Trail Blazers: Top Five Things For Title Contention

Apr 29, 2016; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) hugs guard CJ McCollum (3) after defeating the Los Angeles Clippers 106-103 in game six of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at Moda Center at the Rose Quarter. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 29, 2016; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) hugs guard CJ McCollum (3) after defeating the Los Angeles Clippers 106-103 in game six of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at Moda Center at the Rose Quarter. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports
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Apr 29, 2016; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) hugs guard CJ McCollum (3) after defeating the Los Angeles Clippers 106-103 in game six of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at Moda Center at the Rose Quarter. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports
Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) hugs guard CJ McCollum (3). Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports

What are the top five things that have to happen for the Trail Blazers in order for them to be able to legitimately contend for a title in the near future?

The Trail Blazers will be looking to build off of their surprising 44 win campaign last season, but how much farther do they have to go before they can be considered real title contenders? The Western Conference is loaded with tough competition, and the Warriors will enter the year with one of the most talented rosters in NBA history (on paper). But you still have to somewhat like Portland’s chances to at least climb into the conversation over the next five years.

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Having one of the deepest rosters in their history, the Trail Blazers will hopefully ride their chemistry and talent to the top of the conference. Having a championship window open up isn’t solely based on talent though, which is why RCP put together this list. In the next few slides we wanted to take a look at some of the things that likely have to happen for the Trail Blazers to bring home a title 40 years after their first.

It was hard to narrow this list down to five. If these things do come to fruition, Portland will be in a prime spot to be crowned as the top team in the NBA.

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