Portland Trail Blazers: Biggest strengths and weaknesses for 2017-18

Weakness: Defense

The Blazers have immense offensive talent. Lillard and McCollum are able to score in multiple, impressive ways. The team collectively shot the sixth-best 3-point percentage in the NBA. As a result, Portland averaged 107.9 points per game on the season, eighth-most in the NBA.

However, their offensive ability is cancelled out by their defensive deficiencies. Portland allowed 108.5 points per game, placing them 25th in scoring defense. Their 110.8 defensive rating (points allowed per 100 possessions) was 24th-best in the league.

Unfortunately, their problems tend to stem from their star guards. Lillard’s 118 offensive rating is best on the team, but his 113 defensive rating is tied for second-worst. McCollum has a 114 offensive rating while also sporting a 113 defensive rating. Both of them are willing defenders. However, the hustle hasn’t translated to any production on that side of the ball.

Heading into training camp, there will certainly be an effort to buckle down on that issue. However, with Lillard at 27 and McCollum at 25, their defensive issues may just be who they are.

The Blazers do have some talented defenders. Al-Farouq Aminu, Noah Vonleh, and Harkless were decent on the ball. Evan Turner, even with his adjustment issues, did okay against smaller guards.

But Jusuf Nurkic was the biggest defensive difference-maker. Portland had a 105.4 defensive rating in the 20 games he played. Coupled with their 110.6 offensive rating, the Blazers had a 5.2 net rating. That was the fifth-best net rating in the league over that span.

We’ll see if Portland can maintain that defensive production when the season begins. Until then, their defense is still a question mark heading into 2017-18.