Fansided

NBA Season Preview 2018-19: Preseason power rankings

By Ian Levy

LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 29: Stephen Curry #30 and Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors laugh in the hallway before the game against the Los Angeles Lakers on November 29, 2017 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 29: Stephen Curry #30 and Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors laugh in the hallway before the game against the Los Angeles Lakers on November 29, 2017 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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PORTLAND, OR – OCTOBER 12: CJ McCollum #3 of the Portland Trail Blazers high fives fans before the game against the Sacramento Kings on October 12, 2018 at the Moda Center Arena in Portland, Oregon. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OR – OCTOBER 12: CJ McCollum #3 of the Portland Trail Blazers high fives fans before the game against the Sacramento Kings on October 12, 2018 at the Moda Center Arena in Portland, Oregon. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Excepting some tinkering with the second-unit, the Trail Blazers are mostly the same team they were last year. That was a squad that emerged from the morass of the Western Conference, surged to the No. 3 seed and looked like they might be ready to take a run at the Warriors. Instead, they were run off the court in a first-round sweep at the hands of the Pelicans.

Without significant roster changes, the Blazers need to stave off regression and stagnation, shedding whatever psychological weight was assumed in last year’s playoff disappointment. Evern repeating what they did last year seems like a tall challenge. Of course, that clearly wasn’t enough and surpassing it seems highly unlikely. It’s hard not to root for the Blazers given their engaging talent and how hard they play, but some of the younger teams in the West seem ready to pass them by.