Thanks to a pair of players selected after Andrea Bargnani in 2006, the Trailblazers are winning again.
If you know your Portland Trailblazer history you know what the number 12,666 represents. It is the capacity at the old Memorial Coliseum where the Trailblazers regularly sold the joint out and opponents would tell you it was one of the toughest places to win.
In 1977, Portland earned its one and only NBA championship as they took down a star-studded Philadelphia 76ers squad that featured Julius "Dr.J" Erving and George McGinnis. The title was won with teamwork; as the Sixers had a more talented squad but the chemistry and commitment of Portland's team, in the end, proved to be too much for Philadelphia.
Fast forward some 30 years and the city is alive again and cheering for its beloved Trailblazers. The team has slowly shed the image of the "Jailblazers", the unruly and unlawful group that seemed to score more on the police blotter than in the paint or on the court. It has taken a new coach and some house cleaning by upper management but Portland has turned it around on the floor and the team is now relevant again in the Rose City.
The leadership in Portland has been a big factor in the team's renaissance. Nate McMillan showed up fresh off a playoff appearance in Seattle and took over a team that had its problems. While some players didn't always listen to McMillan, he was in it for the long run and dissenting voices were soon moved out with newer, younger, more talented and impressionable players being brought into the fold.
Portland is the youngest team in the league and has solid leadership in an important place: the backcourt. Brandon Roy who was acquired in a draft day trade with Minnesota (what was Kevin McHale thinking … again) has blossomed into a star. In only his second campaign, last season's Rookie of the Year plays the game with an efficiency that belies his age and relative lack of NBA experience.
"Not only is he good, he can shoot, he can finish at the basket and he just knows how to play," Anthony Parker told the Toronto Sun. Parker was responsible for chasing Roy around for part of the double overtime thriller on Sunday in which Toronto eventually emerged victorious. "He just takes his time and he never seems like he's out of control and he makes plays."
It was a November meeting between McMillan and Roy that helped turn the season around for Portland. Roy wanted to handle the ball more as he felt it would help the team. So far, it has worked out with Portland winning 13 of 15 games in December and suffering its first loss of the 2008 calendar year in double overtime to Toronto on Sunday.
Roy does it all on the floor. He can score inside or outside and he unselfishly creates scoring opportunities for his teammates. Roy possess a tough old school mentality where it's not about how flashy it looks but more about making plays and getting the job done. He does not have blazing speed but plays with a tempo where he changes speed and direction when handling the ball often leaving defenders in his wake and forcing other defensive players to help.
But it's not all about Roy. LaMarcus Aldridge is coming into his own alongside an athletic Travis Outlaw. Jarret Jack has settled nicely into his back court role and Steve Blake gives them a tough competitor as a young veteran guard in his fifth season at 27-years-old. With Joel Pryzbilla, James Jones, Channing Frye, and Martell Webster all taking to their respective roles the Trailblazers have become one of the surprise teams in the NBA this season. What happens next year when they start to integrate the number one pick from last year's draft, Greg Oden, into the line up?
McMillan said that Oden will be pushed next year, not letting his development suffer at the cost of trying to win games. With an eye to the future, McMillan figures it takes about five years for a young player to become consistent, Portland looks like its set to make a steady climb up the standings for years to come in west. But then again with the way the Trailblazers have accelerated their timetable consistency for this group could be closer than imagined and don't be surprised if McMillan is voted coach of the year.
The Western Conference is as deep as ever with ten teams in the running for only eight spots. Regardless of whether Portland makes it to the post season this spring, the future looks bright.
