Portland Trail Blazers: 2018 Must Produce A Finals Run Or Changes Must Be Made
The Portland Trail Blazers are stuck. The last two years were seen as stepping-stones for the Blazers after the departure of LaMarcus Aldridge, but lately, they have regressed instead of progressed. But who’s to blame?
Can we honestly look at Damian Lillard and say he can do better? With Aldridge gone, Lillard has averaged 27 points per game on 44 percent shooting. However, his assists are not where they should be for a lead guard and with that type of talent surrounding him.
[MarkAds]Next to Lillard is his partner in crime, C.J. McCollum. While paired together, they can be viewed as dangerous as Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, but have yet to witness their success. Trade rumors have followed McCollum the past two seasons, and while it may seem outrageous to break them up, it’s a strong possibility it can happen.
This offseason, the Portland Trail Blazers watched as teams like the Warriors and Rockets improved, the Blazers stood by and did nothing to alter their chances at a championship. The excuses for a new era are over. The Blazers finished third in the Western Conference but limped out the playoffs against an inferior Pelicans’ team.
What Would Make This Season A Success For The Portland Trail Blazers?
It can’t be just making the playoffs. The Blazers have been in the playoffs the last four years but never past the Semi-Final round. If they’re to keep their team intact after this season, Lillard, McCollum, and Nurkic will need to find a way to reach the Western Conference Finals. That might be hard to do with the surging Minnesota Timberwolves and Los Angeles Lakers breathing down their neck. However, anything short of that and Neil Olshey will be forced to shake things up.
The old saying is that winning cures all, but does it cure a high payroll? While the team is still young, they may have overplayed their hand regarding contracts. The Lillard and McCollum backcourt might be one of the best in the NBA, however, by the beginning of next season, they could easily be no more. This is usually a situation reserved for winning teams like the Warriors or what we’re seeing with the Rockets now. A team does well and now has to pay their players for the success. The Blazers haven’t won anything, and yet, they are paying like they have.
Something has to give, or someone has to go. It’s that simple.
[BXReporter]
Mark has been covering Sports and Entertainment for the past six years. His work has been featured on Bleacher Report, ESPN, Fox Sports, Teen Vogue, and many other websites.
