FanPost

How close are we? (W/ Poll)

Here we go again, it's deja vu from 3 years ago...

A few short months ago fans were across the board on what to do with this team. There was talk of blowing it up, trading for stars, standing pat, coaching changes etc. Fast forward to the trade deadline and Portland gets Gerald Wallace. Around the same area of time Camby and Roy return from injury. Aldridge continues to produce. Yesterday, we beat the Heat and I have a hard time believing I am the only one who kinda stepped back for a second and said, "Wow, this team is stacked all of the sudden." Some playoff experience this season and possibly an Oden return and suddenly were looking at (this is a rough throw together, don't bother arguing it with me, but by all means share the line ups you like):

Oden/Camby/Aldridge

Aldridge/Camby/Wallace

Wallace/Batum

Mattews/Roy/Fernandez

Miller/Roy/Fernandez/Mills

How did we get here? It certainly hasn't been the ride that was expected after that 54 win season, but it seems that a few smart moves down the line have taken a young promising team with holes and uncertainty (Bayless/Rodriguez/Outlaw) to a vet team with injuries, to a mixture of young and vet players all playing great ball healthy. So I ask if you share the same opinion, that barring injury and a possibly returning/healthy Oden, this is the team we have been waiting for, the perfect mix of defense, age, potential, peaking, coaching and emotional components a team needs to contend. The fun part is, following the Miami victory, even the players might be realizing how good they can be.

EDIT: I forgot I wanted to mention I think Roy's injury, although it hurt us a lot and lowered his ceiling dramatically, may have raised the ceiling of the team, should he accept his new role. A Roy centered team was very good, but this balanced team that just includes him could be way better.