The Portland Trail Blazers are not often mentioned by national writers anticipating the start of the 2025-26 NBA season. Hanging out at the “just below mediocre” line for a couple of years, the Blazers are generally afterthoughts in any serious discussion of the Western Conference standings.

In the absence of notice from four-letter networks and Sirius/XM shows, Brian Toporek of Fansided steps to the plate, musing that the Blazers could be one of the most underrated, overlooked teams in the Association.

Holding back on praise is somewhat natural given Portland’s offseason moves. Toporek admits this off the bat:

Some skepticism of the Blazers’ late-season surge is fair. They wouldn’t be the first team to finish strong in Mickey Mouse March, only to falter once more teams begin putting th

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