Here's a column I wrote about the Portland Trailblazers for my sportswriting class. Enjoy!
They are unfortunate incidents of bad luck that can strike at any time. They can take a promising season full of high expectations and instantaneously turn it into a frustrating freefall into virtual oblivion.
Every basketball player, coach and fan knows that injuries are a part of the game.
The Portland Trailblazers know this all too well this season. The Blazers just experienced their fourth major injury since league play began when starting center Greg Oden broke his kneecap Sunday night at home in a win over Houston, ending his season for the second time in three years.
However, all hope should not be lost by fans in Portland and the rest of Blazer Nation. Do not throw away the season. I certainly won’t do that. There will still be a talented, although thin, team taking the floor at the Rose Garden.
Those critics counting them out of the Western Conference playoffs beware, because the Blazers will be ok, and maybe better, down the stretch.
All-star combo guard Brandon Roy (20.2 ppg, 5.0 apg) is the team leader, no question. With the tandem of him and budding superstar forward LaMarcus Aldridge (14.8 ppg, 7.7 rpg), the Trailblazers have two of the top players in the league at their respective positions.
Roy, who hit the game-winner to defeat the Rockets, was 2006-07 Rookie of the Year after Portland acquired him with the No. 6 overall pick. Aldridge was selected No. 2 in that same draft class. Twenty-four and 24 years old respectively, Roy and Aldridge both signed large contracts last summer when the Blazers tagged them “franchise players.”
Now is the time for these two to step up and live up to their billing by leading the franchise during this tough time. The two are largely responsible for getting the Blazers to where they are in the first place, and last year’s 54-win season that resulted in a playoff berth. Portland’s high expectations this season as a true contender in the West is due to the rapid development of the team’s core duo.
It was not all that long ago where those in the Blazer camp had no expectations whatsoever.
Sure, it will be extremely difficult for Portland to overcome the mass depletion of its roster. The other casualties include starting shooting guard Rudy Fernandez (sciatic pain), starting forward Nicolas Batum (shoulder) and reserve forward Travis Outlaw (foot). Even head coach Nate McMillan is on the disabled list after rupturing his Achilles tendon when he participated in a practice drill last week, since only nine players are currently healthy.
Oden, particularly, is a bigger blow than most people realize. The 2007 No. 1 overall pick was leading Portland in both rebounds (8.5) and blocks(2.3) as the most intimidating defensive player on the squad. He ranks second in the NBA in blocks and fourth in field goal percentage (.605).
I have confidence in the abilities of Roy and Aldridge at least holding serve at .500 until they can regain the efforts of Fernandez and Batum. If there is a positive, it’s that little-used players like second-year guard Jerryd Bayless and rookie forward Dante Cunningham will have a chance to display their young talent and gain valuable experience to help the team when it does make the playoffs.
Also, Oden’s backup Joel Przybilla moves back into the starting center spot, a role he is comfortable in after holding it all last season. McMillan is predicted to be back on the sideline Dec. 15.
Climbing back and staying into the West playoff picture is not an entirely impossible task for Portland, even with an injury-decimated roster. The Blazers will need stellar performances by their aces, Roy and Aldridge, and production from their role players.
Acting head coach Dean Demopoulos said Portland is still confident it has the right players who are up to the job. “Life throws you curveballs sometimes and if you can’t hit a curveball, you don’t belong here.”
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