Fansided

Early picks for the NBA’s next Western Conference champ

By Garth Johnson

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 11: The Los Angeles Lakers celebrate with the trophy after winning the 2020 NBA Championship Final over the Miami Heat in Game Six of the 2020 NBA Finals at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on October 11, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. 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. (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images)
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 11: The Los Angeles Lakers celebrate with the trophy after winning the 2020 NBA Championship Final over the Miami Heat in Game Six of the 2020 NBA Finals at AdventHealth Arena at the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on October 11, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. 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. (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images) /
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trail blazers
Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images /

Portland Trail Blazers

There were reasons for all the talk in some NBA circles that really liked the Portland Trail Blazers before the season started. A lot of those voices have gone quiet since Portland has suffered some injuries to a couple of its’ star players as they have fallen back in the ranks, albeit still fifth in the Western Conference. Add in the indefinite status of the often-injured Zach Collins, who has shown promising glimpses in his brief stints of action, and it’s easy to see why people are bailing from the Blazers.

Thankfully though for Portland, CJ McCollum, should be back in three weeks or so and Jusuf Nurkic is not expected to be out for the year as he eyes a return around the end of March. While silver linings in sports are as thin and fragile as most teams’ title shots, for the Portland Trail Blazers, there may be a little shine in all the s**t they’ve gone through this season. The Blazers can use this period to find out how their new additions will be able to contribute and step up when called upon, as well as see how they have developed some of the intriguing, young players they have waiting in the wings.

Gary Trent Jr. is one of those young players who exploded in the bubble but has been the model of inconsistency so far, having scored in double figures one night with a follow-up game of single-digits, alternating back and forth over the first 14 games of the NBA season. His last two outings were the first time he had over 10 points in back-to-back games. Prior to the last three NBA contests for the Portland Trail Blazers, Anfernee Simons had only played more than 13 minutes and scored in double figures one time. In McCollum’s absence, Simons has seen his minutes jump from 15 to 23 to 29 and his scoring as well, netting 26 points in the loss to OKC.

With age and injury, Portland’s All-Star guards could use the consistent influx of scoring, productive energy and minutes that Trent and Simons can provide playing alongside them while these players can try to establish themselves as a viable second-unit guard pairing. Trent brings a defensive toughness that was probably inherited at birth and Simons brings a play-making element that Portland lacks outside of their starting duo and Nurkic to an extent. Rodney Hood has been off to a slow start but scored a season-high 21 in Portland’s win over the Knicks. He can see more responsibility and try and work back into his game.

As far as the new additions, the Portland Trail Blazers have seemed to realize that they needed to get better defensively to be able to compete no matter how potent their offense. Derrick Jones Jr. has already guarded LeBron and Kawhi admirably and Robert Covington has proved to be a versatile defender as a 3-and-D wing throughout his career although his shooting has declined over the last few seasons. Harry Giles wants his opportunity to prove he is healthy and able to contribute on a nightly basis with energy and defense, but also in a way that once had him viewed as a lottery pick.

Judging by their 29th-rated defense, they still have a ways to go, but the Portland Trail Blazers made moves to get better in their areas of weakness and what they need to do now is hold the line until CJ McCollum, who was off to a great start to his season in somewhat atypical fashion, comes back and other injured Blazers do as well. Portland has become uncharacteristically deep, but a lot of that depth is still young and unproven, but also hungry and on the rise which is what the Portland Trail Blazers hope they are in the NBA’s West.

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