2011-12 Portland Trail Blazers Predictions
Written by Jack Jones
No team has been bitten harder by injuries over the last decade than the Portland Trail Blazers. This team always seems to come into the season with one of the most talented rosters in the league, but then several players get hurt and they simply cannot overcome it.
Portland was able to make the playoffs last season with a 48-34 record, which gave them the No. 6 seed in the West. The Blazers would lose to the eventual champion Dallas Mavericks in the first round. Making the playoffs was an accomplishment in itself considering they played nearly the entire season without Greg Oden or Brandon Roy.
Roy was only able to play in 47 games last year due to balky knees. His knees have been operated on six times and there is no cartilage left, prompting a doctor to tell Roy that he should no longer play. Roy listened to the doctor’s advice this offseason, and he has elected to retire. This was one of the most promising young players in the league in his prime, and the city of Portland will miss him greatly.
Oden hasn’t played in a game in more than two years, and he had microfracture surgery on his left knee in November of 2010. Oden did sign a one-year deal with Portland to try and resurrect his career, which hasn’t even gotten started because of injuries. He has suffered another setback in his rehabilitation process, and it’s uncertain yet whether or not Oden will even be able to play this season
It’s amazing what this team has been able to accomplish despite being short-handed. They still have plenty of talent on this roster, and a lot of players who wake up every day with a chip on their shoulder. Portland will be a contender in the Western Conference once again this season, even without Roy and Oden.
Andre Miller was a solid player for Portland, but it was time to go in a different direction. The Blazers elected to trade Miller to the Denver Nuggets for Raymond Felton, who averaged 15.5 points and 8.3 assists last year. I believe Felton is an upgrade in just about every phase of the point guard position. Joining him in the starting backcourt will be SG Wesley Mathews (15.9 points), who had a breakout year last season offensively.
The starting frontcourt is led by perhaps the most underrated player in the entire league. PF LaMarcus Aldridge single-handedly carried this team on his back last year. He averaged 21.8 points, 8.8 rebounds and 1.2 blocks while coming up with clutch plays when they needed him down the stretch of games. Joining Aldridge will be C Marcus Camby (4.7 points, 10.3 rebounds, 1.6 blocks) and SF Gerald Wallace (15.7 points, 8.0 rebounds). They traded for Wallace before the deadline last season, and he is also one of the most underrated players in the NBA.
The Blazers have an excellent starting lineup that will compete with just about anybody in the league. Their bench is certainly a concern though with little proven talent across the board. Nocolas Batum (12.4 points, 4.5 rebounds) and Kurt Thomas (4.1 points, 5.8 rebounds) are solid players, but they are about the only two that can be trusted to deliver quality minutes heading into the season. Guys like Earl Barron, Elliot Williams, Nolan Smith, Armon Johnson, and Chris Johnson are going to have to step up if this bench is going to produce.
Western Conference Prediction: 2nd Northwest Division – Year in and year out, I believe the Blazers are one of the most underrated teams in the league coming into the season. That’s because they are loaded with underrated players who just don’t get the spotlight while playing in Portland.
I would put this starting five up against just about any in the league with Aldridge, Wallace, Felton, Matthews and Camby. All of these guys get after it defensively, and each is an asset offensively as well. I believe this is a Top-6 seed in the West again, but their bench is going to hold them back from being Top-3.
Jack Jones offers an opinion on all 30 teams with his 2011-12 NBA predictions article.
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