by Lamrock on Sun Nov 14, 2021 4:49 am
2024-25: Part Three
Behind D.J. Wagner's career night, the Blazers had routed the Spurs in the season finale, despite the bench not playing. Game 1 of their playoff match-up was more of the same, but the Spurs actually stole game 2 behind a big night from Devin Booker. This would prove to be a fluke and a big wake up call for the Blazers, who proceeded to blow out the Spurs in games 3 and 4 to take the series.
Round 2 brought the Houston Rockets, who had slumped a bit down to stretch to get the 5 seed, but dispatched MVP Luka Doncic and the Mavs easily enough. Hoping to get revenge for stealing Darius Garland away, the Rockets, led by superstar Jalen Green, the still good Khris Middleton and a resurgent Kemba Walker had beaten the Blazers in Seattle during the regular season. The playoffs were a different story however, Wembanyama dominated starting center Mitchell Robinson, forcing him into foul trouble in every game and exposed the Rockets' shoddy defense. Green played well, keeping the scores respectable by catching fire from 3, but Portland swept them with little fanfare.
It was of course Seattle who we had to face in the WCF, but it nearly wasn't! Dame and the Pelicans bounced back from a disappointing first season to give the 3-time defending champs hell. Seattle barely escaped a 3-2 series, but got off to a good start against Portland. Edwards and Towns were dominant as the Blazers struggled to contain their loaded offense. What kept things close was a dreadful shooting night from rising star Patrick Baldwin Jr, who had supplanted Jaden McDaniels as the starting small forward. The Blazers went on a big run in the fourth to secure a comeback victory.
Games 2 and 3 were also close, but with the same result. Seattle hadn't changed their team much but a noticeably weaker bench featuring defensive sieves like Lauri Markkanen did them in. They did make the wise adjustment starting McDaniels in the third game, but it was too late as the Blazers' second unit continued to outplay Seattle's reserves. In what seemed like the de facto finals, Portland dethroned the champs and would face the upstart Charlotte Hornets for the title.
Charlotte has had an up-and-down run the past few seasons, alternating successful seasons and lottery finishes. The prior season saw them add Zach Lavine, but struggle despite big seasons from superstars LaMelo Ball and Chet Holmgren. They traded Lavine to the all-in OKC Thunder for the first overall pick, selecting some guy named Javonte Taylor, who has been a nonfactor. They nonetheless secured the 2 seed and impressively dispatched Toronto, Boston and Brooklyn en route to their first ever finals berth.
The heavily favored Blazers were stunned in game 1, as the Hornets led most of the way in a dominant game 1 win. LaMelo was unstoppable, and guys like JT Thor and Bouknight were huge. Game 2 saw the Blazers jump out to a double digit lead, but give up a big third quarter run to fall behind. Behind Wembanyama, they rallied to tie the series in a tense win. But heading back to Charlotte this was anyone's series.
The Hornets laid in egg in a bad game 3 loss, but game 4 came down to the wire. The lead changed hands countless times as LaMelo and Chet could not be stopped. In the fourth quarter, Darius Garland reminded everybody why he was on the MVP short list, scoring almost all of the Blazers' points as he carried the Blazers to victory. He was named finals MVP as Portland ended a 48 season title drought.
The 2024-25 champion Blazers were on cloud nine, but a pivotal offseason approaches. Jaren Jackson Jr, Ziaire Williams and Andre Drummond all enter free agency. JJJ is expected to opt out of his deal and will be up for a max contract. Ziaire was inconsistent but defensively solid and could get a big offer sheet that may be unwise to match with Wemby and Wagner needing extensions in the coming years. Drummond was brilliant off the bench, but is getting old and seeking one last big pay day. Do they pay the big bucks to run it back, or are changes coming?