The best way for the Portland Trail Blazers to live up to the hype is for Greg Oden to start strong.  This doesn't mean 38 minutes a game strong.  Heck- that might not mean 25 minutes a game during the 1st half of the season.  Oden needs to be the aggressive, agile, energetic, charismatic guy the moment he enters every game.  The Big Guy needs to strike fear in opposing teams.  Imagine a slightly toned down, non-swearing version of Kevin Garnett with an actual physique.  Imagine a "not in my house" look after each block.  Picture him looking mad as heck one second and then laughing like a kid after a ferocious put-back the next.  Every member of the NBA must fear being Odenized.

If you watched the summer league games, you saw our newest pick (Jerryd Bayless) play with an arrogance that just screamed, "I'm the best guy out here!"  The fans know it is summer league and not to read too much into that... BUT... Jerryd's ability to get to the hole and demeanor is what got Portland excited about him.  Greg is carrying the weight of being selected #1.  He is carrying the weight of a city that has embraced him- despite not playing a game yet.  He needs to step out and play like a guy in his second year.  We all know he has the talent.  We want that demeanor to come out that this is his job, his city and his statement that Portland is a force.  We want the big guy to match Jerryd's intensity or surpass it. 

We have Brandon (thank the Lord!).  LaMarcus is going to be huge (more thanks).  We are stacked from top to bottom.  Greg- we want you to be YOU!  Come hard- even if it's for 10 minutes a game.  We know the knee isn't 100%.  But when you enter- make it known.  Make the Laker Girls scared!  Let em' know that Lil Boy Bynum just doesn't match up (LaMarcus will take care of Pau).  Tear the rim down- laugh like a kid.  Be respectful and humble.  Grimace and snarl...  BE YOU!

Bring it Greg...  We are right behind you. 

Next year the Portland Trail Blazers will be (again) the youngest team in the NBA.  They will also have a ton of cap room to lure one, possibly two free agents to the team.  Brandon Roy will still be the Captain of the team.  The team doesn't look like it needs much if Rudy turns out to be the answer to our Spanish inquisition.  I'm wondering what my Monday Morning GM's would do next year.  Who would you bring in?  What would you do with the team?

Listed below is every SEC versus Pac-10 head-to-head matchup going back to the year 2000.

2000  Alabama 24, UCLA 35 {PAC10}

2001  UCLA 20, Alabama 17 {PAC10}

2002  Auburn 17, USC 24 {PAC10}  Mississippi State 13, Oregon 36 {PAC10}

2003  USC 23, Auburn 0 {PAC10}  LSU 59, Arizona 13 {SEC}  Oregon 42, Mississippi State 34 {PAC10}

2004  Oregon State 21, LSU 22 {SEC}

2005  Arkansas 17, USC 70 {PAC10}  LSU 35, Arizona State 31 {SEC}

2006  USC 50, Arkansas 14 {PAC10}  Washington State 14, Auburn 40 {SEC}Arizona 3, LSU 45 {SEC}  California 18, Tennessee 35 {SEC}

2007  Tennessee 31, California 45 {PAC10}

The Pac-10 ends up with a 9-6 record against the SEC.  So much for the speed and athleticism of the SEC catching up with them.

The most alarming part is that if we take the two powerhouses, USC and LSU, out of the equation, the Pac-10 is 5-2 against the SEC.

It's interesting how every SEC fan who wants to derail the "Pac-10 Football Is Better Than SEC Football" argument claims the Pac-10 proponents only lean on USC.  Well, we took them out of the equation-and the Pac-10 still rules the day.

There's not much else to say on this topic: The Pac-10 is better against SEC opponents than the SEC is against Pac-10 opponents. 

I don't know what SEC fans are going to do to explain this one.  Maybe they'll claim that the SEC doesn't try out of conference, or that the game wasn't big enough so they probably just threw it. 

Whatever excuses are made by SEC fans, the fact remains that the Pac-10 has a 9-6 record against the SEC since 2000.  If you take out USC and LSU, the Pac-10 owns a 5-2 record.

 THE LIST IS BUILDING:

5. The Pac-10 has a 9-6 record head-to-head against the SEC since 2000.

4. The Pac-10 has just as much, if not more, parity top to bottom than the SEC.

3. The Pac-10's best team is better than the SEC's best team.

2. The Pac-10 plays a better overall schedule.

1. The Pac-10 plays a better non-conference schedule.

(this blog was copied from Bleachers but is 100% accurate)

The Portland Trail Blazers starting five is unknown.  There are many projections for how the season will start and ultimately how it will end.  Most speculating that the maturation of Jerryd Bayless and Rudy Fernandez will answer some questions.  As with most, I speculate the starting five will include Oden, Aldridge and Roy as guarantees.  At the center position, Joel Pryzbilla will see a lot of playing time to ensure "the knee" holds up through the season.  Aldridge is backed by Frye, newly acquired Ike Diogu and the seldom used Raef LaFrenz.  Roy will be backed by Rudy Fernandez- then Bayless.  Bayless will start the season training for the PG position but will probably see plenty of time filling both positions.   The other positions are open to the intense competition within a young, hungry squad.  Outlaw is moving from PF to SF where he will give Martel Webster a run for the starting spot.  The nod will most likely be determined by the team the Blazers are playing.

Ending the Season: it is widely believed that Jerryd Bayless would play point.  B-Roy at Shooting Guard.  Oden at Center.  Aldridge at Power Forward and either Webster, Outlaw or Fernandez at the Small Forward position. 

Predictions for Playoff Spots in 2009: (In order) New Orleans, LA Lakers, Portland, San Antonio, Utah, Phoenix, Dallas, Minnesota.  Put it in the books.  It's official.  I don't believe Houston will make the playoffs without Yao (because his mid-season injury is almost as predictable as a 24 hour work-day.  Memphis may surprise people.  Although not because of the Mayo.  Moreso because of the younger Gasol- who is said to be more of a presence than big brother Pau.  I don't like Denver's defense because they simply don't have any- especially since trading away Canby.  Oklahoma is not close because they simply have no history (ok... that was bad).  Golden State falls out of the picture and looks to be out for awhile.  Nothing about that roster stands out and excites anyone.  The Clippers?  Well, they are the Clippers and that's all I really need to say.  Lastly, Sacramento makes me feel like it's Golden State South.  As for the order of the teams that will make the playoffs.  New Orleans has a chemistry driven by a CP3.  They are young and play nasty.  This year was a break-through year.  I suspect that they are contenders for awhile.  The Lakers at number two because they didn't do much to improve their roster.  Kobe is still the best steak in the west, he just needs more from everyone.  Portland at three is just optimism becoming reality.  These happy, go-lucky kids will turn nasty when they hit the court.  My only concern with this team is how will minutes affect a great chemistry.  Minnesota as the 8th seed because of the Love and Miller lite.  The fact that every supposed expert still thinks Love is a cupcake will be eating his words by the break.  Love will be Elton Brand Jr. with 20/10 and is a top pick for Rookie of the Year (only because Oden will be spared minutes for the playoff run). 

That's it.  Predictions that will be fact.  Place your bets...  Oh yeah- Portland will be in the Western Conference Finals in 2009.  Go Blazers.

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