The Columbian MCMINNVILLE, Ore. -- While other Portland Trail Blazers were relieved to see last season end, Travis Outlaw wanted to keep going. The 20-year-old forward had just been given his first consistent opportunity to play after riding the bench for nearly two years. For the final 15 games of a 27-win season, he posted solid scoring numbers and showed an improved shooting touch. He also ended the season in style, scoring a career-high 20 points in a season-ending win over the Los Angeles Lakers. After wearing the "potential" label since being drafted out of Starkville (Miss.) High School with the 23rd overall pick in the 2003 NBA Draft, the buds on his talent were starting to show blossoms. Even Blazers interim coach Kevin Pritchard suggested that the rest of the league had its eye on Outlaw. "I felt real confident," Outlaw said. "I started enjoying playing. I didn't want it to end." The Blazers remained cautious, though, as training camp opened Tuesday on the Linfield College campus. Rather than talk about building on his strong finish, Blazers general manager John Nash said Outlaw's first goal should be maintaining it. But considering that he is little more than two years removed from high school, his performances from the last seven months may offer a glimpse of a bright future. The final 15 games of last season were a teaser: a 10.6 point-per-game average and 53 percent shooting from the field in 23.7 minutes. Outlaw followed it up with a head-turning Vegas Summer League performance during which he averaged 18.7 points. The numbers alone didn't drop jaws. But considering Outlaw played 19 total minutes in his first season with the Blazers and saw the court in just three of former coach Maurice Cheeks' final 13 games, it was enough to make people notice and prompt talk of a possible breakout year. Outlaw, however, has a more modest outlook. "What you do in practice they say you do in the games," he said. "So I'm just, you know, in summer league and all that, I've been having good practices so I'm hoping I can take it into the games." The Blazers aren't ready to view Outlaw's performances as a breakthrough just yet, however. Source
