Breaking Down the Blazers Schedule: Games of Intrigue

The Portland Trail Blazers upgraded significantly this offseason, which should heighten their expectations for the upcoming 2009-10 season. They are a confident group with almost too much talent and depth. They know how to win.

But to improve upon a successful 2008-09 season, there are ten games that will define their season, and will answer if they are ready to make the next step and truly contend for a championship.

1. Opening Night vs Houston Rockets

The Blazers start the season with a home game against the team that knocked them out of the playoffs last season. This will be the debut of their big offseason acquisition, point guard Andre Miller.

Both teams will be somewhat rusty, considering it is the first game of the season, but for Portland, it's an opportunity for revenge. With Miller in the fold, the Blazers have one more weapon—one they lacked in their first-round series against the Rockets.

Facing a Rockets team without their giant 7'6" center Yao Ming clogging the lane will be an interesting test for the Blazers. A team equipped with two centers, Greg Oden and Joel Przybilla, can take advantage of Houston's lack of size.

But will they?

More questions arise when thinking about this game. How will the Blazers offense be run now that Miller is a Blazer and everyone else is more developed and experienced? How will Portland spread the minutes amongst their bevy of talented players?

This game is not only a game of revenge for the Blazers, but it will show what kind of team they will bring to the table for the remaining 81 games.

2. Friday, November 6th against the San Antonio Spurs at home

The Spurs have players, like Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker, that could make life tough on the Blazers defensively because of their versatility and speed.

Portland wasn't a very good defensive team last season, so this game will test their defensive mettle.

Have they improved on that side of the ball? Can Greg Oden keep the fouls at a minimum and guard Spurs power-forward/center Tim Duncan effectively? Can Portland guard the three point line and limit the three pointers attempted and made by San Antonio? Can Miller keep up with Parker?

The outcome of the game will answer these important questions.

3. Saturday, November 28th against the Utah Jazz on the road

The Jazz, like the Spurs and Rockets, were a difficult opponent for the Blazers. Utah rarely lost at home last season, which should continue to be the case.

This game, featuring a player the Blazers almost signed, Jazz power forward Paul Millsap, is pivotal. That is not only because it closes a relatively easy month of November or because it's full of intriguing matchups—Aldridge vs. Millsap and Miller vs. Deron Williams, just to name two—but because Utah is a division foe.

To gain a reputation as the best team in the Pacific Division, Portland has to beat the teams in the Division.

The Miller/Williams matchup is very intriguing, primarily because they are similar players—similar build, strengths, and weaknesses. By this time, Miller should be comfortable in the Blazers offense, so against a similarly successful team, it will be interesting to see how he performs. 

4. Friday, December 25th against the Denver Nuggets at home

The Portland Trail Blazers will be coming off a grueling four game road-trip during which they will have played Orlando, Miami, Dallas, and San Antonio, when they head home to face the Denver Nuggets, a division foe.

Like their previously mentioned matchup with the Jazz, this contest against the Nuggets is particularly important because of how tight-knit the division is expected to be. Every game counts, but especially those against a rival.

This will be a significant test, not only because Denver is a great team, but because the presumably tired Blazers will have to muster some kind of energy after the road trip.

The good news: They have a day and a half to prepare.

The bad news: Sometimes that doesn't matter since road trips have the tendency to drain a team mentally and, considering who they will have faced prior to this matchup with Denver, physically. 

5. Saturday, January 2nd against the Golden State Warriors at home

Why did I choose a game against a team not expected to compete?

Well, the Warriors are potent offensively, and this game begins the a difficult month of January. Portland, to be recognized as one of the elite teams in the NBA, has to consistently defeat the below average.

The Warriors spread the floor and have plenty of shooters. The Blazers have the talent to match them basket for basket, but to win not only this game but consistently, they have to play inspired defense, be able to shut down the opposition instead of trying to outscore them.

This game will show their progress, or lack thereof, on defense.

6. Friday, February 19th against the Boston Celtics at home.

The Blazers beat the Celtics last year without Brandon Roy. They took the trash talk Kevin Garnett and the rest of the Celtics doled out. That win was their defining moment of the season. Another win, this time with Roy, could have the same effect.

Boston has plenty of talent, but unlike the Blazers, theirs is of the old variety. Can youth trump experience again?

7. Wednesday, March 31st against the New York Knicks at home

The Blazers will be looking ahead because the next team on their schedule is the Denver Nuggets on the road. The Knicks will be a difficult opponent, so Portland has to focus on them instead of prematurely anticipating a matchup against the Nuggets.

8. Wednesday, April 7th against the Los Angeles Clippers on the road

Portland will be in a close division race. The Clippers will be much-improved and, if they aren't in contention, will look to play spoiler. So this is a game the Blazers has to have.

They can't expect Utah and Denver to lose down the stretch, which means every game is a must win and pivotal, especially the ones they are expected to win easily.

9. Sunday, April 11th against the Los Angeles Lakers on the road

Another game Portland has to have, but this has more sub-plots. The teams hate each other bitterly.

The Blazers want to win a championship. To do that, they will have to prove they can beat the Lakers, the team they would presumably face in the Western Conference Finals.

Can they stop Kobe Bryant? If not, can they contain Ron Artest, Lamar Odom, and Pau Gasol? This will be a tough task, but that's what will make this game so enticing.

10. Monday, April 12th against the Oklahoma City Thunder at home

The Thunder, like the Clippers, will be much improved next season. Last year, they played the Blazers close one game, but were blown out the next.

This is the season's second to last game and a lot will be on the line. Both teams are young and talented.

Can the Blazers take care of business at home against the Thunder?

To do so, they'll have to knuckle down on defense and stop potent scorer Kevin Durant. A loss could mean a drop in the standings.

There is no doubt this will be important, perhaps for the Thunder as well, a team that, like the Blazers, has high aspirations for the upcoming season.