http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=17290 1. Portland Trail Blazers: The Blazers have been on the brink of challenging for the Western Conference for a couple of seasons now, but injuries have derailed this team . Last year Greg Oden, Joel Przyzbilla, Nicolas Batum, Travis Outlaw, Brandon Roy and Rudy Fernandez all missed significant time due to injuries and the Blazers still managed to win at least 50 games for the second consecutive season. Considering all the depth this team has had over the past few seasons, it is hard to believe that this is deepest edition of the Portland Trail Blazers that we have seen since Clyde Drexler and Co. went to three consecutive Western Conference Finals in 1990-92. The addition of Wesley Matthews, a gritty perimeter defender and capable crunch-time shooter, along with the return of Oden and (eventually) Przyzbilla to a front line that includes Marcus Camby and LaMarcus Aldridge makes this Blazers team extremely tough. Shooting guard Brandon Roy is a perennial All-Star and a 20-5-5 guy with outstanding leadership skills and is as good in the clutch as any other player in the league. With a veteran point guard in Andre Miller and one of the best coaches in the business in Nate McMillan, health is the only thing that will keep the Blazers from competing for a Western Conference crown.
The only glaring difference between next years team, and the teams from the past few years, is the overly pessimistic state of mind of it's fan base. (see above)
So, things have returned to normalcy with Blazer fans. But some of what Maris says is true. We are lacking a backup SF and a backup PG. But we have a backup C and PF and SG finally.
I've got to think that Bayless will be better than Blake as a back up at the point at some point- hopefully this year will be the jump in on court performance- Bayless is certainly better at putting up points. Overall, though, I think Maris has taken a deep swallow of the Mixum koolaid- odds are good that our young team gets better this year with another year of experience and maybe a healthy Oden.
I think as long as Bayless isn't expected to be a full time PG (in the truest sense), he'll be ok. If he can get a decent shot, and play solid defense, he'll be a solid backup guard. I can't get myself to disagree with that.
I think I agree somewhat on a true backup to PG. The question is will Bayless rise up enough now with some experience and minutes (not having to play behind Blake's minutes) to start becoming a legit backup should Miller miss 20+ games. Not sure I could count on Bayless/Armon as our tandem for a big chunk of the season. But as far as SF, I'm not too worried. Cunningham can cross over if needed, Roy and Matthews could tandem at the 2/3 and just have the guy who matches up best with the other team's 2/3 decide who goes where. And lastly, would you rather have Webster (what we had as a backup to Batum) or develop a 16th overall draft pick in Babbitt? I'd still take the unknown in Babbitt as the backup there.
I'll definitely concede that Bayless is a superior individual point producer, but in terms of actually setting up teammates or ever being that guy who put at the controls I just don't see it. I've thought this for some time and I'll hold this belief until I see something drastically different, but I think Bayless' best shot in the NBA is as a Vinnie Johnson type guy who comes off the bench for instant offense, but that's only if he develops his three point shot. It's that ability to hit a long range jumper that I think will seal his fate as either a keeper or castoff on this particular team; being a one-trick pony whose only reliable skill is getting to the free throw line isn't going to cut it.
Well that all matters if you considered Martell Webster a decent backup SF. Which I didn't. Jerryd is heading into his 3rd year. We should be able to start seeing some signs for him turning the corner this year if he is going to turn that corner. If not we have some players who are going to push him out of the way. The team was deep the last few years, but not deep on high level talent. They were deep on mediocre talent. There is a difference. I would rather have 8 highly talented players and 7 guys who STFU and support the team then a team 14 deep of mediocrity.
