The Portland Trail Blazers are in for an interesting, maybe even a bright, season. It’s a year of transition with new veterans expected to bolster the roster, former first-rounders heading towards their prime years, and a certain rookie center looking to captivate imagination and attention.
Though the roster mix looks intriguing, it’s absolutely not predictable. Portland could be one of the Next Big Things in the NBA’s Western Conference or a total flop. We won’t know until the games get underway.
We do know that, at this stage in their growth curve, a lack of success would be a disappointment.
That brings up an interesting question we’ve been dancing around all summer and want to address today.
Which Trail Blazers player is under the most pressure this season? Let’s define “pressure” as, “If this player doesn’t produce or takes a step backwards, it’s going to have a definite impact and it’s going to be legitimately disappointing.”
Note that we said “player” here. That’s intentional. Despite receiving contract extensions, Head Coach Chauncey Billups and General Manager Joe Cronin will always be at the eye of the storm when it comes to fan scrutiny. That’s the nature of the beast. But we want to look at the roster itself today, not just the people who help build and guide it. So we’re asking you for someone who actually puts on a uniform and takes the floor.
Which Blazers player is under the most pressure to perform this year and why? Name your candidate in the comment section, give us your reasoning, and compare your thoughts with fellow readers!
