By Erik Lyslo
Blazers.com Writer

The Forward: Probably the most important position in basketball. Most coaches will tell you they would love to have a versatile small forward with good size, good leaping ability, good outside shooting and good defensive ability. They would also tell you they would love to have a big power forward who does the dirty work, rebounds, can score inside and plays good defense. This position takes up 40 percent of your starting lineup, so stacking up at this position is a wise decision if you're running a team. Michael Jordan couldn't have won six championships without Scottie Pippen, Horace Grant and Dennis Rodman.

The Blazers Forwards: It doesn't take a genius to figure out where Portland's strength is this season. With the center position still in limbo, deciding who plays forward won't be a hard decision for new head coach Maurice Cheeks.

Rasheed Wallace and Scottie Pippen should get the starting nods at forward. Wallace is an all-star. He had career-highs in minutes, points, rebounds, assists, blocks and steals last season, and he is the Blazers' best player. His attitude is much more positive with Cheeks at the helm and his game won't fall off with the talent around him.

Pippen is a little older, but he's still Scottie Pippen. And that means filling up the box score. If the Blazers need assists, he'll get them. If they need rebounds, he'll get them. If they need a big shot, he'll take the shot. He's not the same player he was five years ago, but he's still a guy you have to deal with if you're playing against him.

When Cheeks looks to his bench for a sub, there won't be much drop-off. Take your pick from Dale Davis, Shawn Kemp, Ruben Patterson or Zach Randolph. Davis will probably play a lot of minutes at the center position, but it won't matter. Kemp looks to be in a lot better shape this season. He has his lift back, he has some of his moves back, and most importantly, he has his life back. I wouldn't be surprised to see him play some at the center spot as well.

Randolph continues to look like the steal of the draft. This guy is an offensive machine and his rebounding ability makes it tough to take him off the floor. He'll have a hard time finding time behind the Blazers other big bodies, but it's hard to imagine this guy won't play and contribute immediately to this year's squad.

Patterson will surprise a lot of people when you see him play. His effort is always 100 percent, and his defensive ability has given him the name of Kobe-stopper. Cheeks will have a hard time keeping him off the floor, but I wouldn't be surprised to see him on the floor at the end of the game with Pippen. He'll remind some of former Blazer Jerome Kersey and with an improved outside game, he'll have the whole package.

Overall, it's unrealistic to think the Forwards on this year's team won't contribute in a huge way. Wallace should lead the team in scoring; Pippen will fill the box score. Patterson is a defensive stopper with high energy and Kemp will be vastly improved from last season. Randolph will find some minutes with his ability to score and it's safe to say that this 40 percent of the starting lineup is as solid as anybody in the league.



Erik begins his second season with the Trail Blazers as Sports Information Coordinator. He is responsible for updating and producing game notes and the Blazers pre and post season guides as well as assisting with the Blazers media guide, website content and Rip City Magazine. He also does stats for the WNBA Portland Fire.

Erik was named Oregon Collegiate writer of the year last year while a sports reporter for the Portland State University Daily Vanguard. He serves on the executive board for the Portland Baseball Group and the Oregon Baseball Campaign. He received his degree in speech communications this spring from Portland State and in his free time, he enjoys playing basketball, water skiing and golf.


Check out previous special features