The Portland Trail Blazers have the second best record in the NBA at 24-7. It’s quite an astonishing turnaround, considering they finished 33-49 just two seasons ago. Former Blazer Brandon Roy’s decline put the team in a very precarious position, as they lost two potential franchise players to career-ending injuries (Greg Oden and Roy).
The Blazers’ ascent has been remarkable, especially since they were only a lottery team for two straight seasons since their previous playoff appearance in 2011. They’ve cast their name into the hat of elite teams in the Western Conference, and have done so despite not having any top five lottery picks since Greg Oden in 2007.
Their road back to the top has been different and unlike the complete teardown jobs other teams have had to go through. They offer a different route from the Oklahoma City Thunder model, and give credence to the argument that teams don’t have to blow up their rosters to rebuild.
As they end 2014 sitting pretty as the second best team in the league, let’s take a look at how the Blazers have turned their fortunes around.
Next: Drafting Lillard