Portland Trail Blazers biggest weakness re-exposed in Lakers series
Trevor Ariza, Portland Trail Blazers.
The Portland Trail Blazers biggest weakness was exposed in their five-game opening-round loss to Los Angeles.
Rip City fans are rightfully disappointed by the Portland Trail Blazers five-game exit in the first round of the NBA Playoffs. They can be proud of the heart and determination their team showed in the Orlando bubble and look forward to better things ahead. There is one huge area the Blazers need to improve if they want to get to the next level.
During the seeding games, it wasn’t as evident, but the Portland Trail Blazers have a depth problem among their group of forwards. As of now, it looks to be getting worse, not better. They can’t rely on their guards to win every game.
All season long, the Blazers played without center Jusuf Nurkic. Power forward Zach Collins lasted three games before he was lost long-term as well. If it weren’t for the COVID-19 delay, it’s unlikely the tall tandem would have played together this season. While the big men were on the injured list, Portland signed 36-year-old free agent Carmelo Anthony in mid-November to team up with new center Hassan Whiteside.
The Trail Blazers were a competitive team but played to a sub-.500 29-37 record when play was halted for COVID-19. However, Portland went 24-24 from November 25 through the stoppage. That was a good performance, but their lack of depth was evident.
Given a few extra months to heal, Nurkic and Collins returned for the eight seeding games in Orlando. Consequently, with a near-full roster (missing Trevor Ariza and Rodney Hood), Portland went 6-2. Anthony made a seamless move to back to the three to replace Ariza, and Whiteside came off the bench. The Blazers overcame a three-and-half game deficit to finish in eighth place in the Western Conference then eliminated Memphis in a play-in game to reach the postseason.
Exclusive to @TheAthleticNBA: Blazers’ forward Zach Collins on the pain, emotion and road leading up to his season-ending injury. https://t.co/9A3hCYvT5I
— Jason Quick (@jwquick) August 22, 2020