Can the Portland Trail Blazers make an NBA Finals run in 2021-22?

The Portland Trail Blazers have the potential to be a strong contender in the Western Conference.

In regards to both their roster and potential playoff competition, the Portland Trail Blazers are certainly a team to look out for as we all inch closer and closer to the 2022 installment of the NBA Finals.

One may question what exactly makes this a done deal, but the proof is truly in the pudding upon further inspection. This can first be detected when observing the abundance of talent that the Western Conference power has to offer.

For starters, they still have a grasp on veteran point guard Damian Lillard, who has easily been the franchise’s biggest name since Clyde Drexler.

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There was previously some serious doubt as to whether or not Dame would return to the Blazers following the disappointing conclusion to last season, but the star has made it clear he isn’t ready to leave Portland just yet.

Great news such as this should be (and is) the obvious frontrunner as to why it is best for Portland to have an eye kept on them for next year. However, as iconic of a player as Lillard is, it has been well established that one go-to guy is not enough to succeed when fighting for the peak of professional basketball: the NBA Finals.

Luckily, all hope is not yet lost in this regard, either. Alongside Dame on the Blazers roster, one can see star sidekick CJ McCollum with up-and-coming Portland guard Norman Powell. This trio is almost guaranteed to be the squad’s “big three” heading into their upcoming run; and that is without even acknowledging Jusuf Nurkic, who has cemented himself as a solid role player at the center position.

Lastly, the Blazers’ postseason foes could include names like Dallas, Phoenix, Golden State, and/or the two Los Angeles powers. But how big of threats are all of these guys in actuality?

The Mavericks are good but feel like a one-man band with Luka Doncic. Phoenix had the formula for success last season, but many saw it as a fluke. Golden State will definitely have the roster for victory – headlined by the return of Klay Thompson – but are still a little too hypothetical at the moment. And as far as the pair in Los Angeles, only one of them (Lakers) is a true adversary, while the other (Clippers) has proven to be more of a choke artist – and Kawhi Leonard is recovering from a serious knee injury, with no clear timeline on a return.

In other words, only one West team is confirmed to be a roadblock for the Blazers in 2022, and with a roster consisting of the aforementioned forces, who is to say that there is no chance of getting upset?

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Everything points in favor of Portland making a strong run next season; all it comes down to is execution. If they play as well as they appear that they can, the NBA Finals may see a new face coming out of the Northwest.

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