5 Reasons Why Portland Trail Blazers Fans Should Be Excited for 2015-16 Season

By Chipper Murphy

5 Reasons Why Portland Trail Blazers Fans Should Be Excited for 2015-16 Season

Damian Lillard Portland Trail Blazers — The Trail Blazers had the most hard-luck offseason of any team in the league. The loss of star forward LaMarcus Aldridge sent them spiraling from potential championship contender to probable lottery team. Now, they are going in a new direction, with the franchise throwing together as many different cheap and young talented pieces as they could get.

5. Small Ball Potential

Al-Farouq Aminu Portland Trail Blazers

5. Small Ball Potential

Al-Farouq Aminu Portland Trail Blazers — With the additions of Moe Harkless and Al-Farouq Aminu, the Blazers have two small forwards who can play the power forward position. Head coach Terry Stotts has already indicated that he wants to go small with Ed Davis or Noah Vonleh at center. This would allow for the team to run a more up-tempo style of play. With a squad that doesn't have many scorers, they will need to get out in transition for easy baskets.

4. Terry Stotts Is An Excellent Coach

Terry Stotts Portland Trail Blazers

4. Terry Stotts Is An Excellent Coach

Terry Stotts Portland Trail Blazers — Terry Stotts remains one of the more underrated coaches in the game. He took one of the worst defenses in the NBA and turned them into one of the best in the league. Stotts was an assistant on Rick Carlisle's Mavericks team that won an NBA championship in 2011 and was credited with coordinating their offense. This led to him getting the Portland job, where he has been successful, winning 50 games in two of his three seasons.

3. Young Talent

Noah Vonleh Portland Trail Blazers

3. Young Talent

Noah Vonleh Portland Trail Blazers — As I stated before, Portland went out and got younger after Aldridge left. They brought in pieces who have been labeled with potential and haven't played up to it yet. It's an interesting low-risk, potentially high-reward strategy that the organization took. Guys like Ed Davis and Mason Plumlee have shown flashes of how good they can be. Noah Vonleh was a top-10 pick that the Hornets decided to give up on after one season.

2. C.J. McCollum Is Poised For A Breakout Season

C.J. McCollum Portland Trail Blazers

2. C.J. McCollum Is Poised For A Breakout Season

C.J. McCollum Portland Trail Blazers — As of this post, McCollum is still shooting over 46 percent from the three. He's taking 6.5 per game on average, by the way. He's averaging 47 FG percentage and 22.2 points per game. McCollum was a popular pick for breakout player of the year this season, and he has not disappointed at all. McCollum and Lillard should be a dynamic duo in the back court this season for Portland.

1. Damian Lillard Is A Star

Damian Lillard Portland Trail Blazers

1. Damian Lillard Is A Star

Damian Lillard Portland Trail Blazers — Speaking of Damian Lillard, he has been pretty good too. He's averaging 27.3 PPG on 47 FG percentage and 43 three-point percentage. On a team that has very little scoring punch, it's not a crazy idea to think that Lillard will keep this up all season long. In fact, he could make a serious run at the scoring title.

Chipper Murphy is a Beat Writer for the New York Knicks on www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @ChipperMurphy. “Like” him on Facebook.

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