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5 Playoff Teams That Won’t Win An NBA Championship Right Now

By Ryan Blackburn

May 27, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors guards Kyle Lowry (7) and DeMar DeRozan (10) sit together on the bench during a time out against Cleveland Cavaliers in game six of the Eastern conference finals of the NBA Playoffs at Air Canada Centre.The Cavaliers won 113-87. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
May 27, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Raptors guards Kyle Lowry (7) and DeMar DeRozan (10) sit together on the bench during a time out against Cleveland Cavaliers in game six of the Eastern conference finals of the NBA Playoffs at Air Canada Centre.The Cavaliers won 113-87. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports /
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May 9, 2016; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) reacts after making a basket over Golden State Warriors in game four of the second round of the NBA Playoffs at Moda Center at the Rose Quarter. Mandatory Credit: Jaime Valdez-USA TODAY Sports
May 9, 2016; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) reacts after making a basket over Golden State Warriors in game four of the second round of the NBA Playoffs at Moda Center at the Rose Quarter. Mandatory Credit: Jaime Valdez-USA TODAY Sports /

Portland Trail Blazers

Damian Lillard and the Portland Trail Blazers exceeded every expectation this past season.

After losing more starters than any team in the NBA last offseason, all the Blazers did was recover and win a playoff series before giving the Golden State Warriors all they could handle in five games.

C.J. McCollum and Allen Crabbe both experienced breakouts and Lillard proved he shouldn’t have missed the All-Star game.

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    • Even with all of the success Portland had, it still has its faults. Their big men could not keep up in the playoffs defensively, while Lillard and McCollum were forced to take on a ton of pressure.

    Now they can handle it, but they really need a solid big man to help them on both ends of the floor.  Mason Plumlee performed admirably and he’s a wonderful rebounder, but he’s likely not a playoff caliber starter.

    With $56.8 million committed for 2016-17, the Blazers have enough room to add a large contract to a big man, then re-sign players like Crabbe, Mo Harkless and even Meyers Leonard if possible.

    Dwight Howard has been brought up as a potential fit, but Hassan Whiteside may be even better because he will probably command the same price and he is more effective at this stage of his career.

    Whiteside would add the rim protection and diversion away from the rim on defense that the Blazers need to compete.

    More hoops habit: 25 Greatest Individual Seasons in NBA History

    Lillard and McCollum proved to be an incredible duo in the playoffs, but they must be complemented with high quality defenders, including a stud big man.