newc wrote:Big Sexy!
2011-12 Portland Trail Blazers Season Preview
October 31, 2011 - Tomorrow night, the NBA season kicks off after an accelerated offseason and shortened training camp. It also comes just a week after the announcement that Blazers franchise player Brandon Roy would retire due to degenerative knees.
Although Roy had by far the worst season of his career last year (averaging 12.2 points on 40% shooting in just 47 games) save for one last legendary moment, his retirement ushers in an era of uncertainty for the Blazers. However, this team did win 48 games last season with an ineffective Brandon Roy, no small thanks to the emergence of LaMarcus Aldridge as an all-NBA player. After four seasons of marginal improvement, Aldridge came into his own with Roy in and out of the lineup, finishing the season with career high averages of 21.8 points and 8.8 rebounds.
The mid-season addition of Gerald Wallace last year in addition to the free agency additions of Jamal Crawford, Craig Smith and Kurt Thomas round out what looks to be a playoff team. Whether they can compete with the league's elite, or even get out of the first round is the question. The fate of the season could come down to the play of Raymond Felton, acquired in an off-season deal for veteran point guard Andre Miller and moody Spaniard Rudy Fernandez. Despite his stocky physique, Felton gives the Blazers a much quicker option at the point.
With rotation players Gerald Wallace, Raymond Felton, Jamal Crawford, Nicolas Batum, Greg Oden (sad that this is his only mention) and Marcus Camby all eligible for free agency this summer, this should prove to be a pivotal season in Blazers basketball. If all doesn't go well, the team might just have to hire a general manager.
2010-11 Record: 48-34 (3rd Northwest, 6th West, eliminated by DAL 4-2 in first round)
Players Added: Raymond Felton (trade), Jamal Crawford (free agency), Craig Smith (free agent), Kurt Thomas (free agent), Nolan Smith (draft)
Players Lost: Brandon Roy (retired), Andre Miller (trade), Rudy Fernandez (trade), Patrick Mills (overseas), Earl Barron (free agent)
Current Depth Chart
Starters
PG Raymond Felton
SG Wesley Matthews
SF Gerald Wallace
PF LaMarcus Aldridge
C Marcus Camby2nd Unit
PG Nolan Smith
SG Jamal Crawford
SF Nicolas Batum
PF Craig Smith
C Kurt Thomas3rd Unit
PG Armon Johnson [IR]
SG Elliot Williams
SF Luke Babbitt [IR]
C Chris Johnson
C Greg Oden [+]
The X wrote:I'm gonna predict 48-34
Lamrock wrote:May be a few days before this gets underway. Deciding on whether I want to get 2K12 for PS3 or whether its worth getting a new 360. Would need to remake the NLSC draftees for this if I took the PS3 route, but we'll see how it goes.
If anybody ends up correctly guessing our win total for the year, they get points.
Lamrock wrote:After tax, it'd be about $220 for a new 4GB Xbox, $150 for a white refurbished one that'll just break, and $55 for a PS3 copy of 2K12. I have a lot of content invested in Xbox Marketplace and quite a few games, but it seems hard to justify now. I don't really care for any of Xbox's exclusives.
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