The Portland Trail Blazers didn't make the headlines this summer in the 2014 NBA Free Agency unlike other teams such as the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Dallas Mavericks. They reportedly lost Mo Williams to the Minnesota Timberwolves this offseason but nonetheless, made key veteran free agents additions in Big Man Chris Kaman and point guard Steve Blake to further bolster their second unit.
But it's a safe bet that the Blazers are comfortable at where they are sitting right now, according to a Bleacher Report. It has been suggested that team needs just a little bit of tinkering in its roster after a very successful season last year where they were tied for the No.4 seed in the West with a 54-28 record. It was 21 games better than the the 2012-13 season and with LaMarcus Aldridge still in his prime and Damian Lillard blossoming into a true star. These were all pointing to signs that the the team will continue to be force to be reckoned with in the highly competitive Western Conference.
Here is what Head Coach Terry Stotts thinks about the team's success last year, as quoted by NBA.com, "Our entire team enjoyed having a taste of success, not only in the regular season but in the playoffs and winning in the first round. The fact that San Antonio not only beat us, but how they beat us and how they won the championship I think gave us the motivation to know that there's a lot for us still to achieve and what we have to do to achieve it."
Dave Deckard of Blazers Edge said that Blazers' improvement in the NBA season was not just because of hiring big names, as the team played smart in the free agency. He wrote, "The Blazers didn't start the summer with all-world talent, potential or depth. They did not pick up Buck Williams or Maurice Lucas level veterans in trade. They have no franchise center returning from injury. This was not an Aldridge-Roy draft. None of the markers indicating a double-digit jump are shining forth."
It is not hard to predict that the Blazers will continue to shine in the upcoming 2014-2015 season and in the playoffs. How far they will go, remains to be seen.
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