Suprised?
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by Cbothe
Everyone that pays attention to the NBA over the past couple of days has been saying that the suprise of the season so far has been how well the Portland Trail Blazers have played. Espically with Greg Oden not on the roster, well I'm here to tell you that honestly you shouldn't be that suprised, really you should've expected this. In late December last season the Blazers at one point where 13-16; not a great record but considering they were the youngest team in the NBA last year it was a sign that this team could compete in the future. The majority of that 13-16 record was without Aldrige who was sidelined with shoulder surgery up until mid December last season. The Blazers season then went down hill from there snowballing to the point that Roy and Randolph where shelved for the remainder of the season.
Throughout the year there was questions at the PG and SF position as to whether the young guys could handle it. However by the end of the season both Outlaw and Jack had stepped there games up and proven that they could be good role players. The biggest problem with this team was on the defensive end of the ball. The problems started and ended with one player, Zach Randolph; any Portland fans who watched the games last season will tell you that Fat-Bo was one of the worst if not the worst defender in the NBA in the PF rich west and it killed the team until he was out for the year. In the off-season the Blazers improved their roster by signing a veteran PG in Blake, trading for a good role playing SF in Jones and getting rid of ZBo.
While everyone in the nation left the Blazers for dead when news broke that Oden was out for the season, it was not the end of hopes for a playoff run of Blazers fans. We knew that we had 2 young stars in Roy and Aldrige as well as good young role players in Jones, Jack, Outlaw, Sergio, Frye and Webster, throw in veterans Blake and Pryzbilla you have the 2007-2008 Blazers. This year's Blazers are ready to make a playoff run behind Roy and Aldrige; and is young enough that if the team continues to grow we have the makings of a dynasty here in Portland that could start with the Blazers being one of the title favorites for the 2008-2009 season.
