6. Portland Trail Blazers
Damian Lillard and C.J McCollum represent the league as one of the best backcourts this upcoming season. This lethal duo has the ability to attack opponents from all three facets of the court, allude defenders with their crafty ball-handling skills, and can explode any given night.
The backcourt accounted for nearly 50 points a night led by Dame’s 25.8 points per game. Expect Lillard to have an MVP-type season this year as he will follow-up his All-NBA first-team selection.
The Portland Trail Blazers acquired veteran big man Hassan Whiteside over the summer as they await Jusuf Nurkic’s return. Portland has desperately been searching for that third player to assist the backcourt since Nurkic’s injury. Whiteside will look to become that player in a mix that includes Rodney Hood and Zach Collins while adding depth to a frontcourt in desperate need.
Terry Stotts and the Blazers finished last season with a 53-29 record, placing them as the third seed. With a deeper and more talented roster, Portland will, once again, be a top-notch Western foe.
C.J and Dame will continue their dominance and remain unstoppable. If Hassan can replicate his production from Miami, this season, then Rip City can maximize their talents and reach new heights – the NBA Finals.