The Blazers haven’t made many headlines this year primarily because of how much stronger the West has gotten this summer and how most fans view this team as just an average team out West. However, this team could possibly reach a top four seed if we exclude the possibility of injuries.

The Portland Trail Blazers hold a “Big Three” of their own. At center, they hold the versatile Jusuf Nurkic, who is already a star center and could develop into a superstar in a couple of years since he is still at a young age of 23. They have CJ McCollum, a combo guard who received the Most Improved Player Award two seasons ago and has made even more progress since; he's now one of the most dangerous shooting guards in the league. Lastly, and most obviously, they have Damian Lillard- an All-Star and also one of the NBA’s most clutch performers. If the big Three each have a better season than they did the year before, don't be surprised if the Blazers reach 50+ wins this season.

Also, Portland’s defense is no joke. This team is ranked third in defensive efficiency through 11 games just behind the Boston Celtics and the Oklahoma City Thunder. This is primarily because of how disruptive Al Fariq Aminu and Nurkic are in the paint. This season, Aminu is the leader in real differential for the team at +10.3 due to the fact that he is a force to be reckoned with in the paint and knows how to play the pick and roll.

Lastly, Portland is deadly with the three ball. The Blazers have shot almost 40% this season as a team with guys like Shabazz Napier and Meyers Leonard being constantly left open from a pick and roll led by Lillard. Furthermore, the Blazers have a solid bench filled with many “Three and D” players which will make this team fun to watch as they try to climb up the seeding in the West.