by James Finneral
The Trail Blazers finally had their breakout season last year where they put up a winning record and actually made it to the playoffs. After going through the rebuilding stage the Trail Blazers now have one of the most talented rosters in the NBA. With a young and athletic team it is hard to imagine them going downhill from 5th place in the Western Conference this year.
One of the Blazer's leaders is Damian Lillard who is heading into his third year out of Weber State. Lillard is a point guard who can both score and pass. He finished last season averaging 20 points and 5 assists per game earning him a spot on the West All Star team. Lillard is a proven scorer from the arc and his numbers will only improve this season. When the Trail Blazers need a bucket down the stretch, Lillard is their go to guy and he has yet to let them down. Lillard will be a premier point guard in the West again and will be essential for the Blazer's success. Another guy who the Blazers are dependent upon is their power forward, LaMarcus Aldridge. Aldridge had an outstanding season last year leading the team in scoring and rebounding. He finished the season 23 points, 11 rebounds and a block per game. Aldridge also earned a spot on the West All Star team and built a reputation as one of the best power forwards in the game. Aldridge will be a double-double machine again and be the leader in the post for Portland. With this dynamic duo in tact and healthy, the Blazers will be difficult to beat.
Lillard and Aldridge may lead the team, but the also have many other quality players who are often overlooked. Wesley Matthews accompanies Lillard in the back-court and has been a great compliment to him. Matthews is deadly from the arch averaging 2 three pointers a game last year. He finished with 16 points a game for the Blazers last year. Matthews is a great guy to have around because he can just supply the team with scoring on a consistent basis. Next is big swingman Nicolas Batum. Batum has played all his seasons with Portland after coming to the NBA from France. Batum is a solid all around player. He can shoot, rebound with his height and surprisingly can pass as well. Batum finished last season averaging 13 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists. He is just another consistent player who the Blazers can rely on when Lillard or Aldridge are not having good games. If there is one area that the Blazers struggle in it is their bench. They have some decent young prospects, but none of them have proven themselves in the NBA. Steve Blake could be the only exception who actually had a nice season in Los Angeles not too long ago. The Blazer's bench will need to step up because the starters cannot play the entire game.
The talent of this Blazers team will be evident throughout the 2014-2015 season. They have a nice guard tandem that should be able to compete with the best back-courts the West have the offer. They may not be able to repeat their title as the best rebounding team in the league, but expect Portland to not give teams too many second chances. The Trail Blazers will easily be a playoff team and should be able to go further in the postseason then they did last year.
Potential Starting Lineup:
PG: Damian Lillard
SG: Wesley Matthews
SF: Nicolas Batum
PF: LaMarcus Aldridge
C: Robin Lopez
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