Portland Trail Blazers Under the Microscope for 2011-12 NBA Season

Once again, it's a good time to be an NBA fan.  The 2011-12 season appears to be saved after nearly having been lost in the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving, and soon each team will start preparing itself for the 66-game regular season.

Right now each team can simply bask in the positive energy in the wake of the lockout ending, but soon that won't be enough.  With a shorter season and fewer games to be played, each game will count more than normal, and players and teams will be under a lot of pressure to get out to a fast start. 

The Blazers have a lot of pieces which, if fit together in the right way, could lead them to a very nice season and into possible contention for the conference championship.

Which players will be under the most scrutiny this season?  Who will be under the greatest pressure to perform?

10. Nate McMillan

Nate McMillan has done a lot for the Blazers' franchise, leading it out of a tough stretch and to 48 or more wins in three consecutive years.  He has done that in spite of major injuries to most of the important players on his teams, helping them to find consistency in spite of all the health-related obstacles they have had to face.

The general feeling, however, seems to be that simply making it to the playoffs won't be enough going forward.  The Blazers need to take the next step by winning a playoff series or two.  McMillan hasn't received much heat for the team's lack of post-season success, in large part because of how many injuries the team was always dealing with, but at some point, a team has to succeed in spite of those things, or else change is needed.

I think McMillan is a great coach, and deserves a lot of praise for what he has done.  However, it is also his doing that the Blazers play at such a slow pace, and have so little margin for error within most games, and it might be time for him to open things up and let them run a little.

9. Gerald Wallace

Gerald Wallace, who came to Portland in a steal of a deal during the middle of last season, seemed somewhat overlooked during most games.  A former All-Star, Wallace is a very competent player on both ends of the floor. 

After having the benefit of training camp (albeit a short one) with his teammates this year, Wallace will be looked at to step up and help provide the veteran poise and leadership that can help this team rise to a new level.  He'll probably end up being a second or third option on offense most nights, but it is his defense, rebounding, and ability to run the fast break effectively which will be most sorely needed on this team. 

Wallace provides an added toughness which, if harnessed correctly, will help the Blazers in their quest to move into the upper half of the Western Conference.

8. Elliot Williams

Elliot Williams is a name that wouldn't be familiar to most casual Blazer fans, in large part because he has yet to play a game for the team.  He underwent knee surgery as a newly drafted rookie and was lost for all of last season, meaning this year will be his first real opportunity to crack the rotation and have an impact.

Williams will likely end up as the third or fourth string-shooting guard on the roster, meaning he might not get much, if any, playing time to start the season.  If Brandon Roy is let go, then there's a chance he could slide in as the backup behind Wesley Matthews.  It will be up to him to work hard in practice and earn a chance to prove his worth as an NBA player.

If nothing else, we'll hopefully get to see at least a couple of highlight reel dunks out of Williams this year.

7. Patrick Mills

I debated whether or not I should even include Patty Mills on this list, primarily because of his recent decision to play basketball in China over the upcoming season.  While the Blazers still own his rights as a restricted free agent when he is able to return in March, it's hard to see Mills coming back as anything more than insurance at the end of the bench.

Mills had a very good college career at St. Mary's, but hasn't been able to replicate anything close to that level of individual success during his short NBA career.  He has had some good moments as a Blazer over the past couple of years, and has become a fan favorite because of his attitude and fearlessness whenever he does see minutes.

With Armon Johnson still on the roster, and with the addition of Nolan Smith in this year's draft, it's hard to see how Mills will fit into the long term strategy of the Blazers.  If he performs very well in China, then it's possible that they'll be inclined to bring him on as insurance for a playoff run, but team management would probably like to find a long-term answer as a backup at that point, and so far Mills hasn't shown himself to be consistent enough to be that player.

6. Nicolas Batum

Nicolas Batum has been on the radar of several teams ever since he got to the NBA, and with good reason.  He's a skilled offensive player, capable of dominating both inside and out, and is also very good defensively.  

He put on quite a show this past summer at Eurobasket, and one would hope that the leadership and determination that he displayed while playing for France will trickle over into his play for the Blazers this season.  Batum may end up starting or he may come off the bench in place of Gerald Wallace. Whichever ends up happening, he will be needed for double figures in scoring again this season.

The hope is that this will finally be the year in which Batum starts to show signs of fulfilling his all-star promise, for which the Blazers have refused to trade him for several years now.

5. Luke Babbitt

Though he's only coming into his second season as an NBA player, this may already be make-it-or-break-it time for Luke Babbitt, at least as a Blazer. 

After a couple of very impressive seasons at Nevada in which he shot well over 40% from the three-point range, and over 85% from the free-throw line, he has not been able to see his shooting touch translate over to the NBA game yet.  Part of the reason is surely the lack of opportunities and playing time, but for a shooter whose role is to come in and score in limited minutes, he hasn't lived up to his potential yet.

All Babbitt can really do right now is light it up in practice, with the hope that that will buy him some game time here and there.  Blazers fans have been clamoring for a solid backup and power forward for years, but unfortunately Babbitt can't play too much there due to his size.  He is a shooter, and needs to start shooting better in games if he wants to be part of an NBA rotation going forward.

4. LaMarcus Aldridge

Now the unquestioned leader of the Blazers, LaMarcus Aldridge will be under the microscope again this season, as he attempts to continue his dominant play from last season and help the Blazers rise to the status of contender in the west. 

Aldridge has done a lot to quiet his doubters, and now it will be more about adjusting to the scrutiny and national media attention that will invariably come with team success and strong statistical production.  There's no longer a question about whether or not he can lead this team, but whether or not he can lead it to playoff success.

If he falters to start the season, he will be heavily criticized by his doubters, but I don't see that happening.  Aldridge is a special player, and it's time everyone else in the country realized that.

3. Raymond Felton

Raymond Felton has bigger shoes to fill than a lot of people might realize, and it's way too soon to know if he will end up being an upgrade over Andre Miller at this point.  He's younger, more athletic, and a much better long range shooter than Miller, but probably not Miller's equal in terms of his passing and game management skills. 

I am hopeful that Felton will be allowed to get the Blazers moving a little bit faster, where they can score some easier points in transition.  The Blazers always rank at or near the bottom in terms of the pace they play at, but if you're playing as the slowest team in the NBA, you probably won't be competing for too many NBA championships.

The Blazers have been a jump-shooting team for a while now, and a lot of their success this season will hinge on how well Felton can create shots and get the ball to his teammates in the places they need it. 

2. Greg Oden

Though he is still young and would be only approaching the prime of his career if healthy, it seems like this season might be Greg Oden's last opportunity to show the Blazers he can stay on the court. 

There are likely several teams that would like to try and rehabilitate Oden for themselves, and it's likely that they will either try to sign him away once free agency starts, or wait until the summer and hope he becomes an unrestricted free agent.  Portland has invested a lot in Oden, though, so I have a hard time believeing they would want to part ways with him now, with some semblance of hope still present.

No one seems to know yet when Oden will be back on the court, but the focus will still be on him, and if his body is capable of enduring two or three or hopefully several NBA seasons.  He's been under the microscope ever since he came into the NBA, and that likely won't change until he either puts together a run of two or three good seasons or officially retires from the game.

1. Brandon Roy

Brandon Roy is probably the biggest question mark on this list, which is why I put him at the top.  Most Blazers fans (myself included) are a bit sentimental and would hate to see him sent packing as a result of the forthcoming amnesty clause, although the signs seem to be pointed to just such an event.  If he does go, he will be remembered not for his bad knees, but for all the good times.

If he stays, or even if he does leave, all eyes will be on his knees.  Roy will have an even greater obstacle in front of him than last season, thanks to the compressed NBA schedule.  He almost certainly will miss games in order to not put too much wear and tear on his body, but the interesting thing to watch will be what kind of role he assumes going forward, either with the Blazers, or with whatever team he goes to.

Brandon Roy was on his way to, and maybe already was, a top-five shooting guard before his injuries.  Coming back from the lockout, and with extra rest, it will be interesting to see how this season plays out for him.