The Moonball Blog

Monday, October 26, 2009

(a sorta) League Preview: Portland Trailblazers



With the sorriest teams, the lottery likelies, the might be somethings and the playoff solids in the rear view mirror, we are now focused on a grouping of two known as the upsetters. Joining the Mavericks is the second best in the Northwest.


Portland Trailblazers


PG Steve Blake Andre Miller Jerryd Bayless
SG Brandon Roy Rudy Fernandez
SF Nic Batum Martell Webster
PF LaMarcus Aldridge Travis Outlaw Dante Cunningham
C Greg Oden Joel Przybilla

Portland enters the season as everybody’s darling. Like any up and coming young team, they are basking in the glow of can’t miss potential.
Brandon Roy has emerged as one of the League’s pure powers. Long man LaMarcus Aldridge is not that far behind. Greg Oden looks ready to start showing something. The parade of talent continues: Nic Batum, Martell Webster, Rudy Fernandez, Travis Outlaw. Vets Blake, Miller and Przybilla are rock solid. The Trailblazers are arguably the deepest squad in the NBA.

But as a close observer, the wonderland atmosphere that characterized the Roy-lead ascension from crapsville to relevance may be changing. Since Roy’s arrival, Portland has benefited from outstanding team chemistry. Nate McMillan has had the team’s ear. Guys having getting together and ballin much of the off-season. Everybody’s early to training camp. Everybody’s pulling each other to get better. Dreamy. Really.

The arrival of Andre Miller and the intensity of expectation has brought a new energy to the locker room. Even if Miller had not been added to the roster, Portland was flirting with having too many players deserving minutes. With Miller, there are going to be at least two very good NBA players clocking under 15 minutes a game. Miller himself could be a 20 minute-a-night back up. Not dreamy. Especially for a team that is supposed to exceed last season’s 54 wins and first round playoff exit.

Of course, winning can cure all sorts of ills, and this team certainly is capable of racking W’s. Roy is a fabulous leader. Even if a few guys get disgruntled, Roy has a personality and character to hold the Blazers together. Aldridge is going to score 20-plus this season. For whatever Oden is not, the dude is so big and strong. He has skills that with confidence and experience will grow. He alone could elevate the Trailblazers into instant contenders if he could play 30 effective minutes a night. Nic Batum is another guy: Act like you know.

As for Andre Miller: He has fallen short just like Sebastian Telfair, Jarret Jack, Sergio Rodriguez before him. Steve Blake has once again earned the starting nod. An excellent defender, Blake blends perfect
ly with the skills of Roy, Aldridge. He cans the three, and is steady with the ball. Miller could be a great backup if he would accept the role. This remains to be seen. Maestro Nate McMillan has some tough decisions to make.

The road from good to great is very steep and fraught with pitfalls. Many a group of talented and successful young teams have crumbled along the way. McMillan has so adeptly brought this team along from the dismal depths of lotteryville to their present position. He will steer them true. If players get to testy, Pritchard should make a move swiftly. Whether Portland can best the Lakers in a 7 game series is hard question, because so much depends on whether Por
tland gets the chance. The West has many serious veteran teams with playoff dreams of their own. Ultimately, the question for Portland seems more when than if. If when is now, the Trailblazers are capable of beating everybody.

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1 Comments:

  • not sold on Nate. i think he has brought this team as far as he can. I have never liked Miller. He can't gaurd and the Blazers don't need the head ache of extra players. Bob Whitsitt any one?

    By Blogger monkeyshoes, at 2:34 PM  

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