knickzrulezH20
Sexy Stud
I don't know how we're doing the rankings but I'm not sure how the Blazers come out 2nd when their young C (who you guys have been harping on about being super important) is almost as useless as Eddy Curry.
Bulls - Noah (healthy aggressive C), Rose (healthy, explosive, allstar sophomore PG), Gibson (solid forward)... Johnson and Warrick ok young roleplayers.
Grizzlies - Gasol (healthy aggressive C), OJ Mayo (healthy, explosive, allstar sophomore SG), Rudy Gay (allstar SF), Conley (solid young PG), Brewer (solid forward), Thabeet (unproven but potentially decent defensive C).
vs
Blazers - Oden (crocked C), Roy (allstar SG), Aldridge (solid PF), Batum, Fernandez, Bayless, Webster (ok young roleplayers).
What's so special about Portlands young core apart from Roy?
The Grizzlies could potentially lose Gay. They're screwed if they do. They don't have the stability the other franchises do. Conley isn't that good. Mayo is the only star out of who you said. Thabeet is useless until 2 more years or so.
The Bulls have two star pieces. But nothing else.
The Blazers have two star pieces, and a whole cast of good young role players around them. Having Camby makes Oden injury much less hurtful. So even if he can't stay healthy they have a backup. But if Oden can stay healthy, he's better than Noah. Even with only one knee.