Portland Trail Blazers: 3 players facing the most pressure in 2018-19

The Portland Trail Blazers will collectively feel the pressure to win this year, but which players will feel it the most?

A new season is on the horizon for the Portland Trail Blazers and the rest of the NBA. Like the seasons before, this new year will bring with it a new set of challenges for each team and player. With those challenges comes the pressure to overcome them.

In the case of the Blazers, they have the challenge of repeating the success of last year’s 49-33 regular season while also redeeming themselves for a disappointing first round playoff exit via sweep. In addition to the team objective, each player will also face the pressure accomplishing individual goals.

For instance, rookies Anfernee Simons and Gary Trent Jr. will feel the pressure of adjusting the NBA so that they can become useful rotation players as soon as possible. Free agent additions Seth Curry and Nik Stauskas will feel the pressure of quickly fitting in with a new system. Even returning players like Maurice Harkless and Al-Farouq Aminu have the pressure of filling the necessary roles and improving on their production from last season.

However, while everyone shares the burden of helping the team compete for the playoffs in 2018-19, which three Trail Blazers are facing the most pressure?