Portland Trail Blazers: NBA Finals or bust in 2021
Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers.
It’s very simple. Either the Portland Trail Blazers show they are a championship in 2021, or management has to reconsider their big three players.
Does Portland Trail Blazers management have a stubborn, narrow view when it comes to building a championship team in Rip City? Portland’s success revolves around three players, Damian Lillard, CJ McCollum, and Jusuf Nurkic to be dominant each night. Admittedly, Dame did most of the heavy “lifting” when it came to the team’s advancement in the playoffs. Just ask Patrick Beverly and Russell Westbrook.
Championship teams of years past have traditionally had a big three. Larry Bird, Robert Parrish, Kevin McHale for the Boston Celtics dynasty. Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabar, James Worthy for the Lakers dynasty. Bill Laimbeer, Isaiah Thomas Rick Mahorn. The Blazers have their big three in Dame, CJ, and Nurk. Why is this team not throwing championship parades yearly and looking to defend their title the next year?
Ever since the 2015 Golden State Warriors won their first championship, without using a dominant big man, relying on the marksmanship of Steph Curry and Klay Thompson, we are in a new NBA era. Now it’s all about perimeter shooting (even though Golden State had Kevin Durant from 2016-19).
Outside of their big three, there isn’t anyone else the Portland Trail Blazers can rely on, on a nightly basis. This is the challenge, as a good part of the team’s cap money is tied up in the big three. Then the Blazers need to find enough money to resign Carmelo Anthony and Hassan Whiteside. Otherwise, Blazers President of Basketball Operations Neil Olshey needs to look at a massive overhaul of their big three. I’m talking about blowing this group up, if necessary.