Finally Portland's Year? (HoopsWorld)

[ABM]

http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?STORY_ID=17323

Last year at this time the Portland Trail Blazers were expected to be one of the top teams in the Western Conference. Brandon Roy had risen to elite status, and the Blazers had shown time and time again that they could give the defending NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers all they could handle in head-to-head match-ups. The Blazers had been a team on the rise since drafting Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge, and last season many felt they could finally hit the top.

Instead, injuries became the story in Portland. Greg Oden appeared in just 21 games, promising young wing man Nicolas Batum just 37, Joel Przybilla just 30, and even Brandon Roy was out of action for 17 games due to injury.

This year, Blazers owner Paul Allen is confident, but also cautious as he contemplates the possibilities for his team in 2010-11.

"Because of all the injuries we're recovering from it's really hard to pin down," Allen said in a video interview with Blazers.com. "We would love to get a great contribution from Greg this year. He's gone more than the extra mile to get in shape and get ready to go. You've got Joel who is also rehabilitating. Of course, Brandon had a few issues there at the end of the season too. It's going to be very interesting to see how they come back. So far I'm hearing very encouraging things. It would be so great to see them back out there playing 100%. ... We have some new assistant coaches too, a little change with the basketball staff, we have some guys coming back and hopefully being 100% healthy, this could be a great year. Given the challenges of last year you have to keep an eye out for that and make sure everybody stays healthy. We're doing the best we can there and bringing the guys along slowly."

Of course, Allen has been battling an illness of his own, and has been undergoing treatment for Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma, a form of cancer. He admits owning a basketball team has been therapeutic for him as he fights the disease, a battle he is currently winning.

"It is therapeutic and it gives you something that completely takes your mind off whatever other things you're having to go through. You can root for your team, if you're involved with the organization you can go back in the locker room and tell the guys you're thinking about them, and that was really important to me."

The Blazers have had a busy summer, as always, and have improved their depth with both draft picks and especially in free agency. Newcomer Wes Matthews

"Well, I think the draft, that's always interesting to bring in new players and see how they're going to contribute. I think we've got some players in Luke [Babbitt] and Elliot [Williams] who hopefully can make a good contribution this year. It was a really challenging draft process but we got through it and found some good players. I've been hearing some good things about them and their potential to develop.

"Then, of course, we signed Wes Matthews to a very substantial offer sheet which wasn't matched. That was a bit nerve-wracking and we all speculated about whether it would happen or not. But he was the player that we targeted and really wanted to get. We talked to all the basketball staff, [Blazers President] Larry [Miller] was a key part of that decision too, we all put our heads together and concluded that he was the player that could really help us next year. I'm really excited to see (him play). I watched him just a tiny bit on practice tape and I'm excited to see preseason get started as I always am."

Another exciting addition for the Blazers comes in the form of a new member of their coaching staff, a man who is no stranger to long-time fans in Rip City. Buck Williams was a huge part of the Blazers team that made it to the NBA Finals in 1990 and 1992, starting at power forward and playing alongside Clyde Drexler, Terry Porter, Jerome Kersey and Kevin Duckworth. The Blazers hope Williams can bring some of the toughness and intensity he displayed as a player to the new breed of big men in Portland.

"Buck is a great person and a really tough competitor," says Allen. "I'm sure some of that will rub off on our younger big people like Greg. I'm sure he will help Greg a lot. I remember one time, I think we won a series in Phoenix, to go play in the Finals and Buck came up and gave me a hug and I just about gasped because I had no air left in my lungs. It's great to have Buck back and I'm looking forward to his contribution."

Now healthy himself, Paul Allen is looking forward to a great season with the Portland Trail Blazers, and hoping some of his newfound health might rub off on his team.

"I'm really, really excited to be looking forward to the season, myself being completely healthy now too. Going to the games helped me get through last year in a big way, I'm just looking forward to being really be able to enjoy it to the maximum this year."

 

[gatorpops]

Great interview. Thanks ABM! I'm with him in his anticipation, I believe this team will surprise some on this board.

 

[MARIS61]

I'll certainly be surprised if they exceed last season's record.

Certainly more injury questions this year than last. Kept all the fragile guys.

As for being deeper, seems the opposite to me.

Buck's a nice addition, a few years too late maybe.

 

[axs88]

I think Oden over Durant made Paul sick.

 

[Further]

It's great to hear that at the moment at least, the cancer is in remission. I love having an owner who truly loves the sport (and is rich as shit).

here's to Paul Allen and his health

 

[crandc]

Now it's real!

Just ordered my ticket for December 25 game at GSW. Guess I won't be at a Chinese restaurant with the new Supreme Court Justice and all the other Jewish folks.

 

[blazerboy30]

I'll certainly be surprised if they exceed last season's record.

Certainly more injury questions this year than last. Kept all the fragile guys.

As for being deeper, seems the opposite to me.

Buck's a nice addition, a few years too late maybe.

Sweet. Based on your track record for talent evaluation and predictions, we should be in great shape next year.

 

[jlprk]

Allen's enthusiasm comes through because he gave the interview to the house organ. Can you imagine the questions the Oregonian would have asked, after waging a bitter one-way hate war against him for months, right when he was going though cancer treatment?

"You are the worst owner in sports. Do you have any financial problems? Vulcans, Hat Man, sister. Why did you fire our boy Pritchard? Why did you fire our boy Pritchard? Why did you fire our boy Pritchard? Did you hear me?"

 

[Nhawz]

Now it's real!

Just ordered my ticket for December 25 game at GSW. Guess I won't be at a Chinese restaurant with the new Supreme Court Justice and all the other Jewish folks.

Fa Ra Ra Ra Raaaa Ra Ra Ra Raaa!

 

[Kaydow]

If we stay healthy (and of course that is a BIG "If"), we will win more than 50 Games. The West is unusually balanced, or I would say this team could win 60. I don't even think the Lakers are going to win 60 this season. The #1 Seed could have 56 wins this year.

 

[SheedSoNasty]

If Aldridge really is as big and tough as advertised, if Oden comes back healthy (along with everyone else), if Matthews doesn't slump after last season and if our rookies can come in and play even just a few meaningful minutes we might be able to contend for the western conference crown. Maybe.