2016-17 NBA Season Preview: Portland Trail Blazers
Welcome to theScore's 2016-17 NBA preview, where you'll find comprehensive coverage of all 30 teams and storylines to watch this season.
Portland Trail Blazers
2015-16
| Record | Northwest | West | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 44-38 | 2nd | 5th | Lost in Round 2 to GSW (4-1) |
Offseason roundup
| Additions | Departures |
|---|---|
| Evan Turner (4/$70M) | Chris Kaman (unsigned) |
| Festus Ezeli (2/$15M) | Gerald Henderson (PHI) |
| Shabazz Napier (trade with ORL) | Brian Roberts (CHO) |
| Jake Layman (draft) |
Projected starting five
- PG Damian Lillard
- SG C.J. McCollum
- SF Allen Crabbe
- PF Al-Farouq Aminu
- C Mason Plumlee
Player to watch: Damian Lillard
Lillard was an offensive force in 2015-16, putting forth a volcanic season in which he averaged 25.1 points, 6.8 assists, and more than three 3-pointers per game, flashing off-the-bounce shooting range (and confidence) unmatched by anyone this side of Steph Curry. His exploits helped lift an ostensibly rebuilding Blazers team to 44 wins, a top-seven offensive rating, and a trip to the second round of the playoffs.
Plenty of factors contributed to the Blazers' expectation-shattering campaign, but it was Lillard's gumption, unpredictability, and ability to get his own shot that unlocked everything else. He and ascendant backcourt mate C.J. McCollum played off each other beautifully, busting open defenses with crafty side-to-side actions. Meanwhile, Lillard's gravitational pull - and quietly improved passing - opened up opportunities in the middle of the floor for savvy, scavenging big men like Ed Davis and Mason Plumlee.
Lillard's defense leaves much to be desired; it's often lazy, unfocused, and fraught with reckless gambles. His development at that end could go a long way toward determining whether the Blazers can take the next step. But he'll continue to be one of the game's most magnetic players regardless. Few are more exhilarating to watch than Lillard when he gets going.
Season expectations
The Blazers' run to the Western Conference semis - having lost four starters (LaMarcus Aldridge, Nic Batum, Wesley Matthews, and Robin Lopez) in the offseason - was one of last season's best stories. But expecting a better result (or even an equivalent one) in 2016-17 may be expecting too much.
They didn't do enough to bolster a leaky defense that allowed opponents to shoot 37.1 percent from deep, fouled at the league's third-highest rate, and ranked 21st overall. Their playoff run last season was also a bit of a mirage. Were it not for simultaneous series-ending injuries for Clippers stars Chris Paul and Blake Griffin, the Blazers would've almost certainly been packing their bags after the first round.
They still have a lot going for them. They're young, they're cohesive, they're well-coached, they can shoot the lights out, and they play hard for each other. They also have a considerable measure of continuity; their returning players accounted for 90 percent of the team's minutes last season - the highest retention rate for any team by far. The front office dumped a ton of money into mid-tier talent this offseason, in the hopes that plugging a few holes while keeping the core intact could achieve the same effect as adding a third star, and keep the Blazers on an upward trajectory.
Maybe it works. At the least, Evan Turner will give the second unit a much-needed playmaker, and Festus Ezeli will give them a necessary dose of toughness and strength up front. They can reasonably bank on continued internal development for guys like McCollum and Allen Crabbe. But their ceiling, for this season at least, doesn't appear to be much higher than the one they hit in 2015-16. They should find themselves back in the middle of the Western Conference pack.