Portland Trail Blazers: 4 Reasons Why They Can Make a Playoff Run
Despite all their injuries, the Portland Trail Blazers have somehow managed to will themselves into the seventh seed in the Western Conference. Missing out on Brandon Roy, Marcus Camby and Greg Oden, Portland players have stepped up and assumed leadership roles on the squad. The team has attained a 37-29 record with LaMarcus Aldridge at the helm. But now that Roy and Camby are back into the rotation, and Gerald Wallace has been added to the lineup, the Trail Blazers are becoming a legitimate threat in the West.
Andre Miller's Veteran Instinct
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Andre Miller is the most overlooked player on the Blazer roster. He's a veteran; he knows how to use his body, and he knows how to control the tempo. Though his range is limited, Miller still finds ways to get it done. Whether it's bullying smaller guards in the post or attacking the basket, Miller always finds some way to benefit the team. And he makes his teammates better in the process.
"He's good," said LaMarcus Aldridge of Miller. "He's definitely making me better with his passing ability, with his leadership and with his knowledge of the game. I don't think people really know how smart he is. He can see matchups; He's a very, very smart player."
In addition to his basketball wisdom, Miller is incredibly unpredictable. Someone who averages 13 points, seven assists and 1.5 steals per game sounds like your average veteran point guard, right? This guy dropped 52 points in a road win again Dallas last season. And he took advantage of Derrick Rose, putting up 27 points, 11 assists and four steals in Portland's only win over the Bulls this season. He's due for one more big outing before this season is over.
The Blazer Bench Depth
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Assuming Brandon Roy and Gerald Wallace make their way to the starting lineup come playoff time, the Blazers bench will be stacked with talent. With Wes Matthews, Nicolas Batum, Rudy Fernandez and Patty Mills coming coming off the bench, Portland will have one of the deepest rosters in the NBA. And the best thing about it? Not one of them does the same thing.
Wes Matthews:
A huge pickup for the Trail Blazers, Wes Matthews was acquired in the offseason after being released from the Utah Jazz. Matthews has fit right into the Portland game plan, stepping up in Brandon Roy's absence to average 16.3 points per game. And he does it in his own unique way. He can knock down the three with ease, and he can take you to the basket and finish with authority. If Roy is to make his way back to the starting lineup, Wes Matthews is definitely Portland's sixth man.
Nicolas Batum:
Simply put, Batum plays "D." He's got incredible athletic ability, being able to go up and catch alley oops off of back door cuts, and he's got a sweet stroke from deep. He gets it done on both sides of the court, locking up scorers and putting points on the board. Nicolas Batum is like the Lamar Odom of the Portland Trail Blazers: if he plays well, his team will win.
Rudy Fernandez:
Rudy provides instant offense off the bench. He attacks the basket and can hit jumpers from almost anywhere. Not to mention he was in the dunk contest two years ago, so you know he can get up there. And best of all, his European play style lets him handle the ball differently from others.
Patty Mills:
Patty Mills is the exact opposite of Andre Miller. Mills is quick and can shoot the lights out of any arena. Though he's a defensive liability at times, Mills' quickness makes up for his lack of defensive prowess. He provides a change of pace from the slower Andre Miller.
With these four players coming off the bench, the Trail Blazers are destined to put big points onto the board. So long as it can step up its defensive intensity, Portland could be looking at a big run this post season.
The Defensive Stoppers: Gerald Wallace and Marcus Camby
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FACTS:
- Gerald Wallace plays excellent perimeter defense and is a shot blocker.
- Marcus Camby plays excellent post defense and is a shot blocker
Therefore, Gerald Wallace and Marcus Camby, together, will form a dynamic defensive duo.
The Blazers wisely snagged Gerald Wallace from the Charlotte Bobcats hours before the trade deadline in a deal that included moving Joel Przybilla, Dante Cunningham, Sean Marks and two future first-round draft picks. Wallace's athletic ability allows him to get out in transition and finish with authority on fast breaks as well as get back on defense and prevent fast break scoring.
With G-Wall being able to make plays like this and this, he adds a new element of electricity to the Portland Trail Blazers. And he will undoubtedly step up and guard players like Kobe Bryant and Kevin Durant with vigor.
On the other side, Marcus Camby has been a missing link for the Blazers this season. Ridden with injuries, Portland hasn't had that defensive presence to change opposing shots on the inside. Camby is that presence, and now that he's returned from his arthroscopic knee surgery, the Blazers are definitely a dark horse in the Western Conference. Now all they need is Greg Oden to be healthy for a change.
The Dynamic Duo
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As Brandon Roy begins to re-adjust himself to the game after having undergoing double arthroscopic knee surgery, he is undoubtedly going to pick up his numbers. That being said, the Blazers are going to have two people to run the offense through: LaMarcus Aldridge and B-Roy. Individually, both players are highly efficient scorers, but if they can come together and learn how to play off of each other, Portland will be able to shake things up in the Western Conference.
Brandon Roy:
Brandon Roy is best known for his mid-range game. His ability to create his own shot by either taking his man to the hole or getting enough separation for a jump shot makes him a dangerous 2-guard in the NBA. He can even knock down the occasional three ball when left open. However, it is going to take him at least one more month to get re-acclimated to the pace of NBA basketball. Once he gets back to his old self, B-Roy will be able to control the game at his fingertips again.
"Every year i was voted to the all star team it was special," said Roy. "To get back to that level, I don't know if it would mean more than the other ones, but it would be very special to me to return to an all star game. And for me that's the goal."
LaMarcus Aldridge:
While Roy was sidelined in his knee rehab, LaMarcus Aldridge stepped up and became the leader of this Portland ball club. Through January and February, Aldridge averaged 26.4 points and 9.9 rebounds, keeping his team alive in the Western Conference playoff hunt.
Aldridge caused huge mismatches at the center position; he spread the floor out with his consistency from 15-20 feet, he bullied his opponents in the post, and he finished strong at the rim. Not to mention he led the league in alley-oops completed (yes, more than Dwight Howard and Blake Griffin). He was virtually a nightmare for any other center in his path.
How to Make It Work:
Brandon Roy is a very good ball handler and an excellent decision maker. Running a pick-and-roll with Roy and Aldridge would be a great way to form a new chemistry between the two players. During Roy's stardom, Aldridge played off of him, grabbing boards and cleaning up inside.
Now that he's established himself as a dominant offensive presence, the two must learn how to play to each others' strengths. But until B-Roy starts to show shades of his former self, the roles need to be reversed. Roy needs to play off of Aldridge until he gets his feel for the game back. Even if that means assuming a sixth man position for the time being.
