Trail Blazers: Shareef gets the nod
by Fanball Staff - Fanball.com
Thursday, October 14, 2004

News
Shareef Abdur-Rahim started the Trail Blazers' preseason opener at small forward, with Darius Miles coming off the bench, and coach Maurice Cheeks indicated that he will likely stick with that lineup going forward. "I think that was our starting five for the season," Miles told the Oregonian. "At least for the first half of the season. I think that's what we are going to roll with."

Views
The speculation is that the Blazers are showcasing Shareef for a midseason trade, but nonetheless, it appears that as a starter he will get enough minutes to regain some of the fantasy significance he lost last year when he became Zach Randolph's backup at power forward. Still, don't count on Shareef getting back to the 20 points and nine boards he averaged in Atlanta because Cheeks will have to get minutes for Miles, who signed a $48 million contract this summer.