Portland Trail Blazers 2010 Preview & Predictions

Portland Trail Blazers 2010 Season Preview, Predictions Picks & Odds

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Portland Trail Blazers 2009-2010 NBA Record: 50-32, 3rd in Northwest Division

Portland Trail Blazers Betting Trends & Betting Angles:

• 2-18 SU, 5-15 ATS past 20 at Denver
• 9-0 SU, 7-2 ATS past 9 at home to Minn.
• 10-1 ATS past II trips to Minnesota
• 6-1 SU, 5-2 ATS past 7 at home to Thunder
• Played 7 straight UNDERs at Okla City
• 4-14 ATS past 18 visits to Utah
• 6-2 ATS past 8 at home to Jazz

Portland Trail Blazers 2010 Preview & Prediction

Trail Blazers players missed 311 combined games last season because of injury or illness, and the team was eliminated from the first round of the playoffs for the second consecutive season. And then the real turmoil began. An hour before the NBA Draft in June, general manager Kevin Pritchard was fired, jump-starting a dramatic offseason transformation that featured changes to the roster, front office and coaching staff. By the time the summer concluded, an up-and-coming franchise that appeared headed in the right direction featured a new general manager, three new assistant coaches, an unbalanced roster – and plenty of question marks. Is this a franchise mired in dysfunction, or was the overhaul part of a necessary evolution? Will the changes help catapult the Blazers out of the first round of the playoffs for the first time since 2000? Is the team poised to shed its “up-and-coming” label? Longtime front office assistant Rich Cho, who arrived in Portland from the Oklahoma City Thunder, gets his first crack at being a GM and will be charged with fine-tuning a roster that he says is one or two pieces away from becoming a championship contender. The Blazers’ passionate fan base and billionaire owner Paul Allen are eager for a deep playoff run, so Cho’s job will be filled with pressure – something he learned during his first official day as GM when the agent for Rudy Fernandez informed Cho that the disgruntled guard longed for a trade. For Cho – and the Blazers – 2010-11 could be a defining season.

Portland Trail Blazers Coach: Nate McMillan (6th season)

Portland Trail Blazers Projected Starters: PG Andre Miller, SG Brandon Roy, SF Nicolas Batum, PF LaMarcus Aldridge, C Marcus Camby.

Portland Trail Blazers Key Additions: G Wesley Matthews.

Portland Trail Blazers Key Losses: G Martell Webster, F Juwan Howard.

2010 Portland Trail Blazers Point Guards:

Most of the talk during the summer focused on a player not in the roster, Chris Paul. The Blazers tried to acquire the All-Star guard from New Orleans, but couldn’t. So they’re turning their attention back to Andre Miller. Miller played solidly for the Blazers, but his relationship with McMillan was rocky at times. The two finally found a working relationship after a heated argument during a practice. Once the two moved on, they seemed to be fine. But the Blazers are looking for something more, and with Miller’s expiring contract, don’t be surprised if the Blazers trade him. Jerryd Bayless produced some big games for the Blazers and his consistency was better. However, the energetic Bayless is still a shoot-first, pass-second point guard and his perimeter shot remains inconsistent at best.

2010 Portland Trail Blazers Off Guards:

Brandon Roy has enjoyed an amazing run – Rookie of the Year and three consecutive All-Star appearances in his first four seasons. However, his sterling reputation took a hit when he looked selfish in resisting the team’s effort to get center Greg Oden more involved in the offense. Then there was Roy’s slow acceptance of Miller. Roy will try to rehab his image and erase the memory of an injury plagued season because when he’s healthy, he is one of the league’s elite off guards. Rudy Fernandez could do no wrong during his rookie season. Now the team is trying to trade him. Coming off a disastrous playoff performance, the third-year Spaniard complained about his role and minutes during the off-season, and the once popular player is likely done in Portland. Wes Matthews was signed to boost the wing work for this club. He can score and will help out with the rebounding too. But his biggest contribution is that he’s a fearless defender, as he showed going up against Kobe Bryant as a rookie.

2010 Portland Trail Blazers Small Forwards:

Nicolas Batum has emerged as the team’s star in waiting after playing very well once he recovered from shoulder surgery. Batum, the team’s defensive specialist, improved offensively and the Blazers will use his three-point shooting and slashing ability more often this season. Dante Cunningham got an opportunity to play while Batum was rehabilitating his shoulder, and the second-year player displayed a reliable mid-range jumper and energy.

2010 Portland Trail Blazers Power Forwards:

LaMarcus Aldridge entered last season with All-Star expectations, but ended the season with a reputation as an underachiever. The Blazers need him to play stronger in the post area and not settle for turnaround jumpers from the perimeter. The team would love for Aldridge to assert himself as a more physical player, something the coaching staff has wanted since he arrived in Portland. The Blazers hope new assistant coach Buck Williams will serve as a mentor – some people say motivator – to the ever-cool Aldridge. If the Blazers want a more physical presence at the position, they may call on second-year player Jeff Pendergraph, who has the physique, mindset and willingness to throw his body around and push people around in the post.

2010 Portland Trail Blazers Centers:

It’s all about health at this position after the team was devastated by injuries last season. Can Oden remain healthy this year after missing the majority of the season after yet another knee injury? Oden played well and looked like he was going to be a force before the injury, but he blew out his knee and missed the final 61 games of the season. Backup Joel Przybilla also blew out his knee and was lost for the season as well. Przybilla re-injured the knee again during his rehabilitation, making his availability questionable for the beginning of the season, if at all. The issues at the position prompted the Blazers to acquire Marcus Camby days before the trade deadline last season. Camby performed well enough. Faced with the brittleness of Oden and Przybilla, the Blazers signed him to a new contract. But Camby is 36, entering his 15th season and is very injury-prone.

Portland Trail Blazers 2010 Season Predictions

We predict that the Portland Trail Blazers will finish 2nd in the NBA Northwest Division .

Portland Trail Blazers Betting

Portland Trail Blazers NBA Championship Odds: +2500

Portland Trail Blazers Eastern Conference Odds: +1000

Portland Trail Blazers 2009-2010 Betting Stats

Portland Trail Blazers Straight Up: 50-32
Portland Trail Blazers ATS: 45-35-2
Portland Trail Blazers Home ATS: 20-21
Portland Trail Blazers Away ATS: 25-14-2
Portland Trail Blazers Record As Favorite: 38-14
Portland Trail Blazers Record As Dog: 12-18
Portland Trail Blazers Over/Under: 43-38-1

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