All I Want For Xmas
With the NBA season set to begin on Christmas Day, Portland Trailblazers fans can get ready for what should be a promising season after last year’s postseason run that came to a premature end after taking the eventual champion Dallas Mavericks to six games in the first round.
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And while it was the third consecutive year that the Trail Blazers were eliminated in the first round, they are a team at a crossroads between becoming contenders or permanent runner-ups.
Now they will have to get creative to improve the team.
With that being said, here are five things Blazers fans can look forward to this year.
No. 5 — A Changing of the Guard
In the past 12 years just three teams have accounted for every one of the Western Conference finals appearances. The San Antonio Spurs, the Los Angeles Lakers and the Dallas Maverick, all three who boast ageing rosters. That leaves plenty of room for a Portland team’s youthfulness that seems to be on the rise.
No. 4 — A full season of Gerald Wallace
Gerald Wallace is a great two-way player who flies high and brings excitement to the game. He was Portland’s second-leading scorer in the postseason and this year he could be even better.
A full season of Gerald Wallace Will certainly work wonders for the Blazers
No. 3 — New Blood
Watching Jamal Crawford who averaged 14.2 points per game in a season where many believed he was being ousted out of Atlanta.
Without B-Roy, he’ll bring valuable firepower off the bench. Should be fun to watch the NBA’s 2009 6th Man of the Year.
No. 2 — Old School
Kurt Thomas may be the oldest player in the NBA, but he brings a lot of toughness and veteran savvy with him.
He will see early minutes that LaMarcus Aldridge would have had and then he will settle into the role that Greg Oden had as a backup center behind perennial superstar Marcus Camby.
With this line up the Blazers will get a good rotation of big men who will bring a lot of toughness inside.
No. 1 — Improved Depth
It’s looking like the Blazers are ready to go nine or ten players deep if necessary and that could become very important as the league begins the compact 66-game schedule.
Buckle up Portland fans, and get ready for a interesting and hopeful season.
About Matt Martz
