If this team could have stayed healthy last year and be at full strength for the playoffs, they really could have given the Los Angeles Lakers a run for their money. Not only were the Portland Trail Blazers one of the hottest teams in the NBA Bubble last season, but every time Damian Lillard had the ball in his hands, it was like he did not even see any defenders, it was just him and the hoop.
During the seeding games prior to the start of the playoffs, Damian Lillard put up video game-like numbers, averaging 37.6 points per game, 9.6 assists, 4.3 rebounds and shooting just about 44% from the floor and 40.7% from three-point range. Lillard was named the unanimous MVP of the NBA restart and was the hottest player in the NBA over that span.
The Trail Blazers made the playoffs last year for the 7th consecutive season, but they were booted out of the playoffs in the first-round for the 4th time over that span. Fully healthy, it would have been interesting to watch the Portland Trail Blazers, but that is all for speculations and it was what this organization did in the offseason that made them even more lethal.
Portland added Derrick Jones Jr, Robert Covington, Harry Giles and Enes Kanter to provide depth in three different areas, and they also re-signed Carmelo Anthony and Rodney Hood. Now, the Blazers have depth at every single position and finally have a range of scoring options on the wing and in the frontcourt, which should help Lillard and McCollum a lot.
One of the best storylines for the Portland Trail Blazers last season, besides Damian Lillard’s insane stat line, was Carmelo Anthony getting one last chance and making the most of it. Melo proved to not just be a role player for the Blazers, but one of their best players down the stretch. We got to see vintage Anthony in the playoffs for Portland and he played very well throughout the season for Portland. While he will likely come off the bench this year, Carmelo Anthony will once again be an impact player for the Blazers and be a difference maker for them come playoff time.
There is not one bad thing that can be said about the job the Portland Trail Blazers’ front office has done this offseason and as a result, they find themselves as a team with high expectations come playoff time. Can the Blazers finally break through and challenge the Western Conference’s best for a chance to reach the NBA Finals? Here are 4 bold predictions for the Portland Trail Blazers entering the 2020-21 NBA season.
