“I bet $100 grand on Trail Blazers making NBA Finals”: Charles Barkley picks Damian Lillard and co over LeBron James and his Lakers

Charles Barkley predicts that the Portland Trail Blazers will make the NBA Finals, over the Los Angeles Lakers and the Clippers.

The Portland Trail Blazers are among the very few teams who, on paper, significantly improved this 2020 offseason. Neil Olshey made sure that Damian Lillard’s prime is not wasted and surrounded him with solid pieces, going into this next season.

Though many analysts believe that Portland, barring injuries, can legitimately be a top 2 seed, ESPN’ projected standings had them out of the top 8 entirely. This did not sit well with CJ McCollum.

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With everyone making their predictions as to who they believe have a shot in the loaded Western Conference, Charles Barkley gives us his pick as well.

Charles Barkley bet $100k on the Blazers making the Finals

It seems as though the ‘Chuckster’ has started to become quite infatuated with the idea of the Portland Trail Blazers making the NBA Finals.

On NBA on TNT, Barkley made yet another prediction about the Blazers. Still on the Damian Lillard bandwagon, Barkley is betting $100,000 on the Blazers making the NBA Finals.

Chuck is putting his money where his mouth is 👀✍️ pic.twitter.com/3gWG7O44Lr

— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) December 23, 2020

This is the third year in a row Barkley has picked Dame and co. to come out of the Western Conference.

Back in the 2018-19 season, Barkley said the Blazers would make it out of the West. Unfortunately for him, his signature, “GUARANTEE” never came to fruition as the Blazers were swept in the WCF.

Then when the Blazers stole Game 1 from the Lakers in the 2020 Playoffs, Chuck brought out a broom, signalling a Blazers sweep. Portland proceeded to lose 4 straight.

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Can the Blazers edge out the Lakers?

Make no mistake; the Los Angeles Lakers are the favourites to come out of the West. However, they aren’t without their flaws.

Portland is a solid team through and through. If they were in the Eastern Conference, they would most definitely have home court advantage going into the postseason.

Chuck and many NBA analysts are quite high on the Blazers. It will be interesting to see if they can put up a fight against the defending champs.