It figures to be the undercurrent of the Blazers season: Will players be willing to make individual sacrifices to help the team reach its potential?

[Steve] Smith was a central figure on the last Blazers teams to be faced with the same question.

In his first season, 1999-2000, the talent and depth blended nicely and nearly got the Blazers to the NBA Finals.

The next season, with even more elements added, it all exploded in one of the most inglorious late-season collapses in team history.

"These Blazers remind me so much of those teams," said Smith, a shooting guard who was the second leading scorer both seasons. "It was like we were a video game: We had three point guards, three shooting guards, three of everything. Defenders. Shooters. Experience. But the thing they need to understand: You can have everything, but everything doesn't win it all."

Playing as many as 10 players means fewer minutes, and probably fewer shots, for most players in the rotation. That can often spell trouble in a variety of ways: On court chemistry is tough to establish with so many players shuttling in and out; and unhappiness with statistics easily can erode the team concept.

"When you have a deep and talented roster, you are always putting out fires," [former Blazer coach Mike] Dunleavy said. "Every game, it was like, 'OK, who hasn't gotten their numbers in a while? Or is there anybody who is having an issue? Let's get that guy off tonight.'"

Still, McMillan said he agrees the key to success this season will be whether his players will buy into the team concept.

"That's always a challenge, always a concern," McMillan said. "The way I can manage that is to communicate. My door is always open, and the players know that. I can't help you unless you tell me what's bothering you."

What? Me worry? Thin the herd KP, show us that you're a better "chemistry major" than Trader Bob