknows where to be,Ed DavisandGerald Hendersonare solid andAl-Farouq Aminuis a big plus, but the rest of the rotation is filled with defensive minuses, including the high-scoring starting backcourt.Noah Vonlehis completely unproductive. There's just notquiteenough talent beyond Lillard, McCollum, Aminu, Davis and Crabbe's hair.

Why They Want It:To prove toLaMarcus Aldridgethat theyaregood enough, and gosh darn it, people like them.

Read Ziller's take on all seven teamshere.

The Blazers next playat home against the Denver Nuggets, another team on this list, on Wednesday, Dec. 30 at 7:00 p.m. PST. The game will be broadcast nationally on NBATV.

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