Having fans at Moda Center for the now-completed homestand wasn’t the only reason the Trail Blazers were able to go 3-0, but it was certainly a contributing factor, especially when one considers they went 0-4 without fans in the previous homestand. After playing their first 28 home games in front of a small collection of players, coaches and staff, conditions pertaining to the COVID-19 pandemic improved enough to allow the Trail Blazers to bring fans back into the arena, albeit at a considerably reduced capacity.
But while regaining the advantage that comes with having some of the most devoted fans in the NBA in the building is certainly a welcomed change, especially as the Trail Blazers face a close race to avoid the play-in tournament in the last days of the 2020-21 season, it’s not the end all, be all for why some players in particular were especially interested in fans returning.