in NBA Props

Over the summer, there was lots of laughter in Portland. But then, all of a sudden, the laughter turned to sorrow.

That's when the city, and the NBA franchise that occupies it, found out that Greg Oden, the wunderkind center out of Ohio State who had led that team to the NCAA title game and fell into the hands of the Trail Blazers with the winning NBA Draft lottery pick, would have to undergo surgery on his injured right knee and would most likely be lost for the entire season.

In a position where it had already traded last year's leading scorer and rebounder, Zach Randolph, to the New York Knicks, Portland went from being referred to as the "team of the future" to one who would once again be roaming the nether lands of the NBA.

PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS

Last Season: 32-50 - 4th place, Northwest Division

To win Western Conference: +3500

To win Northwest Division: +600

Over/Under regular season wins: Over 30.5 (-115), Under 30.5 (-115)

I'm here to tell you that there is a sunny side to this situation.

Basketball at the professional level is largely a game predicated on team chemistry, and there is ample reason to believe that the chemistry on this ballclub will improve with the departure of Randolph, whose 23.6 points and 10.1 rebounds per game were gaudy, but who missed some of the little things that contribute to a winner. Randolph was a self-centered player, intent on getting "his numbers" every night. He did not seem particularly concerned about his teammates, and as such was not a good influence on the younger players. Plus, he had a blatant disregard for defense. The loss of Randolph may indeed constitute addition by subtraction.

Some Blazers' statistics of interest:

* Averaged 94.1 ppg (29th in NBA)

* Averaged 39.3 rebounds per game (28th)

* Shot 77% from the free-throw line (8th)

* Opponents shot 47.1% field goals (25th)

Meanwhile, the Blazers proceeded to develop several young players last season. This team has a sharp young backcourt, consisting of Brandon Roy (16.8 ppg, 4.4 rpg), who won the league's Rookie of the Year award, and Jarrett Jack (5.3 apg), the Georgia Tech product who was settling very nicely into the point guard spot. LeMarcus Aldridge (9 ppg, 5 rpg, 50% FG’s in 22 minutes per game last year), taken with the second overall pick in the 2006 draft (by Chicago, then traded to Portland), deserves a chance to start, and he will get the opportunity to log plenty of time at center and power forward with neither Oden nor Randolph around. Aldridge recently exploded for a 29-point game in the pre-season. And Channing Frye, an athletic, talented big man, came over in the trade with the Knicks. In whatever playing time 7'3" Joel Przybilla gets, he can make up for a lot of defensive mistakes with his shot-blocking abilities (1.6 per game in 16 minutes).

There is even more young talent like Martell Webster, Travis Outlaw and Rudy Fernandez that may have a chance to bust out this season. There will probably be more offensive balance than existed with Randolph in the lineup. With or without Oden, this is still a team of the future. Whether it is also, to an extent, a team of the here and now may depend on who steps forward to become a legitimate leader on the court. Maybe it is second-year pro Roy. Maybe it is newly-acquired veteran guard Steve Blake. But it needs to be somebody. I like this team's chances to improve.

JAY'S PLAY: OVER 30.5 wins *** (Graded on a scale of 1-4 stars)

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(Charles Jay of TotalActionExtra.com is a freelance writer and handicapper who not only can make his shots from the top of the key, but also contributes with gusto to the BetUS Locker Room)