24 Dec 10 Portland Trail Blazers: Can They Challenge the Lakers? Prove It Now

Christian Petersen/Getty Images2010-11 will be a big year for the Blazers. They really need to prove things this year. Last year they had an amazing season considering the circumstances. This year they will have to have good luck as far as their recent injury problems.If they are more Cincinnati Bengals jersey
fortunate this year, or can fight through the misfortune, there is a big opportunity for them to show their stuff in the West.Utah just reshuffled Deron Williams’ supporting cast and is a big question mark. Losing Boozer, Korver, and Matthews will hurt. The additions of Raja Bell, Gordon Hayward, and Al Jefferson could help, but they are still question marks.Even if Denver doesn’t trade Carmelo Anthony, I expect them to take a step back because of bad attitudes, expiring contracts, injuries, and drama. The drama surrounding their star won’t go away until he does.Five of Denver’s top players are in contract years, and that makes a volatile team even more so. Also, three of their top four big men (Martin, Andersen, Harrington) are currently injured.Oklahoma City has been crowned as the next big thing, but they shouldn’t expect to be as lucky with injuries, and they will now be the hunted rather than the hunters. Inconsistency could be a problem also. Kevin Durant is a very good player but he needs to expand his game to bring them to the next level.They could also use some post scoring and three-point shooting. I expect them to be good, but not a top-two team in the conference just yet.Portland is left with a big opening to take the NW division title.Phoenix is going to have a hard time without Amare Stoudemire. Players like Pau Gasol, Zach Randolph, LaMarcus Aldridge, etc., should be able to just dominate Hedo Turkoglu.I expect more of the same from the Spurs and Mavs. A mediocre regular season and okay postseason for the former, and a good regular season and a disappointing playoff run for the latter. Houston is a wildcard, and could finish near the top, or just fight to Cleveland Browns jersey
make the playoffs.Even the Lakers, the perennial conference favorites, look to have holes in their armor. This may finally be the season that Kobe is slowed down by age and injuries. Center Andrew Bynum is once again injured, and will miss the beginning of the season.If Kobe Bryant can’t come back strong, Portland could have a very good chance at winning the regular season conference title.They are potentially one of the deepest teams in the league. They have several good players that continue to improve, and the acquisition of Wesley Matthews was perhaps the most underrated of the year.The main concern for the Trail Blazers will be injuries. Brandon Roy, LaMarcus Aldridge, and Nic Batum need to stay at least reasonably healthy, and the bigs are a big variable. If Joel Pzybilla comes back soon that will be helpful, and add that to some success by Greg Oden, and Portland has likely the best lineup down in the middle.If Oden misses the majority of the season, Przybilla doesn’t make a Dallas Cowboys jersey
successful return, and Marcus Camby chimes in with his own injury problems, they are left with Aldridge and two natural small forwards down low.The playoffs are where the Blazers really need to improve. After two consecutive 1st round playoff exits, this may be the year that indicates whether they are the next Los Angeles Lakers, perennial contenders, or the next Dallas Mavericks, perennial disappointers.Can they bring it to the next level?