The Portland Trail Blazers went into the offseason wondering where and how it all went wrong. After another impressive regular season in 2017, the Blazers found a way to crumble from the inside out in the playoffs.
A team with this much talent had no reason getting ousted in the first round by any team outside of the Golden State Warriors and Houston Rockets. But there they were falling to the New Orleans Pelicans. Now, as they enter the 2018 season, many are wondering why certain moves weren’t made during the 2018 NBA offseason.
For starters, there were rumors of the Portland Trail Blazers trading C.J. McCollum or Damian Lillard. While fans were in an uproar, the fact is, while together, they have been average at best. As talented as they are, they have not been able to get the team over that playoff hump. Lillard and McCollum are one of the best backcourts in the NBA, but Neil Olshey has not been able to place a good supporting cast around them.
The Blazers took a look at their roster and felt they still have a shot with their central core of Lillard, Jusuf Nurkic, and McCollum. But this is where Olshey’s ego may have gotten the best of him. Some teams are built for the regular season, and some are constructed for both.
As is stands, the Blazers are a regular season success but have yet to cross over into the teams to beat discussion when it comes to the playoffs. What has to change for that to happen?
Here are three questions following the 2018 NBA offseason for the Portland Trail Blazers.
Next Up: Question 3
