Jim Polzin of the Wisconsin State Journal writes that Portland Trail Blazers guard Wesley Matthews is looking forward to embracing the underdog role next year following a tough 2011-12 season. ----------------------------- "It was frustrating because when plays aren’t run for you, you get your game going through the flow of the team," Matthews said. "So when the team wasn’t flowing, I wasn’t flowing. When the team was flowing I was flowing, and that’s the way I want to play and felt good. And the next night, we’d lay an egg. That part got to me." "I’m always excited to play basketball, but something is different about this year," Matthews said. "It’s a rebuilding year. The way things are shaping up in the West, no one’s really expecting us to do anything. So I like those odds. I like that feeling where you’re counted out." ----------------------------- -- Ben Golliver | benjamin.golliver@gmail.com | Twitter