After losing Greg Oden, their 1st pick of last years draft, for the season with a knee injury, many people thought that Portland will be back to the lottery again. After a slow start of 5-12, Portland have won 13 straight games through December, making the Blazers the hottest team in the west. The Portland Trail Blazers are (23-14) and 18-2 since December.
Brandon Roy (PPG 19, APG 5.7) and LaMarcus Aldridge (17.9, RPG 7.5, BPG 1.2) proved to be NBA ready. Przybilla (PPG 5, RPG 7.2, BPG 1.2) who went to fill Oden at center does the hustle and rebound well. I think getting a defensive-minded center who is an above average rebounder and can block shots is essential in building a team. Defensive stops translates to fast breaks or at least turnovers (see Mutombo in the Knicks – even in his advanced age – helped them to a 39 wins in 2003-4 season, vs. Curry with his slow feet on defense and 4+ Turnovers on offense, clogging the offense with his dribble attempts). Add Travis Outlaw’s instant scoring (PPG 12.1, RPG 5.1) and Martell Webster (11.1 PPG, RPG 4.1, 38% 3pt), their best outside shooter. Steve Blake runs the offense without trying to interfere.
When Oden gets back this team can be one of the best in the league and compete with the Spurs, Dallas, Phoenix and Detroit for a title for the next decade. Portland fans are probably very pleased with their team’s success, who would have thought this could be so soon?
