Despite recent struggles, Trail Blazers had a decade to be proud of

Despite a season full of pain, losing, and injuries, the Portland Trail Blazers should be proud of the progress they’ve made in the last 10 years.

Although the Portland Trail Blazers ended their 2009-2010 season with an impressive 50-32 record, the state of the franchise is in a much better place now then it was 10 years ago.

With a roster built around Brandon Roy, LaMarcus Aldridge, Greg Oden, and Nicolas Batum, the Trail Blazers had a much more balanced roster 10 years ago than they do today. All of their players played in positions they belonged in, and their roster made sense.

The team ranked 7th in the NBA in offense that year, and 15th in defense. They were coached by Nate McMillan, managed by Kevin Pritchard, and owned by Paul Allen. And just like any other year, they had the passionate city of Portland making life miserable on opponents 41+ times a year.

While all of this looks good on the surface, those who followed this team know that paper was really the only thing that could make this team look promising going forward. Off the court, the team struggled tremendously. They had very little leadership and were haunted by knee injuries.

Just two years after sitting out his entire rookie-campaign with knee issues, Greg Oden went down in game 21 of the 2009-2010 season, as he fractured his left patella in an early December game against the Houston Rockets.

Brandon Roy, on the other hand, was playing through ongoing knee issues and multiple surgeries that would soon end his career. Although he did a good job of fighting through pain, it was no secret that his playing days would soon be cut short. Blazers fans who had once dreamed of Oden being the franchise changing center that helped bring the Portland Trail Blazers their second NBA championship were suddenly crushed.

As fun as this group was to watch, the chemistry around the organization and the connection between the fans and the players was nothing like it is today. Although Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge appeared to be good leaders who embraced the city of Portland, Damian Lillard has completely re-defined what it means to be a Trail Blazers fan over the last decade.

In 2012, after starting the season 20-23, the Blazers fired long-time coach Nate McMillan after he reportedly “lost his team,” according to Ben Golliver of CBS Sports. Kaleb Canales, who is currently an assistant coach for the New York Knicks, briefly took over the team, finishing the season with a disappointing but understandable 8-15 record in his interim role.

Then, on March 15th, 2012, the Trail Blazers made a move that forever changed the history of their franchise.

Although this trade may have seemed like nothing big at the time, those who follow the team closely know that the protected 2012 first-round pick that the Blazers received from the then New Jersey Nets (currently the Brooklyn Nets) turned out to be none other than… Damian Lillard. I could stop this article right here and this decade would still look like a success. That’s how special the Letter O is to the city of Portland.

That summer, the Blazers made some other savvy moves that they would not regret. On June 4th, 2012, the Blazers hired current general manager Neil Olshey from the Los Angeles Clippers. Then, on August 7th, 2012, the Blazers hired current head coach and fan favorite Terry Stotts from the Dallas Mavericks. In the 2012 off-season alone, the organization made three huge moves that would collectively turn the course of the franchise around for years to come.

What Terry Stotts, Neil Olshey, and Damian Lillard have done for the Blazers in the last decade has truly been monumental. Since 2012, the Blazers have only missed the playoffs once (Lillard’s rookie year). Only the Spurs (22), Warriors (7), and Rockets (7) have longer playoff streaks than the Blazers (6) over that time.

With a coaching record of 339-270 since his arrival, Terry Stotts has come in and made Portland a place that players want to play. While that may seem like a small feat, it is something that other Portland coaches have really struggled with in the past. By implementing a high-scoring offensive system and allowing players the freedom to take whatever shots they want, Stotts has become every player’s favorite coach.

Stotts understands how modern basketball works, and will never publicly bash on any of his players for any reason whatsoever. He knows when to set fire to his team, and when to stay calm. Although his isolation-heavy style can be frustrating at times, it is extremely effective.

While Neil Olshey may forever be known for his miserable summer of 2016 – where he handed out $228 million to Evan Turner, Meyers Leonard, Maurice Harkless, and Allen Crabbe – he should instead be applauded for the work he has done over his last 8 years in Portland.

In 2012, while other general managers had their eyes on big-name guys like Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Harrison Barnes, and Austin Rivers, Neil Olshey stuck with his gut and drafted Damian Lillard, the then overlooked four-year point guard from Weber State that we all know and love today. He also snagged Will Barton with the 40th pick in the second round, who is currently having a very successful career in Denver.

In 2013, Olshey selected CJ McCollum with the 10th pick in the draft. Like Lillard, McCollum was a four-year guard from a mid-major school that many had doubts about. Again, Olshey trusted his gut.

Then, when LaMarcus Aldridge suddenly decided to leave the team out of jealousy of Damian Lillard, Olshey completely re-built the Blazers roster in the summer of 2015. He brought in Al-Farouq Aminu and Ed Davis on extremely team-friendly deals, and flipped a first-round pick and a second-round pick for Mason Plumlee, Maurice Harkless, and Pat Connaughton.

In the following years, Olshey traded Mason Plumlee for Jusuf Nurkic, drafted Zach Collins and Anfernee Simons, and brought Seth Curry, Rodney Hood, Skal Labissiere, and Enes Kanter to the team for practically nothing. While we are yet to see what Olshey does with recent acquisitions like Kent Bazemore, Hassan Whiteside, and Carmelo Anthony, there is no doubt that Olshey has done an excellent job of building a competitive roster despite Aldridge’s departure, operating in a small-market, and very little luck in the draft lottery.

Although Olshey may struggle to make the big moves, he has been unbelievably good at evaluating draft talent, reviving careers, and making seemingly little moves that pay big dividends years down the road, just as he did with Jusuf Nurkic, Rodney Hood, and Skal Labissiere.

As for a guy who didn’t struggle to make the big moves over this last decade, Damian Lillard was quite incredible when it came to the big moment, becoming the first player in NBA history to make two series-clinching game winning shots. I was lucky enough to witness both of these shots in person, and they were truly two of the craziest moments of my life. Both lit up the city of Portland with joy and will be remembered forever, both in Blazers history and general NBA history.

While these shots may be Lillard’s two most memorable achievements of his career thus far, they are definitely not his only. Along with dozens of other game winning shots and highlight dunks, Lillard was also a 4x NBA All-Star, Rookie of the Year, 1x 1st Team All-NBA, 2x 2nd Team All-NBA, 1x 3rd Team All-NBA, 1x NBPA Best Teammate Winner, and 2x Skills Challenge Champion.

Over his career, Lillard has averaged 23.7 PPG, 6.4 AST, and 4.2 REB, while shooting an incredible 88.9% from the line and 36.7% from three. He has deservedly come up in MVP discussions year after year, and helped the Blazers end their 14 year playoff series drought with their win over the Rockets in 2014. Last year, he led the Blazers to their first conference finals since 2000.

He also launched a successful rap career under the name of Dame D.O.L.L.A., releasing multiple albums and performing many concerts. And as I discussed in a recent article, he has helped create one of the most welcoming cultures that I’ve ever seen a professional sports team have.

Despite all of the business involved in the NBA, Lillard has helped players who come to Portland feel like they’re back in college playing alongside their best friends for the simple love of basketball. He is a role-model to kids all throughout Portland, setting an inspirational example of loyalty, leadership, and inclusiveness. I could honestly write for days about what Damian Lillard has done for me personally and for every other die-hard fan in Portland.

So next time you look at the Blazers’ current record and get upset, just remember: The future is bright. We have made tremendous progress over the last decade, and will continue to do so in the coming one. We have an amazing coach and general manager who will both continue to improve the team. We have an owner who is willing to spend big to win, and we have one of the best shot creators in the league. We have a front court that is going to do some real damage when healthy, and we have the best fans in the NBA.

And most importantly, we have Damian Lillard. That alone, gives us a chance.