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Portland Trail Blazers star duo will lift team to NBA title in 2020

By Brandon Nutting

PORTLAND, OR - MAY 18: Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers and CJ McCollum #3 during Game Three of the Western Conference Finals of the 2019 NBA Playoffs on May 18, 2019 at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Cameron Browne/NBAE via Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OR - MAY 18: Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers and CJ McCollum #3 during Game Three of the Western Conference Finals of the 2019 NBA Playoffs on May 18, 2019 at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Cameron Browne/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The Portland Trail Blazers  star duo of Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum have taken the NBA by storm over the past few years, here’s how they can win a title in 2020.

The Portland Trail Blazers have been on a role lately when it comes to getting to fighting their way into the playoffs, having huge success in doing so dating back to 2013.  When Portland began this streak of playoff appearances, two of the most well know names in the NBA started to rise–  Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum. During their meteoric rise, they became known as one of the best backcourts in the Western Conference, and even the whole NBA.

With that being said, how long (if it does ever happen at all) will it take the Trail Blazers’ duo to win an NBA championship? Well, the upcoming 2019-2020 campaign could be the season that finally answers that question, here’s how.

Last year, Lillard had yet another spectacular season statistically, finishing with 25.8 points, 6.9 assists and 4.6 rebounds per game and was in the running for the NBA Most Valuable Player Award. He was the de facto leader for a team that marched their way to the third overall seed and a Western Conference Finals appearance.

Meanwhile, CJ McCollum had one of the most impressive bounce-back seasons in recent memory back in 2015, where he won the Most Improved Player Award in only his third season with Portland. He finished that year with 20.8 points and 4.3 assists per game, only getting better in each year since. Both players are threats from anywhere on the court — behind the three point line or when driving to the basket in general. When it came time for the playoffs, these two would lead the team in points and could always be counted on to hit big shot in clutch situations.

So now the question everyone in the Rip City area is asking themselves is, “How can the Blazers possibly win a championship with all the new star power crammed into the Western Conference?” With players like LeBron James and Anthony Davis on the Los Angeles Lakers, Russell Westbrook and James Harden on the Houston Rockets, and the Golden State Warriors with Stephen Curry, D’Angelo Russell, and Klay Thompson, how could the Trail Blazers possibly best this gauntlet of foes?

With the addition of Hassan Whiteside from the Miami Heat, Mario Hezonja from the New York Knicks, and Pau Gasol from the Milwaukee Bucks, they have a great front court that can make plays and have playoff experience. And with young and quickly improving talent of Zach Collins, and North Carolina rookie Nassir Little, Dame and CJ finally have the proper tools to get the job done and make both the offense and defense work on their side of the ball.

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Will we witness the Portland Trail Blazers pull off a unbelievable run like the Toronto Raptors last season? Like always, this responsibility will fall upon the shoulders of the dynamic duo of Lillard and McCollum alongside an revamped and revitalized supporting cast.