On the eve of the Portland Trailblazers 50th season, I talked with Travis Demers, the new radio play-by-play announcer for the Blazers to talk about the upcoming season. Demers filled in for Brian Wheeler, the longtime announcer last season due to health issues but got the fulltime job this offseason. After taking the 3rd seed (53-29) in the regular season last year, Portland went to the Western Conference Finals. The NBA offseason has brought changes to the Trailblazers and to many other teams in the Western Conference. “The Blazers lost two guys who were in the starting lineup last year (Aminu & Harkless),” Demers said. “Hassan Whiteside brings something that is hard to find, someone who is a big defensive center who can contribute from opening night.” Portland will be without starting center Jusuf Nurkic until near the All-Star break after suffering a gruesome left leg injury earlier this year. The Blazers acquired Whiteside in an offseason trade with one year remaining on his contract, so he has something to prove. They also signed six time all-star Pau Gasol who is also a two-time NBA champion. Gasol is still recovering from surgery to his left foot in May so he won’t be available to start the season. “Looking around the league, the continuity comes up but I don’t think that’ll be an issue. Everyone added pieces,” Demers said. “Gasol is a rotational big, who has won championships, is a hall of famer and will be an important piece for the rotation.” “Zach Collins will start at power forward and Hassan at center while Anthony Tolliver can play at 4,” Demers said. “I don’t think depth will be an issue, because they can play smaller lineups and they have several capable guys who can contribute.” “The west is tough to predict this year, as a lot of teams are trying to figure out who they are. The bottom will be better than they were so win totals will come down across the board,” Demers added. “Only two teams may win over 50 games this year. Blazers won’t win 53 games like last year I think 47-49 games could get them home court in the first round.” The team is expecting big things out of second year guard Anfernee Simons who has shown strides in the preseason. Simons is going to be the backup point guard. “The most important thing is there weren’t shooters on the floor last year,” Demers said. “This year defenses can’t double Dame and CJ, otherwise they’re going to be leaving a shooter open. That will open things up for Dame and CJ to be the best version of themselves.” What do you think Blazers have to do to win the Western Conference Finals this year? “They needed to have more options scoring the ball (last year) and didn’t have that,” Demers said. “Keeping CJ and Dame healthy is huge and having some gas in the tank late in the playoffs. Learning how to close out games and having more guys take the load off Dame and CJ. Home court advantage will have an effect on the western conference Finals.” Portland begins the season with a lot of road games so it’ll be important for them to get off to a good start. “13 of the first 18 games are on the road. Starting with Denver at home then a four game road trip, one game home and then on the road again,” Demers said. “Not an easy stretch at all, and makes it imperative to get off to a good start. The tiebreakers are going to matter, last year they were 1-3 vs Denver and they ended one game behind them. The first stretch up to Thanksgiving will be critical.” Portland kicks off the season Wednesday night at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN.