Portland Trail Blazers: Championship Thoughts

"How many Championships will Portland Win?"

That is a question that I and many Blazer fans have thought about over the last couple seasons.

I can't speak for everyone, but there are times where my mind wanders and I think the Blazers could be a dynasty in a few short years.

Lately however, I've seen this same scenario from a different perspective. Every time I had imagined the Blazers winning a title there is never a specific opponent. It's always just "a championship."

After watching LeBron for most of the season and for the first two playoff series, I've also wondered if LeBron was going to end up standing in our championship path the same way Jordan did.

Even more recently, the problem for LeBron has been the Orlando Magic—who are currently destroying the Cavs. It just makes me step back from my homerism for the Blazers and wonder if we really do have enough talent to be championship contender.

Sure, if Oden steps up and becomes the guy we all expect, our core will be good—but is it enough to be better than teams like the four remaining in the NBA playoffs?

Whether it's a one-man wrecking crew like LBJ or a terrible match-up like the Magic, can the Blazers ever really be able to overcome all the talented teams the NBA has to offer? All of the one man man squads, bad match-ups and even the Association and it's love of the superstar player?

For example, what if Portland had to play the Magic right now? That would be a nightmare, in my opinion. Dwight Howard and Greg Oden have similar physical abilities, but Dwight is miles ahead mentally and emotionally. Przybilla is a good center but he can't touch the physical attributes DH possesses.

Then who on the Blazers could possibly guard Hedo Turkoglu and/or Rashard Lewis? Nobody. Even worse, Orlando has a mediocre point guard in Rafer Alston but he is still more talented than Steve Blake. These types of things will happen and we are witnessing a seemingly unbeatable Cavs team get dismantled by Orlando.

Portland has an excellent group of young, talented guys. But in order for them to really break through—to play in the Western Conference Finals consistently—LaMarcus has to step up to the 20 and 10, plateau and Oden has to have double-doubles every night and be a defensive presence—much the way Dwight Howard is for Orlando. It's going to take those three as well as some key pieces—including a top-notch point guard.

We've seen what has happened to LeBron in the ECFs—he's not getting enough help. Orlando is destroying them with inside dominance and perimeter shooting. Then on defense they are wearing down LBJ. The Blazers would have to be ready for anything including defending an unorthodox yet impressive squad like Orlando.

In order for the Blazers to get to elite status, there are plenty of things that need to go right. Good trades, quality free agent acquisitions, and maturation must continue to go as planned. There are plenty of NBA fans who think they have the team of the future.

Are we really that team? I hope so. I think it will happen. We just have a lot of work left to make it happen.