The Faces for Portland’s Starters Have Changed but it Feels Just Like 2020-2021
In the 2020-2021, Portland lost to an undermanned Denver Nuggets team and saw themselves defeated in the first round of the playoffs for their fourth time in five years. After years and years of falling up short, it was clear that Portland’s model of having two shoot-first-guards, a top-heavy and lackluster depth chart, and an undersized team as a whole, would not work. Despite this, while the names on the back of the jerseys have changed for the Blazers in 2022-2023, it appears that they have learned nothing from their mistakes.
Even with three starters being different from two years ago, Portland has replaced their previous key players with the same archetype. Damian Lillard and Jusuf Nurkic will both still be featured in the starting five, but how similar are these other replacement starters to the previous core?
SG: 2020 – CJ McCollum — 2022 – Anfernee Simmons (undersized, bad-defensively, shooter)
SF: 2020 – Norman Powell — 2022 – Josh Hart (undersized, offensive, secondary ball-handler)
PF: 2020 – Robert Covington — 2022 – Jerami Grant (3 and D specialist)
Portland Will Miss the Playoffs Again Due to Their Flaws
As many NBA fans know, Portland primarily struggled last season and failed to reach the playoffs due to superstar PG, Damian Lillard, only being healthy for 29 games. Prior to last season, the only time Lillard failed to reach the playoffs was during his rookie year in 2012-2013. Currently the Blazers are projected to be the 10th seed in the western conference and unlikely to make the playoffs… and when you look at the teams above them it makes sense. They clearly have less talent than teams like the Clippers, Suns, Warriors, Nuggets, and Lakers, and are much more flawed than teams like the Mavericks, Pelicans, Timberwolves, and Grizzlies.
Despite the defensive additions of Jerami Grant and Gary Payton II, the Blazers still do not project well as a good defensive team overall. Along with this, their depth is highly questionable and they truly only have a playoff rotation of 6-7 players, leaving very little room for injuries throughout the season. Blazers’ backups like Nassir Little, Drew Eubanks, and Trendon Watford likely wouldn’t sniff the rotation on all of the West teams above Portland.
Lastly, coaching still appears to be a weak spot for this franchise. Chauncey Billups was not given a great scenario last season, but aside from the Lakers, every other Western Conference playoff team has the definite coaching advantage over the Blazers. All of these flaws and challenges will prove to be too much for the Blazers to be successful and Lillard will once again have an extended offseason.
