Portland Trail Blazers' Most Potent Weapon: Versatility

With the talent-laden roster of the Portland Trail Blazers about to make it's appearance in the 2008-'09 season, opposing coaches will gear their game plans around the obvious core players of Brandon Roy, Greg Oden, and LaMarcus Aldridge.

Add the threat of Spanish sensation Rudy Fernandez and rookie draft pick Jarryd Bayless and the opponent's quiver suddenly seems a bit light.

Enter long-ball ace Martell Webster and crunch-time pogo stick Travis Outlaw and at this point many adversaries may consider throwing marbles on the floor.

The sheer depth of the Portland lineup could force many teams to deviate from their standard approach to Trail Blazer teams of the recent past.

Yet it's not individual players or team depth that the Blazers' opponents have to fear the most. It's the fact that at least half of the Trail Blazers are players who are adept at playing multiple positions.

Considering the quality, the quantity, and the diversity of talent Coach Nate McMillan has at his disposal, the option of presenting over 100 lineup combinations exists.

Imagine a frontcourt going 7'-0", 6'-11", 6'-11" and a backcourt ranging 6'-6" and 6'-5". This is a very likely combination available to McMillan in certain situations.

Or how about a different option of Oden, Aldridge, Outlaw, Fernandez, and Bayless? You'd be hard pressed to find a starting unit in the NBA, averaging 6'-8", who could match that team speed - and this particular mix includes three probable bench players.

The possibilities for Portland are mind-boggling. Some may say the very responsibility of handling so much dynamite could be a problem. Right...the kind of problem one would welcome with a red carpet. Indeed, it is a rare luxury.

But don't expect McMillan to throw out a mix-and-match lineup every night. He will no doubt settle on a primary starting five with two or three key players off the bench most games. He can then revert to those special twists to create match-up problems when the situation warrants it. Still, it must be nice for a coach to have that kaleidoscope of options in his back pocket.

Here is a player-by-player breakdown of the current roster with each player's versatility factor:

Greg Oden - 2   strictly a center with great defensive range.
LaMarcus Aldridge - 2   power forward who can play center.
Martell Webster - 2   small forward who could play shooting guard.
Brandon Roy - 3   primarily a shooting guard who can play point guard or small forward.
Steve Blake - 1   strictly a point guard.
Joel Przybilla - 1   strictly a (legitimate starting) center.
Channing Frye - 3   power forward who could play center or small forward.
Travis Outlaw - 2   small forward who can play power forward.
Rudy Fernandez - 2   shooting guard who could play the point.
Jarryd Bayless - 2   being groomed as a point guard with the skills of a shooting guard.
Raef LaFrenz - 2   if healthy, could play center or power forward.
Ike Diogu - 1   strictly a power forward.
Nicolas Batum - 1   very raw small forward who could play shooting guard.
Sergio Rodriguez - 1   strictly a point guard.

With the potential and versatility of this young Trail Blazer squad, it can only get better. Next year, Portland should have enough cap space available to fill any holes this season might expose.

This would be the year for other teams in the league to exploit the most glaring weaknesses the Blazers seem to have: inexperience and a still-forming chemistry. After that, be sure to bring those marbles.

photo: Brent Wojahn, Oregonian