Portland Trail Blazers: 5 Ways Brandon Roy Can Help the Blazers in 2012

Brandon Roy's career has taken a heart-wrenching turn in the last 18 months, as the former All-Star has struggled to deal with injuries and a new role on the Portland Trail Blazers.

Roy's new limitations are significant and his contract weighs down Portland's salary cap for the foreseeable future. However, if Game 4 of the first-round series between the Blazers and Mavericks taught us anything, it's that Brandon Roy's swan song may have yet to ring.

With that, there are a myriad of ways Roy can help the Blazers develop and get past the initial playoff matchup, something they haven't done in more than a decade. 

Set the Pace

Brandon Roy's game has been and always will be about pace.

Watching him dribble and methodically cut through the lane has always been a thing of beauty as he breaks the shackles of NBA stereotypes.

Roy has never been a "burst"-type of player, but his ability to throw defenders off balance with his stop-and-go move hasn't escaped him.

If anything, Roy can provide great pacing for the offense next year by creating the outlet pass or setting up the halfcourt offense which will include three powerful options in Nic Batum, Gerald Wallace and LaMarcus Aldridge.  

Provide Leadership to Younger Players

If Roy is going to continue to be productive as a Trail Blazer, he's going to need to mature during the lockout.

Last year we saw a player who struggled with his new role, lashing out and coming off very selfish. It's difficult for star players to transition to a new style of play and although I can't blame him for having issues, he will need to wrangle his emotions better next year.

The Blazers roster is young and Roy is now a veteran with star qualities. If he can turn that into a positive for his team, he will increase not just his own production but that of everyone around him. 

Stay Healthy

Brandon Roy's biggest issue is whether or not he can stay healthy.

Most of the fans I talk to from Portland wholeheartedly believe that Roy's production will still be valuable to the Trail Blazers in years to come. Whether that sentiment is naive or not remains to be seen.

With an NBA lockout looming, Roy may have actually hit the jackpot. More time to rest and rehab is never a bad thing, especially when games are not at stake.

Whatever the Blazers and Roy can do—from limiting his minutes to calling up the Phoenix Suns training staff and figuring out how they kept Steve Nash, Grant Hill and Shaq healthy—they need to make Brandon's injury history a priority.

Provide a Spark off the Bench

Brandon Roy probably isn't going to be the next Manu Ginobli but he can provide a serious influence coming off the bench.

In today's NBA, having a player of that caliber who is rested and injury-free is something that is a rare commodity.

If Roy can find a way to elevate his game mid-quarter instead of ramping up from the opening tip, he could very well be the one thing the Blazers were missing over the last few years. Dallas, San Antonio and the Lakers all have quality, Sixth Man Award-type players who rise as the cream of the crop of bench players. 

Did I mention those teams all have rings? 

Take over in Crunch Time

This, quite simply, is what Brandon Roy does best.

Whether it's the slow, zig-and-stutter-zag move with a left-hand finish or a turnaround at the free-throw line, Roy is unshakable in crunch time. 

Every team needs some solution to a close game; whether it's teamwork like the New Orleans Hornets or having Dirk Nowitzki on your squad, coming up big in the final minutes can mean an extra five, seven or 10 wins in a season (not to mention a championship).

Roy needs a vote of confidence from his teammates, coaches and fans in order to be "the guy" inside of four minutes in the fourth quarter. 

For all it's worth, the Blazers should give it to him.