Portland Trail Blazers open 2021-22 season – Raise, Call, Fold
Dame finally wins the MVP.
Rob Ryan
Call. I think Lillard has a chance, but It is dependent on the success of the team which I don’t have them being a top 3 team with the roster as currently constructed.
Teresa Powe
Raise. Damian Lillard is one of the best shooters in the NBA. Unfortunately, he is on a team that will probably make the playoffs, but exit in the first round, again. Not until Neil Olshey is gone.
Chip Clark
Fold. Last I checked, basketball is a team sport. Someone else has to step up, so opposing defenses don’t swarm Lillard. Additionally, if Nurk misses any time, there is no inside game to count on. Even if Nurkic does play well in every game, Dame can expect double teams.
Chris Phillips
Fold. Dame only has an MVP season if the Blazers win it all. See the previous answer for my thoughts on their outlook.
CJ McCollum finishes this season with the Blazers.
Rob Ryan
Fold, I think the backcourt defense has not improved enough to really allow the better defenders to have the impact the defenders on the roster could have. Hiding one bad defender can be done. Hiding two, who are both perimeter players, is just too much.
Teresa Powe
Call. I hear all the rumors surrounding CJ McCollum being the base of a (big) trade, and I don’t believe it. The only thing good about the Portland Trail Blazers is Dame and CJ. They need to build a team around them. Trading CJ is the easy way out. He and Dame deserve to win in Portland, the city that made them a name.
Chip Clark
Fold. As presently constructed, Portland doesn’t have enough talent spread out among their starting five. McCollum gets traded for an impact forward. Hopefully, it won’t be too late to make a difference.
Chris Phillips
Call. If the Blazers are winning and in the playoffs, McCollum is staying put. Anything else, and this team may be rebuild mode.
CJ McCollum about trade rumors:
“Trade talk comes with the territory as a professional athlete” #RipCity pic.twitter.com/RWNB4uTXFi
— Melo (@_melowilliams) September 29, 2021