With the addition of Gerald Wallace, the return of a healthy Marcus Camby, the play of LaMarcus Aldridge all season long, and Brandon Roy contributing off the bench, does this Blazers team have enough to make a splash in the Western Conference? I personally think they do. They have been playing great, and after the absence of Camby and Roy, Aldridge picked his game up heavily. Now they are back, AND they scored one of the top ten small forwards in the league. If you look at their team, they are pretty deep. Losing Pryzbilla didn't help, makes them a little thin up front, but they have enough length and depth, that playing Aldridge at the 5 doesn't hurt them.
I like how owner Paul Allen has his staff aquires assets and draft picks any way that they can. Dude pays cash-money on draft night to buy picks from other teams to use in trades and build a team.
Yea, these aren't your father's Jail Blazers. The Lakers look pretty tough in the West right now, though.
Wallace brings a toughness I think these guys were missing. Very good move on their part, and similar in character to the Thunder latching onto Perkins.
Not sure if they are over the cap, but they can afford the luxury tax since Allen has almost $14 billion in the bank...and is the 37th richest guy on earth.. When Mr D left us, he was worth $3.5 bill and was # 68 on the Forbes list. Wonder where Karen D falls on that list right now??
Blazers are looking like a tough out in the 1st round right now if they play the Lakers. They'd be a tough out in the 2nd round if they face the Mavs in the 1st round.
The Lakers, IMO are the one team that could really give them fits, due to their length and depth up front. They could handle the Mavs...it would be a defensive series, but Gerald Wallace COULD shut down Dirk. That would be one heck of a series.
As good as the Blazers have been playing, their success in the playoffs depends on the health of Brandon Roy. They are on pace to face the Thunder in a 4/5 1st round matchup. That should be a good one, although I'd take OKC.
I'd say a year ago that would be true, but Aldridge has shown he can shoulder the load of this team. Now that they have Gerald Wallace, Roy doesn't even need to be their #2 option. Heck, if Batum or Fernandez are on, they could be the #2, #3, #4, options BEFORE Roy.
The biggest thing the Blazers were missing was a SF, which they filled with Wallace. They're going to be a dangerous team in the playoffs.
They could be, but they are a much better team with a healthy Roy. They'd be scary with a healthy Oden and Roy. That's unfortunate for them.
You are very right. A healthy Greg Oden starting at the 5, and healthy Brandon Roy at the 2 would be a nasty, nasty line up.
Y'all are thinking the promised vision of Greg Oden. Greg Oden the player has averaged 9.4 pts and 7.3 boards over his career. They're better off with a healthy Camby.
