2010-11 NBA Predictions: Why the Lakers Should Fear the Portland Trailblazers
After an injury-marred year and a soft first-round exit, the Trail Blazers enter the 2010/2011 season under the radar. But, if healthy, they are the one team in the West who could dethrone LA.
Since the Pau Gasol heist of 2008, the Lakers have dominated the West. In a moment, one of the most competitive conferences in league history (all ’08 playoff teams won 50 games) became one of the most one-sided.
For the first time since Bill Russell’s Celtics in the 60′s, a team has a chance to win four straight conference titles. LA has been the No. 1 seed in the West the last three seasons and rolled through the playoffs with a 36-13 record against conference foes.
But, in looking at their struggles against Boston in the NBA Finals and their surprising seven-game series against an undermanned Houston squad in ’09, there is a blueprint to beat them. And Portland, more than any other team in the West, has it.
For a more in-depth look at why the other Western contenders lack this formula, check out
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Portland Has Size Inside
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The Lakers' have been able to dominate through sheer size. Few teams in the league can roll out two centers like Bynum and Gasol; even fewer can match their combination of size and skill.
Boston gave LA so much trouble because they could neutralize the Lakers' advantage in the post with Kendrick Perkins and KG.
Portland has Marcus Camby, a former Defensive Player of the Year, as well as Greg Oden and Joel Pryzbilla, two bruising seven-footers coming off of injury, to handle LA inside.
A Big Man Who Can Play Inside and Outside
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A key to defeating LA is handling Lamar Odom, their versatile 6'10 sixth man, who can play both inside and outside.
LaMarcus Aldridge, an athletic 6'11, 240-pound power forward, is one of the few players in the league with the foot speed to stay in front of Odom on the perimeter and the length to play with him in the paint.
When he plays alongside one of Portland's seven-footers, the Trail Blazers are the one team in the West that can match the Lakers' length in the front-court.
A Quick and Long-Armed Perimeter Defender
3 of 6Kobe Bryant, as he ages, has become increasingly reliant on his jumper. Over the years, Shane Battier of the Rockets has consistently been a thorn in Kobe’s side by sliding his feet, not buying any pump-fakes and keeping a hand in his face on jumpers.
A spry 6’8 21-year-old with a 7’4 wingspan, Nicolas Batum fits that prototype. He helped frustrate Kobe to 8-of-23 shooting in the game featured on that clip.
Point Guards Who Can Abuse Derek Fisher
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Asides from flopping and taking charges, at 36, Derek Fisher has long-since reached his expiration date defensively.
Speedy point guards like Houston’s Aaron Brooks can go around him like a traffic cone, to the point where the Lakers were forced to put Kobe on Rajon Rondo in the Finals.
In Jerryd Bayless and Andre Miller, Portland has two point guards who can create their own shots.
Brandon Roy
5 of 6Brandon Roy is one of the most underrated players in the league, and he presents a unique match-up problem for the Lakers.
They can’t afford to have Kobe exert too much energy on defense, while Ron Artest is more suited to defend bulkier wing scorers like Carmelo and not guys who relies on quickness like Roy.
After toasting him for 27 points on 46 percent shooting in their 2009 first-round series, Artest called Roy the best player he ever faced.
The Rose Garden
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The Rose Garden has traditionally been one of the toughest places to play in the NBA, and Portland, as is typical of one-team towns, has some of the league's most passionate fans.
Over the last three years, the Lakers are 1-5 at Portland, which more than anything else, indicates the match-up problems the Trail Blazers have given them.
