6. Portland Trail Blazers
If Nurkic was fully healthy to start the year, I might have the Blazers higher in the standings but I think you can still pencil them in for around 50 wins.
The backcourt is going to do their thing – I’ve talked about the possibility of Dame going nuts this year and having his version of Steph’s 2016 season and maybe this could also be the year that C.J. becomes an all-star for the first time – and their brilliance alone should be enough to make the playoffs.
Hassan Whiteside is still a bit of a question mark but if he has his head on right and is willing to buy in, he could be a big boost for them early in the season.
Given the state of the west this year, I think a first-round exit would be a safe bet for this Blazers team but they surprised us all last year and they are definitely not going to be a team one of the higher seeds wants to face in round one.