Raptors Rapture
Fansided

NBA 2016-17 forecast: Northwest Division

By Brian Boake

May 11, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Portland Trail Blazers head coach Terry Stotts (right) instructs guard C.J. McCollum (3) against the Golden State Warriors during the second quarter in game five of the second round of the NBA Playoffs at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
May 11, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Portland Trail Blazers head coach Terry Stotts (right) instructs guard C.J. McCollum (3) against the Golden State Warriors during the second quarter in game five of the second round of the NBA Playoffs at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
6 of 6
Next

PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS

Last season: 44 – 38

This season: 45 – 37

Portland might have enjoyed the most pleasantly surprising season of any NBA team last season. They were expected to crash and burn after losing most of their starters in the off-season. Led by Most Improved Player winner C.J. McCollum, they did no such thing.

They will hold their ground this year. Their backcourt of McCollum and Damian Lillard can shoot the lights out. The Blazers will never be too far behind in any game.

Allen Crabbe emerged from obscurity to display some shot-making as well. We’ll see if he was a fluke.

Mar 4, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) drives to the basket past Toronto Raptors point guard Kyle Lowry (7) at Air Canada Centre. The Raptors beat the Trail Blazers 117-115. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 4, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) drives to the basket past Toronto Raptors point guard Kyle Lowry (7) at Air Canada Centre. The Raptors beat the Trail Blazers 117-115. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports /

Their front court is crowded with decent but not great contributors like Al-Farouq Aminu, Festus Ezeli, Ed Davis and Meyers Leonard. While those names don’t pop out at you, their cumulative value is considerable.

Terry Stotts is a proven coach, and will get the most out of his deep group.

Limit the opponents’ scoring opportunities, and get the ball to the gunners. You can win like that.

Coming soon: The Eastern Conference forecast

Home/Raptors News