Weekly Basketball Thoughts

NBA
- Aldridge has been playing better.  He is finally comfortable within the offense and has been getting better looks down low.  If our starting unit continues to score, Portland will fight for a playoff spot.
- While LA and Hickson both have good individual stats, I am concerned by their ability to play with each other.  Neither are ideal compliments for each other.  With Leonard or Jeffries alongside Aldridge, I think LA's efficiency would improve.  Could this lead to a Hickson trade at the deadline?  Unlikely, as he is still our best rebounder, and our bench needs to show improvement over a longer period of time.  If we fall out of contention, though, expect Hickson to switch teams at the deadline. Speaking of Portland's bench...
- Can Portland's bench keep it up?  For 2 straight games, the bench for Rip City has looked decent, which is a massive upgrade over recent play.  Babbitt looks like a role player, in the mold of Steve Novak, that this team could use for spacing, and Will Barton looks like a useful player as well.  Nolan Smith still needs to get more comfortable, and Freeland needs continued looks as well.  Leonard still has been having his ups and downs, though it does appear that he has starter level potential as a player.  Don't count out Claver yet either.
- Rondo went to Mexico to sit out his suspension, and has not touched a basketball for a week.  I'm not sure Blazer fans would go for this...

College
-Indiana is the best team in the country.  Zeller and Oladipo, with improved play from Hulls and Watford, have been scoring well as a unit.  They are very unselfish, and an awesome college basketball team.  Zeller and Oladipo will both be in the NBA one day.
- Otto Porter (Georgetown) looks like an ideal "glue guy" in the NBA.  He can do everything (except shoot the 3...), and his hustle has been very important for Georgetown.  He has an NBA body, and could be in the league right now in a Jared Dudley type role, though he is a 3 man at 6'8".  If he ever learns how to shoot we could be looking at a Luol Deng or Nicolas Batum quality player.
- Michael Carter Williams continues to impress at Syracuse.  He is a solid scorer, and is leading the nation in assists per game.  If Syracuse can find clutch play from MCW in Big East play, they will challenge (and possibly overtake) Louisville for the Big East Title.
- Shabazz Muhammed can score, but he has been underwhelming as a team talent for UCLA.  I still think he compares to James Harden, in that he is not an ideal #1 scorer for an NBA team.  Will his lack of star power for UCLA cause him to slip from the number 1 draft pick?  It's possible, as Noel and Zeller have played very well for their schools.

@ZRey12

Blazers play again tomorrow night, time for another win!