Lacking Playoff Experience, Portland Trail Blazers Rely on Playoff Intensity

Much has been said about the young Portland Trail Blazers and their wide-eyed innocence.

Indeed, as the NBA postseason approaches, one could count the playoff games accumulated by the entire Portland roster on two hands. Only center Joel Przybilla and point guard Steve Blake have tasted that wine—and that was barely a teasing sip.

And yes, Rudy Fernandez, Sergio Rodriguez and Nic Batum have plenty of international play under their belts. But this is the NBA, Baby. Nothing yet rivals the physicality and competitive drama of the kings of basketball.

So what have the Trail Blazers done to prepare for their first probable entrance into the playoffs in six years?

The trade deadline came and went without the acquisition of a veteran leader.

The gritty teaching disciplinarian, Nate McMillan, and not some heady guru, still resides at the head of the bench as coach.

Pre-emptive lobbying of the commissioner's office and the official's union has not been on the table.

No, the Trail Blazers have simply stuck to the plan conceived just under three years ago when GM Kevin Pritchard went out and got Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge. The subsequent addition of Blake, Batum, Fernandez and Greg Oden was spice in the pot.

And now the stew is beginning to emit the flavor and aroma of a good ol' home-style meal.

Add to that a dash of competition in the Western Conference stretch run, a pinch of drama in the Northwest Division race and a liberal shake of fortunate scheduling and "Viola!"—playoff intensity.

Roy has been steady all year. Aldridge has recently elevated his game. Batum has been a defensive surprise. Blake and Rodriguez have been deadly from distance and Przybilla is having the year of his life while Oden continues to learn the pro game.

Travis Outlaw is a legitimate sixth man and the Portland home crowd has loosened the bolts at the Rose Garden.

No one can argue that recent games have not had a playoff flavor with every contest having implications in post season positioning. This has served the young Blazers well as they learn to play in emotional, pressure situations, at home and on the road.

So while it may be true that the Trail Blazers lack playoff experience, management foresight and fortunate scheduling has provided the next best thing.

Fans who are just now getting on the ground floor of a rising franchise may want to consider a long term contract. In a few years the most relevant questions will no longer center around the issue of "playoff experience."