No Oden, But Plenty of Blazermania

So who would have thought it? The Trail Blazers lose 7-foot center Greg Oden, the top overall pick in last summer's draft, to season-ending knee surgery before the campaign even tips off, next they lose 12 of their first 17 games, and then lightning strikes.

Portland , the youngest team in the league and the third youngest team in NBA history, gave itself a month-long Christmas present in December, posting a 13-game winning streak between Dec. 3 and Dec. 30.

The run – which ended with a loss to Utah on New Year's Eve – brought back memories of the “Rip City” days of the early 1990s, and it thrust Portland into a place few, if any, thought it would find itself this season -- in the thick of a three–way fight with Denver and Utah to win the Northwest Division.

So with the calendar having flipped to 2008, the Trail Blazers are quietly confident they can play with any team. They believe they can win every time out.

And they'll need all that fearlessness and self-assurance because in the new year the schedule gets tougher and the skeptics will be closely watching to see if the blaze in Portland 's play eventually flames out.

The wonder of Roy

Those contemplating what last season's Rookie of the Year, Brandon Roy, would do for an encore quickly found out over Portland 's first two months of play. The 6-foot-6 guard has become a legitimate star and the team's leader. Roy's averaging over 19 points per game, tops among the Trail Blazers, and he's showing that he can become as good as he wants to be.

Roy, who was drafted by the Timberwolves with the sixth overall pick in 2006 and then traded to the Trail Blazers for Randy Foye and cash, has a solid understanding of how he can best play with his teammates. He relishes the role of being the leader of this team. That being the case he is very positive every time he takes the court. He's always encouraging his teammates and that makes them play better.

In the big moment, Roy is either the guy who is going to take the shot or the guy who is going set the table for one of his teammates to get an open look. And he's driven to succeed. He embraces the role of being a big-time, go-to player. He's hungry to be one of the best, and even hungrier to one day have his team win a championship.

Components for success

The spirits of the Blazer faithful have been lifted by more than just the tremendous play of Roy . LaMarcus Aldridge, also in his second NBA season, is a young version of Rasheed Wallace – minus Wallace's explosive, emotional side.

The 6-foot-11 forward/center out of Texas has had to adjust to a little bit of a different role this year because of the absence of Oden. But that hasn't affected his play as he is averaging over 17 points and seven rebounds per game.

Aldridge can run the floor exceptionally well, block shots, and score the ball from the outside. He's more of a player who likes to be facing the basket instead of having his back to it, but he can surprise and score with some inside moves as well. He has an unlimited amount of potential as a big man and the thought of him teaming with Oden in the future is scary.

The Blazers could finish the season with five players – all 24 or younger – averaging in double figures. Joining Roy and Aldridge in that group could be Martell Webster, Travis Outlaw, and Jarrett Jack. Portland is loaded with shooters, including James Jones, who after disappointing stints in Indiana and Phoenix has emerged into a player who just might be the best three-point shooter in the league this season.

There have been others who have contributed significantly to Portland 's success. Steve Blake, back for a second go with the Trail Blazers, is solid as the starting point guard. Channing Frye, obtained from the Knicks in the Zach Randolph deal, has proven valuable as both a starter and reserve. Sergio Rodriguez, a second-year player from Spain , is showing signs he could figure prominently in the team's future, and veteran Joel Przybilla has provided some much-needed rugged play inside.

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