24-year old power forward LaMarcus Aldridge continues to improve for the Trailblazers. He played in 78 games (all starts) for the Blazers last season and he averaged 37.5 minutes, 17.9 points, 8.1 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game. Aldridge has now played in 298 games (257 starts) in his 4 years in the NBA and he is averaging 33.4 minutes, 16.0 points, 7.1 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.0 steal per game. The Blazers probably wish that Aldridge would shoot a couple of more times per game and get over 20 points per night. Maybe 2010-11 will be the year that he does that.

25-year old shooting guard Brandon Roy had another solid year for the Blazers. He played in 65 games (all starts) for the Blazers last year and he averaged 37.2 minutes, 21.5 points, 4.4 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game. Roy has now played in 272 games (all starts) in his four years with Portland and he is averaging 37.0 minutes, 20.2 points, 4.6 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 1.1 steals per game. I think of Roy as a poor man’s Dwyane Wade as he can do almost everything on the court. I think the Blazers would be a tad better if Roy were a little more selfish with the basketball once in a while looking for his shot more but that is nitpicking.

Marcus Camby is giving the Blazers just what they need from the center position. He is playing great defense and rebounding well since coming over from the Clippers. Camby has played in 19 games (all starts) for the Trailblazers this season and he is averaging 30.7 minutes, 6.2 points, 10.4 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.3 steals and 2.0 blocks per game. The Blazers have more than enough firepower for Camby to concentrate on what he does best.

Andre Miller has been a very underrated point guard his whole career, and has career averages of 14.5 points, 7.2 assists, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.4 steals in 10 years in the league.  Miller has been using his strength and great vision to make up for his lack of athleticism his whole career, and this year has been no different.  He is averaging 13.8 points, 5.5 assists, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.1 steals in only 30.8 minutes per game.  He has been playing even better this month, averaging 15.8 points, 5.8 assists, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.8 steals while helping Brandon Roy lead the Trail Blazers to a 10-2 record in March.  They are currently only 3.5 games back of the second place Dallas Mavericks and are tied with the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder.

37-year old Juwan Howard really stepped up for the Trailblazers after they lost their top two centers. Howard has played in 63 games (26 starts) for the Blazers this season and he is averaging 22.7 minutes, 5.9 points, 4.9 rebounds and 0.9 assists per game. He held the fort at center for the Blazers until they traded for Marcus Camby. If the Trailblazers hold on and make the playoffs, Juwan Howard will be a big reason for it.