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Top 10 Point Guards in NBA for the 2014 – 2015 season

SportsChris Paul, Cleveland Cavaliers, damian lillard, Derrick Rose, Golden State Warriors, nba, Portland Trail Blazers, Rajon Rondo, Russell Westbrook, San Anontio Spurs, Stephen Curry, Tony ParkerChris Michaels

Point guard play is a very exciting part of basketball to watch. When you see a great ball handler that can take control of his team and move the ball around with precision passes it is a great joy to see. There is nothing like a great ball mover that will thread a strong defense and go to the goal or catch one of his teammates moving to the goal out of the corner of his eyes and making that precision pass the keeps all the defenders at bay. Look for some of the movers and shakers list below from 10 to 1 to keep a lot of defenders at bay this year.

10. Rajon Rondo:
Can put up some impressive triple doubles with an average of almost 12 ppg and almost 10 apg. He will be coming off an injury year where he only played 30 games in the 2013-14 season. Look for him to overcome his major knee injury to continue to put up numbers for the Boston Celtics. The game to watch for is the Celtics vs Spurs to see Rajon and Tony Parker go at it.

9. Tony Parker:
Tony is playing himself into a lot on NBA conversations when it come top point guards. This San Antonio guard will continue to keep up the pace in the upcoming season. Averaging almost 17 ppg he will become one of the fan favorites during the San Antonio campaign on 2014-15. The Games to watch will be Spurs vs Trail Blazers in Dec and Jan to see how Tony Parker and Damian Lillard stack up against each other.

8. Kyle Lowry:
With an impressive 17.9 ppg average it is probably why Kyle was re-signed by general manager Masai Ujiri and the Toronto Raptors. You can bet he will continue to put the numbers and keep the Raptors moving into the 2014-15 with a strong shot at post season play again. Watching Lowry and Wall on the court should make the Raptors vs Wizards one of best match ups for Lowry and the boys.

7. Damian Lillard:
This Portland guard can put on quit a show with an average of over 20 ppg. He is an excellent three-point shooter. With a 40 percent three-point shooting average Damien Lillard will continue to be worth the price of admission to see him continue to put up impressive numbers again this year. The Trail Blazers vs Warriors will be a great test pitting Lillard and Curry against each other.

6. Kyrie Irving:
Kyrie will carry an average 20.8 ppg and almost 7 appg into the 2014-15 season to keep the Cavs on their feet again this year. He is one guard that defense hate to see get hot and move the ball. He will have another good year carving up the defense during the quest toward the playoffs this year. When Irving and Parker hit the court for the first time at the Quicken Center it will be a good preview of how well the new look Cavaliers and older Spurs will be. The Cavaliers vs Spurs in the NBA Finals is a pretty good bet this 2014-15 NBA season.

5. John Wall:
John will help the Washington Wizards to make some noise in the eastern Conference this year. This is another NBA guard that averages close to 20 ppg. With almost 9 apg his teammates are very appreciative of his unselfish ball movement. Look for the Wizards to continue the great play that led them to a great playoff run in the 2013-14 year.

4. Goran Dragic:
Making the ALL-NBA Third Team last year you can bet this point guard will pick up where he left off last year. Sporting a 20.3 ppg average will help him do just that. Look for him to continue to put up the points for the Phoenix Suns. A 50 percent shooting average from the field will help lead the Suns to a strong push in this upcoming NBA year.

3. Stephen Curry:
Stephen is not known for his defense but who is when you have an average of 24 ppg. Curry was the NBA’s seventh leading scorer in the 2013-14 season. He attempted an average of almost 8 three-pointers each game. He will put a lot of numbers again this year while he leads Golden State to another playoff year. Curry vs Westbrook will be the match up to watch when the Warriors vs Thunder games happen as they could easily end up being a NBA playoff preview early in the season.

2. Russell Westbrook:
This Oklahoma City guard averaged 26.7 ppg during the playoffs in 2013-14. That will bring his average to almost 22 ppg during his powerful NBA career. If he has an injury free year he can put up some impressive numbers. The more he play his consistency improve in a great way. He will put up some huge numbers in the Oklahoma City run this year. Russell Westbrook and Kyrie Irving will meet on the court for the first time under the new Cav’s look the Thunder vs Cavaliers could be an early NBA Finals look.

1. Chris Paul:
Chris Paul will show you why he is in the number one spot if you will just take a look at him the next time you have the opportunity to see him. Chris is one of the best floor managers in the league. He also led the league in assists and steals last season. Look for him to maintain his 19 ppg and 10.7 apg in a powerful run for the Clippers. The biggest game of the year could be the Clippers vs Cavaliers not just because of Lebron but Chris Paul vs Kyrie Irving could end up being where the game is won for either team. Also the Clippers vs Warriors is another big game between Chris Paul and Stephen Curry as last year the two went at it.

Derrick Rose:
What about Chicago Bulls Derrick Rose you ask? I didnt add him to my list because he has only played a total of 10 games in the past two years. While I would add him somewhere between 2-5 his mental and physical health factors still have questions. The Oct 31 Bulls vs Cavaliers opener will be a good test to see where he is at. Rose finished the preseason this year with 57 points in 56 minutes of playing time and went 24 of 41 and also over 50% in three pointers and finished the eight game preseason with a team high avg of 16.2. If he can stay healthy and get through the entire season the Chicago Bulls have a very good chance of winning it all.

Would love to know who your top 5 NBA Point Guards are for this upcoming season?

Chris M.

New Era For The Portland Trail Blazers

SportsChris Kaman, damian lillard, LaMarcus Aldridge, nba, Portland Trail Blazers, Steve BlakeChris Michaels

The Portland Trailblazers begin the 2014-15 NBA campaign thinking that they belong with the elite teams in the West. After winning 54 games last year that assured them a spot in the playoffs where they were knocked off in the second round by the NBA champions San Antonio Spurs they realized we could play with anyone. Even after the Blazers had a rough March last year they still won nine of their last ten games to clinch the West’s fifth seed in the playoffs. Making a strong run at the end of the year and an aggressive showing in the playoffs gave them something to look forward to in their upcoming year. Portland’s ability to remain strong and willingness to work together is one reason why last year turned out the way it did. Returning almost the entire roster from last year will be a definite plus this year.

All-stars LaMarcus Aldridge and Damien Lillard will help to lead the charge to a new campaign this year. The Trail Blazers used their fourth-year option on Lillard at point guard. Lillard who made the All-star team after only his second year in the league will bring a 20.7 point average to the court to lead the Blazers. He also averaged 5.6 assists and 3.5 rebounds in his second year campaign. He will be backed up by Steve Blake who is beginning his third year with the Blazers. Blake became a fan favorite during his first two years in Portland. Blake signed a two year deal after splitting the season last year with Lakers and Warriors. He averaged 6.9 points and 5.6 assists last year.

The middle looks to be strong with the return of Robin Lopez in the 2014-15 campaign. This seven foot center in his sixth year will bring a strong 11 point average to the court. With almost 9 rebounds each game he will be a strong center to contend with. Portland also brought in Chris Kaman another seven footer to back up Lopez. Kaman has been around for 11 years in the league with almost 12 points and 8 rebounds in the paint for an impressive average. Look for the Blazers to find ways to have both of these seven footers on the court together at times.

Last year the Blazers were not expected to make to the playoffs not to mention making it to the second round. To help the make it to the playoffs they won 21 more games last year than they did in the previous year. Look for the locker room leadership and presence Robin Lopez to make an impact with the Blazers giving them the leadership and confidence they will need to be a strong force in the NBA in the 2014-15 season. Even after starting the preseason 0-2 look for the Blazers to have it together October 29th when Blazers will host the Thunder in their regular-season opener.

Save on Trail Blazers tickets by using our Portland Trail Blazers tickets discount code. Save up to 50% on Trail Blazers tickets.

Chris M.

LaMarcus Aldridge Is He Worth Every Penny?

Sportsdamian lillard, LaMarcus Aldridge, nba, Portland Trail BlazersChris Michaels

The Portland Trailblazers were a struggling franchise during the first decade of the 2000s. They had some success near the turn of the millennium but had the bad boy, “Jailblazer” image. In a stacked Western Conference, they didn’t have the players or the image. Their best player, Brandon Roy, was one of the top young stars in the league, but his career was stopped short because of chronic knee issues. They were flat out, an unlucky franchise. They did have a young power forward to build around though. LaMarcus Aldridge does not get the attention that other big stars in big markets get in the NBA. He doesn’t even get the full attention from the media as the star of Portland and that instead goes to young, dynamic point guard Damian Lillard. The three-time All-Star is one of the top players in the league and the focal point of the Portland Trailblazers’ scouting report. Heading into a contract year, he is worth a maximum deal as the Blazers look to continue their surge in the Western Conference.

LaMarcus Aldridge by the numbers

When looking at LaMarcus Aldridge, you see a long, lanky power forward. He strikes many as a finesse player based on his 6-foot-11, 250-pound frame. After finishing his freshman season at the University of Texas, Aldridge declared for the NBA Draft and was the second overall pick in 2006 by the Chicago Bulls. After a rookie season in which he didn’t play a ton of minutes, Aldridge announced his presence in year two. He averaged over 17 points per game and since then he hasn’t averaged below that number. He is the top mid-range jump shooter among big men in the league. LaMarcus Aldridge can hit turnaround jumpers, face-up jumpers and is very difficult to block because of his high release point. From 2010-2012, he shot over 50 percent from the field and averaged over 21 points per game. In 2012, he made his first All-Star appearance and has made three straight trips to the All-Star game.

This past season, LaMarcus Aldridge took an even further step forward in his development. Portland won 54 games during the regular season and made the playoffs where they advanced to the second round of the Western Conference playoffs before losing to the eventual champion San Antonio Spurs. Teaming with Lillard, Aldridge helped form one of the top inside-outside duos in the game today. LaMarcus Aldridge averaged career highs in points, assists, rebounds and free throw percentage. With his 23-plus point per game average and double-digit rebounding each night, he was a consistent double-double threat, a rarity in the game today. In addition, LaMarcus Aldridge is an excellent free throw shooter, hitting over 80 percent from the charity stripe which makes his offensive game even more difficult to defend. While he has a thinner frame, he also averaged a block and a steal per game.

One big knock on LaMarcus Aldridge is his durability and he missed several games this season with various injuries. LaMarcus Aldridge has played in over 74 games per season in five of his eight NBA seasons and has never played less than 55 in a season. If the Portland Trail Blazers don’t offer him a max deal when he becomes an unrestricted free agent next summer, some other team will. He is one of the best big men in the NBA and is not even 30 yet. If Rashard Lewis can get a max deal in his career, LaMarcus Aldridge is sure as heck worth the price tag that comes along with his services. Chris M.

Did the Blazers finally hit the jackpot with Lillard?

SportsCleveland Cavaliers, damian lillard, Kevin Durant, LaMarcus Aldridge, Lebron James, nba, Oklahoma City Thunder, Portland Trailblazers, Western ConferenceChris Michaels

The Portland Trailblazers have won one NBA Championship since entering the league as a franchise in 1970. Following the 1977 title, the Blazers have had a tough go of things and been one of the unluckiest franchises in the league. They passed up players in the 1984 NBA Draft such as Michael Jordan and Charles Barkley, instead opting for Sam Bowie. In the 2007 NBA Draft, they selected Greg Oden with the first overall pick and passed on league’s current best player behind Cleveland Cavaliers LeBron James in OKC Thunder Kevin Durant. The team’s franchise player from the 2006 NBA Draft, Brandon Roy, was a budding superstar but chronic knee issues forced him to retire. If some breaks had gone their way, they would have multiple championship balls in their trophy case. With an unlucky history, the current Portland squad is in good hands. The sixth overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, Damian Lillard, has turned into a superstar already in this league and has teamed up with LaMarcus Aldridge to form a dynamic duo. With the 24-year-old Lillard entering his third NBA season, the tides have turned for the Blazers as they seem to be on the lucky side for a change.

Like most of the great players, Lillard has overcome a lot to reach the status of elite. He was only recruited by one Division I school out of high school in Oakland, California. Weber State University in Ogden, Utah, was that school and Lillard played with a chip on his shoulders. The six-foot-three point guard dominated for Weber State, winning Freshman of the Year honors and Player of the Year honors twice. He was a prolific scorer and showcased his excellent athleticism which led to the Blazers picking Lillard in the 2012 NBA Draft.

Lillard started off his career with a bang, picking up Co-MVP honors of the NBA Summer League and dropping 23 points and 11 assists in his regular season debut. Portland didn’t make the playoffs during Lillard’s first season but he won Rookie of the Year honors and the expectations were raised. This past season, Lillard made his first All-Star Game appearance and the Blazers claimed the fifth seed in the Western Conference. Lillard once again stepped up big in the clutch, winning the series on a three-pointer at the buzzer to drop the Houston Rockets. The Blazers went on to lose to the eventual NBA Champion San Antonio Spurs in round two but the future is set. They missed out on Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley and Kevin Durant but the Blazers stock is going up with the help of Lillard. Chris M.

Emerging powers in NBA’s Wild Wild West

SportsBlake Griffin, Chris Paul, Clippers, damian lillard, Golden State Warriors, Lob City, nba, Oklahoma City Thunder, Portland Trail Blazers, Rip City, Stephen Curry, Western ConferenceChris Michaels

NBA WEST

The Western Conference has been the more powerful of the two in the NBA for several years now. This current season is no exception. Apart from the powerhouses, which were expected to dominate and they eventually did, we also saw several underdogs making their presence felt. The San Antonio Spurs, the Los Angeles Clippers and the Oklahoma City Thunder are considered as the three elite teams in the West but the Portland Trail Blazers and the Golden State Warriors are also powerhouses, emerging ones. In fact, we could even say that the Los Angeles Clippers are an emerging powerhouse, given that it’s been just a couple of seasons since Lob City has made it to the top. Let’s examine each emerging power in the West.

Golden State Warriors

WARRIORS

The Warriors are definitely an emerging powerhouse. Although the Dubs experienced several ups and downs this season, they also showed their potential. The Warriors entered the 2013-2014 campaign as one of the strongest championship contenders in the Western Conference and the truth is that it took them a while to showcase their abilities. Playing without their starting center, Andrew Bogut, the Dubs did manage to drag their first round series against the Los Angeles Clippers in seven games. They eventually fell to Lob City but the future seems to be bright for Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, David Lee, Andre Iguodala and the rest of the crew. Every core member of the team is under contract for at least one more season.

Portland Trail Blazers

BLAZERS

Rip City made it to the second round of the playoffs this year and but it also managed to made its presence felt across the NBA world. The Blazers have now found their new face of the franchise, in Damian Lillard. The second-year point guard as already reached a superstar level and although he is just 23, he seems to be ready to make it to the list of the elite point guards in the NBA, together with Chris Paul, Tony Parker and Russell Westbrook. On top of that, LaMarcus Aldridge has managed to revamp his career and although he had some cold streaks during the playoffs, he seems to be capable of being the second star pillar, alongside Lillard. Nicolas Batum is the third member of Rip City’s Big Three and things in Portland now look better than ever in the recent history of the team. Look for the Blazers to continue emerging in the seasons to come.

Los Angeles Clippers

CLIPPERS

Forget about the Lakers. The next big thing in LA is the team called “Los Angeles Clippers”, also known as Lob City. The Clips possess every single element a true powerhouse, an elite team needs to have. They’ve got two megastars, Chris Paul and Blake Griffin, an emerging star, in DeAndre Jordan, the best sixth man in the NBA, in Jamal Crawford and also one of handful of guru coaches in the league, Doc Rivers. The Clippers have already emerged as a powerhouse in the West but they are continuing their upward course. If they don’t win the NBA Championship this year they will certainly have the chance to do so in the seasons to come. Chris M.

Rip City Is For Real

Sports2013-2014, 2014-2015, damian lillard, Houston Rockets, Kobe Bryant, LaMarcus Aldridge, NBA Western Conference, Rip City, San Anontio Spurs, trail blazersChris Michaels

Damian Lillard

The 2013-2014 season has been a roller coaster ride for Rip City. After reaching the top of the tough Western Conference early in the season, the Portland Trail Blazers fell to the fifth spot and they also saw their chances to make it to the top reducing. The Blazers entered the first round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs as the underdogs in their matchups against the Houston Rockets but they managed to eliminate them after six games. Now, they are being dominated by the veteran group of the San Antonio Spurs and their playoff trip might soon reach its end.

However, despite the failure to top the San Antonio Spurs, a task that is of course very difficult for any team around the league, the Blazers’ course during the 2013-2014 campaign is anything but bad. In fact, even if Rip City exits the playoffs in the second round, the entire city should feel proud about this team. After everything the Blazers have gone through and after all those top-player severe injuries, Portland has found a way to turn things around.

In addition, the future looks really bright for this team, given that it has now found the Big Three around which it can build. Damian Lillard showcased his leadership skills not just during the playoffs but even throughout the regular season. The versatile point guard has already reached a superstar level and he is just 23 years old. He and LaMarcus Aldridge are under contract for the next season, with the Blazers holding a team option, which will most probably exercise for the season after and also a qualifying offer for the 2015 – 2016 season. Nicolas Batum is also under contract till the end of the 2015 – 2016 season but what is even more important is the fact that something seems to be changing in Rip City.

The Blazers are finally starting to find their way to success and whilst they still haven’t formed an elite team, they are certainly on the right track. Portland has found its new franchise face, in Damian Lillard and also a truly capable star veteran, in LaMarcus Aldridge, who might just be the perfect fit alongside Lillard. Nicolas Batum is the third wheel of the Blazers’ engine and several analysts compare them to the San Antonio Spurs, stating that the Blazers are a younger version of San Antonio. I couldn’t agree more with this statement and I would go a step further, stating that Damian Lillard will soon have the same essence to Rip City like Kobe Bryant has to the Los Angeles Lakers. Yes, he is that good.

So, summing up, there is absolutely no reason for Blazers fans to feel disappointed with their favorite team this year. The Blazers did what they had to do. They went as far as they could. Now, the fun part begins, as the team will try to further improve during the postseason. We should all expect the Blazers to stay in the forefront of the NBA for the next seasons.

Damian Lillard The Next NBA Superstar

Basketball, SportsChris Paul, Cleveland Cavaliers, damian lillard, LaMarcus Aldridge, Minnesota Timberwolves, nba, NBA Superstar, New Orleans Pelicans, Portland Trail Blazers, Rip City, Russell Westbrook, Tony Parker, trail blazersChris Michaels

Damian Lillard

is putting up significant performances this season. He and the Portland Trail Blazers are surprising the NBA world with their outputs. The last season’s Rookie of the Year is continuing to improve his performance this season. In fact, he does better in almost any part of the game, in comparison with the previous season. His scoring, his shooting, his defense and his clutch performances have seen improvement. But can he be considered as a star? Does he rank amongst the elite point guards in the league?

The 6’3” Weber State product has exploded offensively. After putting up two consecutive 36-point performances against the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Minnesota Timberwolves, he went on to score 29 against the New Orleans Pelicans. He also shot over 47 percent from the floor in those three games. In overall, Lillard is averaging 21.3 points per contest this season to go along with 5.8 assists and 3.7 boards. His shooting from the floor has reached the 41.0 percent mark on average and 42.6 percent from three-point range.

Damian Lillard

Despite the big numbers, Damian Lillard’s importance to Portland goes beyond that. He is a general when on the floor, he draws much defensive attention and that’s where the entire offense starts for Portland. Lillard has built a great chemistry with LaMarcus Aldridge, especially on the offensive end. He plays with him the pick and roll and due to Aldridge’s finishing skills and versatility, this duo is really hard to stop. Lillard started showing some real clutch and leadership skills. Several times this season he has hit game-winning shots.

Taking a look at Lillard’s attributes, we first see that very explosive. In fact, he ranks at the top spots of the most explosive guards in the league, together with Russell Westbrook, Tony Parker and Chris Paul. His first step is super quick first step but he also has great body control when in the air. Additionally, he is an excellent ball handler and has developed his moves this season. His shot has also improved in comparison to the previous season. He has good court-vision although it could be further developed. What Lillard needs to work on now is improving his distributing role in the Portland Trail Blazers team. So can he be considered a star?

The answer is no. Because in order to rank among-st the elite point guards of the league, like CP3, Westbrook or Tony Parker Lillard will need to retain this exceptional performance. Consistency is what differentiates stars from the rest of the players who simply are on hot streaks. However, Lillard seems like he has the potential to do so.

In general, it’s fair to say that Damian Lillard is an emerging star. Really, he can reach the star and the superstar level but he is just not there yet. Nonetheless, the future is ahead and he will just have to continue and deliver.By:Chris Michaels

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What NBA Team Will Surprise in 2013-14?

Sportsdamian lillard, LA Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, nba basketball, Portland Trail Blazers, San Antonio Spurs, Utah JazzJesse Wojdylo

The NBA regular season starts on October 29th, 2013 and millions of diehard fans are looking forward to this season. The biggest game of opening night is the Chicago Bulls traveling to South Beach to take on the defending NBA Champion Miami Heat. Most experts and fans feel as if both of these teams are going to be very good. Per the usual, teams like the San Antonio Spurs and the Oklahoma City Thunder are going to make a run at the playoffs but some will want to know what team or teams are going to surprise in the 2013-14 season.

Portland Trail Blazers

In the last few years the Portland Trail Blazers have struggled to put together a good team. Last year they had the rookie of the year, Damian Lillard and this year they are hoping to put some pieces around this amazing point guard. The major concern for the Trail Blazers is their youth. Young NBA teams can take some time to develop as they have not played a large number of games together. Once these young athletes get to know each other’s style of play the sky could be the limit for Portland. There is only one player on the team that is over the age of 30 and the season is grueling.

As I mentioned in a previous article on Barry’s Tickets, a young NBA team has a distinct advantage in the second half of the season. The question is, can the Blazers win enough games in the first half of the season so that the second half actually means something? If the Trail Blazers can get to the All Star game in contention for the playoffs they should be able to make a decent run in the second half of the season. Having fresh legs will make a world of difference this season.

Utah Jazz

The NBA has become a point guard dominated league. In the 70s, 80s and and 90s NBA teams wanted a center that could dominate the paint. Shaq was a force as he helped the Lakers win multiple titles. Many experts feel as if Kobe has never been the same player without Shaq in the middle. When Kobe has a great season it is often when there is a presence at the center position for the Los Angeles Lakers. That said, many teams have accepted that a point guard is now much more important than a center. The big men get hurt easier and they don’t have the ball in their hands nearly as much as they used to. I am truly shocked that more NBA teams do not draft a prolific point guard with their top pick. One team that went out and got a point guard in the 2013 NBA Draft is the Utah Jazz.

Trey Burke was drafted by the Minnesota Timberwolves but was traded to Utah. In my opinion, this was a great move for the Utah Jazz as a point guard can completely change a team; much quicker than a center or a big man. After watching Trey Burke play for the Michigan Wolverines last year I can say that he will make a huge difference for a team in the NBA. He lead his Michigan team to the Final Four and he has a floor presence unlike most athletes his age. I do not feel as if Trey Burke will be a high scorer in the NBA but he will be able to get his team in the correct offense. I think Trey Burke will be a similar player to Chris Paul. There is no way that we can predict he will be as good as Chris Paul but even if he is half as good he will drastically improve the Utah Jazz.

New Orleans Pelicans

Most people know of this team as the New Orleans Hornets but they have changed their name to the Pelicans for this season. That might be a little bit of foreshadowing for the season that is coming. If you look at the roster it is littered with college basketball stars. Names like Austin Rivers, Jeff Withey, Anthony Davis and Jrue Holiday immediately catch the eye of anyone that enjoys the college game. As we all know, you cannot put an NBA team together with just college basketball superstars. While many college players will go on to have great NBA careers there are some college stars that simply do not fit the mold of an average NBA player. Height, weight, wingspan and overall athletic ability are often much more important than college stats.

If the Pelicans can find a true point guard to run the show this could be one of the most improved teams in the NBA. The Pelicans were downright bad in the last two years as they won 21 and 27 games respectively. With this being the case it is not going to take that much to improve. After shipping Chris Paul to the west coast this team has struggled to find its identity. As mentioned with the previous two teams, a point guard is now very important in the NBA. In fact, I would say that a point guard is more important than a center or a power forward. When I was growing up the power forward and shooting guard positions were essential as these were the positions in which most points were generated. Points come from everywhere on the court in the current state of the NBA. With the hand checking rule changing the way defense is played it is no longer difficult for teams to score 100 points.

A point guard is needed to distribute the ball and get the offense going. With the Pelicans being a young team one would think they are going to try to get up and down the court. This makes it even more important to have a solid point guard that does not turn the ball over. Finding that great point guard can be difficult which is why some teams cannot seem to turn the corner and make the playoffs. Some in New Orleans have wondered if it is going to end up being the curse of Chris Paul. There is little argument to be made that Chris Paul gave New Orleans their best years of basketball. They have yet to come close to that quality of basketball since they let him go to the Los Angeles Clippers. Speaking of the Clippers.

Los Angeles Clippers

It is hard to say that the Clippers are going to be a surprise team as they are already one of the best teams in the west. I think this is the season they can make some huge strides towards getting to the NBA Finals. Now that Blake Griffin and Chris Paul have played with each other for a few seasons they should be able to get off to a quick start. If the Clippers can get off to a start that is above .600 in the first 25 or 30 games they have a chance to win the Western Conference.

Most experts are predicting the Oklahoma City Thunder to win the west but there is an opening for the Clippers. What is quite unique about 2013 is the fact that coming into the season it is accepted that the Clippers are the best team in Los Angeles. It has been a very long time since this was even considered by the fans and the experts. Anyone that has watched NBA basketball for the last four decades knows that Los Angeles is dominated by the Lakers. If Kobe Bryant is not 100% healthy this year the Lakes are going to struggle just to make the playoffs. There are even rumors that they might go out and get Carmelo Anthony. If this happens we know there is truly trouble in paradise.

What to Expect in 2013-14

This is going to be a very exciting year for professional basketball. LeBron James and the Miami Heat are getting older so they are vulnerable. Dwayne Wade has had all kinds of injury problems. It would not be surprising to see him sit out several games this year just because of health issues. If the Heat run into any injury problems that leaves the door open for some younger teams to grab the best record in the NBA. I think it is safe to say that the 1990s Bulls team has nothing to worry about when it comes to the all time best record of 72-10. The only way a team will come close to that type of record is a team that has enough young players to make it through the entire season without injuries.

I don’t think we will see the Heat make it to the All Star break without injuries. Keep an eye on some of the younger teams as they may surprise you in the upcoming season. As mentioned in this article, point guards are going to rule the league this year so take noticed of the teams that have a true leader at the point guard position.

Portland Trail Blazers Preseason Brings Hope

SportsChicago Bulls, damian lillard, LaMarcus Aldridge, moda center, Portland Trail Blazers, Sacramento KingsJesse Wojdylo

The NBA preseason is coming to a close and most fans are gearing up for the exciting tip of the 2013-14 regular season. I have predicted that the Portland Trail Blazers are going to have a breakout year. I was hoping to do some research on the preseason stats of this Trail Blazers team but it does not look as if that is going to happen. The only stat I can find is the overall preseason record for the Trail Blazers. At this point they are 4-2 with a final preseason game against the Golden State Warriors on October 24th. After six preseason games there is not a single website on the Internet that has team or player stats. Am I missing something?

The Internet Era

Prior to my research of NBA preseason stats I was a firm believer that almost anything could be found on the Internet. I am quite efficient with Google and search, in general. This makes me believe that either preseason stats are not recorded or no one cares about the NBA preseason schedule. It is hard to fathom the latter. With millions of diehard fans looking to consume as much content as possible how on Earth could no one care about these games?

Social media is chock full of people blasting out short bits of information about sporting events. Unfortunately, no one has full game stats. They might mention that Damian Lillard has 16 points at the end of the third quarter but that is doing me no good. Either I have lost my ability to find data online or there are no stats for this particular team. I will admit that the Trail Blazers aren’t the favorite to win the West heading into the regular season but they do have the reigning NBA Rookie of the Year. From the few articles I could find about the NBA Preseason it looks as if he is lighting it up.

Damian Lillard 2013 NBA Preseason

One of the few articles I could find related to the Trail Blazers this preseason explained that Lillard had a tremendous game against the Sacramento Kings. Lillard had 16 or his 28 points in the third quarter and he lead his team to a 109-105 victory. The Kings are not expected to be a contender this year but the Trail Blazers scoring 109 points in a preseason game puts a smile on the face of many fans in Portland. The game against the Kings brings up some interesting points.

Lillard is the point guard of the Portland Trail Blazers but he is going to be asked to do much more during the 2013-14 NBA season. Unlike Chris Paul and other distributing point guards, Lillard is going to be asked to put up 30 points a game in some games during the season. Whether or not he can do this consistently has yet to be seen. When teams focus on Lillard he is going to have to adjust his game to score while also being willing to distribute to JJ Hickson and LaMarcus Aldridge.

LaMarcus Aldridge and Injuries

Something I am greatly concerned about is LaMarcus Aldridge and his injuries. Big men have struggled to stay healthy in the NBA. This is especially true in Portland. In previous articles I have mentioned that a big man is no longer a necessity in the NBA. A point guard and scorer is much more important with the new NBA hand checking rules. If teams have a player that can beat a defender off the dribble it makes the offense much more efficient. I think it is safe to say that NBA centers and power forwards are not beating anyone off the dribble.

LaMarcus Aldridge sat out the game against the Sacramento Kings to rest his sore right knee. This could be an ongoing theme for him in 2013-14. Big men are known for having knee problems over the course of their career. Luckily, Aldridge is a very young player but that does not mean he will avoid situations that could cause further injuries. Bumping into knees of other players is very common in the NBA. When athletes are leaning up against other 6’10”, 275 pound men there is going to be some type of contact with the lower body. Some of the best big men in history had terrible knee problems throughout their entire careers.

Something the Trail Blazers might do is rest Aldridge every few games or so. We are no longer living in an era in which NBA players can compete in all 82 games of the season. Even the most durable players need a night off every so often. When I was growing up Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen were on the court every single night. This just does not happen these days. I can remember Jordan playing when he had the flu. One of the most epic performances by Jordan was in the NBA Playoffs when he had the flu and could barely walk. He was known for playing out of this world when he was sick.

Today’s NBA players are not going to play through pain or sickness. In all reality, this is probably a good idea as health is a much bigger concern today than it was 15 years ago. Players are doing their best to keep their body healthy. The NBA season is very long and enduring. Playing through an injury might cause further problems down the road. If LaMarcus Aldridge feels as if his knees are not in the best of condition there is nothing wrong with sitting out a game or two. Losing two or three games is not going to end the season for the Portland Trail Blazers.

Home Court Advantage

If the Portland Trail Blazers truly want to make a run at the playoffs in the 2013-14 season they will need to defend their home court. If they make the Moda Center, formerly the Rose Garden, a tough place to play for opponents it will go a very long way towards producing a playoff product. Fans love to attend games in which the team is not only competing but winning. If attendance numbers start to increase it will make the atmosphere even more difficult for the opposition.

During the amazing runs by the Chicago Bulls in the 1990s they almost never lost at home. At the time the United Center was rocking every single home game. When Michael Jordan was announced as part of the starting lineup the crowd went crazy. When I was a child, the Bulls were one of the first teams to actually turn off the lights for the introductions. This was a huge event and everyone got to the game early so they could see the light show and the introductions. Songs ended up becoming very popular just because they were part of introductions.

The technology era has changed the way many fans consume professional sports. It is no longer the case that fans need to attend the game to watch their favorite players. In the 1990s my parents had to purchase a special satellite package in order to see most of the Bulls games. Even though we paid the extra money there were still times when the games were not on TV. Today, it is a given that every game will be available for fans willing to pay money. If they cannot watch it on their TV they can watch it online or listen to the game on SiriusXM satellite radio. This has made it difficult for some small market teams to get fans in the seats at a sporting event.

There is one cure for getting fans in the seats – winning. If the Portland Trail Blazers can put a winning product on the court there is no argument to be made they will sell more tickets. A team in playoff contention is much more fun to watch than a team that is floundering near the bottom of the division or conference. This is why the Portland Trail Blazers have gotten younger in the past few years. A young team that is playoff bound will bring tens of thousands of people to the arena. Unfortunately, if this young team shows too much immaturity and they give away games you can be rest assured fans are not going to fill the seats during the 2013-14 season.

Something that diehard NBA fans like to track is away attendance. I hate to keep going back to the mid 1990s Bulls but they were the template on how to run an organization. When the Bulls went to another arena they almost always sold the game out because people wanted to watch Michael Jordan and company. No matter how bad the opponent the Bulls would bring the fans into the stadium. This is something the Trail Blazers need to work on but having Damian Lillard at full tilt might be just what the doctor ordered. If he goes off for 40 points a few games this season it will put fans in the seats.