2018-2019 NBA Previews – Trail Blazers Odds
Looking for 2018 Portland Trail Blazers Predictions? We’ve got your back. Portland finished last season 49-33, finishing sixth in the NBA’s Western Conference. Unfortunately, that’s where the good vibes came crashing down, as the team went on to be swept at the hands of the New Orleans Pelicans, the sixth seed out West, in the first round of the postseason.
Portland Trail Blazers Season Preview
Head Coach: Terry Stotts
2017-18 Record: 49-33
Trail Blazers Odds to NBA Title: +15000
Trail Blazers Odds to Win Conference: +7500
Updated Sportsbook Bonuses For Today
Click here for ALL of our 2018 Team By Team NBA Season Previews
This year, the Blazers are bringing back largely the same squad that earned the third seed in 2017-18, so the hope is that they can build upon their regular season momentum and make a real life playoff run in 2019.
Portland Trail Blazers Strengths:
Continuity has been one of this team’s strengths for a few seasons now.
Admittedly, Rip City lost a bit of that when it let key backup cogs like Ed Davis and Shabazz Napier walk in free agency, but the fact that Damian Lillard, CJ McCollum and Just Nurkic are all back—not to mention pieces like Al-Farouq Aminu, Mo Harkless and many more—is huge for a team that just landed the third seed in last year’s playoffs.
Check out the free sports picks from Cappers Picks experts today!
As important as continuity is, though, the engine that makes this team go is the backcourt.
Yes, Nurkic has been known to explode for massive double-doubles and can (when engaged) impact a game with his playmaking both at the rim and on top of the key, but Lillard and McCollum have established themselves as one of the best backcourts in the game.
Lillard, who has always been known as an elite scorer and playmaker, even showed improvement on defense last season.
Although there are some young pieces who can contribute with a high ceiling (see: Zach Collins), it’s Lillard and McCollum who are going to keep this team competitive.
Last season, the two guards combined for 48.3 points while shooting 36.1 percent (Lillard) and 39.7 percent (McCollum) from Deep.
Portland Trail Blazers Weaknesses:
You could point to a number of X’s and O’s that this team needs to improve upon, primarily it’s lack of a third scoring option. That was evident in the first round last year when New Orleans brilliantly got the ball out of Lillards hands and it became clear that the Blazers simply lacked weapons outside of its backcourt.
[dfads params=’groups=226&limit=1&return_javascript=1′]
But here’s the harsh reality: Portland has likely hit its ceiling. As we mentioned, players like Zach Collins haven’t yet hit their ceilings, but those players alone (think Anfernee Simons, Seth Curry, Caleb Swanigan) aren’t going to establish themselves as Most Improved Player candidates this season.
The talk around Portland every offseason—this last one especially—is whether or not it’s time to break up the backcourt.
General Manager Neil Olshey has yet to even consider trading either Lillard or McCollum, and in the interest of finding commensurate return value, he’s not wrong to hold onto his stars.
But with both McCollum and Lillard already in their primes, it’s difficult to see this team growing organically and improving after such a dud of an offseason.
Check out the free NBA basketball picks from Cappers Picks experts today!
Portland Trail Blazers Betting Prediction:
The catch when it comes to the Blazers is this: They didn’t get worse, but just about everyone around them got better.
New Orleans will theoretically be improved having replaced an injured Boogie Cousins with Julius Randle and a full year of Nikola Mirotic, but they’re a popular candidate to slide as well. But then you look at the Los Angeles Lakers who obviously got better.
Minnesota and Denver will both be improved this season by virtue of getting healthy (Paul Millsap, Jimmy Butler). The Utah Jazz should be even more frightening with Rudy Gobert (crosses fingers) hopefully on board all season, and the Oklahoma City Thunder are getting Andre Roberson back and ditching Carmelo Anthony—both recipes for success.
The Blazers will be in the playoff hunt all year, but qualifying is going to be far more difficult than it was even just a year ago.
Look for Portland to exceed its 41.5 over/under wins projection, but 44 games will be tough when it comes to making the playoffs barring more injury troubles for Western Conference opponents.
2018 NBA Gambling
What do you think about our 2018 Portland Trail Blazers predictions? Please leave us a comment below telling us how you think they’ll do in the 2018-2019 NBA Season!
The 2018 NBA futures betting season is here in full force! If you like to bet on NBA hoops, you are in the best possible place for online betting. CappersPicks.com has NBA odds up on a ton of futures, and you will also find weekly NBA basketball lines up for early games as well.
Check out our Updated NBA Betting Odds today! Click to view more 2018/19 NBA Predictions.