Insert Marcus Camby, Brandon Roy, Gerald Wallace: Can Portland Contend?

The Portland Trail Blazers have been the most injury-stricken team in the NBA this season.

Brandon Roy sat out for a few months after undergoing double arthroscopic knee surgery. Marcus Camby sat out several weeks after his own arthroscopic knee surgery and defensive stopper Greg Oden—who has played one year’s worth of games in his four NBA seasons—will sit out for the rest of the season due to a damaged ligament in his left knee. 

However, the rehabilitation of Roy and Camby was successful and both have returned to action after the All-Star break. In addition to those two, Gerald Wallace now joins the Blazers as a defensive stopper and another option on the offensive end.

With all these pieces coming into play and the continued All-Star-caliber performance of LaMarcus Aldridge, is it possible for Portland to be a legitimate contender in the Western Conference? 

The answer to that question is yes. 

Aldridge was by far the biggest All-Star snub this season. Averaging 22.4 points, 9.1 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game, Aldridge has stepped up in Roy’s absence and become the No. 1 option on the offensive end.

Not only is he dangerous in the low post, but he can also consistently knock down the 15-20 foot jumper and finish at the rim. Assuming the leadership position on his team, Aldridge has had eight 30-plus point games this season, including outings of 40 and 42 points.

With the addition of Roy and Wallace to the lineup, some of the offensive pressure on L.A. has been relieved.

“We all know this is his [Roy’s] team,” said Aldridge in a radio interview. “So when he comes back I’ll do whatever the team needs me to do.” 

However, Roy is not—and probably will never be—back at 100 percent. The Blazers are 1-2 after the All-Star break and Roy’s return.

Of course, Roy has to get used to the game again, but until he does, Aldridge needs to remain dominant on the offensive end.

In Portland's overtime win against the Denver Nuggets on Friday, Roy showed shades of his former self, scoring 18 points and grabbing five rebounds in 24 minutes. He hit a game-tying three with 5.8 seconds left in regulation to send the game into OT.

Wes Matthews and Aldridge played big in overtime to help solidify the victory for Portland. Aldridge finished with 24 points and 14 rebounds in his first win with B-Roy since mid-December. 

“Um, I think we are always just going to try to help each other play well,” said Roy of Aldridge. “The goal is always to try to win. I don’t know how we’re going to run plays or anything yet. I just want to come back and get out there and get my legs back.” 

In order for the Trail Blazers to make a run this season, they need to play their brand of basketball.

Plenty of isolation plays for Roy and Aldridge, Andre Miller bullying smaller guards in the post and everyone else getting out on the break and playing defense is how the Blazers will succeed this season.

And with Wallace being incorporated into the mix, Portland could be looking at a Western Conference Finals appearance this season. At 33-26, the Trail Blazers are currently the No. 7 seed, but they’re only three-and-a-half games behind the Oklahoma City Thunder for the No. 4 spot.

As soon as Roy begins playing like his old self on a consistent basis and this team comes together as a unit, the Trail Blazers could be the dark horse in the Western Conference.