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3 keys to the Portland Trail Blazers’ sizzling start to the season

By Jake Focht

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - DECEMBER 21: Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers reacts during a game against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center on December 21, 2021 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - DECEMBER 21: Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers reacts during a game against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center on December 21, 2021 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /
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Anfernee Simons and Damian Lillard (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
Anfernee Simons and Damian Lillard (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) /

Eight months ago, the Portland Trail Blazers traded away star CJ McCollum and hit the reset button on their roster and their franchise. The Trail Blazers proceeded to tank their way to a 27-55 record. The Portland Trail Blazers entered this season with a roster that looked vastly different than in years past, and national expectations were lower on them than ever. Questions shrouded the organization. Are the Blazers headed for a full rebuild? Should they trade their 7th overall pick? Is the team going to be sold?

Four games into the season and any questions about Portland’s desire to win have been answered. The team is off to a much better start than anyone could have ever predicted. As strange as it might be to watch a Portland team without McCollum, this is a new era of Blazer basketball and that has brought a lot of excitement during this young NBA season.

Despite the small sample size, there are some very encouraging trends in how this team plays. As a result, let’s take a look at three keys to the Portland Trail Blazers’ hot start to this season thus far.

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