Portland Trail Blazers: 2018-19 NBA season preview

Storyline 1: Was last season a fluke?

Many people have questioned how the supposed third-best team in the Western Conference could not only lose in the first round, but get swept by the sixth seed. Without a doubt, it’s a pretty embarrassing way to go out after such a good regular season.

Their playoff fate has led many to write off the Blazers’ success and their chances as a playoff contender moving forward. As a result, this season will basically be a marathon-length campaign that settles whether or not their claim to the Northwest Division crown is legitimate.

Repeating won’t be easy either. The Oklahoma City Thunder are looking to have improved chemistry with the departure of Carmelo Anthony and the addition of Dennis Schroder. The Utah Jazz made few minor changes in the offseason, and are hoping that continuity will push them into the conference’s elite tier. Even the Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves — the two teams that fought for the final playoff spot last year — will be taking aim at the Blazers.

It’s going to take a team effort for Portland to deliver on a second division-best season. Lillard, McCollum and Nurkic certainly have the ball in their hands the most, but the role players will need to answer when their number is called. With every team in the division having talent, chemistry and execution on both ends of the floor will be the deciding factor.