Roy: Without a trade, Trail Blazers will still be 'dangerous'
By Jason Quick, The Oregonian
February 11, 2010, 12:28PM
He won't play in the game but could return to the Blazers lineup next week against the Clippers.Brandon Roy says he thinks the Trail Blazers do not need to make a move at the trading deadline to make the playoffs.
“Unless it’s like a great deal for us, then I think I understand the approach of not making a move and letting us fight it out,’’ Roy said. “We are still a good team.’’
Roy said, however, that a playoff push would probably have to include his return to the lineup and a healthy Travis Outlaw. Roy could return as soon as the Feb. 16 home game against the Los Angeles Clippers, and Outlaw has been cleared to begin practicing on Feb. 15. He could return as soon as a week after that, perhaps Feb. 21 at home against Utah.
“If we are healthy with everybody besides Greg (Oden) and Joel (Przybilla), we can beat any team in the West,’’ Roy said. “If we get in a seven-game series, we can beat any team, even without having our centers.’’
The Blazers this season have won the season series with San Antonio (3-0), clinched a series victory over Phoenix (2-0 with one remaining), and have won the first two meetings against Dallas. They have also split with Houston (2-2).
They are 1-1 against the Lakers, 1-1 against Denver, and 0-3 against Utah.
“The Lakers are going to be tough, you have to give them their props,’’ Roy said. “But I’ve played against Utah, we’ve played Denver. We can beat those teams. And we’ve proven we can beat Dallas and San Antonio. And even though we haven’t beaten Utah, I think we can play them in a seven-game series.’’
Roy said he thinks the Blazers are better suited for a playoff series because there are days off between games, allowing two key Blazers a chance to rest: Veterans Juwan Howard and Andre Miller.
Plus, he thinks the team gained extensive knowledge from last season’s first-round series against Houston.
“I still think we can be dangerous, because after being in the playoffs last year, we know how to shrink the season down better now,’’ Roy said. “Last year, we didn’t know, we just ran into playoffs. This year, I think we will stop, and take it one game at a time.’’
-- Jason Quick
