The Portland Trail Blazers finished last season with a 21-61 record, placing them in last place in the Western Conference standings. The team wasn’t very competitive but they have tried to rebuild.
Portland has a talented young roster, but has yet to see their talents translate on the court. After trading away star point guard Damian Lillard last season, the Trail Blazers are in the midst of a much-needed rebuild.
Now that the team is gearing up for the new NBA season, what can fans realistically expect? The hope would be to not finish last in the conference once again, but with the talent level in the West, that could be a challenge.
The West was already well-stocked last season and is expected to get even better this year. Portland may have a hard time keeping up with the other teams.
The Trail Blazers are arguably the worst team in the conference, and barring a major injury to another team, Portland will likely finish in last place once again. The San Antonio Spurs, who finished just one game above the Trail Blazers in the standings, should be much better this year.
Second-year star Victor Wembanyama and veteran point guard Chris Paul should help the Spurs contend for a playoff spot. The Memphis Grizzlies should be healthier this season and will look to reclaim their place at the top of the conference.
The Utah Jazz may not make the playoffs, but they still look competitive, so Portland is the only team that could finish in last place.
Portland general manager Joe Cronin is already set the waiting level for the team next season. He mentioned that expectations should be moderate as the team heads into the offseason.
“We’ve invested heavily in our young players, so development will continue to be our priority. We won’t win at an extremely high level until some of these players are ready. At the same time, we need to put these players in the best possible environment.”
Joe Cronin: “We’ve invested heavily in our young players, so development will remain our priority. We’re not going to win at a very high level until some of these players are ready. At the same time, we need to put these players in the best possible environment.”
— Sean Highkin (@highkin) April 15, 2024
Despite that, Portland can continue to fight for the future. They want to see big strides from young players like Scoot Henderson, Shaedon Sharpe and rookie Donovan Clingan.
If the Trail Blazers can be more competitive, fans will be pleased with the rebuild. Portland is a basketball-proud city and loves the Trail Blazers, but it could be a few years before the playoffs are held again.
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