Three questions the Blazers face heading into training camp
With training camp about to tip off, here’s what to watch for as your favorite team prepares for the 2015-16 season. Some of these questions will be answered quickly; others could linger into the regular season. Either way, here are three things that will define the first month of this new season:
Will Meyers Leonard and C.J. McCollum successfully step into larger roles?
Out: LaMarcus Aldridge and Wesley Matthews. In: C.J. McCollum and Meyers Leonard. Portland’s young duo shined in a brief playoff stint, but have unreasonably large shoes to fill this year. Damian Lillard is the Trail Blazers’ best player, but the team’s success hinges on their unproven supporting cast. To sniff the eight seed, they need Leonard and McCollum to exceed expectations. Can they?
Can Damian Lillard win the scoring title?
Damian Lillard is the first, second and third option on a rebuilding team that desperately needs him to create and finish every minute he’s on the floor. But will a higher usage rate lead to more impressive counting stats? Or will a larger burden wear Lillard down? He averaged 21.0 points on 16.6 shots per game last season. Both those numbers will rise this
year, but by how much?
Should Portland’s number one priority be the development of its young talent?
Noah Vonleh and Mo Harkless are not better basketball players than Gerald Henderson and Chris Kaman, but the younger duo makes more sense with Portland’s timeline, where veterans on expiring contracts are worth more on the trade market than the basketball court. Will Portland try and win as many games as they can or have both eyes on the future?
