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NBA Season Preview 2018-19: Every team’s best case scenario

By John Hugar

SHANGHAI, CHINA - OCTOBER 08: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors celebrates with Andre Iguodala #9 of the Golden State Warriors during the game between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Golden State Warriors as part of 2017 NBA Global Games China at Mercedes-Benz Arena on October 8, 2017 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Zhong Zhi/Getty Images)
SHANGHAI, CHINA - OCTOBER 08: Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors celebrates with Andre Iguodala #9 of the Golden State Warriors during the game between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Golden State Warriors as part of 2017 NBA Global Games China at Mercedes-Benz Arena on October 8, 2017 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Zhong Zhi/Getty Images) /
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Damian Lillard, Trail Blazers
NEW ORLEANS, LA – APRIL 19: Damian Lillard /

Portland Trail Blazers

What’s worrisome about the Blazers is that it kinda feels like we saw their best-case scenario last season, then watched everything fade away in the playoffs, when the Pelicans just ran them off the court. Like…can this team contend for anything? Can reach the second-round without their opponent losing their two best players over the course of the series?

Well…they still have Damian Lillard, which is enough to put them ahead of quite a few teams. They also have CJ McCollum, and a top-5 backcourt. The Blazers seem to be hoping that they can improve from within, as they’re biggest offseason signing was probably Seth Curry. It’s not crazy to think the Blazers can get better with what they have, but it does cut against the grain of the arms race that is the Western Conference.

If Lillard has another first-team All-NBA season in him, and young guys like Zach Collins and Gary Trent, Jr. can make strides, it wouldn’t be a stretch to see this team grab another top-4 seed. The question is how far they can when the playoffs start.