The Portland Trail Blazers were a close-knit group last season, following the leadership of star guard Damian Lillard to the playoffs and, eventually, a spot in the Western Conference semifinals. Teammates spoke several times of how Lillard’s efforts to organize workouts in San Diego helped with team bonding that was a strength for the team all season long. Mike Richman of The Oregonian has more on how the Blazers will once again meet in San Diego to get ready for a big 2016-17:
Three weeks before training camp opens in Portland, the Trail Blazers are taking a second annual team bonding trip to San Diego.
A year ago, the entire team met in sunny Southern California to workout and get to know each other. It was a trip that many players referenced throughout the last season as a key jumping off point in building a lasting chemistry both on and off the court.
“I feel like that was the first step to building something good,” Allen Crabbe said on last year’s trip to San Diego at a press conference in July.
So instead of messing with a good thing, the Blazers decided for a repeat excursion. Nearly the entire roster met up in San Diego this week, except for Noah Vonleh who had aprocedure on his thigh on Wednesday.
The Blazers have gone through basketball workouts and weight lifting sessions at San Diego State University while also enjoying downtime together off the court.
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After the trip, most of the team will return to Portland to work out at the team’s practice facility for three weeks before training camp starts in late September. Perhaps the San Diego trips are tangibly important, building chemistry that translates to wins on the court. Or perhaps, they’re a nice getaway to one of America’s best weather cities. Getting away for a couple days as a team can’t hurt and if the players believe it’s a key that’s probably argument enough to return again in 2017.
