More NBA: Are the Blazers the third best team in the league?
I say yes. If not today then soon. The reason for this post is the Celtics v Trail Blazers game tonight in Boston on ESPN and Fox at 8pm. The exciting matchup got me to thinking about challengers to the Celtics championship dreams besides the Los Angeles Fakers.
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Here's a story from SI.com today about Portland's tremendous young 2 guard, Brandon Roy. Roy wasn't taken until the 6th pick in the 2006 Draft, but he has rapidly answered questions about his durability and athleticism by scoring points in bunches and becoming his young team's unquestioned on court leader. While the 06 Draft class will go down as one of the worst in history, Roy looks like he will be a player who will soon join the upper echelon of the league's scoring guards, which currently features MVP Kobe Bryant, NBA champ Paul Pierce, when-healthy Gilbert Arenas, and the remarkable Dwyane Wade.
As for his team, the Portland Trail Blazers, I feel that they may not have the experience to challenge the Fakers and Celtics this season but that the sky is the limit for them in the years to come. Obviously, superstar in training center Greg Oden must find a way to stay healthy. But I love Oden's game! He is a Bill Russell, Bill Walton-type PURE CENTER. He rebounds and defends first, then scores enough to keep defenses honest. While many may criticize a perceived lack of athleticism in the youngster as well as his propensity to get injured, I feel that Oden has a chance to win several championships in Portland with the team around him.
LaMarcus Aldridge and the previously mentioned Roy are two of the young stars in the league. Aldridge is a close cousin in playing style to Detroit Piston star Rasheed Wallace as both are seven footers with great range and mobility. While Aldridge may never shoot the three as well as Sheed his ability to score in close to the basket makes him a vital cog in the Blazers basketball machine.
Rudy Fernandez is a terrific sixth man who plays both guard positions with flair and nerve. I love his game and his style. He could turn out to be another Manu Ginobili; a player with good length who can score from outside as well as in close and can get easy baskets with his ability to defend and make steals.
Portland has one of the very best backup centers in the NBA in seven foot Minnesotan Joel Przybilla, a strong shot blocker and rebounder perfectly cast as star in training Oden's help from the bench.
Point guard Steve Blake is merely servicable, but waiting in the wings are injured star Martell Webster, whose return seems imminent, and talented young Sergio Rodriguez, a 6 3 Spaniard with talent.
Travis Outlaw is the small forward. He's an effective midrange shooter with size who will do a great job of opening up the middle for Oden and Aldridge the more they become familiar with one another.
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The Blazers are currently 14 - 6 on the season. The Celtics and Lakers clearly must be ranked ahead of the upstarts due to their outstanding won/loss records as well as proven track record. The only other team in the league that compares to Portland in terms of talent and record, in my opinion based on the first month or so of the 08-09 season is the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Cavs have jelled nicely this year into a better team than the last two years, both of which saw the franchise enjoy considerable postseason success, with one trip to the Finals and last years exit in the Conference Semis.
The Blazers are, in my opinion, better at center with Oden, a more talented player than the jump shooting Ilgauskas, and at the power forward slot with Aldridge better than an aged Ben Wallace.
LeBron is enjoying his best season and may even win an MVP award.
But at guard I feel the Blazers are superior once Webster gets back into playing shape, as he and Brandon Roy get the nod over Mo Williams and Delonte West. The benches are similar, and neither coach (Nate McMillan and Mike Brown) inspires unquestioned confidence, though both are fairly new to the bench.
To sum up, basketball fans in the proud city of Portland, Oregon should have several years of championship level play from their young team. Here's hoping that tonight's game is the first clash in what may turn out to be a compelling rivalry.
-------------------
Here's a story from SI.com today about Portland's tremendous young 2 guard, Brandon Roy. Roy wasn't taken until the 6th pick in the 2006 Draft, but he has rapidly answered questions about his durability and athleticism by scoring points in bunches and becoming his young team's unquestioned on court leader. While the 06 Draft class will go down as one of the worst in history, Roy looks like he will be a player who will soon join the upper echelon of the league's scoring guards, which currently features MVP Kobe Bryant, NBA champ Paul Pierce, when-healthy Gilbert Arenas, and the remarkable Dwyane Wade.
As for his team, the Portland Trail Blazers, I feel that they may not have the experience to challenge the Fakers and Celtics this season but that the sky is the limit for them in the years to come. Obviously, superstar in training center Greg Oden must find a way to stay healthy. But I love Oden's game! He is a Bill Russell, Bill Walton-type PURE CENTER. He rebounds and defends first, then scores enough to keep defenses honest. While many may criticize a perceived lack of athleticism in the youngster as well as his propensity to get injured, I feel that Oden has a chance to win several championships in Portland with the team around him.
LaMarcus Aldridge and the previously mentioned Roy are two of the young stars in the league. Aldridge is a close cousin in playing style to Detroit Piston star Rasheed Wallace as both are seven footers with great range and mobility. While Aldridge may never shoot the three as well as Sheed his ability to score in close to the basket makes him a vital cog in the Blazers basketball machine.
Rudy Fernandez is a terrific sixth man who plays both guard positions with flair and nerve. I love his game and his style. He could turn out to be another Manu Ginobili; a player with good length who can score from outside as well as in close and can get easy baskets with his ability to defend and make steals.
Portland has one of the very best backup centers in the NBA in seven foot Minnesotan Joel Przybilla, a strong shot blocker and rebounder perfectly cast as star in training Oden's help from the bench.
Point guard Steve Blake is merely servicable, but waiting in the wings are injured star Martell Webster, whose return seems imminent, and talented young Sergio Rodriguez, a 6 3 Spaniard with talent.
Travis Outlaw is the small forward. He's an effective midrange shooter with size who will do a great job of opening up the middle for Oden and Aldridge the more they become familiar with one another.
---------------------
The Blazers are currently 14 - 6 on the season. The Celtics and Lakers clearly must be ranked ahead of the upstarts due to their outstanding won/loss records as well as proven track record. The only other team in the league that compares to Portland in terms of talent and record, in my opinion based on the first month or so of the 08-09 season is the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Cavs have jelled nicely this year into a better team than the last two years, both of which saw the franchise enjoy considerable postseason success, with one trip to the Finals and last years exit in the Conference Semis.
The Blazers are, in my opinion, better at center with Oden, a more talented player than the jump shooting Ilgauskas, and at the power forward slot with Aldridge better than an aged Ben Wallace.
LeBron is enjoying his best season and may even win an MVP award.
But at guard I feel the Blazers are superior once Webster gets back into playing shape, as he and Brandon Roy get the nod over Mo Williams and Delonte West. The benches are similar, and neither coach (Nate McMillan and Mike Brown) inspires unquestioned confidence, though both are fairly new to the bench.
To sum up, basketball fans in the proud city of Portland, Oregon should have several years of championship level play from their young team. Here's hoping that tonight's game is the first clash in what may turn out to be a compelling rivalry.
posted by joe sweeney at 8:27 AM
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