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NBA Playoffs Seeding Predictions for the 2016-17 NBA Season

By Weldon Jones

May 22, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) shoots as Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) defends during the second quarter in game three of the Western conference finals of the NBA Playoffs at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
May 22, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) shoots as Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) defends during the second quarter in game three of the Western conference finals of the NBA Playoffs at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports /
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May 11, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) shoots the basketball against Golden State Warriors guard Shaun Livingston (34) during the second quarter in game five of the second round of the NBA Playoffs at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
May 11, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) shoots the basketball against Golden State Warriors guard Shaun Livingston (34) during the second quarter in game five of the second round of the NBA Playoffs at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

5. Portland Trail Blazers

Portland overachieved during last season. Heck, Portland overachieved in the NBA Playoffs! This team lost 4 starters last year. Nick Batum, Robin Lopez, Wesley Matthews, and LaMarcus Aldridge. By average expectations one would have been completely convinced that Portland would project as a lottery team. I guess we were all fooled then.

Portland turns out to have a lot of untapped potential already on their roster. C.J. McCollum emerged as a reliable “1-A” scoring threat as he averaged over 20 PPG in the regular season and NBA Playoffs. Allen Crabbe whom was retained via Free Agency, budded into a promising and productive all around guard who can also fill it up. Ed Davis has carved out an amazing role in the Offense and was a good defender. Al Farouq Aminu helps their defense and hits open threes. Mason Plumlee has proven to be a great contributor at the 5 position. When Myers Leonard returns this coming season in healthy form, the dynamic duo of Lillard and McCollum will have more threats on both ends of the Floor.

One thing about this Portland team that is overlooked. Chemistry. They play for each other. These are a group of young guys who were written off by the NBA at their previous destinations. Now every single player on the roster is showing the league who they are and more importantly, that they mean business.

Portland will be a convincing fifth seeding team as long as they keep doing what they were doing last year. Also helping them is the addition of Point-Forward, Evan Turner. The addition of Turner puts yet another defensive stalwart and all-around player in place to compliment this team that already has one of the best offensive back courts in the NBA. This season Portland will not disappoint. With the genius of Terry Stotts and all this young talent that now has valuable experience, Portland has successfully blown away any expectations of underachievement.

Next: Western Conference Seed no.4: Memphis Grizzlies

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