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2019-20 NBA season: Record predictions for every team

By Christopher Kline

PLAYA VISTA, CA - SEPTEMBER 29: Los Angeles Clippers Forward Kawhi Leonard (2) and Los Angeles Clippers Forward Paul George (13) pose for a photo during media day at the Los Angeles Clippers Training Center on September 29, 2019 in Playa Vista, California. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
PLAYA VISTA, CA - SEPTEMBER 29: Los Angeles Clippers Forward Kawhi Leonard (2) and Los Angeles Clippers Forward Paul George (13) pose for a photo during media day at the Los Angeles Clippers Training Center on September 29, 2019 in Playa Vista, California. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images)
(Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images) /

Portland Trail Blazers

The Portland Trail Blazers are following up a run to the conference finals, what stands today as the peak of Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum’s partnership in Rip City. Portland did it at partial strength as well, missing Jusuf Nurkic and leaning on Enes Kanter for significant postseason minutes. It was an impressive run.

Slotting the Blazers at No. 7 speaks to the depth of the West, not the Blazers’ incompetence. Portland will still compete at a high level. Lillard is still a borderline top-10 talent who, at his best, is the closest we get to Steph Curry without reaching basketball nirvana.

Lillard and McCollum are one of the NBA’s most dynamic backcourts. The defense was a major drawback in the past, but last season brought about significant improvement on both fronts. Neither profiles as a severe defensive weakness at this point.

Portland lost a couple of key role players in Al-Farouq Aminu and Maurice Harkless, but Kent Bazemore, Zach Collins and Anthony Tolliver stand ready to fill that void. Nurkic will rejoin the starting five at some point, while Hassan Whiteside is a very capable stopgap.

The Blazers’ depth is an underrated weapon, especially if the young pieces continue to develop. Anfernee Simons was a standout during the Vegas Summer League, while Collins showed flashes of special versatility last season. Portland has a nice crop of young talent developing behind the main core.

Given the sheer volume of change in the Western Conference this summer, it’s difficult to imagine Portland returning to the conference finals. There’s too much talent on too many teams. But expect a hard fight, with Lillard holding tight to his status as one of the NBA’s top closers.

Final record prediction: 45-37, No. 7 seed Western Conference