Since Damian Lillard was drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers in 2012, the franchise has made the playoffs four out of his five seasons. However, after being swept by the Golden State Warriors last season, the Blazers face greater competition for the final spot in the Western Conference.
Heading into the 2017-18 NBA season, the Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves are two non-playoff teams that significantly improved during the offseason. As Lillard tried his best to recruit Carmelo Anthony to waive his no-trade clause with the New York Knicks, he is making sure he is personally prepared for the new season according to Casey Holdahl of Blazers:
Damian Lillard has spent almost the entirety of the offseason working out in preparation for the 2017-18 season. While no one on the team was particularly satisfied with how Portland's 2016-17 season played out, Lillard seemed to take it the hardest, vowing to train harder than ever in order to make sure last season's disappointment won't be repeated.
And how do you know how dedicated he is to coming into training camp in great shape? Well, he's apparently giving a vegan diet a try in order to get down to 190 pounds, which is the weight he played at during his rookie season. That's true sacrifice…
While Lillard was listed at 195 pounds last season, it appears he has gotten in better shape for the upcoming season. Lillard is one of the most explosive offensive guards in the league and head coach Terry Stotts will need to rely heavily on him again after not making significant roster changes.
For the Blazers, they will be competitive in the Western Conference, but it remains to be seen if they can add another player next to Lillard and CJ McCollum. With Portland re-signing numerous role players to long-term deals last summer, they will need to get creative in order to add more talent.
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