Don't look now, but the Portland Trail Blazers may actually be a team to watch in the Western Conference this season. They have gotten off to a promising 3-0 start after dramatically improving their roster over the offseason.
They are now seeing the benefits of their offseason work by starting 3-0 for the first time in seven years. Obviously, they still have a long way to go to making actual noise in the West, but it's an encouraging start.
Last season, they surprised many by making the playoffs and stealing a game against the eventual Western Conference champion San Antonio Spurs. This season, they should be far better with the addition of Damian Lillard, who didn't play last season due to an Achilles tear.
They also added Ja Morant, giving them a massive influx of talent in their backcourt.
The Portland Trail Blazers are emerging as a sleeper team in the West
Having a sharpshooter in Lillard and a dynamic slasher in Morant gives Portland's offense more scoring punch. Combine that with them ranking 12th in defensive rating last season, and Portland could theoretically be a top-10 defense and a top-10 offense this season.
That's a recipe for a potential 50-win team and seems attainable after their hot start and after they won 42 games last season. The fact that the Blazers could be a top-6 playoff team this season could be a major topic for the rest of the NBA. Especially with the Western Conference having a flood of injuries.
The Oklahoma City Thunder, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Utah Jazz have already been hit hard by injuries, and the Blazers could capitalize by picking up early wins, helping them gain momentum and establish themselves as a legit playoff team.
The Blazers have quietly built a strong playoff team
Time will tell if this Blazers team can actually contend. It also will depend heavily on how Lillard and Morant fair this season. If Lillard is still a reliable 20-point scorer and 3-point sniper, then the Blazers suddenly have an elite offensive player to pair with Deni Avdija.
Also, if Morant can reestablish himself as an All-Star-caliber player, then the Blazers could be an actual problem. It's only been a handful of games, so that's still very much up in the air, but fans should be encouraged by the progress they've apparently made.
Even as their ownership situation has garnered unwanted press, having an actual good team can help change the narrative for the better.
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