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Three things the Portland Trail Blazers can learn from ‘ The Last Dance ‘

By Stevie Cozens

CHICAGO, IL - CIRCA 1992: Clyde Drexler #22 of the Portland Trail Blazers guards Michael Jordan #23 of the Chicago Bulls during an NBA basketball game circa 1992 at Chicago Stadium in Chicago, Illinois. Drexler played for the Trail Blazers from 1983-95. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - CIRCA 1992: Clyde Drexler #22 of the Portland Trail Blazers guards Michael Jordan #23 of the Chicago Bulls during an NBA basketball game circa 1992 at Chicago Stadium in Chicago, Illinois. Drexler played for the Trail Blazers from 1983-95. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /
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Portland Trail Blazers - Neil Olshey
Portland Trail Blazers – Neil Olshey /

Be patient

Jerry Krause and the Chicago Bulls grew incrementally. They didn’t contend from day one. Jordan and Bulls had a number of tough losses in the first round, with an incredibly painful loss in the conference finals to the Detroit Pistons as well.

Some NBA teams and players have given up on their teams after only 4 or 5 seasons and blown things up all together. Jordan and the Bulls broke through in their seventh year after persevering with certain key personnel.

They had their main guy and rocked with him to the tune of six championships. Of course it was frustrating for the fans, players and management to have the playoff exits they did. But each year they got closer to their goal by making key moves, moving on to another series, and perfecting their style of play.

The Blazers have had similar struggles, whether it’s being swept by the Warriors or the New Orleans Pelicans. These have been hurtful for the fan base, but after these defeats we have seen players like Lillard come back stronger or Olshey make moves to improve the team.

This iteration of the Blazers have slowly built over the last few years but they definitely haven’t peaked yet.

Just like the Blazers have with Damian Lillard, the Bulls identified their number one guy in Jordan.

As the Bulls main competitors in the Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Lakers and Detroit Pistons dominated the 80s, the Bulls waited for them to age, before beating them, then all of a sudden they were in the rearview mirror. Once that had happened, Krause was able make the moves required to take the next steps.

The Bulls couldn’t contend in the 1980s, there was too much competition. Similar to when the Golden State Warriors were wiping the floor with the rest of the NBA, other teams like the Blazers couldn’t make their run.

The Blazers best player in Lillard is only 29, and this is his eighth year in the league. Their run to contend is far from over. The Warriors are out-of-the-way, and although LeBron James is now in the Western Conference, there’s no reason this team won’t make a run next season when everyone is fit.