A few seasons ago, it felt like the Portland Trail Blazers were primed to possibly win the West and make the NBA Finals.
Sure, the competition was rough but the Blazers, led by perpetual superstar Damian Lillard, had what it took to push through the rest and rise to the top.
Oh, how long ago that was.
The Blazers are not the team they once were and the future doesn’t feel very bright for the squad right now, even with Lillard still on the roster.
The team suffered an embarrassing preseason loss the other night.
Although preseason games don’t mean anything, this defeat left Blazers fans feeling dejected and low.
The Blazers don’t care about the preseason anyway. We are a summer league team
— Blazers Palace (@blazers_palace) October 10, 2022
One of them posted a humorous and biting comment about the team online, tweeting, “The Blazers don’t care about the preseason anyway. We are a summer league team.”
That is a very accurate statement about the Blazers.
Brighter Days Ahead
The team has some talent onboard still.
Shaedon Sharpe has been impressive in the preseason, Anfernee Simons is the real deal, Gary Payton II is a great player, and others like Justise Winslow and Jerami Grant shine at times too.
However, the team just doesn’t feel complete and ready to face off against the rest of the West.
Can anyone really imagine this team taking down the Golden State Warriors or Phoenix Suns?
The Blazers are a work in progress and fans are aware of that – they aren’t expecting a lot of wins in 2022-23.
But what happens to Lillard if the team suffers again this year?
How much longer will the star point guard stick around?
He is growing older, his chances of winning a ring are becoming smaller, and he might be losing patience.
NEXT: Damian Lillard Felt Back At Home On The Court