by Colin Thomas

Created on: June 14, 2008   Last Updated: October 31, 2008

I absolutely believe that with the addition of Greg Oden Portland will hoist the golden symbol of basketball excellence, the Larry O'Brien NBA Championship trophy. I'm not betting the house on winning it next season, but in the next four to five years definitely. Here are my reasons why:

Becoming a better player takes a willingness to work. It takes tireless, meticulous effort. While the naysayers believe that Oden is an unproven commodity because of his knee injury, I've witnessed and read all that I need to know. I recognize the heart of a pure champion and Greg Oden is that rare breed.

After the surgery he spent six hours a day having his knee gently bent by a machine. There are videos on the internet that document the various work out routines that he does daily. He's spent countless hours in the pool, lifting weights, running hills, doing Pilates. Imagine yourself doing this over an arduous and painstakingly redundant 12 months. You'd hate it. I hate watching two minutes of it. Yet over the past few months, nothing but glowing reviews have been expressed by his rehab therapists and physical trainers, all of them in awe of his work ethic and mettle.

Championships run through big men. Russell, Chamberlain, Olajuwon, Jabbar, Duncan, O'Neal. A talented center gives a distinct advantage. With a stalwart fortress in the middle you run the chance of having a mismatch almost every night. With the lack of agile, fluid centers and Greg Oden's potential, the window of opportunity appears to be opening. Why do you think GM's were crying about the lottery system and willing to trade their limbs and babies to draft in Portland's position? Game changing centers don't come around often. Even with one, you have to surround them with the right coaching and personnel to pull off a championship season.

Nate McMillan is a stellar coach who's increased the teams win total in each of his three seasons under the helm. Last year the Blazers, who had the youngest roster in the league played to a 41-41 record in which they rattled off a 13 game win streak. McMillan has been the only coach after the previous two, to orchestrate a notable improvement in Travis Outlaw, who flourished last year as a dependable sixth man and scorer. Starting this season with Oden will be Brandon Roy, who was selected to the 07-08 All-Star team in his second season as a professional and LaMarcus Aldridge who averaged 17.8 points last year, also in his sophomore season. The Blazers with their talented nucleus and youth will have a core squad that is pushing toward its prime while other teams in the West are getting older and trying to retool.

When the Blazers were in their down phase, I was living in Portland. I know the mentality of a loser, a quitter, a blamer. Greg Oden is none of these and will not rest until champagne is flowing at One Center Court, the home of the Portland Trailblazers . I'd bet my house on it.

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