Portland Trail Blazers — Blog Train

Welcome to Season 5 of the Lillard-McCollum era.

Dame and C.J. have both signed contract extensions into the mid-2020s, so this enduring backcourt duo continues to march on. The Blazers staples are rejoined by Zach Collins, Rodney Hood, and eventually Nurkic, but the rest of this year’s Portland roster is made up of a cast of new characters.

For a team that has preached continuity and locker room togetherness for so long, the Blazers have re-tooled a team that finished 3rd in the West two years in a row and is fresh off making it to the Western Conference Finals. Portland was ultimately swept by the KD-less Warriors, but they were UP in those games. They just couldn’t stave off the patented LANDSLIDE Warriors runs.

Logo Lillard and the Blazers not only waved goodbye to the Thunder but also to the hefty contracts penned during the salary cap spiked Summer of 2016. So long Evan Turner, Moe Harkless, Chief Aminu and Meyers Leonard. Even Jake Layman, who started 33 games last year, is no longer around.

The newcomers include Contract Year Hassan Whiteside and Contract Year Kent Bazemore, both acquired via trades. Whiteside should be a viable fill-in as Nurk remains out after surgery in March on his fractured left tibia and fibula. Bazemore adds some shooting on the perimeter, something that Turner, Harkless and Aminu struggled with, most notably in the playoffs.

Newly signed Pau Gasol and Anthony Tolliver provide a strong veteran presence. The vets probably won’t be asked to do much on the court while the same cannot be said for Portland’s young fellas. The Anfernee Simons hype train has gained steam thanks to a solid Summer League showing. If head coach Terry Stotts elects not to stagger Lillard and McCollum, then Simons might be the main ball-handler for Portland’s second unit. Rookie Nassir Little seems like a steal where Portland was able to draft him, all the way down at #25 overall.

Zach Collins, still only 21 years old, plays with passion and has shown that he could be another 7-footer with three-point range to take the league by storm. Z-Co will be Portland’s X-factor in 2019-20.

League Pass Notes

Dame Dolla and C.J. Mc-mid-range not only have the ability to light the already electric and gasoline-infused Moda Center on fire any given night, but any given quarter.
Hassan Whiteside a.k.a. Count Blockula a.k.a. Agent Block will have some volleyball like rejections and the ever pleasing vacuum style block/steals.
Super Mario Hezonja is here now and had some ultimate highlights last year in New York that you might recall over The Freak and The King.
Really Tan Portland Ken never disappoints.

The Final Questions / The Final Take

Can some regression be expected for Portland during their adjustment process?

Will the new surrounding talent be a spark for RIP City?

The roster shake up is a good risk with the expiring contracts providing flexibility while the same successful core is here. We think Portland will be good again. Dame and C.J. always find a way. We just wonder if they will be great in a loaded West. We are leaning UNDER 45.5 wins.