Portland
Trail Blazers
B
| 2013-14 Season Stats | |
| W-L | 54-28 |
| PCT | .659 |
| DIV | 13-3 |
| CONF | 31-21 |
| HOME | 31-10 |
| ROAD | 23-18 |
Frontcourt
B+
Main addition is Chris Kaman, who has fallen off since leaving the Clippers, but could be an upgrade in Portland. Blazers hope for improvement from Meyers Leonard, Joel Freeland and Thomas Robinson behind LaMarcus Aldridge, Nicolas Batum and Robin Lopez.
Backcourt
B
Mo Williams is gone and veteran Steve Blake is in to back up Damian Lillard. Blake's health is an issue, but he can shoot the 3-ball well. Questions still exist about C.J. McCollum's development and Will Barton contributions would be a bonus.
Defense
C+
Only West playoff team with a lower-rated defense was Dallas and it secured center Tyson Chandler. Blazers didn't address defense but can get better with improvement of younger players and a stronger team commitment.
Bench
B-
Depth has been building for two seasons and success will be determined by the growth of younger players like Leonard, Robinson, Barton and McCollum. Blake should be steady, but needs to be healthy. Kaman needs to prove he's still viable.
Coaching
B+
Terry Stotts earned this summer's extension, but knows there's work to be done after getting obliterated by the Spurs in the second round. Stotts' No. 1 job is promoting a buy-in on defense. If not, Blazers have probably hit their ceiling.
Summary
Last seasons Cinderalla story, the Blazers didn't have much money to spend in free agency and didn't have a draft pick, which is fine considering all the young players already on the roster. Blake was a veteran get they really needed, but as already mentioned, the defensive help never came.
They did get a verbal commitment from LaMarcus Aldridge that he plans to sign long-term once he becomes a free agent next summer, so that's huge for stability. Portland's starting five are terrific and Damian Lillard should only get better entering Year 3. But for the Blazers to do much more than last season they'll need a couple of their developmental guys to take a step forward.
-- Jeff Caplan
| 2013-14 Team Rating | |
| Offense | Defense |
| 108.3 | 104.7 |
| 5th Overall | 16th Overall |
