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Raptors, Rockets among NBA teams that will regress in 2014-15

By Gerald Bourguet

Apr 1, 2014; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Brooklyn Nets guard Joe Johnson (7) drives to the net past Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) during the fourth quarter at Barclays Center. The Nets defeated the Rockets 105-96. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 1, 2014; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Brooklyn Nets guard Joe Johnson (7) drives to the net past Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) during the fourth quarter at Barclays Center. The Nets defeated the Rockets 105-96. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 2, 2013; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers power forward LaMarcus Aldridge (12) speaks with small forward Nicolas Batum (88), point guard Damian Lillard (0), center Robin Lopez (42) and shooting guard Wesley Matthews (2) during the fourth quarter of the game against the Indiana Pacers at the Moda Center. The Blazers won the game 106-102. Mandatory Credit: Steve Dykes-USA TODAY Sports /

5. Portland Trail Blazers

When you think of the 2013-14 Portland Trail Blazers, you probably think of Damian Lillard’s series winning three against the Houston Rockets in the first round of the playoffs. You probably think of LaMarcus Aldridge putting up 89 points in the first two games to the series. And you probably think of how Portland pulled off the upset against a very talented Rockets team before respectfully bowing out to a superior San Antonio Spurs team in the next round.

But I keep coming back to Portland’s blistering start to the season. How they started 22-4 out of the gate with the starters playing an absurd amount of minutes. How the Blazers kept winning close games in a completely unsustainable fashion. How they had a 31-9 record at one point before strolling across the finish line with a 23-19 record to close off the regular season.

To be fair, there’s a fair chance Portland’s winning and losing streaks are a bit more balanced in 2014-15. Maybe Damian Lillard still has a another step or two to take in his progression. Maybe Aldridge is once again capable of posting career highs in scoring, rebounding and assists. And maybe a bench with Steve Blake and Chris Kaman will actually help this team take the next step. But Portland is one of the few playoff teams that didn’t noticeably improve during the offseason, so expecting a teensy bit of regression here seems like a safe bet.

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