National Basketball Association

Do the Trail Blazers have the makings of a 'Hipster Team'?

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

foxsports

Jason Concepcion of The Ringer just laid out the blueprint of what comprises a “Hipster Team” and the current Trail Blazers seem to fit that mold.

The Ringer had an article earlier this week that seemed to draw an awful lot of parallels with today’s Trail Blazers roster. In his article “The NBA Hipster Team Championship Belt”, Concepcion outlines the meaning behind the term as this:

“A hipster team represents the rarest of NBA experiences: a surprise. These are the teams that burst onto the scene organically; whose on-court chemistry often comes across as pure attitude; who play as if entertaining is just as important as winning, and yet manage to win some games anyway. Just never the big ones.”

Despite losing four of their five starters in the summer of 2015, the Trail Blazers blossomed into a surprise playoff team. On top of their postseason berth, Damian Lillard‘s lack of recognition led to a strong underdog mentality that permeates the entire roster. The presence of those two factors alone make this Portland team a strong contender for a place on Concepcion’s list.

Hopefully Lillard’s time with the team won’t be remembered as only a fun team to watch, but also a winner. Following up last year’s successful campaign by living up to heightened expectations in 2016-17 will be the first step in that process. Closing out big games and edging out superior opponents in the playoffs will be crucial for the historical context of this team. But even if they fall short, this group of overachievers might have already carved out a legacy as a highly entertaining group.

What do you think Rip City, is this team worthy of Hipster Championship Belt contention? Also make sure to check out all of TheRinger.com‘s excellent content and Concepcion’s entire article by clicking here.