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Portland Trail-Blazers 2010-11 Preview:

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Brandon Roy

Portland Trail-Blazers 2009-10 Facts:
  • Western Conference: 6th Place
  • Northwest Division: 3rd Place
  • Record:  50 Wins  32 Loses
  • Playoffs: Eliminated in the first round by the Phoenix Suns in six games.

Key Moves:
Incoming
  • G Wesley Matthews
  • F Luke Babbitt
  • G Eliot Williams
  • G Armon Johnson
Outgoing
  • G Martell Webster
  • F Juwan Howard
   
               For the last couple of years the Portland Trail-Blazers have been on the come up and on the verge of big things in the Western Conference. Well this needs to be the year the Blazers make noise or else there could be major movement on the team. Injuries have hurt the Blazers more then any other team in the NBA, but they still won fifty games last season. The pick up of Marcus Camby was smart and he'll probably see the majority of the minutes this season. The Blazers need to ease Greg Oden because one more injury could end his career. Joel Przybilla is another solid center, but he is coming off injury too. If Oden and Przybilla split the back up role in the beginning of the season I think the Blazers have a shot at keeping Oden healthy. Andrew Miller and Brandon Roy will look to improve upon last season and another year together will likely help the chemstry issues they have. Both players need the ball to be good and that is taking away from Roy's growth. The Blazers have to much talent and that leaves players like Rudy Fernandez and Jerryd Bayless without minutes. The Blazers need to make smart moves and they could turn a couple of pieces into players they could use. LaMarcus Aldridge is solid at power forward, but needs to be more aggressive. Aldridge settles for way to many jumpers and needs to attack the basket.

  • Back Court:
Andre Miller has been consistently good for the last couple years and should be dependable again. Brandon Roy is the leader and the big shot player for the Blazers when he's healthy. Roy needs to take charge and lead this young team if they want to compete for a title. The problem for the Blazers is when they go to the bench. This season they will have Wesley Matthews, Rudy Fernandez, and Jerryd Bayless. All three players are young and need minutes and the Blazers don't even enough minutes to go around. Matthews will likely see the most minutes because he's solid on defense and they gave him a lot of money over the summer. Bayless needs another season before he can take over the reigns of point guard and Fernandez needs the the shots to be aggressive. If they Blazers can find a good rotation for the players and keep them happy they have a chance for success.

  • Front Court:
The front court of the Blazers is deep, but injury prone. Marcus Camby has been good his whole career and will put up the similar numbers this season. LaMarcus Aldridge need to attack the basket more and rebound if he wants to become an all-star. Nicolas Batum will be the starting small forward and will likely get more touches this season. Batum is working on his shot and plays defense. Dante Cunningham and Jeff Pendergraph might see limited minutes, but both have potential. Greg Oden and Joel Przybilla need to work there way into the line up slowly and if they are healthy for the playoffs watch out. They match-up well against the Lakers if everyones healthy. Luke Babbitt will definitely see minutes because he's there best shooter.

  • 2010-11 Predictions:
  • Center: Marcus Camby
  • Power Forward: LaMarcus Aldridge
  • Small Forward: Nicolas Batum
  • Shooting Guard: Brandon Roy
  • Point Guard: Andre Miller
  • Sixth Man: Greg Oden
Bench: Luke Babbitt, Jerryd Bayless, Dante Cunningham, Rudy Fernandez, Armon Johnson, Dwight Lewis, Wesley Matthews, Patrick Mills, Jeff Pendergraph, Joel Przybilla, Raymond Sykes, Seth Tarver, Elliot Williams, and Eric Williams.

  • All Star Player: Brandon Roy
  • Best Veteran: Marcus Camby
  • Best Asset: Brandon Roy
  • Best New Addition: Wesley Matthews
  • Key Player: Greg Oden

  • Western Conference: 4th Place
  • Northwest Division: 2nd Place
        If the Portland Trail-Blazers are healthy they have roster that can compete with anybody in the NBA. Look for Oden to ease his way into the line up and that's fine because Marcus Camby is a top 10 center. Roy is the leader and if the Blazers want to go deep into the playoffs he needs to take charge.