The Portland Trail Blazers expect a good season after some important movements trying to get their second championship in franchise history.
The team from Oregon ended last season with a 42-30 record. Qualifying 6th in the Western Conference, the Portland Trail Blazers were matched against Denver Nuggets. 4-2 would have been the final result with the Denver Nuggets going to the conference semi-finals. Damian Lillard averaged 34 points and 10 assists per game while shooting 45% in 3 points.
Embed from Getty ImagesThat game against the Nuggets would become the last game of Terry Stotts on the Blazers bench after 9 seasons. In Stotts’ last 8 seasons the Trail Blazers clinched themselves to the playoff and in 2018-2019 losing in the Western Conference Finals against the Golden State Warriors. To replace Terry Stotts the Portland Trail Blazers made interviews with 3 coaches: Mike D’Antoni, Chauncey Billups and Becky Hammon (Spurs assistant).
Chauncey Billups, 2004 NBA champion and Finals MVP would be chosen by Neil Oshley, Trail Blazers General Manager. Billups with 17 seasons in the NBA and more than 15500 points in his career. The Trail Blazer’s weakness the last 3 seasons had been defense, with Chauncey Billups, the Blazers are expecting some good defensive matches and a chance to the NBA championship.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe Portland Trail Blazers added 3 players during free agency: Cody Zeller from Charlotte Hornets, Tony Snell from Atalanta Hawks and Ben McLemore from LA Lakers. Both 3 players, great defenders that are going to help the Blazers in their challenge. After the 2021 draft, the Blazers signed Trendon Watford in a two-way contract from LSU
During the Draft night, the Portland Trail Blazers traded their 2026 2nd round Draft pick and Cash considerations for the New Orleans Pelicans 46th pick in the draft. With that pick, the Blazers chose Greg Brown from Texas.
The Portland Trail Blazers would acquire Larry Nance Jr from Cleveland Cavaliers for Derrick Jones Jr, 2021 protected (lottery) first-round pick and 2023 second-round pick. Blazer’s dilemma during the summer was some rumors about Damian Lillard asking to leave, these rumours were sent off by himself via Instagram.
After the Summer League, the Portland Trail Blazers would give Dennis Smith Jr a one-year contract for the amazing competition he had. Even that the Blazers ended the Summer League 0-4. The Blazers roaster for the 2021-2022 season would be guards; Damian Lillard, CJ McCollum, Anfernee Simons, Ben McLemore, CJ Elleby and Dennis Smith Jr. Forwards: Norman Powell, Robert Covington, Nassir Little, Greg Brown III, Larry Nance Jr, Trendon Watford and Keljin Blevins. The centers: Jusuf Nurkic and Cody Zeller.
The start of the 2021-22 season for the Portland Trail Blazers is being very unpredictable. To start, a loss by three against Sacramento Kings 121-124. CJ McCollum with 34 points and Dame with 20 points and 10 assists weren’t able to beat a team that last year ended 12th in their conference. The second match was the most surprising of all, they were playing against the Phoenix Suns 2021 runner-ups. The Blazers played amazing defense and won 134-105 with 28 points of McCollum and 18 from Anfernee Simons off the bench.
The third match of the season against the LA Clippers was very poor in both ends ending up losing by 30 points. The 4th match was against the Memphis Grizzlies, Ja Morant putting a show was ruined by the Blazer’s amazing offense with 5 players in double digits. The player of the night was Cj McCollum that became the 6th maximum scorer in Portland Trail Blazers history.
According to the NBA web, Portland Trail Blazers have the toughest start of the NBA season, right now they are 2-2 with a lot of potentials.
https://www.nba.com/news/how-rest-road-trips-and-other-factors-played-out-in-2021-22-schedule
