Blazers. This will probably be the best team in the league in a few years if not sooner. This team has the makings of a dynasty. The only interesting thing will be to see how they choose to pay which players. But right now, almost every player on their roster looks like a potential starter for some teams. It's ridiculous, and frankly just not fair! http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/teams/roster?team=por 12 LaMarcus Aldridge PF 23 6-11 240 Texas $4,631,400 88 Nicolas Batum SG 19 6-8 200 $1,040,640 4 Jerryd Bayless PG 20 6-3 200 Arizona $1,993,560 2 Steve Blake PG 28 6-3 172 Maryland $4,250,000 1 Ike Diogu PF 25 6-9 250 Arizona State $2,912,823 5 Rudy Fernandez SG 23 6-6 185 $1,084,080 44 Channing Frye PF 25 6-11 248 Arizona $3,163,769 51 Steven Hill C 22 7-0 245 Arkansas $442,114 6 Luke Jackson SF 26 6-7 215 Oregon $797,581 9 Raef LaFrentz C 32 6-11 240 Kansas $12,722,500 52 Greg Oden C 20 7-0 285 Ohio State $5,011,680 25 Travis Outlaw SF 24 6-9 207 $4,000,000 10 Joel Przybilla C 29 7-1 245 Minnesota $6,310,150 42 Shavlik Randolph PF 24 6-10 240 Duke $797,581 11 Sergio Rodriguez PG 22 6-3 176 $874,000 7 Brandon Roy SG 24 6-6 211 Washington $3,084,240 8 Martell Webster SG 21 6-7 235 $3,771,133 They've got terrific point guards in Steve Blake and Jared Bayliss (who has looked good in preseason). They've got the next Wilt Chamberlin in Greg Oden. They've got a franchise PF in LaMarcus Aldridge. They've got a perennial All-Star floor general in Brandon Roy. They've got terrific back-up big men (all three were former starters) in Pryzbilla, Outlaw and Channing Frye. And now they have Nicholas Batum and Rudy Fernandez? That's pretty scary for the West.
Portland's got a pretty good coach too. The West is extremely difficult. The only bad teams are like the Thunder, TWolves, Grizzlies, and dare I say it? The Warriors. Oh yeah, and the Kings...
The bad teams are the guys without a big man and a point guard. Wow that sounds like us. Biedrins is awesome, but he'll have to step it up along with whoever our pf is.
I think Beans will be our sleeper this year. Everyone is so focused on the PG situation and Brandon Wright getting minutes, but I think Beans' production will be much better this year, which should make up for some of the deficiencies we have. Let's remember, he just signed a big contract and not many people talked about him having to live up to his contract. I think he's got a lot of pride to show that he's worth the money. Let's hope so. He's a stand up guy but now I want him to get NASTY with the left-handed tomahawk over Greg Oden! LOL
I love the W's; but boy do I love the Blazers. Aldridge is a star coming; Roy is already there, Oden is a man; but the keys are the Spaniards, Rodriguez and Fernandez; those guys are fun and seasoned. Look out. Man I wish the Warriors had talent like that. Never know, maybe Wright and Randolph become young athletic studs.
The Blazers are better on paper than they are on the court (at least from what I'm watching right now). I think in two years they will be contenders if the live up to the hype.
Yeah, they're getting spanked by LA -- to their defense, LA is the the favorite to win the Championship. Also, this is Oden's first year on the court, so it will take a while for the team to gel (also Rudy Fernandez and Jared Bayliss). Don't forget the 13 game win streak Portland went on last year. Once they gel, and get it flowing with Oden in the mix, and as Roy gets into the zone -- they'll be contenders by year's end, IMO.
