2007 NBA Season Preview - Portland Trail Blazers

A Look at the Upcoming 07-08 Season

Portland Trail Blazers
'06-'07 Record/Standing: 32-50 (.390); 3^rd in Northwest Division
'06-'07 Postseason (if applicable): n/a
Coach (Record): Nate McMillan, 3^rd season (53-111), 8^th season overall
Key Additions: C Greg Oden (draft; 1^st round, 1st

overall); PF Channing Frye (trade; New York); SF James Jones (FA; Phoenix); G Steve Blake (FA; Denver); PF Josh McRoberts (draft; 2^nd round, 37^th overall)
Key Losses: PF Zach Randolph (trade; New York); C Jamaal Magloire (FA; New Jersey)

Everyone thought it was a slam dunk pick when the Portland Trail Blazers took Ohio State freshman center Greg Oden with the first pick in the NBA draft. Of course, the horror of the pick was that he had an existing knee injury that needed surgery and now he will miss the entire season. You have to feel bad for them; it's just another setback for what was once one of the most consistent teams in the NBA. Without Oden and traded leading scorer Zach Randolph, this Blazers team is a shell of their former selves. There are some promising players on this team; guys like 2006-2007 Rookie of the Year Brandon Roy, newly acquired Channing Frye, and LaMarcus Aldrirge have the potential to be great in the league, but they are being thrust into a tough positions without their top draft pick and a consistent scorer. Roy will have to immediately step into that role, tough for anyone but especially tough for a second-year player still getting accustomed to the league.

Can the Portland youth step into the roles that they are expected to fill and play well? Will the pressure of playing well without the young center Oden be too much? There were high expectations for the team prior to the Oden injury, but now the expectations are another lottery season. Will the Blazers surprise some teams and play with the heart needed to overcome, or is this just too tough of a task considering that the talent might not be there?