TRAIL BLAZERS COMES AWAY WITH YET ANOTHER TOP-FIVE CLASS

Reasons why the Portland Trail Blazers can’t play well in the 2022-23 season The Blazers need to win as many games as possible.
The Portland Trail Blazers are not world champions.
They are 26-26 in the chaotic Middle Western Conference, with several games without home-field advantage and several games against the No.

13 seed.
This season couldn’t have been more unpredictable.
The opening game, which the Blazers won in impressive fashion, was more of a pleasant surprise than anything else.
The tables turned in December and January as the franchise and fan base returned to reality, with the team dropping to 10th or lower.
The Blazers have enjoyed a bit of a resurgence in recent weeks, winning five of their last six games, including a stunning come-from-behind victory over the Washington Wizards yesterday.
This resurgence comes at an interesting time for general manager Joe Cronin, who has five days to make real improvements before the NBA trade deadline.
Outside of the franchise, opinions of impartial observers and experts were as divided as the Blazers’ play.
While some are calling for the team to improve by adding more players, others are suggesting that Cronin will focus on veterans, which would lower the team’s lottery standings for the second year in a row.
While it’s true that a win gives a franchise a chance at (some would say limited) playoff glory, so-called tanking offers better assets and a greater share of young talent on the roster.
Leads to growth.
Today I will explain the former.
Despite their current predicament, it is in this team’s best interest to improve the situation.
The Blazers will almost certainly want to trade their first round pick to the Chicago Bulls sooner rather than later.
Unfortunately, Neil Olshey ruined the franchise’s fortunes a few years ago.

No, I’m not criticizing sending a lottery-protected first-round pick to Larry Nance Jr.
With ridiculous protections attached to the pick, Portland’s first-round pick will be replaced by a hypothetical playoff pick over the next five years.
At risk.
Sure, some would expect the Blazers to be back in the playoffs by 2028, but the nature of the deal means that Cronin won’t be releasing any future first-rounders until the team returns to the postseason.
is restricted.
Making the playoffs this season means a team regains full control of its first-round team while also presenting a more attractive package to other franchises.
Real Tank Team will start the match if it has not already started.
Make no mistake, the Utah Jazz, Oklahoma City Thunder (I think), Indiana Pacers, San Antonio Spurs, Houston Rockets, Orlando Magic, Charlotte Hornets, and Detroit Pistons will lose.
Portland’s season series between the Pacers and Hornets has already ended, but there are still seven games remaining against the remaining six teams, and they are secretly handing the victory to their opponents as they battle for lottery position.
It is expected that.
Assuming the Blazers are conservative and win 5 of these 7 games, the Blazers are already over 30 wins.
Compared to previous years, they will participate in the mid to late draw and will be excluded from the Victor Wenbanyama competition.
Indeed, many consider the 2023 draft class to be one of the best in recent history, but the projected 9th, 10th, or 11th pick is Cronin’s I don’t know if it’s enough to change heads.
Looking at it from a different perspective, in mid-February last year (2021-22 season), the Blazers had 25 wins and 34 losses.
They lost 21 of their past 23 games, finishing with a record of 27 wins and 55 losses.

This is one more win than now.
Last season, the team finished in 6th place, the worst result, and finished in 7th place.
It was nearly impossible to measure what the Blazers did last season with the vast amount of talent that hasn’t played at the NBA level.
30 more games this season against real NBA players will solidify what this team is and show us what needs to change.
And like the players, Chauncey every game.