Phil Pressey and Tim Frazier Battling to Help the Blazers

Erik Gundersen of The Columbian posted a nice article yesterday evening describing the rivalry between Portland Trail Blazers hopefuls Tim Frazier and Phil Pressey. Both point guards are vying to make the opening day roster, showcasing a similar skill set and trying to fill identical roles.

As it turns out, this is not the first time Frazier and Pressey have gone head-to-head. The rivalry stretches back to their earliest competitive basketball experiences:

Last year the two battled in the Boston Celtics training camp spot with Pressey winning out.

"I mean it's crazy," Pressey said of being back in camp competing against Frazier. "Back in Boston, now we're in Portland. I feel like we're both good players. Regardless of what happens we're both good players."

The feeling of admiration is mutual, dating back to their high school days in Texas.

"He's a friend of mine," Frazier said of Pressey. "We both grew up in Texas, played against each other in High School."

This time the stakes are higher, with four prospective point guards (those two plus Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum) vying for a probable three roster slots.

Whoever loses the back-up point guard battle, likely will not be on the team.

There are other players with non-guaranteed deals like big man Cliff Alexander and 6-foot-7 combo guard Luis Montero.

But given the similarities of Pressey and Frazier, it would make sense that the team only carry one of them.

Gundersen has far more, including the similarities between their approaches and the impact each has made in the league and with their prospective teammates. Check out the article!