The Portland Trail Blazers 2019–20 were driven by Damian Lillard’s elite scoring and playmaking, with CJ McCollum providing a consistent secondary scoring threat. Carmelo Anthony added frontcourt offense, while Hassan Whiteside controlled the paint with dominant rebounding and shot blocking. The statistics reflect a team that excelled offensively through perimeter shot creation but was undermined by inconsistent defense and overall team efficiency.
Top-3 in scoring before shutdown; deep pull-up range forced traps 30+ feet out. Ran elite PnR volume and closed games at the line (88.8% FT). Offensive identity of the Portland Trail Blazers.
MVP-8, All-Star, All-NBA Second Team
CJ McCollum
Starter/Star [1.1]
36.5
High [1.2]
22.2
4.2
4.4
1.4
84.80
Primary counter to loaded coverages on Lillard. Heavy mid-range diet, strong weak-side relocation shooting, and improved playmaking in two-guard PnR.
Hassan Whiteside
Starter/Star [1.1]
30.0
Medium [1.1]
15.5
13.5
1.2
3.3
81.31
Led the NBA in blocks (2.9). Elite paint finisher (62.1% FG) and defensive rebounder; drop-coverage anchor with limited perimeter mobility.
DPOY-11
Jusuf Nurkić
Starter/Star [1.1]
31.6
High [1.2]
17.6
10.3
4.0
3.4
92.14
Bubble return changed the team’s ceiling: high-post facilitator, physical screener, and vertical rim deterrent. Two-way hub in limited games.
Carmelo Anthony
Starter/Star [1.1]
32.8
Medium [1.1]
15.4
6.3
1.5
1.3
59.65
Recast as scoring forward: mid-post isolations, pick-and-pop spacing (38.5% from three), late-clock shotmaker when sets stalled.
Trevor Ariza
Starter/Star [1.1]
33.4
Low [1.0]
11.0
4.8
2.0
2.0
43.56
3-and-D stabilizer after trade. Hit 40% from three, guarded top wings, and cleaned weak-side glass without needing touches.
Gary Trent Jr.
Key Contributor [1.05]
21.8
Medium [1.1]
8.9
1.6
1.0
1.1
29.57
Movement shooter who popped in the bubble; 41.8% from three with quick-trigger catch-and-shoot gravity.
Rodney Hood
Starter/Star [1.1]
29.5
Medium [1.1]
11.0
3.4
1.5
1.0
40.54
Efficient early-season spacer (49.3% from three) before injury. Secondary PnR option who punished drop coverage.
Zach Collins
Starter/Star [1.1]
26.4
Low [1.0]
7.0
6.3
1.5
1.0
34.76
Mobile big with switch flashes and weak-side shot contests. Screen-and-dive threat; season cut short by injury.
Kent Bazemore
Key Contributor [1.05]
25.8
Low [1.0]
7.9
4.0
1.4
1.7
31.92
Defensive energy wing; generated steals in passing lanes and ran in transition. Shooting inconsistency capped usage.
Anfernee Simons
Bench [1.0]
20.7
Medium [1.1]
8.3
2.2
1.4
0.5
27.06
Combo guard scorer off the bench. Flashes off-the-dribble pull-up game; efficiency swings with shot selection.
Skal Labissière
Bench [1.0]
17.2
Low [1.0]
5.8
5.1
1.3
1.1
26.60
Short-roll finisher and weak-side shot blocker in second units; efficient inside arc (55.1% FG).
Physical rebounder and short-roll passer; low-usage interior role.
Nassir Little
Bench [1.0]
11.9
Low [1.0]
3.6
2.3
0.5
0.6
14.00
Energy wing; cut-and-crash offense with developmental perimeter shot.
Anthony Tolliver
Bench [1.0]
16.8
Low [1.0]
3.9
3.3
0.9
0.5
17.20
Veteran stretch-four; spaced to corners and communicated defensively in small-ball units.
Wenyen Gabriel
Bench [1.0]
9.2
Low [1.0]
2.3
2.2
0.3
0.7
11.00
Hustle forward minutes in bubble; rim runs and activity plays.
Jaylen Hoard
Bench [1.0]
7.9
Low [1.0]
2.9
2.5
0.3
0.4
12.20
Two-way wing depth; rebounding pop in short stints.
Moses Brown
Bench [1.0]
3.7
Low [1.0]
1.2
1.6
0.1
0.2
6.20
Developmental center; raw tools, limited rotation role.
TOTALS
—
241.0
—
115.0
45.3
20.6
12.4
—
Offense leaned on elite guard creation and high PnR frequency. Interior defense anchored by Whiteside’s rim protection; bubble surge tied to Nurkić’s return and lineup balance.
Carried scoring load after Lillard’s injury vs the Los Angeles Lakers. Attacked switches in mid-range and created off high PnR; efficiency dipped under length but volume kept offense afloat.
Damian Lillard
Starter/Star [1.1]
35.8
High [1.2]
24.3
3.5
4.3
0.8
86.86
Opened series with 34 in Game 1 win, stretching coverage to 30+ feet. Rib injury limited burst and playmaking late; still drew traps that bent the defense.
Jusuf Nurkić
Starter/Star [1.1]
32.2
Medium [1.1]
14.2
10.4
3.6
1.6
71.20
Physical interior presence; glass control and short-roll passing were critical. Foul trouble vs Anthony Davis reduced defensive continuity.
Carmelo Anthony
Starter/Star [1.1]
35.2
Medium [1.1]
15.2
5.0
2.0
1.4
57.07
Floor-spacing four who punished sagging coverage (42.1% from three). Used mid-post isolations to counter half-court stagnation.
Hassan Whiteside
Key Contributor [1.05]
21.2
Low [1.0]
6.8
7.0
0.4
2.2
34.44
Drop-coverage rim protector; 2.0 BPG in limited minutes. Struggled defending in space against small-ball looks.
Gary Trent Jr.
Key Contributor [1.05]
30.6
Medium [1.1]
9.6
2.0
0.6
0.8
29.11
Movement shooter tasked with chasing elite guards. Shot 41.7% from three but limited off-dribble creation.
Anfernee Simons
Bench [1.0]
20.5
Medium [1.1]
6.8
2.8
2.5
1.5
29.92
Bench spark; secondary handler who attacked gaps and generated steals (1.5 SPG). Efficiency volatile but activity popped.
Wenyen Gabriel
Bench [1.0]
13.3
Low [1.0]
5.3
2.5
1.0
1.0
19.60
Energy forward minutes; rim runs and weak-side contests. Efficient finisher (60% FG).
Mario Hezonja
Bench [1.0]
13.6
Low [1.0]
4.6
3.2
1.2
0.6
19.20
Utility wing; attacked closeouts and provided secondary ball movement in short bursts.
Jaylen Hoard
Bench [1.0]
13.7
Low [1.0]
4.7
3.0
0.3
0.0
16.00
Crash-and-cut forward; efficient inside (58.3% FG) in limited run.
Jaylen Adams
Bench [1.0]
7.0
Low [1.0]
2.0
1.0
0.7
0.3
8.00
Deep rotation guard; brief on-ball reps, minimal usage.
TOTALS
—
240.0
—
106.6
42.8
17.8
11.0
—
Half-court offense stalled against length and traps. Three-point volume (11.6 makes per game) kept games competitive, but turnover rate (16.0) and interior defense swung the series.
