The first time I tried to write this, Camby suddenly went down with a sprained ankle and I was left pondering whether I need to go sacrifice a goat to rid this pitiful team of its damned Curse of the Center. As it turns out, I don't actually need to go burn any farm animals on an alter in the dead of night, as Camby returned to action just a couple of nights later.Before going down with the big boo boo Camby logged an impressive 18 rebounds in the home loss to division rival Utah Jazz. In a trade that surprised exactly no one yet simultaneously shocked the entire town, Reebok Dallas Cowboys #82 Jason Witten Realtree camo Jersey
the Blazer's newest member is expected to fill the gaping hole at center for the Blazers on the court and rejuvenate the battered team and disenchanted city.I said on Comcast Sports Net's Talkin' Ball a week ago that Camby was brought to this Blazer team not to score but to be a reliable inside presence offering rebounding and defense. He's displayed the ability to do exactly that and more, in what is appearing to be a great pick up by Kevin Pritchard and his front office team.But the Blazers are not exactly reveling in their new edition, going 3-3 since acquiring the big man from the Clippers. In fact, Camby has only played in four games for the Blazers and all but one of those games have been losses. Many fans have been left wondering whether trading for Camby was such a great idea after all.Make no mistake about it, sending two popular guys and adding one new one is a rough transition for any team, especially for one that is so close knit (emotionally fragile?) as the Blazers reportedly are. These last couple of games may be the result of a team still adjusting both mentally and on the court to their new teammate and loss of a couple of good friends.However, the Blazers are not suffering or excelling solely because of Marcus Camby, on the contrary the Blazers struggles of late are a direct result of a hampered (read: injured) Brandon Roy and some shoddy decision making from Nate McMillan.Whether fans want to admit it or not, the Blazer's three-time All-Star is not himself and it is because of his strained hamstring, which continues to dog the normally versatile Reebok Dallas Cowboys #9 Tony Romo Realtree camo Jersey
guard. There is no doubt that if Brandon Roy were healthy, this team would be wracking up wins with their new and improved starting lineup and suddenly-there presence in the paint.The Blazers are almost night in and night out outscored in the paint, and by a healthy margin at that. In theory, Brandon Roy's game and that of the team would benefit from once again playing with two big men on the court, yet he's starting games slow and not finishing at the rim.Roy is uncharacteristically floating around the perimeter on offense and literally disappearing on defense.As Roy is the unquestioned leader of this team, his attitude whether negative or positive is very obviously infectious. If Brandon cheats on defense, the team will cheat off on defense. If Roy can't capitalize on weak coverage on offense the rest of the team won't take the effort to attack the lane or be aggressive. Simply put, when Brandon is hurt the whole team may as well be injured too.How can this be remedied? Well, first Roy should get healthy and I have been a loud proponent of sitting Brandon Roy until he is feeling better. Besides that, McMillan would do well to incorporate more members of the team into the offense.This was seen to a large degree last night at Minnesota when Nic Batum went off in the third quarter and ended the game with a new career high in points and assists. Brandon Roy had a mediocre line, but it didn't matter because Batum and Aldridge were balllllllinnnn'.McMillan didn't scramble the rotation unmercifully in order to get Roy going, he stuck with the players who were playing well and it payed off with an easy and much needed road victory.In my first piece for this site, I wrote McMillan's management of the point guard position would directly impact whether the Blazers make the playoffs. I was a little off in that prediction, but there is substance in my assertion that McMillan has struggled this season managing his players. Why this is I have no idea, but it is not relegated only to the point guard position or Brandon Roy's playing time.If Marcus Camby were six years younger Reebok Denver Broncos #15 Tim Tebow Realtree camo Jersey
nd less-injury prone I would still contend he is not the difference maker for this team. While his addition to the Trail Blazers is no doubt great, in the grand scheme of things it is a temporary addition that has little long term impact and just moderate immediate impact.My opinion and the team's record would be different if Brandon Roy were healthy and McMillan wasn't so stubborn.What do you think?
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