tlongII
03-16-2010, 10:56 AM
http://nba.fanhouse.com/2010/03/15/finally-healthy-blazers-ready-for-upsetting-playoff-run/
http://www.blogcdn.com/nba.fanhouse.com/media/2010/03/blazers-0310-420.jpg
To throw out a little history, the 1976-77 Portland Trail Blazers went 49-33.
So what are the 2009-10 Trail Blazers on pace to go?
That's right, 49-33.
The 1976-77 Trail Blazers would have had a much better regular-season record had star Bill Walton not missed 17 games due to injury. But Walton was healthy for the playoffs, and Portland won three playoff series without homecourt advantage to seize the NBA crown.
The 2009-10 Trail Blazers have been riddled with injuries. But now they're much healthier, and are prepared to do some damage in the NBA playoffs by winning on the road.
OK, so it's a bit crazy to compare this Portland team with the outfit 33 years ago, when Walton, when healthy, was one of the most magnificent centers ever. Still, it's not out of line to say this Portland team, now stalking in the No. 8 spot in the Western Conference, might do a lot better in the playoffs than its seed or regular-season mark would suggest.
"Last year we were able to get a four seed, and we feel like we've got a better team this year,'' said Trail Blazers guard Brandon Roy. "We've had some injury (problems). But, if we continue to stay healthy, we don't see ourselves as a six, seven or eight seed. We feel like we're one of the top teams. ... We do feel like we're one of the dangerous teams.''
Portland (41-28) is finally living up to some of its preseason hype, having won nine of its past 11 games. The difference is the once-broken Blazers are finally mending.
Portland's injury problems have been well documented. Centers Greg Oden and Joel Pryzbilla were lost for the season in December with knee injuries. Forward Nicolas Batum has missed 45 games; guard Rudy Fernandez, 19; and Roy, 15.
"I'm amazed at how many injuries they've had and they're still a deep team,'' said Denver coach George Karl. "At the beginning of the year, in our philosophical (team) discussions, they probably had too much talent. But, because of that, they probably survived an injury-filled season when most wouldn't have survived. ... I think they'll be a dangerous playoff team. They have enough talent to beat anybody on any given night.''
Still, a month ago, the Blazers looked little more than first-round out. With Oden and Pryzbilla gone, they were starting 6-foot-9 power forward Juwan Howard at center.
Howard was giving it his best, but he is 47 years old. Uh, make that 37.
But the team swung a deal Feb. 17 to acquire center Marcus Camby from the Clippers for guard Steve Blake and forward Travis Outlaw. Suddenly, the Trail Blazers have a better solid starting situation at center.
They've also got plenty more big-game experience in the pivot. Camby has appeared in 64 career playoff games to a combined 17 for Oden and Pryzbilla. Even as long as Howard has been around, he's only gotten into 23 postseason games.
"I'm excited about being here,'' Camby said. "We're playing winning ball now. That's pretty much all you can ask.'''
OK, so the Blazers' schedule has been pretty easy lately and they didn't show up for a March 7 118-106 loss at Denver. But Camby was out that night due to a sprained ankle, meaning the Trail Blazers have won seven straight games with Camby in the lineup.
The 6-11 Camby is averaging a scant 3.7 points for Portland, but is pulling down 8.5 rebounds and blocking 2.09 shots per night while playing solid defense. And it's not as if the Trail Blazers need Camby to score.
They've got Roy averaging 22.4 points and forward LaMarcus Aldridge 17.4 Point guard Andre Miller actually had 52 points in a game earlier this season, and Batum and guards Jerryd Bayless, Fernandez and Martell Webster all have had games of 25 or more.
Put it all together and the Trail Blazers might be the team no high seed wants to see in the first round. They had beaten the Lakers nine straight times at home before finally losing last month. Portland is 2-0 this season against Dallas with two games remaining.
Looking at the year we've gone through, with losing Greg and losing Joel, to even still be in the picture is amazing,'' Aldridge said. "I think that once we get in the playoffs ... if we got guys healthy, we do have a chance to do something special. It's building a rhythm together. (Throughout the season) it's seemed like every game we're changing our lineups and are roles are changing. ... We're going to learn how to play off each other.''
The Blazers still are adjusting to playing with Camby. And they've had to reintegrate Batum, who, interestingly, returned to the starting lineup the night Portland began its stretch of winning nine of 11.
Of course, if Portland can continue its winning ways, it could go from a team looking to spring a playoff upset to one favored in a series. After entering last Thursday five games out of the No. 4 position in the West, the Trail Blazers suddenly are just 2 ½ games behind Utah for the spot that earns homecourt advantage in the first round.
But, as any Blazer fan will tell you, what matters most is the team's health entering the playoffs. While the 1976-77 team was healthy at the right time, the 1977-78 outfit sure wasn't after a 50-10 start.
Injuries hit, namely to Walton. The Trail Blazers did finish with the NBA's best record at 58-24. But they limped into the playoffs and were eliminated in their first series, one featuring Walton being lost after two games after re-injuring his foot.
With Walton, Sam Bowie and now Oden leading the way, a case can be made Portland is the most injury-devastated team in NBA history. But throughout this most trying season, the Trail Blazers are still standing.
http://www.blogcdn.com/nba.fanhouse.com/media/2010/03/blazers-0310-420.jpg
To throw out a little history, the 1976-77 Portland Trail Blazers went 49-33.
So what are the 2009-10 Trail Blazers on pace to go?
That's right, 49-33.
The 1976-77 Trail Blazers would have had a much better regular-season record had star Bill Walton not missed 17 games due to injury. But Walton was healthy for the playoffs, and Portland won three playoff series without homecourt advantage to seize the NBA crown.
The 2009-10 Trail Blazers have been riddled with injuries. But now they're much healthier, and are prepared to do some damage in the NBA playoffs by winning on the road.
OK, so it's a bit crazy to compare this Portland team with the outfit 33 years ago, when Walton, when healthy, was one of the most magnificent centers ever. Still, it's not out of line to say this Portland team, now stalking in the No. 8 spot in the Western Conference, might do a lot better in the playoffs than its seed or regular-season mark would suggest.
"Last year we were able to get a four seed, and we feel like we've got a better team this year,'' said Trail Blazers guard Brandon Roy. "We've had some injury (problems). But, if we continue to stay healthy, we don't see ourselves as a six, seven or eight seed. We feel like we're one of the top teams. ... We do feel like we're one of the dangerous teams.''
Portland (41-28) is finally living up to some of its preseason hype, having won nine of its past 11 games. The difference is the once-broken Blazers are finally mending.
Portland's injury problems have been well documented. Centers Greg Oden and Joel Pryzbilla were lost for the season in December with knee injuries. Forward Nicolas Batum has missed 45 games; guard Rudy Fernandez, 19; and Roy, 15.
"I'm amazed at how many injuries they've had and they're still a deep team,'' said Denver coach George Karl. "At the beginning of the year, in our philosophical (team) discussions, they probably had too much talent. But, because of that, they probably survived an injury-filled season when most wouldn't have survived. ... I think they'll be a dangerous playoff team. They have enough talent to beat anybody on any given night.''
Still, a month ago, the Blazers looked little more than first-round out. With Oden and Pryzbilla gone, they were starting 6-foot-9 power forward Juwan Howard at center.
Howard was giving it his best, but he is 47 years old. Uh, make that 37.
But the team swung a deal Feb. 17 to acquire center Marcus Camby from the Clippers for guard Steve Blake and forward Travis Outlaw. Suddenly, the Trail Blazers have a better solid starting situation at center.
They've also got plenty more big-game experience in the pivot. Camby has appeared in 64 career playoff games to a combined 17 for Oden and Pryzbilla. Even as long as Howard has been around, he's only gotten into 23 postseason games.
"I'm excited about being here,'' Camby said. "We're playing winning ball now. That's pretty much all you can ask.'''
OK, so the Blazers' schedule has been pretty easy lately and they didn't show up for a March 7 118-106 loss at Denver. But Camby was out that night due to a sprained ankle, meaning the Trail Blazers have won seven straight games with Camby in the lineup.
The 6-11 Camby is averaging a scant 3.7 points for Portland, but is pulling down 8.5 rebounds and blocking 2.09 shots per night while playing solid defense. And it's not as if the Trail Blazers need Camby to score.
They've got Roy averaging 22.4 points and forward LaMarcus Aldridge 17.4 Point guard Andre Miller actually had 52 points in a game earlier this season, and Batum and guards Jerryd Bayless, Fernandez and Martell Webster all have had games of 25 or more.
Put it all together and the Trail Blazers might be the team no high seed wants to see in the first round. They had beaten the Lakers nine straight times at home before finally losing last month. Portland is 2-0 this season against Dallas with two games remaining.
Looking at the year we've gone through, with losing Greg and losing Joel, to even still be in the picture is amazing,'' Aldridge said. "I think that once we get in the playoffs ... if we got guys healthy, we do have a chance to do something special. It's building a rhythm together. (Throughout the season) it's seemed like every game we're changing our lineups and are roles are changing. ... We're going to learn how to play off each other.''
The Blazers still are adjusting to playing with Camby. And they've had to reintegrate Batum, who, interestingly, returned to the starting lineup the night Portland began its stretch of winning nine of 11.
Of course, if Portland can continue its winning ways, it could go from a team looking to spring a playoff upset to one favored in a series. After entering last Thursday five games out of the No. 4 position in the West, the Trail Blazers suddenly are just 2 ½ games behind Utah for the spot that earns homecourt advantage in the first round.
But, as any Blazer fan will tell you, what matters most is the team's health entering the playoffs. While the 1976-77 team was healthy at the right time, the 1977-78 outfit sure wasn't after a 50-10 start.
Injuries hit, namely to Walton. The Trail Blazers did finish with the NBA's best record at 58-24. But they limped into the playoffs and were eliminated in their first series, one featuring Walton being lost after two games after re-injuring his foot.
With Walton, Sam Bowie and now Oden leading the way, a case can be made Portland is the most injury-devastated team in NBA history. But throughout this most trying season, the Trail Blazers are still standing.