The Trailblazers will be without starting shooting guard Brandon Roy for at least a week due to a plasma injection to his hamstring. He has played in 40 games (all starts) this season for the Trailblazers and he is averaging 38.3 minutes, 23.1 points, 4.6 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 1.0 steal per game. Roy is the one player the Trailblazers just can’t afford to lose so they should ease him back giving him the proper time to heal. Steve Blake is likely off the trade block now because he will start in Roy’s place. He has played in 40 games (25 starts) for the Blazers this season and he is averaging 28.5 minutes, 7.7 points, 2.4 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game. Rudy Fernandez will also likely see a bump in playing time while Roy is out of action. He has played in 26 games (0 starts) for the Trailblazers this season and he is averaging 22.7 minutes, 8.4 points, 2.6 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.3 steals per game. Blake & Fernandez will likely do a good job for the Blazers but make no mistake this is not a playoff team without Brandon Roy, period.

The Trailblazers need more from starting small forward Martell Webster due to the rash of injuries the team is suffering from right now. Webster has played in 35 games (26 starts) this season for the Blazers and he is averaging 9.1 points, 3.8 rebounds and 0.7 assists per game. They also need him to start shooting better as he is only hitting 38.5% from the floor this season. The Blazers really need Webster to step up and play to his ability.

I can understand why Andre Miller is so frustrated with the Portland Trailblazers as he is flat out a better basketball player than starting point guard Steve Blake. Miller has played in 25 games (9 starts) for the Blazers this season and he is averaging 27.4 minutes, 11.4 points, 2.8 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game. Miller makes everyone on his team better and it has been that way his whole career as he is a pure point guard. Steve Blake is more of a shoot first type of player and when you are shooting 36.4% from the floor and 34.3% from three point range you are not helping your team. Blake has played in 25 games (all starts) this season for the Blazers and he is averaging 30.5 minutes, 7.2 points, 2.7 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game. Instead of trading Andre Miller which is being discussed right now the Blazers should do the smart thing and start him at point guard.

30-year old Joel Przybilla will be the new starting center for the Trailblazers the rest of the year due to Greg Oden’s season ending injury. Przybilla has played in 21 games (0 starts) this season for the Blazers and he is averaging 19.8 minutes, 3.6 points, 7.4 rebounds, 0.2 assists and 1.3 blocked shots per game. He has now played in 508 games (359 starts) in his NBA career and he is averaging 20.5 minutes, 4.2 points, 6.5 rebounds, 0.5 assists and 1.5 blocked shots per game. Przybilla doesn’t have much of an offensive game but he is a good rebounder and defender so he should be able to do a decent job for the Blazers in his new expanded role.

The Blazers need more from Jarrett Jack or he will never get his starting job at point guard back. Jack has played in 4 games so far this month and he has averaged 20.5 minutes, 6.3 points, 0.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game. The Blazers have to be disappointed with Jack’s play this season as they were hoping to build around him after his breakout season last year.