Jun 1, 2021; Denver, Colorado, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) leaves the court after a double overtime loss to Denver Nuggets during game five in the first round of the 2021 NBA Playoffs. at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Since the Portland Trail Blazers made the Western Conference Finals in 2019, the team’s defense has been viewed by many as their greatest weakness—the most glaringly obvious thing holding them back from true title contention. While it’s absolutely true that the Blazers must improve upon last year’s 29th ranked defense if they want to win a championship, it would be imprudent for Neil Olshey and Chauncey Billups to look at last year’s team’s second-ranked offense, bump fists and go about their jobs thinking that the only changes that need to be made are on the defensive end of the floor.