One Year Ago, Damian Lillard Sent The Thunder Into Rebuild Mode, But It’s The Blazers Who Have Been Bad Ever Since

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Last year, Damian Lillard hit the shot that sent the OKC Thunder home in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs. Portland would go on to the Conference Finals, where they would eventually lose to the Warriors.

Meanwhile, the Thunder hit the reset button by trading Paul George and Russell Westbrook for young players and draft picks.

They were headed in two very different directions and nobody thought the Thunder would be in the playoff picture so soon after trading their two best stars.

But in an interesting turn of events, it’s OKC who’d secure a spot in the 2020 postseason, not the Blazers and, as this campaign continues to progress, it’s becoming increasingly clear that the Blazers may be closer to a rebuild than the Thunder.

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Since Dame’s infamous shot, OKC is 40-24 with a 5th place standing in the West. Chris Paul, Dennis Schröder, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Danilo Gallinari, and Steven Adams have a Net Rating of +29.9, making them the best five-man lineup in the league.

Things haven’t been as fortunate for Portland. Injuries and roster changes aside, they’ve struggled to stay consistent on the court. They rank 27th defensively and allow the fifth-most points in the NBA, behind the Pelicans, Timberwolves, Hawks, and Wizards.

As the Thunder sit comfortably in the West standings, Portland still has to fight for a spot in the playoffs if they even want a shot at the title.

Nobody thought it was going to be like this, especially after all the Blazers were able to accomplish last year.

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Nico Martinez is a veteran staff writer for Fadeaway World from Brooklyn, New York. He joined Fadeaway World in 2016 and is currently residing in Columbia, South Carolina. Nico holds a degree in Sports Management from Columbia International University where he built a strong foundation in the inner workings of sports media and management. Nico's contributions have significantly enhanced the credibility and depth of Fadeaway World's content, earning him recognition across the sports journalism community. His work has been discussed in prestigious publications like Sports Illustrated. A dedicated follower of LeBron James, Nico often leads coverage on news related to the basketball star. With nearly a decade of experience in sports journalism, Nico consistently provides comprehensive and timely basketball news, engaging a wide audience of basketball enthusiasts.Nico's most desired player to interview, past or present, is Kevin Durant. He is particularly keen on asking Durant if he has any regrets about his career, especially concerning his departure from the Oklahoma City Thunder, and why he engages so much with fans on social media. 
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