Just How Good are the Portland Trail Blazers?

Up in the Portland area, a basketball team is surpassing all expectations of many NBA scouts. The team, lead by a young core group of players, are a fixture in the West and will be for many years. That team is the Portland Trail Blazers.

Led by All Star guard Brandon Roy, the Trail Blazers exceed many's prediction and keep on winning like it's the last game of the season. So, just how good are the Trail Blazers?

At guard is Brandon Roy, perhaps one of the most underrated guards in the NBA. He is quick and has amazing ball handling skills. As the cornerstone of the team, he has accepted that responsibility in his second season in the league, and has carried that with him every since.

Another great guard for the team is Spanish sensation Rudy Fernandez. He can shoot, especially the long ball as he broke the rookie record for most threes made as a rookie. He is as quick as Roy and is a good defender.

Next, the two power forwards LaMarcus Aldridge and Channing Faye are good at their positions and growing better every game. Both can rebound, block, and shoot decent.

Finally, the former Ohio State standout, Greg Oden at center. The past few years haven't gone exactly as planned, but next year, he will come back stronger than ever. He may not be Shaq or Dwight Howard, but he won't be another Sam Bowie.

This year's team ended the season in the first round, but next year maybe a better season. I could see them putting a good series in against the Lakers. Maybe in the near future they could go to the Finals.