Posted 09/26/2010 11:14 PM

Forget the negative news. Forget that a couple of good games against the Lakers have turned the Oklahoma City Thunder into the media darlings of the NBA, while the Blazers seem to have been forgotten or overlooked. That doesn't matter a bit. Here are 10, rock solid reasons why your Portland Trail Blazers will be a much better team in 2010-2011 than they were last season, and why I believe they have a legitimate chance to challenge in the West.

1. I'm going to start with Wesley Matthews. This signing has the potential to be a much bigger deal than most of the media or fans recognize. Here's why. What was Portland's biggest liability last year? If you said "perimeter defense", I'd agree with you. Not only did we allow far too many open shots, we also allowed too much penetration. As a result, our bigs were in foul trouble far too often. Not only does Wesley Matthews address this weakness head on - and not only does his defense compliment Batum's perfectly - but his offensive game is far more efficient (more on this later) than any other Blazer not named Brandon Roy. By the end of the year, we will have a clear picture of how valuable he is going to be on this team.

2. Lamarcus Aldridge. 20 pounds of muscle indicates that he knows where he's going this season. Already a very good player, watch for Lamarcus to be much more physical this year.

3. We will be much improved at the center position. The tandem of Marcus Camby and Greg Oden will be as intimidating as any duo in the league at that spot. When Joel returns, our weakest position last season will become one of our strongest. Even if the unimaginable happens and we lose a center for part or most of the season this year, it's highly unlikely that we lose 2 - again.

4. Nicolas Batum has made clear strides in the offseason. Portland doesn't need him to be what France needed him to be. As he continues to allow the game to come to him, he is going to shine. With the departure of Outlaw and Webster, expect Nicolas Batum to end up with some decent minutes and much better production than he had last year.

5. Youth and experience...With most of our players still on the young side of their prime, and because their track record indicates a continued level of progression, we can expect our youthful players to make good progress from experience alone.

6. A more efficient offense. As much as I loved Travis and Martell, they just didn't get it done last season. Those shots and the time they spent with the ball in their hands will now go to guys like Brandon, Greg, Lamarcus, Nic, Wesley and Andre. That spells a clear gain in offensive efficiency over last season.

7. Injuries...or more specifically...the lack of them. While it's impossible to know exactly how many injuries will occur this season, it would be highly improbable - to the degree of lightning striking twice in the same spot improbable - that Portland's injuries will be anywhere close to what they were last season.

8. Coaching changes. In particular, Buck Williams and Bernie Bickerstaff have me excited for what they bring to the team. This coaching staff has experience and is very well rounded. I can't wait to see what Buck can do with Greg and Lamarcus for example.

9. Depth - Is it possible that the Blazers are even deeper than they were last season? Yes, they lost Blake, Outlaw, Webster and Howard but those losses open doors for guys like Matthews, Cunningham, Pendergraph and the 3 new rookies. Think about it this way. Our 14th or 15th guy has a 48" vertical and, raw as he is, has the potential to star in this league. Babbit on the other hand, was selected as the probable "Best Shooter" candidate by his fellow rookie class. Armon Johnson is already a capable defender as well as a solid distributor. None of these three are likely to see much time unless Portland is up by 20 late in the game. Even guys like Cunningham and Pendergraph, who proved themselves last season, are unlikely to get off the bench much. How good is Portland's 1-10?

10. This is the year when Bayless will either shine or be traded. Either way, our long term needs at point guard position will very probably be resolved this year...but I expect Jerryd to address his liabilities and use his incredible athleticism to Portland's advantage this year.