Portland Trail Blazers: Where Do They Stand In The West?
If you are not an individual who bets on sports, then you might not have seen that the Las Vegas Hilton announced it’s NBA season win totals over/unders this week. If you are an individual who bets on sports — take the OVER on the Blazers; it’s set at 38.5 wins. Last season the Blazers totaled 33 wins with NO bench and this offseason general manager Neil Olshey addressed that issue by adding multiple pieces to make a run at the playoffs this year. However, they are not a sure thing for the playoffs, as many analysts have the Blazers as an odd man out.
Below is a categorization of the Western Conference from top to bottom and where the Blazers fit in the grand scheme of things.
Best of the Best
As long as CP3 is in Clipperland they wil be a contender. (Flickr.com photo by Nikk_LA)Los Angeles Clippers
1. Los Angeles Clippers
2. San Antonio Spurs
3. Houston Rockets
4. Oklahoma City Thunder
We Got Next
5. Golden State Warriors
6. Memphis Grizzlies
On the Edge of Glory (thanks Gaga)
7. Portland Trail Blazers
8. Minnesota Timberwolves
Lillard is determined to lead the Blazers to the playoffs this season. (NBA.com photo)
9. Denver Nuggets
10. Dallas Mavericks
11. New Orleans Pelicans
Chasing the 2014 Draft Class
12. Los Angeles Lakers
13. Sacramento Kings
14. Utah Jazz
15. Phoenix Suns
The Keys to Obtaining That Spot
Olshey had one of the most successful offseasons across the league. A team that needed depth and an added bench threat received it without having to give up any valuable assets in the process. They did lose power forward J.J. Hickson, but filled his role with a legitimate 7’0″ center in Robin Lopez. This is key because it allows LaMarcus Aldridge to slide into his true position at power forward and it alleviates some of the dirty work on the defensive end for LA. Mo Williams was added for scoring off the bench and he is versatile enough to play both the point guard and shooting guard positions for the Blazers. Dorell Wright provides much needed outside shooting and if Thomas Robinson can show some of that top-five pick potential, they could have themselves a nice little steal.
As with any team, staying healthy will be another huge key. Health is like the skeleton key of the NBA; it can truly open any and all doors when the talent is there to accompany it. The Blazers have already lost one key player in C.J. McCollum to a broken foot and had other scares this preseason with Nicolas Batum missing time for a concussion, Mo missing time due to a sprained ankle, Wright dislocating a finger and, most recently, Aldridge sitting out with “sore knees.” Sore knees and a trip to the doctor usually results in awful news, but the MRI taken Thursday was negative and Blazer Nation let out a collective sigh of relief all at once upon hearing the news.
There is great optimism in Portland coming into the season and a major injury has the capability to derail that optimism faster than anything else. If the core of Aldridge, Damian Lillard, Wesley Matthews, Batum and Lopez can stay healthy then they can certainly achieve their team goal of making the playoffs and then letting the chips fall where they may. Once you’re in — anything can happen.
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