5 Reasons Portland Trail Blazers Fans Want a Season

Last season the Portland Trail Blazers, lacking the home-court advantage, took the eventual champion Mavericks to six games—as far as any of the Mavericks victims. It was the third consecutive year that the Trail Blazers were eliminated in the first round. 

However next year bodes well for the team, and their fans are fully aware of that. They are looking forward to the season with gusto.

Let's bear in mind that this is no ordinary fanbase. They are among the most knowledgeable, intense fanbases in the country. They want—nay, need—the season to happen, and here are five reasons why. 

5. It's Time for a Changing of the Guard

In the last 12 seasons, three teams—the San Antonio Spurs, the Los Angeles Lakers and the Dallas Mavericks—have accounted for every one of the Western Conference finals appearances. Those three teams are aging.

It's time for a changing of the guard. There are four teams—the Trail Blazers, the Denver Nuggets, the Memphis Grizzlies and the Oklahoma City Thunder—who are ready to assume the elite status in the West. All these teams have the right combination of young stars and veterans in their prime. 

The Trail Blazers have a shot at the conference's best record next year, and should finish in the top three. Only one team has won the title with lower than a third seed in the present format. Getting that top-three seed would greatly enhance Portland's chances of getting beyond the first round, and perhaps beyond. 

4. A Full Season of Gerald Wallace

I felt at the trade deadline that the Trail Blazers got the third-best player at the trade deadline and I still feel that way. Gerald Wallace is a two-way player who flies high and brings excitement to the game. 

He was their second-leading scorer in the postseason and next year he could be even better. With a training camp and an offseason Wallace will bring even more to the game. On top of that, you have to figure that Wallace is thrilled to be there.

After years of obscurity and hopelessness in Charlotte he's now on a contender. Look for Wallace to have an All-Star season this year. Portland fans sure will. 

3. Raymond Felton

The bad news is no Andre Miller. Miller is the greatest active player who has never been in an All-Star Game. How many people know he's already 14th in the NBA in career assists? Having said that, he's 35 years old. In the trade for him Portland got a player who is in his prime, Raymond Felton.

Furthermore, Felton is better suited to run this team. Last season Portland was dead last in pace, averaging just 87.9 possessions per game. Pace isn't necessarily "good" or "bad," it's about what's best suited for your team.

The Trail Blazers have a lot of very athletic players, so it's bewildering why they run such a slow pace. The main reason is old man Miller just wasn't able to keep up. In New York first, and Denver later, Felton ran fast-paced teams, so he'll be able to accelerate the Blazers this year.

In essence, Portland is a two-liter bottle of Pepsi and Felton is a mentos. Portland won't just be better next season, they'll be a heck of a lot more exciting.   

2. LaMarcus Aldridge

LaMarcus Aldridge is another one of those under-appreciated stars. In large part it's because of the slow, plodding pace that the Trail Blazers run. A slower pace means fewer opportunities. His 21.8 points and 8.8 rebounds are deceptive.  

If the Trail Blazers step up their pace to the higher end of the league, which with their athleticism is very realistic, Aldridge could boost his stats to around 25 points and 10 rebounds. Considering he also plays stellar defense, he could realistically enter into the MVP picture if Portland competes for the best record. 

1. Depth

The Trail Blazers have a lot of good players, which Dallas showed can be better than having a great player. Look at what they have there. 

After Felton, Wesley Matthews, Nicholas Batum, Wallace and Aldridge, Portland still has a ton of players stocked on the bench. Brandon Roy and Greg Oden are still able to produce off the bench, just not play starter minutes. Nolan Smith should bring more athleticism to an already-athletic team. Marcus Camby is athletic. 

When the Trail Blazers go to their bench, they're just going to be reloading. They have the talent and depth to run a lot of teams into the ground.

They'll be an exciting team to watch, and they'll be a legit contender to get to the finals. What's not to look forward to? 

And if there's any team ready for a karmic boomerang it's these guys. After the fans rightly ran the "Jail Blazers" out of town they've restocked their team with high-quality guys who just experience too much bad luck. Maybe it's time that things turn around? 

I'm not a Portland fan, but I think the team will a fun team to watch, and a team to keep an eye on. Portland fans have a lot to look forward to.