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Portland Trail Blazers: A-
Midseason Grade: C+ | Off. Rating: 110.9 | Def. Rating: 114.1 | Net Rating: -3.2
After a rocky “Still getting to know each other” first half, the remade Blazers bucked conventional wisdom and tanking advocates by picking up serious steam down the stretch. Whereas many young teams tend to fade late, Portland rode a top-10 offense, powered by Damian Lillard and Most Improved Player candidate CJ McCollum, to the West’s fourth-best record after the All-Star break.
The Blazers held tough when many of the West’s middle class slipped thanks in large part to good health: Lillard, McCollum, and seven other key contributors all logged 70+ games this season. That lineup continuity helped compensate for defensive shortcomings and a somewhat weak interior cast, putting the Blazers in position to claim the West’s No. 5 seed and push the Clippers in the first round. There’s no question that Portland ranks among the biggest overachievers this season, placing Terry Stotts near the top of the Coach of the Year conversation.
While this reality beats Portland’s preseason best-case scenario, it’s merely a good save rather than major progress. Remember, the LaMarcus Aldridge era in Portland had five seasons with more wins than the 2016 Blazers. Other concerns linger. The Blazers, lacking in top-end talent aside from their backcourt duo, must convey their first round pick to the Nuggets because it was only top 14 protected. Later this summer, Portland must pay up to retain a number of decent contributors who were on bargain deals (Moe Harkless, Allen Crabbe and Meyers Leonard). Merely keeping the fun-loving band together, though, is unlikely to launch the Blazers into the West’s top tier in 2017 and beyond.
The Blazers were spunky, entertaining and motivated this year, but they’ll need to add or develop an impact frontcourt player or two before they’ll need to be taken seriously. Will Portland recognize this fact and take advantage of its prudent cap management by chasing the likes of Hassan Whiteside and Harrison Barnes?
Midseason Grade: C+ | Off. Rating: 110.9 | Def. Rating: 114.1 | Net Rating: -3.2
After a rocky “Still getting to know each other” first half, the remade Blazers bucked conventional wisdom and tanking advocates by picking up serious steam down the stretch. Whereas many young teams tend to fade late, Portland rode a top-10 offense, powered by Damian Lillard and Most Improved Player candidate CJ McCollum, to the West’s fourth-best record after the All-Star break.
The Blazers held tough when many of the West’s middle class slipped thanks in large part to good health: Lillard, McCollum, and seven other key contributors all logged 70+ games this season. That lineup continuity helped compensate for defensive shortcomings and a somewhat weak interior cast, putting the Blazers in position to claim the West’s No. 5 seed and push the Clippers in the first round. There’s no question that Portland ranks among the biggest overachievers this season, placing Terry Stotts near the top of the Coach of the Year conversation.
While this reality beats Portland’s preseason best-case scenario, it’s merely a good save rather than major progress. Remember, the LaMarcus Aldridge era in Portland had five seasons with more wins than the 2016 Blazers. Other concerns linger. The Blazers, lacking in top-end talent aside from their backcourt duo, must convey their first round pick to the Nuggets because it was only top 14 protected. Later this summer, Portland must pay up to retain a number of decent contributors who were on bargain deals (Moe Harkless, Allen Crabbe and Meyers Leonard). Merely keeping the fun-loving band together, though, is unlikely to launch the Blazers into the West’s top tier in 2017 and beyond.
The Blazers were spunky, entertaining and motivated this year, but they’ll need to add or develop an impact frontcourt player or two before they’ll need to be taken seriously. Will Portland recognize this fact and take advantage of its prudent cap management by chasing the likes of Hassan Whiteside and Harrison Barnes?
