How Gerald Wallace Has Crashed Through the West and Led Portland to Success

Over the past five years, the Portland Trail Blazers have been a consistent playoff team. This success has come as a result of great coaching and amazing leadership by players such as Brandon Roy. 

But now in 2012, with Brandon Roy retiring and the acquisitions of a few big-new players over the past year, the Trail Blazers have a different look. A different feel. A renewed sense of toughness.

On February 24th, 2011, with the trade deadline approaching, Portland acquired All-Star forward Gerald Wallace for center Joel Przybilla and two first-round picks. For most around the league, this trade looked like an absolute steal for the Trail Blazers. They gave up an underachieving big man for an All-Star-caliber player.

And now, after a full offseason of work with his teammates and coaching staff, Wallace is now playing up to his All-Star potential, leading the team in...effort.

I say this because, on paper, Wallace looks like a typical role player on an NBA team. For instance, he averages 17 points and seven rebounds a game.

But what you can't read from the black and white statistics is the defensive intensity that he provides. You know, the kind of intensity that makes two of the best players in the game, in Kevin Durant and Kobe Bryant, shoot a combined 21-of-50 from the field in consecutive Blazer wins.

Wallace displays more effort and hustle on the court than any other player out there, and it directly affects the result of the game. He's even been nicknamed "Crash" for how he will give up his body for the ball and take charges: the little things that win games. 

Maybe an even bigger addition to his game has been offensively. As seen against the Los Angeles Lakers, Wallace attacks the rim and gets most of his shots at the basket.

With this aggressiveness, Wallace draws a lot of fouls. But not to worry, he's also an excellent free throw shooter at 82 percent.  

The versatility and toughness Gerald Wallace brings to the Trail Blazers has been undoubtedly their key to success.

When April rolls around and playoff basketball begins once again, Portland will be looking for its first NBA crown since 1977. And don't be surprised to see the Trail Blazers contending with the best in the NBA, in big part due to the excellent play of "Crash."