Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers.
At the end of last season, the Portland Trail Blazers were on a roll. Playing their final regular-season games in the Orlando Bubble, Portland rallied to win seven of nine games and land the Western Conference’s eighth playoff seed. Star point guard Damian Lillard elevated his game to an MVP level to make it happen.
While Dame Time grabbed the headlines, he wasn’t alone. For the first time all season, the Portland Trail Blazers had their entire starting lineup healthy. In addition to Lillard, CJ McCollum also nailed more than his fair share of trifectas from the backcourt. Carmelo Anthony was vintage Melo at times, and his experience was invaluable. The frontcourt big man duo of Jusuf Nurkic and Zach Collins came back from their respective long-term injuries and played well together. They showed a great ability to score points, move the ball in transition, and work the glass.
Portland’s bench was pretty good too. Swingman Gary Trent Jr. had a breakthrough. He shot over 50 percent from three-point range and averaged 16.1 points per game. Hassan Whiteside, the league’s number two rebounder, played well in a reserve role until Collins went down with another injury. Then he was his usual board crashing self as a starter. Anfernee Simons and Wenyen Gabriel had their moments as well.
Although it came at a different time of year, the Blazers had a very good offseason. They traded for 3-and-D forward Robert Covington and backup center Enes Kanter, resigned Anthony and Rodney Hood, and added Derrick Jones Jr., and Harry Giles III as free agents.
Even with high expectations, there are still many unknowns with this team. We asked our regular basketball writers Chip Clark, Chris Phillips, Teresa Powe, and Ed Stein a few questions about the Portland Trail Blazers and how they will do in the 2020-21 season.
There is no reason to doubt Damian Lillard’s ability to dominate the competition every night. For Me, the better question is should he play the entire season as he did in the bubble. That answer is no. Spread the wealth. As long as Portland wins games, it doesn’t matter if Dame goes off for 60. My stance holds until the playoffs. At that point, Dame Time takes over.
I don’t see Dame playing a full 72 games at the elite level that he did in the bubble. Lillard can probably do it for a month. But it will also take a big toll on him if he’s forced to play that way for the entire season.
I don’t believe Dame Lillard can play with the intensity he had in Orlando. He shouldn’t have to. First, when the Blazers arrived at the bubble they were in ninth place in the West. They had to play in a mini-playoff to get to that eighth seed. Nine games and a 7-2 record. Secondly, Dame had to score to bring those wins home.
He had one 60-point game, one 50-point game, two 40s, and four 30s. Dame played more minutes (494) than any other bubble player. That was over just 12 games, including the play-in and three playoff games against the Lakers.
It’s possible for Dame to play the season like he did in the bubble. For years we’ve seen that he can play at All-Star/MVP level. In the bubble, Lillard was able to completely lock-in and feast on other teams. In the end, it really just depends if Dame wants to play that way all season.
This is a tough question. You could make a good case for several players. For regular season game-to-game success, I’ll go with Zach Collins. He plays well with Jusuf Nurkic and gives the Trail Blazers two legit bigs for other teams to defend. Long term, as in going on a deep playoff run, it’s Anfernee Simons / Gary Trent Jr. The more rest Dame and CJ McCollum can get during the regular season, the more spring they’ll have in the postseason.
It’s Robert Covington. For what the Portland Trail Blazers gave up to acquire him, he HAS to be the third guy. Some might say Nurkic, but he’s just a piece. RoCo will be the man asked to make open shots and defend a multitude of positions.
In my opinion, the most important player after the “dynamic duo” is Jusef Nurkic. Last season the Blazers signed Hassan Whiteside because Nurkic was injured. Whiteside now plays for the Phoenix Suns. Nurkic is what the team needs because he makes everyone else better. He is their anchor. From his center position, Nurkic scores points, rebounds on both sides of the floor, and with his passing, makes sure his teammates can also score.
Nurkic is by far the most important other than the dynamic duo. His ability to control the paint and rebound brings another dimension to the Portland Trail Blazers. When Nurk plays well, the team plays well. As long as he’s healthy, the big man helps amplify everyone else’s game.
A realistic total is 48 to 50 wins. Whether the Blazers win the Northwest Division with that win-total probably depends on Denver’s performance. How fast do the Nuggets continue their climb up the ladder? Probably, not that fast, so I’d put my money on Portland. Nobody else in the Division wins over 44 games.
Before watching the preseason, I would have said 50 games. While I don’t put much stock in preseason, their lackluster performance gives me pause. So I’ll say 45. Yes, that’s enough to win the Northwest Division.
The amount of games the Blazers win depends on how well they can do against the Denver Nuggets and the Utah Jazz. If they can’t somehow win or at least split their series with these two teams, they will come in third in the Northwest. I know it was the preseason, but they have to do much better against Denver.
Portland had a great offseason. Their bench is deep, and many can play at least two roles, i.e., Robert Covington C/F. All in all, the Blazers should win the very least, 40 games.
I’d say they can pitch around a 60% win percentage (43 wins). While the Portland Trail Blazers don’t have the world’s best roster, they have a solid starting five and decent bench. They don’t really have the star power or enough depth to go on extended win streaks, but they are definitely an above-average team in an up for grabs division.
I think they can make it to the Finals, but it won’t be easy. The first step is to take the Northwest Division. Next is to win enough games to be a top-two seed. Then win each playoff series in six or fewer games. Portland has their chance at the Western Conference Finals if they do the above and the other top-two seed struggles through a few seven-game series. Like I said, It won’t be easy.
Yes, they can. The better question is, will they, and that answer is no. LeBron will get the calls to make it to the finals again.
Any team can make the NBA finals, except for the Knicks, Cavs, and Pistons. In a vacuum (or bubble?), the Blazers should make the finals, but they won’t as long as LeBron James is healthy.
Whether the Blazers reach the Finals has everything to do with them. Portland has the second most amazing backcourt in the NBA, a good center, and a bench so deep Terry Stotts will have to find minutes for some of them. If Portland can keep Lillard, Nurkic, and Rodney Hood healthy, their regular season should be great.
Carmelo Anthony coming off the bench means the second unit should have enough scoring to keep them in every game. In my opinion, the Portland Trail Blazers shouldn’t be in the position they were in last season. They should be the fourth or the very least fifth seed in the West.
The Blazers can make it, but they have a rough path in the Western Conference and competing against some of the best teams in the NBA multiple times a year. If they were in the East, they’d have a much better chance. But with how good the West is, it’s a long shot.
Stay with PNWS for our Portland Trail Blazers coverage all season long.